In trouble

DeeAnn was whining and complaining for getting into trouble.

M: "DeeAnn, Odan got in trouble too."

O: "What? But I'm the funniest boy in the world?"

College or Mission

O: "Is college a place when you're big enough to go on a mission?"

M: "Yes."

O: "Which do you go on first?"

M: "When you are done with high school you can either go on a mission first and then go to college, or you can go to a little bit of college and then on a mission. It's up to you and Heavenly Father to decide what to do."

O: "Well I want to go on a mission first because I want to choose the right."

D: "Well I don't."

M: "You don't want to choose the right or you don't want to go on a mission?"

D: "I don't want to go on a mission."

O: "Well, I do."

'Naughty' list

O: "Am I on the 'Naughty' list?"

M: "No."

O: "But I wanted a real dog, and I only got a fake one."

K: "Odan, remember Daddy is allergic?"

O: "Oh yeah!"

Garbage on the ground

O: "Why do people just put garbage on the ground?"

M: "I don't know, because they are litter-bugs."

O: "Does Jesus want the Earth to be clean?"

M: "Yes."

O: "I will tell the whole Earth Jesus wants the Earth to be clean. I will even tell the whole country."

Merry Christmas

While passing out goodies and singing carols to friends and neighbors Odan said,

O: "I wish everyone in the whole Earth a Merry Christmas! Even the people in California!"

Jar full of jelly

O: "Mom, what would happen if you drank a jar full of jelly?"

M: "Where'd you hear that?"

O: "Nowhere, I just made up that joke in my head."

M: "Well, you would feel sick, I don't think your tummy would like it if you drank a jar full of jelly."

Playing 'War'

Playing 'War', with a deck of cards...

O: "I have an idea. Let's play 'War' with the Joker's in, and when you get a joker, you have to tell a joke."

When I go on a mission

O: "When I go on a mission I want to go on the other side of the Earth. No, I want to go on the other side of the country because I don't want to ride on a boat, I don't want to ride on the Mayflower. I want to ride in an airplane. So you'll have to take me to the airport so I can ride on the airplane."

Getting the wind knocked out of you

The kids were running around in the basement, and lately DeeAnn thinks it's funny to stick her arms out while she and others are running full speed. Odan's chest was the victim of a pretty hard slap and he came upstairs hysterically upset. Like, really upset. Not only from being hit, but that anyone, let alone his sister, would intentionally harm him like that.

He was saying his chest was hurting, complaining of not being able to breath...

M: "Oh, Odan, I'm sorry. Did you get the wind knocked out of you?"

O: "What?"

M: "Sometimes when you hit your chest too hard, and it's hard to breath, that's called 'getting the wind knocked out of you'."

O: "Oh. I can just get some more tomorrow."

M: "More what?"

O: "Wind!" (as he pats his chest)

Litter-bug

M: "Oh no, see this garbage on the ground, my mom used to tell me if you drop garbage on the ground that makes you a litter-bug."

O: "I will never be a litter bug."

Words that end with 'b'

A mom who was helping in Odan's Kindergarten class told me this one.

They were going over words that end with 'b' when the teacher came to the word 'rob', to which Odan then informed his teacher,

O: "Teacher, my mom never robs. She always pays for stuff."

Worksheet from school

Odan came home from school so excited to show me a worksheet he'd done that day...

O: "Mom!! I'm on the 'Nice' list!!"

He pulled out a paper that he had written his name in on the bottom of a sight word Santa list.

Naughty List

O: "King, you better not make scary sounds cause I think that will put you on the naughty list."

King stops making scary sounds and says,

K: "Oh, yeah."

Adopt

O: "Mom, can we adopt Kimball on Fridays?"

M: "Well, we already watch him on Fridays, what do you mean 'adopt' him?"

O: "I just want to adopt him and take him to California with us."

M: "I don't think his mom and dad would like that."

O: "They could come with us!"

Giant Robot

The kids playing in their room, I over hear Odan complain,

O: "Why do I always have to defeat the giant robot?"

It was on 'Ellen'

The song "Paradise" came on the radio and the kids were remembering how we saw Coldplay performing on tv...

O: "Hey mom, remember when we saw this on tv?"

K: "Yeah, on the news..."

O: "It wasn't on the news, it was on 'Ellen'."

K: "What is the news?"

M: "The news is when people sit behind a desk and talk."

O: "'Ellen' is when they sit on a couch on a stage and people watch them. Then you could watch it on tv."

Getting sick

O: "Mom, I think I'm getting sick."

M: "Go lie down in your bed then."

O: "No, I'm just getting sick of you."

Odan singing to himself...

Kendall was hanging out with the kids in the boys' room. He over heard Odan singing to himself...


O: "I have an alien here on Earth, they are so good to me. I want to share my life with them through all eternity. Aliens can be together forever, through a-li-ens plan. I always want to be with my own alien. And the alien has showed me how I can. The alien has showed me how I can."
 

Stay

Listening to "Stay" by Rihanna,

O: "Like I want Jaaron to stay, but it's too late."

(Jaaron is his cousin who is on a mission right now)

Your Brain

Sometimes he says the most random things, after seeing a pile of newspapers...

O: "There's a bunch of newspapers in your brain, and they all fit because they're folded."

