2 Churchlynn Stories

I lost my wedding ring a couple of weeks ago. Each night I take it off and place it on our dresser next to the bed. My hands get so dry during the winter I have to lather them in eucerin before bed so they don't crack and bleed- and I just don't like the greasy stuff on my ring. So around noon one day I realized I hadn't put my ring back on yet. I went directly to the dresser and found it was gone. Immediately I called Jo and Tic to my room, asking if they'd seen my ring or taken it somewhere. I assured them they weren't in trouble. They swore they didn't have a clue where the ring was. I wasn't too worried because I was 99.9999532% positive one of them had taken it and the ring was still in the house somewhere. Only a matter of time before I found it. So 2 days ago I'm looking under our couch and Jo comes waltzing by, "What are you doing Mama?"
"I'm looking for my ring," pointing to my ring finger, "remember?"
"You're looking for your ring again?"
"Yep! If you ever see my ring make sure to bring it right to Mama, okay?" bending back down to keep looking.
Jo pauses for a minute. "Probably it's in your light." I stop.
"What?"
"Probably it's in your light by your bed." Both of us take off down the hall. Ryan and I have an old fashioned style of lamp by our bed, sort of like this:

It's not an oil lamp but looks a bit like one. I pull out the glass covering around the bulb finding the following locked inside: 4 sewing pins, 1 paper clip, and 1 diamond ring! According to the Jo Tic likes to drop things in the lamp. Probably he was the guilty party. So if you lose anything ask Jo. Probably she'll know where it Probably is.

Yesterday after playing outside for about 5 minutes Jo was cold and wanted to go back in. Atticus was still having a grand time so I let Jo go in by herself and said, "Just poke you're head out the door and call me if you need anything!"
Within a couple of minutes I heard her muffled voice calling me behind the still, closed door. I opened it slightly. "What do you need?"
"I need to go potty!"
I helped Jo with her business and went to leave.
"So Mom?"
"Yes?"
"If I need you again I just poke my head and stand by the door and call you and you'll come again?"
Such a great image! Jo repeatedly poking herself in the head with her index finger behind the closed front door and calling for me! I love how her mind works:).

Things

I'm sad. I've lost my cord to transfer pictures to the computer. Lame, lame, lame, lame, LAME.

This morning Ryan left for work and quickly realized he had a flat tire. So he turned around and came home. Atticus was the only one awake at this point so I turned on "dinosaurs" (Land before Time) , put on my coat, and went out to try and help. I've never changed a flat. I don't know if Ryan had. The car manual came in handy! After about 10 minutes I came back inside, finding two little churchlynns holding each other behind the couch with big, rolling tears on their cheeks. I realized very quickly that Jo had woken up and the two had searched our apartment for me, deciding they'd been abandoned by their mother. They looked at me with such relief! As if they never could have hoped for so much! The look on their faces was heartbreaking. I quickly knelt down and threw my arms around them telling them over and over again that Daddy and Mama would never ever leave them alone. They were quickly reassured. I, on the other hand, had to kiss them and squeeze them every minute for the next hour- such guilt for causing so much fear!

Jo just asked me, "Mama, are girls idiots or are boys idiots?" Pause. How to answer...

A moment like this

Some people wait a lifetime

for a moment like this!

Today as Atticus and Jo were playing some game, running up and down our hallway, I could not help but smile. I hear Jo, "Akus! Akus! Stop. Akus, I love you." And then in reply, "audge ou, Jo." And then more running and laughing. SO SWEET.

Answers to the vocab quiz.

churchlynn- a baby animal, but we call the kids churchlynns just to make them mad. "No! I'm not a churchlynn, Mom!" Ha ha.
waa-ting- sword
wan hold ju- I want you to hold me
bottle- sippy cup
porphas- pretzels
squeeze- hug
cars- anything with singular or plural wheels
purpits- we honestly don't know. I was hoping someone could shed some light for me. We know they are something Jo keeps under her shirt and we know Tigger (from Winnie the Pooh) is one.
baa- sheep
make- cook food
boop- belly button
mooBee- movie
bubba- little brown dog Jo sleeps with
loves- kisses and hugs together
saucy- not exactly sure on this one. But it's refering to food that tastes good. That's all I've been able to conclude. (Jo at dinner) "Mom, this is SAUCY!" Pretty cute.
rhar- anything with teeth: tiger, lion, rhino, dinosaur, monster, shark, etc.

