Not too old

I always seem to be surrounded by people older than me. Obviously being the youngest in my family does that. My freshman year of college all of my roommates were juniors and seniors. Most people assumed I was older because, why would a bunch of seniors room with a freshman (answer: my sister was one of those seniors).

One day I was talking to John (who then was merely a friend) and his roommate Spencer. They were discussing how they really wanted to move out of the apartment complex we were in. Spencer lamented the fact that "It seems like all the girls here are 19 year old UVSC students." At first, I laughed at the joke, because I was a 19 year old UVSC student. Then I realized that it wasn't a joke. He didn't realize that I was only 19. So instead of him teasing me about being young I got to tease him about being a jerk (Spencer and his wife are still dear friends of John and I. I wasn't really offended but it's great that I can still tease him about it 10 years later).

Now my friends are still for the most part all older than me. Every birthday I still feel like I am the young one (it helps to have my husband 4 years older than me).

My birthday is on Sunday. I was feeling great about being so young. Then this morning, I found my first grey hair. Maybe it's time I stop deluding myself.

April Fooling

I considered writing a post yesterday to tell everyone that John had quit his job and we were moving to Brazil to teach English, but I just didn't feel up to creative writing. So the best of my April fools was the dinner I made for the kids. I told them we were having cupcakes for dinner with berry soda.

Hyrum was positively thrilled.

He was a little less than thrilled when he discovered that the cupcakes were actually shepherds pie covered with mashed potatoes died pink.

This kids did like their jello drink even though they eventually discovered that the straws were a little bit useless.

Of course we had pizza for dessert.

Brothers

It was dinner time and the kids were getting cranky waiting for dinner. One was sent to the corner, the other one nursing an injury. I gave them the play nice lecture and left the room hoping that they could make it another 10 minutes without hurting each other.

Instead of crying I heard something that can be even more terrifying to a mother. Quiet. Generally that means that they are up to no good. I went in to see what they were up to and this is what I saw.

It melted my heart. Alan was reading to Hyrum. This is especially significant because this is the first time Alan has every voluntarily read a book. He is quite intelligent but really doesn't have much interest in reading. Seeing the two of them together was just one of those moments that made me say, It's good to be a mom.

Maybe I need to brush up on my smooching technique

Portrait by Alan

"Mom Kissing Me"

Would you like me to crush your spirit now or later?

Alan spent the rest of his sick day planing/trying to build a club house/island in our back yard. He worked hard on it for hours. He asked me to help him dig (the moat that would make it an island). I said no. Does the kid give up? No. He comes up with this.

In case you are wondering, it's a sign up sheet. It says please come dig at our house Saturday. It is currently in our front yard. He even attached a pencil for you. Would you like to come and sign up?

I'm not sure if I should let him go with this and get frustrated at the end result, or if I should get this over with and just tell him that this is ridiculous. I drew the line when he said he wanted to knock on doors to ask people to help. Alan isn't letting up either. As soon as he got home from school today he went to the box to see who had signed up. Maybe I'll try paying him 50 cents to forget about it.

Sick Day

Alan was sent home from school yesterday with Strep Throat. We were able to get him started on antibiotics last night but he has to do the obligatory 24 hours on antibiotics before he can return to school. The reason he was sent to school on Monday is because the kid just doesn't act sick. So Alan's "sick day" so far has been spent riding bikes, jumping on the trampoline and having a picnic. Gee, missing school sure is tough.