Thank you Bill Nye the Science Guy. (The episode about the brain)

A Ticket

At Daddy's work, Uncle Ruston was with us, and Odan asked if he could see Ruston's wallet. Ruston pulled it out and handed it to him. Odan opened it up, pulled out a business card of some sort and handed it to Ruston saying,

O: "Here's a ticket to a better life."

Uncle Ozzie

O: "I'm so worried about Uncle Ozzie because he has tornadoes."

M: "Where?"

O: "In Texas!"

Six by Suess

Looking through the book Six by Suess (a collection of Dr. Suess books) Odan explains to King and DeeAnn,

Odan: "See all these stories? Dr. Suess wrote all these books, then he died."

Happy Thanksgiving!

Early this morning Odan walks into our bedroom and wakes me up saying,

O: "Mom! Remember? It's Thanksgiving today!"

M: "Happy Thanksgiving Odan! Now go watch t.v. with King."

O: "Okay, Happy Thanksgiving!"

DeeAnn-ism

Kendall walks into the bathroom to assist DeeAnn on the potty,

K: "DeeAnn did you wipe your bum?"

D: "No, the toilet paper just got in there. I think it was an invisible stranger did it."

Looking for "Aunt Grace"

While looking for "Aunt Grace", Odan was searching for her, and apparently had forgotten her name, so he was walking around asking,

O: "Where is the twenty-five year old?"

Dr. Suess

Odan: "Mom, I want to meet Dr. Suess."

Mom: "Oh, honey you can't."

Odan: "Why?"

Mom: "Well, because he died."

Odan: "What? He died?"

Mom: "He was born a long time ago, and then he got old."

Odan: "Aw, I just wanted to see him. He is just so funny."

King: "But Mo Willems is still alive!"

Happy Songs

Flipping through the radio in the car we were listening to the beginning of a disco song ("Boogie Oogie Oogie" something)

O: "Mom, what's this song?"

M: "I don't know..."

O: "Well let's try it. It sounds happy, and I like happy songs."

Can countries get sick?

I found this scribbled on a scrap of paper, it is from the 4th of July...

O: "Can countries get sick? America is having so much fireworks it's going to get sick."

Which part of the chicken is this?

K: "Mom, which part of the chicken is this?"

M: "It's a chicken breast."

K: "Where is that on a chicken?"

M: "Right in front."

Odan stabs a piece of chicken and says,

O: "Aaah! I'm eating a part of my arm!"

A Temple

On the freeway...

O: "A temple! Mom, I see a temple!"

M: "That's the Draper Temple."

D: "Where?"

O: "Over there. Yeah, I see a little bit of gold and that's giving me a clue that it's Agent Moroni so I knew it was a temple."

M: "Utah has a lot of temples. It has the most temples out of every place in the world."

O: "Utah is the luckiest state!"

The other side of the world

O: "I can see everything in the entire world!"

K: "How are the people on the other side of the world doing?"

O: "They're doing great!"

American Flag

O: "An American flag! Mom, sometimes I cry a little bit when I see an American flag."

M: "You cry a little bit? Why?"

O: "Because it's kind of beautiful to me."

Ham sandwhiches

We were talking about ham sandwiches.

K: "Is ham from an animal?"

M: "Yes, guess which animal?"

K: "Chicken?"

M: "No."

K: "Cow?"

M: "No, it's from a pig, just like bacon and pork."

O: "I just LOVE animals!"

Middle of the Night

O: "Is it the middle of the night?"

M: "No, in the winter the daylight doesn't last as long as in the summer."

O: "Aw, I don't like sunlight savings."

Baby names

O: "When I grow up and have a baby I will name him Thor. Because I'm Odan. And when I have another baby I will name him Loki."

Long night

O: "Hey mom, it's been a long night. The Spanish world is night-night, cause it's morning here - isn't that weird?"

King's Plan for an iPad

A conversation with King. He was in the shower and I was cleaning the toilet and sink.

He loves telling me about the games he plays on the iPad at school every day. He had just finished telling me about a math zombie game.

K: "See mom, I wish I had an iPad so I could show you these games."

M: "I wish I had an iPad so you could show me. They are so cool."

K: "Yeah they are cool. Maybe we can buy one."

M: "Well, they cost hundreds of dollars."

K: "Well maybe we can use the money from Daddy's work - oh, I guess how would we buy food then. Maybe I can go to Daddy's work and get some money, and Daddy's money can be for our food and stuff, and my money we can buy an iPad."

M: "Wow, that sounds like a cool plan -- "

K: "Or maybe when I'm 12 I can babysit, and you can go to work. And Daddy's money will be for food and your money can buy an iPad."

M: "I bet you will be a great babysitter King."

Saying mean things

Odan was upset I wouldn't let him watch another movie after just finishing one. He walks into the kitchen and says,

O: "Mom, I hope you go away and never come back."

I scolded him and he continued with his bad mood, periodically saying mean things. After a few back and forth exchanges I explained,

M: "Odan, if you don't change your attitude you are going to start losing privileges."

O: "Okay mom, I changed my attitude."

A minute later he walks into the kitchen almost in tears holding his paper airplane which he had crumpled in his anger.

