Leaving Zion

Odan loves hiking. When we were getting ready to leave, he negotiated for us to do 2 more hikes before we left. He kept saying,

O: "Mom, I don't want to leave Zion National Park. I just love it here. I want to stay here forever."

The Judge

O: "Who is the judge?"

M: "Of what?"

O: "Of our country."

M: "There are 12 and they're called the Supreme Court."

O: "Why are there 12? For different countries?"

M: "Nope, they're for our whole country."

Almost there

While on a longer hike the kids were starting to get tired. So Kendall tells them,

K: "I think we're almost there."

Odan agrees saying,

O: "Guys, I can feel in my belly that we are almost there."

Cactus

While hiking, Kendall stops the kids to show them a funny looking cactus,

K: "Hey guys look at this cactus, it's all wrinkly!"

O: "Maybe it took a shower."

Time

On our road trip down to Zion National Park, Kendall was sitting in the back with the boys, asking them about their day.

K: "Odan, did you get out of school on time?"

O: "Uh, mom did I?"

I nod yes.

O: "I don't know time."

M: "Yet."

He turns to Kendall and explains,

O: "Yeah, I don't know time yet."

You're bugging me

O: "Hey mom, do you know what you should say when you see a bug?"

M: "What?"

O: "Hey bug, you're bugging me! Get it? Bugging me because he's a bug?"

He laughs at his own joke. I laugh too,

M: "You're funny Odan."

'Thriller'

Listening to 'Thriller' on the radio.

O: "Mom, what does 'thriller' mean?"

M: "Um, it means surprised and scared and unexpected. All those things in one."

We get out of the car after the song ends,

O: "Hey King, do you know why I like that song?"

K: "Why?"

O: "Because it rocks!"

Favorite part of the day

M: "Hey Odan, what has been your favorite part of today?"

He looks very seriously at me and says,

O: "I don't know yet."

I Love Valentine's Day!

Driving down the road the kids were talking about Valentine's day...

O: "I love Valentine's Day!"

K: "Valentine's Day is all about candy."

O: "It is??"

Say Something Funny

A friend was over and was talking about Odan. He called Odan into the room and said,

S: "Odan, say something funny."

Odan, a little shy at the sudden silence awaiting his reply as everyone was staring at him says very normally,

O: "Poo."

The friend and my husband bust out laughing hysterically.

Ode to Big Blue

As per my dad's request, I played a Gordon Lightfoot song for my kids, "Ode to Big Blue". They loved it, asking to listen to it again. As they were getting ready for bed, I overhear Odan tell King,

O: "King, isn't that kind of a sad song? Because he passes away."

Winner

O: "Mom, King was a winner."

K: "At what?"

O: "You were a winner."

K: "At what?"

O: "Uh, I forgot."

Opening Ceremonies

Kendall was feeding the kids breakfast Saturday morning, talking to them,

K: "So did you guys watch the Opening Ceremonies with Mommy last night?"

O: "Yeah. It was so lame."

Team Cheer

Odan and I were watching the opening ceremonies of the Olympics and we started stacking our hands one on top of another. Next thing I know Odan says,

O: "No mom, just leave your hands on mine."

M: "Okay."

O: "Gooooooo Barrowes!!"

(as he ritualistically raises our hands in the air)

Gas pipeline

They are tearing up 1300 East to put in a new gas line. We drive through the construction every day. Today DeeAnn asked me why they are "breaking the road". I told her I'd explain when we get home...

O: "No, tell us now."

M: "Okay. Do you know what 'gas' is?"

O: "Yes, it makes cars go."

M: "That's right, but it is also used to warm our homes through our heater, and our water through our water heater. So they have gas lines that go into our houses so we can have heat."

O: "Ew. And our farts are made of gas."

M: "Yes, well that's a different kind of gas."

"You Gotta Be"

I scored a 'NOW 1990's Alternative' cd at the library. Driving down the road singing "You Gotta Be" by Des'ree with Odan in the back looking through his library books listening to me sing. The song ends and Odan says,

O: "Well that was a lame song."

New pants

I took Odan to get some new "play" pants. We are in the Old Navy dressing room. He tries on the first pair...

M: "So how do these pants feel?"

O: "Good. I just farted in them."

I'm trying not to laugh...

M: "Okay, guess we'll get these ones for sure!"

A Good Feeling

This is an old one, from over a year ago that I recently found...

O: "I have a good feeling."

M: "What is it?"

O: "It's that Uncle Issac's house is not going to explode. Home is a place in your heart that will never explode."

I'm so hungry!

It was past bedtime. All the kids were tucked in, and Odan kept complaining,

O: "Mom! I'm so hungry! I'm as hungry as 200 elephants!"