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!"