This Graffiti is So Cute!

This is how I discovered that my kindergartener had discovered written word:

"I like you"

"I love you"

It might have made me mad, if the messages weren't so sweet.

The cuteness stopped in December, when I bought several cans of hot chocolate to give away as gifts.  My son was not pleased with the plan to give the hot chocolate away.

"NO Mom and Dad do not giv this or ol kll you"

I told him that we don't tell people we will kill them because that is really mean, and he amended his threat as follows:

"or ol mak you do chors"

When My Brother's Family was in Town

The babies went on a car ride together.  My kid thinks cars are for making out.

We celebrated baby's first birthday.

After swimming and baseball (which my three-year-old loved), we watched Sandlot.  My 8 year-old daughter and 7 year-old niece were shocked by the comment in the movie, "You throw like a girl."  I was pleased to see that neither had heard that expression before.

Seasons Greetings

My job is swell.

1.  Once again, my office is mysteriously the only one around here to get on the Obama family Christmas card list.  This year it's a pop-up card!

 
2.  In other work-related bragging news,  I got an office with a window.  It only took 10 years.

3.  More importantly, this has been a great year for successful work in preventing infant mortality. It is exciting to have the opportunity to work in a job where we make a difference.

 http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865589475/Infant-mortality-rate-drops-amid-Pacific-Islander-moms-in-Utah.html?pg=all

Uncle/Nephew Resemblance?

So, my kids all agreed that these two retro Christmas ornaments of my brother were actually pictures of my oldest son. 

Here is another ornament that actually has my son in it. 

Baptism

This past May, my oldest daughter was baptized.

Her dad baptized and confirmed her.

And her mom (that's me) planned the program and gave a talk about the baptismal covenant.  I was glad I had the opportunity to assign myself to speak.  I love teaching the concepts of mourning with those that mourn, comforting those that stand in need of comfort, bearing one another's burdens and standing as a witness of God.

And as a member of my daughter's Primary presidency,  I also made her a memento on the same topic.

Her aunt and grandma came from Arizona for the event.

Both participated in the program, with her aunt giving a prayer and grandma reading passages from a book about the Holy Ghost that she gave her as a gift (with a cover illustration that looks a lot like my daughter.)

My side of the family participated, too.  My dad gave the closing prayer and my mom and I sang,  Can a Little Child Like Me?  (My mom and my sister are also responsible for the adorable french braids.)

I asked my niece, the most recently baptized member of our family, to give a talk.  She did a wonderful job.  

The little brothers did not have any jobs on the program, but the oldest said a lot anyway, like, "My cousin is going to talk?   What is she going to say?"

I asked my daughter what songs she would like to sing, and she chose The Second Article of Faith, an odd choice for a baptism, but it was her special day and I wasn't about to veto her request.  We also sang When I am Baptized (a more traditional choice).

And we watched a couple short videos:

After her baptism, I went to help her get changed and found her in the dressing room, crying while grinning from ear to ear.  I am so glad it was a moving experience for her.

Kid Ethics

My 3-year-old came to me with a 5 dollar bill.  "I have money!" He exclaimed.

"Is that your sister's money?" I asked.

"It's my money," he chirped happily.

"It can't be your money," I explained.  "You don't have any way of getting money.  You don't have a job."

"I can get money," he rebutted. "I sneak into Sister's room and I take it."