Happy Thanksgiving

Elle's Crush

His name is Cody. I hear Elle say his name about 45 times a day. She made up a song about him, called the "Cody Song." It goes like this, "Co-dy song... Co-dy song...Co-dy song...." 

I asked her once, "Why do you like Cody so much? "She said with a big smile, "Cute...shunny...hugs." 

Dancing in the kitchen.

I can't help but take a lot of pictures of this yummy two-year-old.

When Elle's all dressed for the day, she runs to show Cam. He says, "Elle! You look so beautiful!"

October in Swimsuits

You know those Home Teachers of ours? Well, for Mia's 13th...nother PARTY! They cranked the heat up on the pool and opened up the hot tub for Mia and ten of her BFF's. The invitation read, "Wear your swimsuit... and a coat." It was 50 degrees that October night. I brought extra ski caps for everyone. A fire in the pit kept us toasty while we roasted hot dogs and mallows. The girls even jumped on the tramp in wet suits. Crazy?... and fun. Not that I jumped in :).

Things that make you go "Hmmmmm..."

I sometimes visit Cjane’s blog. I just read her question, "What offends you?" and I'd like to consider it. I've been stewing about something I said that may have been offensive. My neighbor said (kindly): "I can't believe you've had six kids. You're so skinny." My response: "It's genetic. I mean, I work out for an hour three times a week, but so do lots of people that have different shapes than I do. It's funny—I'd probably look the same whether or not I worked out. I bet even if I worked out like crazy, I'd still look pretty much the same. My sister who has my same body type works out 6 days a week, and she looks just like I do" (at least in clothes. I haven't seen her *****. Don't plan to.) 

That's what I said. I'm thinking it came across as bragadocious. Braglicious. Bragnificent. [Shuddering.] Like I think I've got one hot bod. One that couldn't get better if I tried. 

So, what I meant to say was, I don't take much credit for a fast metabolism. And I don't think my own shape is the best kind of body type. I think most people who feel overweight would want to keep their own shape, just lose a few pounds. (More than one person has told me I look better pregnant, because my face doesn't look so skeletal.) (BTW, that doesn't offend me. It's my face. I accepted it a long time ago.) 

I guess what offends me is when people take a piece of conversation or a snapshot of my life and make assumptions about who I am, what I think, or what I do. 

Like the time I let Getty (at age 3) into our fenced backyard, which adjoins our neighbor's yard with a single gate. I notice he's enjoying a popsicle with our neighbor's daughters. I go back into the house. Suddenly a giant dog appears in the yard and decides to play tag with the kids. Getty takes off toward the nearest exit—our neighbor's open front-yard fence gate—and proceeds to run all the way down the sidewalk, turn the corner, and run screaming up our street. I hear crying and knocking at my front door, wonder why in the world Getty came all the way around to the front door, and lift him onto my 8-month pregnant belly to calm him down. Thirty seconds later, another knock at the door. It's a woman I've never seen before. She proceeds to tell me how angry she is with me. How I didn't know where my 3-year-old son was. How I was a neglectful mother. 

My question is, How could she possibly know what kind of a mother I am? Catch any mother in the world at one point or another, and we look horrific. Catch us at other times, and we look heroic.

So, back to the alleged brag-o-rama [cringe]. I guess in that instance, if my neighbor IS offended (which I can't confirm), then I would be offended right back. Hmmmmm. 

Brigham Young once said something like, "He who takes offense when none was intended is a fool. He who takes offense when offense was intended is a greater fool." I believe that. Now to live that way....  

Family Photo Outtakes

All Hallows Eve

MK in the S.L. Tribune

During Lone Peak's 2-0 win over Riverton in the first round of the Class 5A girls' soccer state tournament on Tuesday, driving winds made it difficult for either team to stick to their game plan.

"We chose to defend the wind [in the first half]," said Lone Peak coach Mike LaHargoue. "Still, we had a couple of chances that, if you could have hit in, would have made me feel a little better."

But when the Knights were able to make a play?

Textbook.

Having the wind at their backs didn't hurt, either.

After fighting through a scoreless first half, Lone Peak came out firing after the break and, in the 49th minute, orchestrated a play worthy of the highlight reel.

That's when Lone Peak fullback McKenzie Evans, who played for the Silverwolves as a freshman last season, stripped the ball midfield and lobbed it to McKenna Fox near the right corner of the goal box. From there, Fox scooped the ball left to Katie Lohner, who hit the net to put the Knights up 1-0.

"It was a perfect play," said LaHargoue. "But really, in the state tournament, we'll take anything we can get."

Goooooooooooooaaaal!

State Play-offs begin today!



Pray for the team.

MK's Bill of Rights

MK choreographed a little ditty to memorize the Bill of Rights in her U.S. History class. It soon caught the attention of the other students, who asked her to teach them. Finally, the teacher requested that she get up in front of the class and demonstrate, as follows:

 

Go Coug's!

You can't live in these parts without catching Cougar Fever. Your hair turns blue, expands, fuzzifies, your tongue gets bigger, nostrils flare, and oh, you get way cuter (if that's possible).

Football Carnage

During the last play of football practice, Cy made a tackle and came up with a mouth-guard full of blood. He—actually his teammate’s cleat—had knocked out his front tooth. (It had been loose—likely no permanent damage.) So glad I wasn’t there to see him gushing blood from his mouth. He begged me to take him back to the field to find his tooth. 

Bet we could find it….

Fun with Blankies

Elle Takes Initiative

Elle gets ready for school. Jacket, please; Spidey backpack; flip flops; and a friend. 

Now watch the hot air balloon while waiting for the carpool.

Dads Are Awesome

While Rob, Elle, and I were watching MK’s soccer game, Rob noticed someone’s leftover, unidentified fountain drink sitting on the grass near us. He turned to me and asked, “Should I just give that pop to Elle?”

Now, I find at least two things that are curious about his question. 

One is obvious. 

The other is that he was apparently unable to predict my response….