Update on the X-rated

Ok, I should actually be finishing my work, but my brain has ceased to function at this late hour and the puppy is just too much fun to watch... I know, I have to get some photos up of the little guy. We are all in LOVE!!! Anyhow, you all should be able to tell just how tired I am by the babbling that has nothing to do with the title of this post. But, I really do have something to say that may make you all smile. You see, Max apparently doesn't realize the "Bull ShihTs" joke (reference the X rated post down the page a ways). When we were at Grandma Reier's last Sunday, she told Grandpa that she wanted a puppy for her 60th birthday. Max piped up, "Grandma! You should get a Bull ShihTs." I whipped around to see the Max's very serious face as he very rationally explained to his grandmother about the breed of dog she should consider adopting. Dead serious he was!!! What ever will I do with that kid? He is just too entertaining!!!! Oh oh, Zeke has eaten something. What could it be? It doesn't sound good!

X-Rated Part II

Matt and I took Hannah and Max and their cousin Tessa to the Body Worlds exhibit on Saturday. About half way through the exhibit Max blurts out, (reminding you just how quiet he is...not) "I've got it! I know how they do this. Flesh eating beetles!" Needless to say, his epiphany stopped more than a few people in their tracks.

As we exited the exhibit, the kids were able to participate in some activities and get a small sketch book. I stopped at a bakery on the way home. The three kids stayed in the car while I went in to the bakery. When I returned, the two girls immediately began to tattle on Max. "He is drawing naughty pictures in his book". "He is disrespecting the Statue of Liberty." I took his book and checked out the art work. He had drawn a picture of one of the displays, a body carrying an Olympic torch. It looked just like the display! Initially, I didn't realize this was the case. I told him we shouldn't draw pictures like that. Then, five minutes later I saw a Body Worlds sign and it hit me... where had I just taken him?! Yes, I know. I am a bit slow. That explained the look he gave me when I said "We don't draw pictures like that, Max." His look was, "What are you talking about? Do you remember where we just spent two hours????" Again, slow, I know. Wish I could show you the art work... it was great!

X-Rated

Max: Mom and Dad, what do you call a dog that is part Shih Tzu and part Bulldog?

Mom and Dad (half listening): I don't know, what?

Max: a "Bull Shiht"

Mom and Dad (now listening intently): a what???

Max (nonchalantly walking out of the kitchen): I said a "Bull Shiht"

Mom and Dad (now on the floor): Where did you hear that?

Max (very matter-of-fact): the babysitter.

Mom: Oh, that must be Hayden.

Yah! Thanks Hayden. You owe me a night of sitting for nuttin'!!!!!! And, if he tells it to anyone at church, at school, or on the street, you'll need to pay me to let you babysit!!!

"I Hope They Call Me on a Mission"

It is here! Bo has been called to serve in the Washington Spokane Mission. I teased him that he was going to go to Boise, Idaho (not that there is anything particularly wrong with Boise, but it is just really close to home). He almost made it! The southern boundary of his mission is just north of Boise! Hah! Hah!

To make it all extra fun and exciting, Nathan Thomson, Bo's very dear friend from Logan (they have been friend since they were 5 years old) got his call the same day to Argentina! We hip, hip, hoorayed over the phones together.

The only problem with all this mission stuff is that a missionary has to be at least 19 years old. Last time I checked, I was still 25, which would make Bo just a toddler. What happened and when did it happen?????

The Recitals

The first recital of the holiday season was our piano recital. Both Max and Hannah played beautifully. They both had their pieces memorized, but at the last minute chickened out and took their music up with them, although neither one looked at it. Max played both his pieces at least one octave higher because "it sounds so much better". I cried... sobbed actually. I wish I could share what a feat it was for Max. He doesn't even realize what an endeavor it was to be able to play the piano with both hands. I wish I had video of his "tricky" hand on the first day he ever practiced a tune to compare to the day he played his recital pieces. I told him one day how exciting it was that he was playing so well with his tricky hand and how proud I was of him for his hard work. He replied, "Yah, my tricky hand has always wanted to play the piano." And then he continued to practice.


Hannah is really starting to enjoy the piano. She allows herself to get so frustrated so fast. But I think we have established a good routine of practice with reasonable expectations...finally!!! I only have to nag maybe twice a week to get the practicing done.

The second recital was Tiffany Dance Co. Christmas production on December 18, 2008. Maggie is my only dancer this year! She loves it more than life itself! She dances and sings all day when she is at home. We have saved all of the wonderful dance costumes over the past few years. After performances are finished, the costumes go into the dress up trunk and make new debut often. Maggie's dance was called "I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas". It was a bit of a challenge to decide which images to include. Matt took 95!! When I flipped through all of the images in LightRoom, it was like watching the dance again!

I've Been Dreaming of a White Christmas, Just Like the... WHAT???

We arrived home from Venice just in time. Ten minutes later the snow hit hard! We snuggled into bed for a long winter's nap (yah, right we did). We awoke to a beautiful white Christmas. But now it is January 1, 2009. Christmas is over. Let's get that snow melted, thaw out our piggy toes and get some tulips popping up!

Matt, the great giant of a man that he his, made sure everyone's day was just right. He shoveled out a trail to the latrine for Chewie and her new little brother Zeke at least 4 times Christmas day.