Crush

"Mommy, do you know what a crush is?" "Yes, Merrody, I know what a crush is" "...because I have a crush on David and David has a crush on me." "Well, have all the crushes you want, but no holding hands, hugging, or kissing." (Laughing) "Oh, Mommy, that's not what you do when you have a crush." Sweet little thing thinks she invented the crush! If only all of her crushes could be nerdy little kids in the first grade forever!

Happy Campers

We spent last night at a cabin in Ensign Ranch (a church owned camp about 1 1/2 hrs from here). It was very fun and a much needed break for our family. The kids were so happy and the fall weather was PERFECT! We cooked hotdogs over a fire and hiked around. Too bad the rain kept us from the horseback and canoe rides. Next time...

Where's Joely?

So, I went to tuck the kids in long after they should've all been asleep.

First, I went into the boys' room and found this:

It didn't take long to figure out where Joel was.

Sweet little guy was curled up in Merrody's bed! I love Joely.

Don't forget the keys

So, I was pretty sure it was going to be an okay Sacramaent Meeting. We got there five minutes early (a miracle with an 8:30 ward) and the kids were playing quietly when church started. When it came time for the sacrament to be passed, things were still going okay. I was thrilled! Then it came time for the water to be passed... Apparently, Joel likes to do everything himself. He touches about 15 pieces of bread before choosing one and often as many cups. So, Matt picked a cup up and handed it to Joel. Well, he wasn't having that and refused to take the water at all. Of course, after it was gone he started crying for water. I kept whispering into his ear and trying to calm him down, promising that I would take him out and get him a drink as soon as the sacrament was over. Finally, he was making such a fuss that Matt took him out in the middle of the sacrament. He brought him back in a few minutes later and he immediately began asking for water again. He wanted me to get him a drink, not Daddy. So, I took him out to the water fountain. Then, he wouldn't take a drink with me watching and insisted that I "go away". Well, after much frustration, I decided to run into the bathroom. When I came back he was opening and closing the door at the front of the chapel (by the stand). I grabbed him and he started screaming bloody murder, so I took him outside. Then he started screaming and running away. There I was, pregnant and in heels, chasing after a screaming 4 year old. I decided my only option was to restrain him by buckling him in his car seat. Luckily, the car was unlocked. So, I told him he was going to have a timeout in his carseat until he could calm down and go back into Sacrament Meeting. I buckled him in and sat in the passenger's seat. He started opening and shutting the sliding door, so I locked the door from inside and sat there quietly while he was calming down. Well, when I was pretty sure he had calmed down, I decided to get out and take him back into church. As soon as I unlocked the door to get out, the car alarm started going off! I jumped out of the car and was about to get Joel out and run inside to get the keys to turn off the alarm, when the doors locked me out. Now, Joel was in the car and the car alarm was going off and I didn't have the keys! The entire congregation watched me walk up to our row (three rows from the front) to get the keys from Matt as the car alarm was blaring in the background. And after an hour of heck, the little sweetie went right to primary with no trouble and a smile on his face. Isn't church fun?!