O: "Mom, can you fix my paper airplane? It's all wrinkled and won't fly."

M: "Odan, you can't un-crumple crumpled paper. Why did you do that?"

In tears,

O: "I was mad, can't you just straighten it?"

I tried my best to flatten it out, gave Odan a hug and used the opportunity to explain to him that when we say mean things, we can't unsay them. Just like when you crumple paper, you can't un-crumple it. We talked about the importance of controlling our temper, and I made sure to let him know it's okay to feel angry and frustrated, we just need to be careful what we do and say when we feel that way. It was a great reminder to me and a wonderful teaching moment on a random Tuesday night. :)

The Doctor of Covenants

Getting ready to go to the library...

O: "Mom, I want to bring the doctor of covenants with me to the library so I can learn something important and be a good example."

M: "You want to what?"

O: "I want to bring my doctor of covenants to the library with me."

M: "Why?"

O: "Because I want to be a good son of Heavenly Father."

Trees

We were driving down the street and I pointed out some men that were cutting down a tree (professionally)...

M: "Hey, look at those guys cutting down that tree."

Silence for a minute...

O: "Mom, I promise I will never EVER chop down a tree."

Crumbs

O: "I don't want to go to WinCo. I want to go home and eat the cookie I decorated."

M: "You can eat it when we get to WinCo.

O: "No, cause there's no crumbs at WinCo! One time I saw a red sign that said, 'No Crumbs'."

Trick or Treating

I received texts from some friends of what Odan said when trick or treating at their doors,

O: "Trick or treat! It's just me!"

and

O: "Hey Miche! It's me...Odan! It's not really Hulk okay?"

Trunk or Treat

Trying to get my kids in bed the night before Halloween...

M: "You guys, you need to listen and get in bed so we can get good sleep to Trick or Treat tomorrow."

O: "Wait, we already trick or treated at Trunk or Treat. That was just practice?"

Reflections

I asked Odan his thoughts on the 2013 Reflections theme, which is "Believe, Dream, Inspire". At the time he was very grumpy, and home sick that day...

M: "Odan, what does it mean to believe, dream, and inspire?"

O: "I don't know."

M: "Well if you had to guess, what would you say?"

O: "I think it means to learn math."

M: "What does it mean to believe?"

O: "I don't know! Homework?"

M: "Odan, inspire means to make you happy or feel good--"

O: "Fine! Espire me!"

M: "Wait, what inspires you?"

O: "Medecine."

M: "Why does 'medecine' inspire you?"

O: "Cause it kind of helps me feel better. Now give me some!"

Toyota

The boys have started playing a game when they yell "Toyota" every time they see the Toyota symbol on passing cars. The other day...

K: "Toyota!"

O: "No, it's 'Toyota, let's go places'. Because I saw on the commercial it doesn't just say 'Toyota', it says, 'Toyota, let's go places'."

Angry Voice

O: "Mom, don't use an angry voice at me. I don't like your angry voice."

M: "You don't?"

O: "I like your normal voice."

California

On our way to the grocery store,

O: "Mom, we better get lots of fruits and vegetables for when we go to California."

M: "Yes, we should get lots of fruits and vegetables, but we are not going to California. Why did you think we were going to California?"

O: "Well when we do go to California, we better bring lots of fruits and vegetables so we can have food to eat."

M: "Good plan, but I don't know when we're going to California."

Apparently California is calling us.

Internet

We recently moved our internet modem to the kitchen, and upon noticing it Odan asks,

O: "Mom, how come you put the internet down here?"

Lunch

O: "Is this lunch?"

M: "Yes."

O: "I like the word lunch."

M: "The word lunch?"

O: "Yeah."

Sports

Last week my brother was in town from Texas, and he and our older brother had challenged each other to a tennis match. We decided to make a day of it and watch them play at a local park so the kids could play on the playground. About two and a half hours in, Odan comes to sit on my lap and watch his uncles play. He says to me,

O: "I hate sports."

M: "You do? Why do you hate sports?"

O: "Because it takes too long."

***We ended up leaving my brothers to finish their match while we went to eat lunch. :)

A hard time

Odan was having a hard time and I was trying to talk to him. Before I got started he says,

O: "I already know what you're going to say."

M: "What?"

O: "Life's not fair."

(Which is not what I was going to say)

One of THOSE nights

It was one of those nights, and when Kendall got home from work I told him to 'glue' the kids to the wall so I could explain a few things without the kids running around (I was sick in bed and very cranky). This is a term I use when the kids need to stay in one place, we 'glue' the kids to the wall - it works.

While Kendall was 'gluing' the kids to the wall, lining them up side by side, Odan says,

O: "I HATE getting glued to the wall!"

**They all stayed glued to the wall while I talked to Kendall, it's funny to me they don't just run away, but I am so lucky they are obedient, good kids.**

At the doctor's office

O: "Mom! Look at those teeny tiny fishes! I want to eat them cause I love fishee's!"

Your voice

I have lost my voice. As I was laying down to rest, Odan came in the talk to me. We conversed for a few minutes, then were quiet for a minute when Odan says,

O: "Mom, I remember your voice, it was so beautiful."

Yummy smell

I was making apple crisp in the kitchen when Odan comes in...

O: "Mom what is that yummy smell?"

