Moody Ramblings

Josh: "They say crochet is a gentlemans game- but I've played it before, and the temptation to misuse these things is terrible...."

Matthew: "Life would be a lot simpler if we lived back in the cave-man days. Then we could just throw on our leopard skins and hunt."
Dad: But Matthew, don't you know you'd be hunting for meat. You don't even like meat."
Matthew: I guess I'd have to be a vegetarian.

Warning: Kissing

A few days ago Mitchell told me in his most serious voice, "Mom, an angel came down and told me...
NO MORE KISSES!"
My boys say they think kissing is gross. Sometimes Dallan and I like to share a slurpy smooch right in front of them just to hear see them gag and groan. Whenever we're watching a movie with kissing in it, Josh and Matthew turn to each other and yell, "That's YOUR favorite part!" Usually they prefer tickle torture, wrestling and back scratches. When I kiss them goodnight, they like to "wipe it off," but I remind them that mom kisses always stick! I know that deep down they need kisses from mom that always stay with them and never wipe off.
It's going to take more than a visit from an angel to stop the kissing around here. Sorry boys.
SMOOCH!
"Ewww!"

XOXO

Mitchell the great

Mitchell the great has a grandpa who is pretty great himself.

One day Mitchell might let Grandpa win in a sword fight-

especially if he starts getting too old and serious.

But I don't see that happening any time soon.

Do you?

The box with a hole

I love Valentines day! I love the hearts, the candy and the love notes. I even love making Valentine boxes. I pulled out all of my scrap book paper, pipe cleaners, googly eyes and stickers and prepared to help Matthew make something spectacular. He pulled out his orange Nike box, a pair of scissors and jabbed at it until he made an opening.
"I just want a box with a hole," he said.
"But Matthew, you can't just bring a box with a hole...Let's decorate it to look FESTIVE!"
"No, Mom, I just want a box with a hole."
"But Matthew, I even bought these red plastic garbage cans you could use! You could just put a sign on it that says I won't be a grouch if you give me a Valentine. "
"Fine, you can put that sign....on my box with a hole."
"But Matthew, then it wouldn't even make sense..."
After a few minutes of dousing Matthew with my creative juices, we settled on.... a box with a hole. It is his box after all. And it was just the way he wanted it.

Luckily, I made my own Valentine mail box earlier this month. Every day we've been writing compliments to each other that we put it the mailbox. We raise the you've got mail flag then read them at the dinner table.
It makes me smile every time I look at my box and Matthew's box. They epitomize the difference between me and my boys. They'd rather use their creative juices to make the paper tanks that line the dinner table, next to my box. And you know what, that's just the way I like it.

BYU vs UTAH

We decided to venture out as a family one more time

to watch BYU play Utah!

It was even worth getting stuck in traffic!

And even though Dallan just barely made it in time to say the opening prayer

He must have said something right

Go Cougars!

Come to Jesus

One of my favorite songs...

Josh's favorite birthday cake

Recipe: Bake a German chocolate cake mix according to the directions on the box

When cooled, use a wooden spoon to poke around 16 holes all over the top of the cake.

Drizzle the cake with 1 can of sweetened condensed milk and 1 jar of caramel then refrigerate.

Before serving, frost the cake with whip cream and sprinkle with crushed score bars.

Add one great family
and enjoy!

Thank you Louis Sachar

Dear Louis Sachar,
I have an 8 year old little boy who is a great reader. Up until now, however, he has been content to read his 20 minutes a day and be done! Reading for him has been a chore- a school assignment. I've been waiting for him to find a book that makes him want to stay up at night to finish it! I've been hoping that he'd find a book he'd gobble up the way he gobbles doughnuts.
I recently found my little reader devouring "HOLES" with a flashlight in his bed! Now he knows that reading is delicious, and he has a stack of books he's excited to read.
THANK YOU.
I owe you a doughnut!
Sincerely,
a book loving mom.

When we're helping we're happy

Dear teacher,

Almost every day Josh has the assignment to write a letter to his teacher.
His writing makes me laugh out loud.
I especially love how he signs off...

Your student,
awesome-cool, Joshua the elite legendary, famous, superior, flawless exceptional incredible genius.

Your student,
Josh of cool stuff

Your student,
Joshua (who in his desk REALLY has made the deed to own the school)

Your student,
Joshua of greatness and awesomeness and don't forget superior coolness.

Your student,
Joshua- cool to the 300th power

Your student,
Mr. antihomework

Your student,
Inderfernius X


His teacher is a great sport. She has even asked him to look up the Greek/Latin meanings for all parts of the word "Inderfernius." And, in her last note to him, she signed it,
Love,
Mrs. Antihomework.

Volleyball time!

The #5 BYU volleyball team played #3 Stanford last weekend! We rarely take Caleb out in the Winter time, but we really wanted to go as a whole family. So we packed up and met our brother and sister and their cute kids. We were able to sit right behind the team so Caleb's stroller would fit, and we had a great time! I loved being ALL together. I loved not having the tug in my heart to hurry home. And I loved watching Caleb's brother hold his hand when it got a little loud.
BYU basketball plays against UTAH this weekend. I think we just might have to try this again one more time...

Happy Birthday Josh!

Today is Josh's 10th birthday! If you'd like to read his special story from grandma click here.

Josh chose not to read it on her blog this morning. He wanted to get the "full effect" by listening to her read it out loud tonight. When the story ended, my Dad knocked on the door and presented Josh with a giant chocolate bar! These birthday memories are priceless!

Earlier today I found a game I made for Josh's second birthday where each member of our extended family had to either answer a question or act something out. I'm including a sampling for my nostalgic pleasure:

Show us the “Joshie has the power chant” as taught to him by “Papa Moody?”

What does Josh usually say in a typical prayer? “Bless the trains and Bob the builder…”

What does Josh say when he doesn’t want to do something? “No, not today”

What are some of Josh’s favorite songs? Bob the builder, I love you forever, I’ve been working on the railroad, Frosty the snowman, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

Who is his Hero? Bob the builder

Imitate the way Josh says “Too Much” as taught to him by Uncle Darran.

Imitate the way Josh says “Cool Dude” as taught to him by aunt Amy.

Sing the Bob the builder song

Do one of the following “Joshie dances” The bum Dance, or the funny arm dance.

What does Josh say when he makes a shot on his ball hoop? “Nice shot!!”

What does he say when he misses a shot on his ball hoop? “Alllll most”

What does Josh think that the Angel Moroni is holding? A baseball bat

What song does Josh like sung to him by daddy at bedtime? Come come ye Saints

What does Josh call play dough? “squishie”

What does Josh call it when he gets a haircut? “the buzzie”

It's hard to believe that little boy of mine is 10 years old! He's starting his last year of cub scouts. He's replaced his baby teeth with grown up teeth. He reads books with as many pages as the ones I read, and he delights me just as much now as he did then. I love that he is still puzzling out how Santa can make it around the world in one night. I love that he'll still let me hug him on my lap. I love how he whispers "I love you" when I drop him off at school so that only I can hear it. I love that he wanted his own stuffed Tiger for Christmas, and I love that he named it Bob.

I love you, Josh/inderfernius X...

all the way to 10 years plus infinity

Better late than never

We called it "Hansel and Gretel's house"...

Osmosis

Tonight Josh is sleeping with a book under his pillow just to see if osmosis really works...

I forgot

I almost forgot that doing the dishes makes
"magic bubble water!"

Thanks for reminding me, Mitchie!