Fishystat- Jo
Peeleaf- Me
Worschrystat- Ryan
Lehi- Atticus
Decoin- Casey
Snugglie- Andrew
Dobby- Jane
Hinjolt- Me again

I'll tell you what, not just anyone gets a name. Jo is very particular about who she bestows them on. Be offended if you're not on the list. And let her know that you need to be. Christy is definitely the winner. And her prize... is... um... a play date. With said churchlynns. All by herself (I mean she'll still have her kids and household duties and everything). So we'll drop them off, leave for a few hours, go do something inconsequential (like a hot date). That means she'll get to entertain and feed them. I know what you're thinking, "Sounds a lot like babysitting." But it's not. See, you volunteer to babysit. This is a prize bestowed on you. So be grateful, Chris:).

Vocabulary Quiz

How confident do you feel communicating with Jo and Atticus? This is a list of words they've made up or substituted for other words. You're job is to define each one as the identified child would. You will receive your score by mail within 10 business days. All sales final. We do not guarantee your satisfaction. The end.

Jo- churchlynn
Atticus- waa-ting
Both- wan hold ju
Both- bottle
Jo- porphas
Both- squeeze
Atticus- cars
Jo- purpits
Atticus- baa
Both- make
Atticus- boop
Atticus- mooBee
Jo (but stolen from Sophie)- bubba
Both- loves
Jo- saucy
Atticus- rhar

And these are names Jo's given people. I think mostly we use these names just when we're fighting monsters. Who are they? (hint: one person is used more than once.)

Fishystat
Peeleaf
Worschrystat
Lehi
Decoin
Snugglie
Dobby
Hinjolt

"May-be some-day you could be...as spiritual as me!"

This is a song from Sons of Provo (which I think is one of the funniest movies EVER made- hey, it's just my opinion) which I have been thinking about today. I feel like my shorties running around the house have been humming it as they play.

The other day Jo got out her doll with a Velcro body- you know, one of those you can dress yourself. She carefully thumbed through the available clothes and pulled out a little tennis outfit.

"Now my doll needs to go to the temple!"

"She does?"

"Yeah. She needs to go to the temple and get married." I guess since the tennis outfit had a skirt it could double as a wedding gown.

So Jo gallops Ms. doll over to our bookcase behind Maggie's swing. This bookcase is wonderful. I love it. Ryan made if for me a couple of years ago. The chillins also love the bookcase. It serves as anything and everything they might need. The doctor's, school, work, hiding place, the long level plains in which their dinosaurs roam. ETC. This particular day it was the temple. Jo said a few words for her doll and then announced, "She needs a prince!"

Well of course she does! So Jo rummaged through her toys and came bounding back out with a prince.

There's the handsome devil. All ready for his wedding of the century. Jo is no respecter of species.

I couldn't hear the ceremony but after it was over Jo announced that her doll could go home. And she did, leaving her prince forgotten at the temple. I'm not sure she understands marriage... we'll keep working on that! All laughs aside, I was so happy that she knows people should be married in temples. That's where she plans to get married. And she can absolutely recognize a picture of a temple.

Yesterday evening we watched The Testaments together as a family. The kids really paid attention, asking very important questions which Ryan and I answered as best we could. We were impressed at the light their spirits came with and the light they eagerly seek already. This morning after Jo woke up and had breakfast she turned to me, "Can we watch the Jesus movie?"

Of course they could. I turned it on and they watched almost the entire thing without moving. Again, they would occasionally ask me questions. They were especially concerned when the Nephite prophet was murdered and, even more so, when the Savior was crucified. Why were the people hurting them? It is a difficult thing to explain to myself let alone my young children. I feel so strongly the need to teach Jo and Atticus who Christ is, what He did for us, and why we need Him. For them to know He loves us. That He loves them. I am grateful to have the gospel. We have every answer available. The Truth available. My hope is that I can come to know that Truth more fully, that I may teach these sweeties Who to look to.

Halloween 2010

Halloween was a blast. The weather was unfortunate. In fact, I started to cry when I thought we weren't going to go trick or treating. Cry. Like a 7 year old. I really like Halloween apparently:). But the rain eventually let up and I was smiling again.