M: "Apples."

O: "Baked apples with cinnamon?"

M: "Yep."

He runs into the other room,

O: "King! We're having warm apples! With cinnamon!"

I like to hug my mom

In a meeting room with a bunch of people, Odan says,

O: "I like to hug my mom."

Someone replied, "You like to hug your mom?"

O: "Yeah, because I love her."

Who did you play with today?

M: "Odan, who did you play with today?"

O: "Yeah."

M: "Yeah?"

O: "Yeah. There's a guy in my class named Yeah."

M: "And you played with him?"

O: "Yeah. I played with Yeah."

My head hurts

O: "Mom, my head hurts. It really hurts. Can you just get me some cold beans?"

M: "Oh, I'm sorry your head hurts. Cold beans?"

O: "Yeah, I need some cold beans to put on my head."

M: "I don't think we have any cold beans..."

O: "You know, from the freezer! I just need some cold beans to put on my head cause it really hurts!"

M: "Oh, cold peas? Frozen peas?"

O: "Yeah."

Cheese and Crackers

O: "Dad, I don't want cheese and crackers! I just want crackers and cheese!"

I really want to hug...

Odan and I were in the van on our way to pick up DeeAnn from a play date. We were alone (which rarely happens, him being the middle child and all) when he says out of the blue,

O: "Mom, I really want to hug Jesus."

M: "Oh, me too. You will one day honey."

O: "Have you hugged Jesus?"

M: "Not yet. Maybe we did before we came to Earth though."

Watching Conference

When one of the sessions ended the camera was on Thomas S. Monson as he waved a little boy over to shake his hand. Odan and I were watching together.

M: "Wow, that is so cool. He's lucky."

O: "I wish that was me."

M: "What would you tell President Monson?"

Odan pauses.

O: "I like God."

The Swan Princess

The kids were watching "The Swan Princess". During a love song of some sort there is a split screen between the prince and the princess as they sing about being away from one another (or something like that, I was overhearing from the kitchen). In the middle of the song I hear Odan say impatiently,

O: "They're just right there! Turn around!"

Down the Canyon

Driving down the canyon Odan shouts loudly,

O: "Mom! I think my ears are plugged because I can't yell loud!"

M: "Go like this,"

I demonstrate opening my mouth really big to help him pop his ears. He opens his mouth really big and yells,

O: "Aaahhhhh!!"

I try not to laugh and explain,

M: "You don't have to actually yell, just open your mouth really big like you are yawning."

Phone Book

I was in the kitchen when I noticed Odan in the backyard reading the phone book. Earlier in the day I'd heard him in that same spot outside tell his younger cousin,

O: "This is a 'Plumber' book."

I'm guessing he found a plumbing ad?

Say Cheese!

O: "Say cheese! I'm taking pictures for my website. I have a website."

M: "You have a website? What is it?"

O: "A website for taking pictures of people getting married."

When Odan is Angry

Sometimes when Odan is angry he tries to think of the worst thing to say to us. This was one of them...

O: "There's a tornado in our state, and it's by our house!"

My favorite

Sunday afternoon King, Odan and I were sitting together in the front room when King says,

K: "Mom, you're my favorite."

M: "Aw, you're my favorite!"

K: "What about Jesus?"

M: "Oh yeah, he's my favorite too because not only did he do important stuff for me, but for my children too."

K: "And everyone."

O: "Even Spanish people!"

M: "That's right Odan, everyone."

Dad...

After getting the kids fed, homework done, teeth brushed, prayers said, Kendall was getting ready to return some items to the library before it closed. (I am in bed beating strep out of my body) He walks past the boy's room and I hear Odan ask,

O: "Dad, why do you look like a secret agent?"

Screen time

O: "Mom, I want some more screen time. I haven't had enough screen today."

I give him a surprised look,

O: "For serious mom!"

Bully

O: "What's a bully?"

M: "Someone who is mean to you."

O: "That boy at McDonald's was a bully - a kid bully! I knew it!"

Note: The 'kid bully' he is referring to we encountered well over six months ago.

No hands

The school bell rings and all the kindergarteners run to line up at the door to wait for the teachers to let them in. As I'm standing with other moms I hear this...

O: "Hey! Emily! Look, I have no hands!"

He is wearing King's jacket this particular morning (since he lost his jacket the previous day), and it is so big his hands are hidden in the sleeves.

Another kindergartener responds and says,

Random kid: "No, your jacket is just too big for you."

O: "Well, my mom made me wear it today."

Hot dog

Stopped at a stoplight right next to a 7-11.

O: "Mom, something is making me want to have a hot dog."

M: "Is it that sign with the picture of a hot dog?"

O: "Yes! I really want one!"

M: "Odan, don't let signs and pictures trick you into wanting and getting their stuff."

O: "Well something else is making me want a hot dog. It's not tricking me."

I laugh.

O: "For serious mom!"

M: "For serious?"

O: "Yes! For serious!"

Leg-armpit

O: "Mom, this is my leg-pit." (Points to the back of his knee)

M: "Your what?"

O: "My leg-pit. See, like this is my armpit, this is my leg-pit. And my leg-pit hurts."

What did you dream about?

M: "Good morning! What did you dream about Odan?"

