"I Want to Be a Daddy"

Thursday afternoon I was driving through the elementary school Pick up line. When you pull up in front of Jabrens school there are 6 large cones on the curb each with a 5th grader to open the door and let your child in, then they shut the door behind them. Its a beautiful day so my windows are down.

So as I'm driving past the first four cones, heading for Jabren a couple of 5th grader boys yell into my van. . . "Hey, your son says he wants to be a daddy when he grows up!" Their voices sound as if they think this is really unusual, and even kind of cool, or awesome. I'm not for sure. Then I stop at Jabrens cone and there are not just one but like 3 big kids guiding my little kindergartener to the car.
One kid leans in to tell me the same thing. "You're boy said he wants to be a daddy when he grows up."

These three kids are all grinning like "Thats cool, never thought of that." Quickly I state "Well, that must be because he has a pretty awesome Daddy and he wants to be just like him!" It seemed he had captured the attention of all the kids that day with his ambitions.




Well, when did wanting to become a daddy become such a novel ideal? I loved that the kids actually seemed to think this was a cool thing. They really seemed surprised and enjoyed the remark instead of teasing him. I hope it made them think about putting that into their future goals along with saving the earth, becoming the next president, or being independantly wealthy!
Jabren didn't have much to say about it. Couldn't get him to tell me what they were talking about. Figures.

Mom and Dad Come to Visit for Christmas!

The most exciting company we've had yet in our home here in Texas-GRANDMA and GRANDPA! Need I say more. They're always a big hit with my boys. They stayed for two weeks and I don't know where the time went. We were able to do quite a few fun things like: Christmas preparations, start some projects in the house,
Grandma made some cool home made play dough and played for literally hours with it and the boys.




Put puzzles together- a favorite memory as a kid with my dad and his family



Grandpa played the piano! I loved having payback for all the years we played in our home growing up for his "enjoyment". I enjoyed working in my house while he played away. Its awesome to hear music-real music, in my home. He is becoming quite the pianist. I think its very cool my dad (not to mention Jakes dad, too) take piano lessons! My boys naturally think thats what grandpa's do.



We went to San Antonio to the Alamo and The Riverwalk for a boat tour.




We also had dinner with Brother Beck, a member of our ward bishopric. (My mom babysat for his Mom and Dad 50+ years ago! Is that not crazy? This mans family is a large part of why my mom wanted to have a big family. (Thus I'm here) Brother Beck and I were both amazed when the bishopric came for a family visit, that we had connections in the smallest town ever- McKinnon, Wyoming.-Ever heard of it?
Also, my mom nannied a summer for her aunts two boys and one of them lives about 20 minutes from me. So we visited my cousin, Tom, and his kids Christmas night. His kids are my age and it was so fun to be with family, though I've only met them once before in my life.

The first night they were here was our Relief Society Christmas ornament exchange and dinner. It was awesome to have my mom see all my new friends and favorite new people. It was the perfect way to introduce my mom to my life. Everyone was so genuine and kind and down to earth. Most of the girls I've met my age really wanted to meet her, it seemed and even waited their turn to introduce themselves. It occurred to me that a lot of us women are living away from our moms and so having a mom around is like having "our" mom around. We all crave closeness to home.

Also, Jabren had Grandma and Grandpa eat lunch with him at the school cafeteria. I think my mom was blown away. She enjoyed looking at all these beautiful children chatting away at the table-some of who were speaking so fluently in their second language and being so young. Jabren is a total minority. There's maybe 1 in 7 who are white. We have all cultural backgrounds in our school and neighborhood and I enjoy that this is his normal now.

This is the first time in all my life that I've had both my parents come for a visit. Throughout the years we've hosted one or the other. Being from a large family one on one is pretty rare for any length of time and I just relished having them all to myself. All in all, it wasn't like having company at all. I felt so at home in our new home for the first time. My boys slept the best they've slept since moving here. I forgot that really they're mine. They're my mom and dad. I've waited 28 years to have them all to myself and I loved every minute of it. Jake was a trooper, too, he was content and happy being displaced and not having his wife all to himself. He was awesome! The kids loved having undivided attention and I loved having someone to chat with and do everyday dishes and laundry with at all times. Actually, I really should not take credit for any dishes-my mom, with Jake's help from time to time, did nearly all the dishes the whole time. Dad and I did very few-and enjoyed every bit of it!

Funny side note story that just comes to mind that relates to this (at least for me) When Jabren was just little I got soooo sick with strep. After a few days of doing nothing but blending in with the sofa, and barely meeting Jabrens needs, I called my Mom 4 1/2 hours away. I really was always very independent as a teenager, and up to this point had never felt desperate for my mom. Now I wanted her more than ever. Well, I was exhausted but getting better when my mom arrived with my little sister in tow. When my mom walked in I gave her a hug and just cried. Relief had arrived. I needed her. After we settled in Juleen remarked that even though she knows we're all siblings and that mom is all our mom-it had never sunk in on such a real level that mom is mom for me, just as mom is mom for her. Not until she saw me hug my mom and cry. That was the first time she realized she was my mom, too. If you get that. I do. (Sorry thats just a whole other funny post. Anyways. . .does anyone relate?)

This is by far the best picture I got on Christmas morning-Cameral issues -grrrrrhhhhhh!
Nonetheless, I love how happy Jabren looks when he opened a flashlight from Grandma and Grandpa Thompson. They spoiled the boys and somehow it just seems right that there are some classic gifts that are just that-Classic. They never go off the favorites list!





So alas, some pictures from the visit-my camerea was having issues so they didn't turn out great but still. . .

Anna Came to Visit!

Well, I've been in Texas for 4 months and I finally got to see a friend from home. Anna was the first girl I met in my ward when we moved to Nampa. We have literally so much in common its crazy! I've never met anyone with so many similarities in our families. So when she sent me a note that she was in Houston I jumped at the opportunity to go see her! It was sooo rejuvinating to see a familiar face from my past. Thanks Anna for getting in touch with me so I could see you! My only regret is that we didn't hang out more often. She is so much fun and genuine. Anna made my last night in Nampa one to remember. We had had enrichment, then she frieked out when I told her it was my last night and gathered up a few of our friends and said we were going to do whatever I wanted-no limits. We did just that. We went to my house and just chatted-my favorite thing to do with my friends.





Some of the things we have in common:
1. We are the 7th of 9 children in our family,
2. Our moms were the same age when we were born (32) and
3. Our mothers both have their moms living with them, who are also born within a few months of each other.
4. Both our oldest siblings got married on the same day (June 12, 1992)
5. Birth order is the same except in reverse. Mine is Boy-girl-girl-boy-boy-boy-girl-boy-girl. Anna's is the same if you started at the end with a girl and ended with a boy. (Too confusing, I know)
6. We both have 3 boys and love having boys.
7. We both love people
8. can't remember anymore. . .


Enough coincidences. . .its crazy!