Jo's been saying for the past 3 weeks that she wanted to be a Panda Bear Princess for Halloween. A panda bear princess is a panda bear who then dresses up for Halloween as a princess. The costume has Jo's name all over it. Then about a week ago we mentioned painting her face to look like the panda bear and Jo was all done. All done with the costume and with trick or treating. For some reason she's really scarred of paint and make up on her. After a lot of explaining and practicing she finally struck a compromise with us. She would be a panda bear princess and go trick or treating if we did not paint her face or make her hair look like panda ears. So she would just PRETEND to be a panda bear but actually look like a princess. Here she is, pretend panda bear dressed like an actual princess (Did you follow all of that?).

Atticus was a car of course. I made the costume. I thought it was pretty cute. Thanks to Jen for the idea!

And Maggie was a toothless but still predator-like tiger.

I know exactly what you're thinking- run! hide!

Ready to Go!

I was Davey Crockett. Ryan didn't think the pictures captured the scruff very well, but I assure you, there was facial hair.

Aiming for the kill.

And Ryan went as himself.

We debated whether or not the machete could come. Finally we concluded that as long as he didn't actually use it, the weapon would be alright on his back.

The kids had SO much fun trick or treating! And Ryan and I had a lot of laughs. We ended up going around with their friend, Pearson, who lives across the street. Atticus was a machine. He just ran, pushing through anyone in his way. Unfortunately his high-quality, homemade costume broke down almost immediately. The muffler fell off on the way out the door, the first string broke after the first house, a wheel rolled away two more houses down the block, then the next string went, then 2 more wheels. Finally I took it off and just let him be a cute little boy in an orange sweater (eventually I stopped back at home and got him a cape and sword). It was awesome watching Tic though as the car fell apart. After the second string broke he just picked the box up and carried it (still around his body) while running to the next house. Ry and I were laughing pretty hard. It was very cute and so Atticus- strong and determined, strongly determined, determined to be strong! Jo was also excellent to watch. When the door would open Jo would say "trick or treat" as quick as she could, drop her bucket in front of the person, and step back. Like she was saying - Fill me up! Loved it. Loved it all. Happy Halloween!

First Snow

This week was the first snow of the year! As soon as we could we got on our boots and ran through our 1 or 1/2 inch layer of snow in the yard. The kids were in heaven. I was grateful Mags slept most of the time so we could enjoy a snowball fight.

We also made the littlest snowman in the whole world.









Later that day: Mags is still freaking cute.

Septober

If my honey were to die today I think I would forever remember him as he is in this picture.

He's so freaking handsome. I just had to say it. He's attractive.

I love the fall. Our neighborhood has HUGE trees in most of the yards with TONS of orange and yellow leaves piled high below their branches. I love it. I love the cool air. I love that sweaters have been pulled out again. And Halloween! I'm sad that we can't be with any family this year, but still. HALLOWEEN.

And I love that my birthday come just before Halloween. Because sometimes I've been really lucky to receive holiday decor as gifts. This pumpkin was from Mama Strong last year. Love it.

And my Mom gave me these witch shoes last year. She's so sweet! I mentioned once that I wanted to collect witch stuff and since has found a witch gift each year. Love them. Kind of wish I had shoes just like these!

Maybe we'll be home and will actually give candy out this year:). That would be a first. I hope the little churchlynns enjoy trick or treating. But I'm worried. Jo just notified me that she no longer wants to be a panda bear princess. She doesn't want her face painted, she doesn't want to be silly, she does not want to dress up and get candy. As of today she wants nothing to do with it. Does that mean I can be a panda bear princess and take her trick or treating place? I'm willing.

We carved pumpkins a week ago for FHE.

They started growing hair out of their mouths and melting disgusting fluids onto our counter tops. So they are now in the garbage. Actually by now they're at the local landfill. But here they are before their mutations took over.

Ryan's pirate is pretty sweet. I named mine "Bella" because she can't quite close her mouth and looks a little like she's grown some rabbit teeth. Ry asked Jo what face her pumpkin should have. Sad. A sad face. What kid chooses that?

She was pretty stinkin' cute carrying around her tiny pumpkin for the next few days.

And here's Maggie in the super-cute Halloween onesie Jen sent her, complete with ballerina socks, also sent by Jen.

Another thing I absolutely love about fall is the harvest. We don't have a garden or fruit trees, but we know nice people who do. We've been given apples, tomatoes, peaches, plums, and peppers. I just finished drying lots of the apples. So yummy.