O: "I dreamed you were a monster. Everybody in the whole Earth was a monster, except me. Isn't that a sad dream?"

Football game

Driving down the road...

O: "Mom, I want to go to a football game, isn't that a good idea?"

M: "You do? Why?"

O: "Because I want to see how they play football."

D: "I don't want to go to a football game."

O: "DeeAnn, football games are LOUD! I like loud games."

Parking lot

Walking through a parking lot I overhear this conversation between my two boys...

O: "Don't step on the black lines!"

K: "Odan, are the lines fire or lasers?"

O: "Lasers!"

Rainy day

Watching a thunderstorm out the window Odan comments,

O: "Spiders are so lucky in the rain."

M: "Why?"

O: "It's cause they don't get shot by the lightning."

Another Elephant and Piggie book idea

At dinner, King was complaining about the soup we were eating, and as King and I were having our back and forth Odan chimes in...

O: "I'm going to make an Elephant and Piggie book called, 'This soup is yucky, but it's really important'."

DeeAnn then asks me,

D: "Mom, is this soup important?"

One of those nights

It was one of those nights when you just feel 'done'. 8:15pm trying to get my resistant kids ready for and in bed. Enough whining and complaining that I finally give up and announce,

M: "You guys are on your own, I'm done! Goodnight!"

I go into my bedroom and close the door. A few minutes later Odan comes in slowly with a scowl and closes the door behind him. He is staring at me with an angry face and says,

O: "I came in to tell you I'm mad at you."

Feeling defeated in every way I just stare blankly right back at him from where I am laying on my bed. He walks over and places his chin on my bed and says,

O: "Do you need to talk?"

I melt. Then ask,

M: "Do you need to talk?"

He nods and we talk about why he has been angry all night. It is because King had tagged him 'out' when we were playing Sharks and Minnows in our backyard earlier that night, and he had been so close to winning the game.

Woodstock Elementary

After picking up Odan from school we are leaving the parking lot when I hear him say excitedly,

O: "Woodstock is out of this Earth!"

(The theme for this school year is 'Out of This World')

Make lunch!

M: "Odan, tell me something funny and I'll make lunch."

O: "Why did the super hero flush the toilet? Say 'why'."

M: "Why?"

O: "Because it was his duty! There, was that funny enough? Now make lunch cause I'm hungry!"

I just barely farted

Eating lunch with some neighbor kids...

O: "I just barely farted."

Everyone laughs hysterically.

O: "That was a joke, but I'm serious."

Everyone laughs again.

Angel Moroni

Anytime and every time Odan spots an LDS Temple he shouts,

O: "The temple! I see the temple! Is that the temple you got married in?"

And I will either confirm it is (if it's the Salt Lake Temple) or tell him which temple it is. But I always ask,

M: "How do you know it's the temple?"

O: "Because I see 'Agent Moroni'!"

'Angel Moroni' has now become 'Agent Moroni' in our house.

OWWW!

The kids were playing when Odan got hit by DeeAnn accidentally,

O: "OWWW! DeeAnn!! Now you just messed up the music in my head!"

I asked him what music was playing in his head and he said "Darth Vader" music.

Fitting Shoes

Getting Odan some soccer shoes, while trying them on...

M: "Are these shoes too big?"

O: "No, they're too fine."

We settle on the pair and I put them in the box and let him carry them to the register. While we are walking he says,

O: "These are nice shoes mom. Thanks mom."

Public Restroom

In a public restroom...

M: "Okay Odan and DeeAnn, you sit here while I use the bathroom.

O: "Are you going poo or pee?"

M: "Just pee, I'll be really fast."

As I'm walking towards the stalls I hear him say to me,

O: "Oh phew! I thought you were going to say 'poo', then I was going to say 'we better plug our nose DeeAnn'!"

A saying for every day of the year

This one is really me, but it initiated such a laughing response I thought I'd better write it down.

We were helping to clean out Kendall's parent's house when his brother Kirk presented a jar with a bunch of papers in it toward me asking,

K: "Hey Norda, would you like a jar with a saying for every day of the year?"

I replied,

M: "No thanks, I have an Odan."

He and his mom busted up laughing saying, "that is true!".

On TRAX

O: "Mom what is that red button? What does it do?"

M: "Well, it says 'Push for Emergency', so you push for an emergency. Only for an emergency."

I could see the wheels in his head turning, and I was trying to think of a scenario I could give an example of when he says,

O: "So if someone is killing you, you push that button?"

Trying to hold back a laugh I say yes.

O: "What if they are killing you while you are walking?"

First Day of Kindergarten

Odan woke up this morning bright eyed and before getting out of bed these were his first words...

O: "I get to go to school today! What are we waiting for? Let's get ready!"

A conversation on throw up

O: "Guess what, when I was at Miche's I throwed up. Because I ate robin noodles and chocolate milk. And that's too much sugar."

He and King kept conversing about throwing up and how gross it is. When Odan asks me,

O: "Mom, does throw up fly?"

M: "What?" (I had no idea what he was talking about)

O: "How does it get out?" (of your tummy)

M: "Well, when you throw up it doesn't fly off into the sky,"

The boys burst into laughter.

M: "So no, it doesn't fly."

You make me sad

Odan was having a hard time while I was trying to run errands. He was being impatient and wanting to go home. This was our conversation in the car...

O: "Mom! You make me sad every day!"

M: "What? How?"

O: "You never tell me what we are doing!"

Ice Cream

A friend had taken Odan and DeeAnn with them to get some ice cream at Arctic Circle. DeeAnn wanted to try my friend's cherry flavor. When my friend tried to offer Odan a taste...

S: "Odan, do you want to try some of my ice cream?"

O: "No. My mom says I can't have red things because of the red #40."

The next day I was asking them about their ice cream,

M: "What flavors of ice cream did you guys get?"

O: "I got chocolate and DeeAnn got really chocolate."

M: "Oh yeah, did she have hers dipped?"

O: "No, hers was 'dropped'."

Seatbelt

Whenever leaving the house I always take inventory of who has their seatbelt on. I will ask each child individually if they have theirs on. Sometimes I am more impatient than not. On this particular day I was being a bit intense, and after I had asked everyone, Odan says this,

O: "Mom! Get your freaking seatbelt on!"

Odan makes a wish

Walking into the library the kids picked some dandelions in the grass and began blowing the seeds around. Before Odan blew his dandelion I hear him say this,

O: "I wish...(inaudible)"

I couldn't hear him, so I asked,

M: "What did you wish for Odan?"

O: "I wish my mom was a super hero."

Stinky

Upon walking into the kitchen King says,

K: "Why does it smell stinky?"

O: "Because mom's making a stinky dinner!"

Semi-truck

Driving on the freeway an England Trucking semi-truck passes us.

O: "Mom! It's a card truck! A card truck! Maybe there's cards in it!"

(The symbols on the truck resemble face cards.)

DeeAnn is so pretty

O: "DeeAnn is so pretty, it makes me cry." (commences fake-crying)

D: "Odan what's wrong?"

O: "DeeAnn is so beautiful!"

Hike to Twin Lakes

Kendall took the boys on a hike to Twin Lakes up Big Cottonwood canyon. When they got back, Kendall told Odan to tell me about the "science" they did up at the lakes.

O: "Mom! We just took dirt and put it in the water, and it looked different!"

M: "It did? What did it look like?"

O: "Like gold. But that was the only science we did."

Leaving the playground

Odan was upset, not wanting to leave the playground as we were trying to go. I sent DeeAnn to run over to him and tell him we were leaving. Although I couldn't hear what DeeAnn had said to him, I heard his reply to her loud and clear,

O: "DeeAnn! I am very cross!"

Later he told me again,

O: "Mom! I am very cross right now! I didn't want to go yet. I wanted to play more!"

Not going swimming

On our way to a family reunion, we were supposed to go swimming first, but we were running so late we decided to head over to the pavilion for lunch instead. As we pull into the parking lot his cousin Isis notices Odan looking sad...

I: "What's wrong Odan?"

O: "I'm so disappointed we aren't going swimming."

We did swim afterwards. :)

Earth's Crust

Driving down the road,

O: "Mom! I see the Earth's crust!"

M: "Where?"

O: "Right there!" (pointing to the road)

M: "Well, the road is on top of the Earth's crust, but everywhere else you see the ground, trees, grass, that is the Earth's crust." (I hope I am correct in that)

Thank you Bill Nye for your episode on 'Earth's Crust'.

What my kids call string cheese

O: "Can I have some more scream cheese?"

City Library

This one is from over a year ago that I've remembered lately.

We were visiting the downtown Salt Lake City library and after exploring a few of the floors I was explaining the purpose and awesomeness of libraries.

M: "At the library you can find a book about anything and learn about it. Anything in the whole world! Volcanoes, dinosaurs, anything you can think of, you can learn about from a book at the library! So let's each take a turn and look up a book on something we want to learn about. Who wants to go first?"

All the kids raise their hands, excited and enthused and I picked Odan...

O: "Um...I want to learn why Satan is bad!"

I was stumped. Of all the things to look up a book about! I had to quietly explain that that one might be difficult to find a book on!

Murray Park

An example of Odan's pronunciation of r's...

O: "Moo-y Park has cows in it. That's why it's called 'Moo-y' park."

P90X part 2

When I am doing a P90X dvd the kids like to sit and watch - the tv, not me I might add. If I am lucky every once in awhile they get up and try to do the moves with me. Sometimes they say things like, "Go mom! They're going! Keep going!" or "How come you're not doing it?" Well today I overheard this...

O: "He could be Superman." (referring to Tony Horton)

K: "He's not Superman!"

O: "But I can see his muscles! It could be Superman! Look at his muscles!"

Car Wash

Told to me from a primary teacher...

In primary a leader was showing an example of the paper they were going to cut out for a craft of some sort. She cut fat strips of paper and asked all the kids,

"So do you think you all can do this? Cut these in strips?"

Odan blurts out,

O: "Hey that looks like a car wash!"

He is so random!

Rocket Ship

Eavesdropping on some free-play...

O: "I will get in a rocket ship to see if there's a problem in space!"

Kissing

I overhear the kids in the basement playing with an older friend when I hear the friend attempting to get DeeAnn to kiss him...

Shocked and infuriated I yell...