And FYI- Ryan did not go to school dressed in the below attire. It was crazy hair day and when he refused to wear the shown wig I posted it for his students to see. Boring old Ryan. The pictures were from the Strong Family Halloween Party a couple of weeks ago.

Happy Septober!

I heard it was crazy hair day at SJHS...

Does anyone have a memory eraser?

A lot of people say children don't remember much, especially young children. I'm really hoping this is true. Today while I was talking to Mom on the phone Jo ran in and grabbed my hand, "Mama! Mama! We found dolls! Come on!" So I let her lead me down the hall to an open box in Maggie's room and a grinning Atticus. They had found their Christmas present: a box full of dolls and doll house furniture. This will be accompanied with an actual doll house as well... so they didn't see the whole thing. But I was still pretty bummed. They wanted to play with their found treasure, of course. And, of course, they couldn't. So I hung up with Mom and told them both that we had to put the dolls away. "Why can't we play?", Jo asked with tears forming.
"Because they're a present."
"For what?"
Sigh, "For Christmas."
Eye's perking up a bit, "For me?"
"Yes, Jo. For you."
So the secret is out. Here's where I'm hoping Jo's memory won't be so good. But I'm feeling slightly pessimistic. The other day when putting a sweater on Jo she started complaining, "I don't want to wear this jacket, Mama. It's scratchy. It's scratchy like the green jacket." There's only ever been one green "jacket." A wool sweater that Dad's grandma, Nana, made and we stole from Mom and Dad's house. Jo never really wore it because she always started whineing if we put it on her. She was about 18 months to 2 years old! And she's 3 1/2 now! Crazy. Then just barely, as I was putting our vacuum away, Jo runs past and says, "We don't have a green vacuum anymore." She kept running as my jaw dropped. We haven't had a green vacuum since our FIRST apartment. And we moved from that apartment when Jo was 2 months old. CREEPY. And here is my super-memory-girl wearing Maggie's 0-3 month old pants. Is it wrong that they fit perfectly like cute shorts?

She might be my favorite

We moved Maggie into a separate bedroom last night. And she slept NINE+ hours without stirring! Almost 8 weeks. 9 hours. I love this girl.

Sweet Sisters

Because I'm sick of Kristi's complaining

You wanted pictures of me. I'm usually the only one who takes pictures. So, upon your requests/complaining I took these lovely photos so you could see what I'm looking like these days.

Frightening. It's kind of a more homely... frumpy... bad breath sort of look.
This next one is my attempt to look like that guy who hates "all the orphans in the whole world" from Nacho Libre.

I don't think I pulled it off. Love how Jo's looking all admiringly at me. Jo shouldn't admire that. Bad Jo. Bad. Jo requested we take a "silly" picture next.

Kristi, I hope you learned your lesson.

What we did for FHE

We learned about scriptures. But then we had a special activity inspired by cousin Sophie.

Not pictured: Ryan and Amy also jumping off the couch.

Atticus's 2nd Birthday

I can't believe Atticus is TWO. He's getting so big. I love my Atticus. He is the greatest little snuggler. Most mornings he comes in and wakes me up by climbing into my bed and wrapping his arms tightly around my neck. Then we both fall back asleep for a little while. He also is so sweet with his new baby sister. Tic is asking me all day long to hold and kiss Maggie. We have to be careful with babies as Atticus doesn't know his own strength. But he only has good intentions! And every day when Ryan gets home Atticus drops whatever it is he is doing, yells "DADDY" and runs as fast as he can around the kitchen table to get to the front door. Everyone knows how strong and and athletic he is- we're not sure if he'll lean towards marshal arts, football, or sumo wrestling. We just know he'll always be dangerous for small animals and people. Tic's also very smart. He's learning to count. He loves to sing ABC's, Child O God, Round and Round (wheels on the bus), and tinkle tinkle little TAR. His favorite movie is CARS and his favorite toys are cars and rhars (dinosaurs, tigers, monsters, etc.). We're working with the Tic to not be a RHAR himself as he makes a lot of people cry- including me:)! Happy birthday Atticus!

Trying to get a good picture on his birthday:

Bingo!

We had a little party with cousins in the backyard.

Ryan and I made this cake. Ry was very creative making these little cars! And Tic loved them.

Thanks everyone for remembering this little guy! He loves you. Even if he RHARS right in your face and/or bites you.