M: "Hey!! No kissing games down there! Everyone up here right now!"

The kids file upstairs and line up sheepishly.

M: "There is absolutely no kissing aloud in this house! That is not appropriate."

O: "But you kiss us, and Daddy."

M: "Yeah, but I'm a mommy."

O: "Oh, so when I'm a daddy I can kiss?"

M: "Yep. Only when you're a daddy."

Forgiveness

M: "Who in here thinks I've been yelling a lot today?"

All three kids raise their hands.

M: "Guys, I have been yelling a lot today, and I'm sorry. I've been having a hard time."

K: "I've been having a hard time too."

M: "Can you forgive me?"

K: "Yeah."

O: "Why should I forgive you?"

What do I stand for?

Listening to "Some Nights" by the band Fun on the radio...

O: "Mom, what do I stand for?"

M: "That's a good question, what do you stand for?"

He sits there for a moment, thinking and looking a bit confused.

M: "Do you want to know what I stand for?"

O: "Yeah."

M: "I stand for truth and righteousness."

O: "Oh. I stand for choosing the right."

How old is our country?

O: "Mom, how old is our country?"

M: "Over 200 years old."

O: "Like 300 years old?"

M: "No, like 250 or 240 years old, I'm not sure."

O: "When is our country going to die?"

M: "I hope never!"

Perfume

O: "Mom what's that?"

M: "It's my perfume."

O: "What's perfume?"

M: "It's stuff you spray on yourself to make you smell good."

O: "I want to smell good so I want to spray myself."

M: "No, that perfume is only for girls and you don't need it. Perfume is for when you get older, because when you're young you always smell good."

O: "Huh?" (pause as he smells his arm) "Oh yeah, I do smell good!"

Oatmeal

At breakfast...

O: "Do you know why I like oatmeal?"

M: "Why?"

O: "Because oatmeal is important."

Days of '47 Parade

 

To a clown that was passing by at the parade...

O: "You are a silly clown!"

Clown: "I am! Are you silly?"

O: "Yes! I am!"

I really enjoyed watching the parade with the kids this year (our first time). Odan especially received lots of high fives, "blow kisses" from royalty, and special waves from parade goers. It was amazing to see people return his enthusiasm and pick him out of the crowd.

Mumford & Sons

On a long drive one afternoon the car was completely quiet as I was blasting a Mumford & Sons album. (Usually there is at least some light conversation going, but for some reason we were all silent) When the second song was over during the three second silence between the tracks, Odan exclaimed enthusiastically,

O: "That was a awesome song!"

(The song was 'The Cave')

What do you wish this person?

Playing 'Heavy Heavy Hang Over' at Odan's birthday party, many of his responses went like this...

M: "What do you wish this person Odan?"

O: "Um, I wish that they could be my friend forever."

One friend promptly gave Odan a hug in response, it was very sweet. :)

Where I belong

O: "Mom? Do you think I belong here?"

M: " 'Here' like in this house? In this family?"

O: "Yeah!" (as if, what else could I mean?)

M: "Of course I do!"

Hurting

O: "Mom, my shots are hurting. I shouldn'tve taken the Band-Aids off."

M: "Aw, I'm sorry honey."

He's bent over taking very small, slow steps...

O: "Can someone just get me a cane? Because it hurts to walk." 

Shots

At the doctor's office, getting 5 shots, Odan was very brave and didn't cry at all. When the shots were all done a wave of emotion ran over his face and he began to struggle to hold back tears that were starting to flood his eyes. The nurse and I praised and praised how well he did as she handed him a popsicle, he brightened up and said with sudden realization,

O: "Wait! Does this mean I'm in Kindergarten now?"

Birthday Boy

We have a tradition...on my kids' birthday they wake up to find their doorway decorated with crepe paper, and a present they get to open (a sugar-y cereal).

This morning I hear Odan in his room saying, "Thank you! Thank you!" He hadn't touched the present or the crepe paper, but was just looking at the display so excited, so happy.

After the present and the hugs his daddy asked him how old he was now, and he excitedly held up 5 fingers.

Walking down the hall to go down for breakfast,

O: "Yay! I get to eat 'treat' cereal! And I'm five now!"

I am so lucky to have and know this sweet, sweet boy.

Mom I love you

O: "Mom I love you. Guess what?"

M: "What?"

O: "When I'm an adult you're going to be old. Or dead."

Piano Man

O: "Is this the 'Piano Man'?"

M: "Let's see." (it was)

O: "I knew it."

(pause)

O: "Does 'Piano Man' turn into a piano?"

Car Commercial

Watching a Honda Civic commercial...

O: "We should better buy that car mom. When ours gets in a crash."

When I'm an Adult

Sitting in the van waiting for me to be ready to leave, the kids often carry on some random conversations. As I was getting in my seat I hear Odan say to his cousin,

O: "When I'm an adult I'm going to find a girl to marry."

P90X

I was doing a workout dvd (P90X) and Odan sat and watched the entire hour while I was working out. I would encourage him to join me, but he decided he wanted to tell me to "keep going mom". In the middle he said this...

O: "Are these guys training to be bad guys?"

Park City

Walking up to Main Street on the 4th of July (we were heading up for an ice cream cone before the fireworks show), and naturally there were lots of parties at random houses we passed, complete with many intoxicated adults and loud music. After awhile on our walk Odan remarks,

O: "Geez, there's a lot of parties in Park City!"

America's Birthday

While waiting for the fireworks show Odan was asking why we do fireworks on America's birthday. I explained it's kind of like when we have cake on our birthdays....

O: "Oh so since America can't eat cake we do fireworks?"

M: "Sure, yeah."

O: "Wait, countries can't eat cake?"

M: "Nope." (I had decided to run with it)

The fireworks show ends and Odan loudly exclaims,

O: "That's enough cake America!"

Darth Maul

Playing the Wii...

O: "Mom! Look! It's double-light saber Darth Maul!"

M: "Well, get him!"

O: "I am but he's too awesome!"

Funhouse Mirror

At the Millcreek library standing in front of a funhouse-type mirror...

Odan laughing and finding himself hilarious...

O: "Mom! Look how ugly I am!!"

A little while later I walk in front of the mirror for a second as he and DeeAnn are still studying themselves and their distorted images...

O: "Haha Mom! Look at how fat you are!"

Squeeze Hug

O: "Do you want to see what a 'squeeze hug' looks like?"

D: "Yes..."

(Odan proceeds to give his daddy a big hug)

O: "That's what it looks like."

D: "Those are my favorite!"

How did you get so big?

M: "Odan! How did you get so big?"

O: "A lot of birthdays! I growed!"

Flowers

At Costco when we pass the flowers, Odan is always telling me to buy some since I love flowers. I explain that buying flowers is  usually for a special occasion.

Yesterday we were at Costco, once again passing the flowers...

O: "Oh, mom, do you get flowers when you get married?"

M: "Yes, lots of people get flowers when they get married."

Fast forward a few hours later we were at the Dollar Store and Odan walks up to a wall of fake flowers and says,

O: "Hey mom! When you get divorced you can have these flowers!"

Miami HEAT

K: "Mom, when I grow up I want to play basketball for the Miami HEAT."

M: "You want to move to Florida?"

K: "Huh?"

M: "So you want to move to Florida?"

O: "No mom, he wants to move to the NBA!"

Anime-Music

O: "Mom, today I want to watch 'Anime-Music'."

M: "I'll think about it."

O: "No, just watch it! Not 'think'!"

Turning off the t.v.

O: "Mom! I'm angry at you for turning off the t.v.!"

M: "Well, I turned off the t.v. so your brain doesn't rot!"

O: "What does 'rot' mean?"

M: "It means 'get dumb'."

O: "Well I want to get dumb!!"

Uncle Ozzie

M: "Odan, who do you want to come to your birthday party?"

O: "Uncle Ozzie. Cause I forgot what he looks like."

Lay With Me

At bedtime.

O: "Mommy, I want you to lay with me."

M: "I can't right now honey."

O: "But my brain and my heart want you to lay with me!"

Back in his room telling King, crying,

O: "Mommy said no."

K: "Then go ask Daddy."

Where we have been all week

SNOWBIRD!!

On the tram...

 

O: "Mom, you are driving me bananas!"

 

Remembering this from last year.

Lebron James

O: "Mom! It's Bron James!"

M: "Lebron James."

O: "Duh-bron James?"

M: "No, Le-bron James."

O: "Oh, so when he was a baby, his mom called him Lebron James?"

M: "Yep."

Godzilla

I overheard the boys while they were watching "Godzilla"...

O: "Is Godzilla done with his swimming lessons?"

K: "No."

O: "Then how come he's fighting in the water?"

The Sky

O: "Mom, how does the sky get washed?"

M: "I don't know...How would you wash the sky?"

O: "When I'm an adult I will just learn how."

At church

We were waiting to go into the chapel (we were late) and standing in the foyer. There were only a few people and it was very quiet. Odan pats my belly and says softly,

O: "Mom, I know there's a baby in there because your belly is getting a little bit fat."

M: "Well, Odan. There's no baby in there."

I look at Kendall and he assures me that I'm not fat, to which I reply and tell him I know. DeeAnn overhearing all of this says to me,

D: "Mom, he was just joking."

O: "No I wasn't!"

Bird Poo

Arriving at Silver Lake up Big Cottonwood Canyon.

O: "That's a lot of bird poo on the mountains."

K: "Odan, that's snow."

O: "No, it's bird poo!"

I'm so sorry

We went to visit Mema on Monday and after giving hugs hello, with no prompting by me, Odan walked right up to her and said,

O: "Mema, I'm so sorry that Grandpa died."

Totally serious and sincere.

This has been a hard week. All week the boys have had sad spells (like being at the park and wanting to go home after 20 minutes - totally out of the ordinary!), random tummy aches and even head aches. I have been surprised at the emotions they are experiencing. I have also been touched by the sincerity of their feelings and thoughts.
After visiting their aunt Angelle we were driving and King says,

K: "Mommy, my tummy hurts."

M: "Are you going to throw up? Are you sick?"

K: "No, I think it just hurts because Grandpa died."

Dealing with death and loss is so hard. I am so thankful we have so many loving, willing hearts out there to comfort and support us. Every call, text, hug, prayer, condolence and listening ear has been so appreciated. We love you ALL!