Monday 10

1. All my life I have tried very hard to never learn how to play the organ. That dream came plummeting down yesterday as the usual ward organist coerced me into playing for him. It was scary - the organ is SO different from the piano. But I survived. My dream of never having to be a ward organist is over. . . . and I guess it wasn't so bad. As long as it doesn't become my 3rd calling.

2. Benjamin is an absolute riot lately. Its really hard to explain unless you hang out with him for a while. . . but he is hilarious! Ok maybe he's mostly crazy but nevertheless, he cracks me up. It doesn't seem right but even when he is SO naughty I can't help but laugh my head off at him! There is just something about that kid that makes me and everyone around him smile. He has probably the most infectious laugh / giggle I've ever heard - and he probably laughs a lot more than anyone I've ever met! He's also VERY loud. I don't know why he has become so loud but he is. He loves to scream at the top of his lungs whenever we go to Wal-mart (and then laugh his head off about it of course) - I think its because of the acoustics in there - he LOVES to hear himself. He loves attention - and believe me he knows how to get it. Almost to the point that it gets embarrassing. Sometimes I don't really know what to do with the kid - so we just laugh.

3. Tanner seems to really have blossomed the past couple months. I have suddenly seen such a huge jump in his writing / drawing / coloring skills. He really has nice handwriting which really surprises me - almost better than Daddy's! But he is a lefty so maybe he just has a bit more of an artistic side than we know. It just seems like overnight he went from scribbling to coloring beautiful pictures and staying in the lines! He's quite the perfectionist. I no longer worry that he'll be ready for Kindergarten. He's also become quite interested in music and I need to get him going on an instrument soon while he has the interest. Anyway, crazy how they grow up so fast - literally overnight!

4. Benjamin has become a fantastic little conniver (is that how you spell it?). Probably a month ago he figured out if he says "mommy need hug" that it melts mommy's heart and she comes running whenever he wants her for anything. Now that mommy has figured out that he is just using her to get what he wants its not so cute. He screams "need hug mommy" or "right here" very loudly and for a long time now without any results. How sad.

5. Yesterday Spencer and I became the parents that everyone hopes to never be. We were interrupted during a very nice Sunday School lesson by a member of the Primary Presidency who said they needed help with our extremely disruptive, loud, and naughty child (she didn't say this of course but she probably wanted to. . . ) who was kicking and screaming and then ran away from them as he was trying to be calmed down in the middle of singing time. It was horrible. As sweet and amazing as Tanner can be at times, he can also be SO ornery and stubborn and mean. I don't know what we have done wrong. Needless to say we had a very long and detailed FHE lesson tonight on kindness, among other things. I think he needs FHE lessons every night. (His rottenness has seriously been since he turned 5. Has anyone else struggled with 5 year olds?)

6. I have such a new love for cooking and baking things. Last night I bribed my brothers (and their significant others of course) down here by baking cinnamon rolls. They are quite tasty but very fattening I'm afraid. Spencer and I also had our best ever round of the game "Compatibility!" I guess we really are compatible after all these years! Fun to hang with them all though.

7. My tulips are finally in bloom! And they are quite beautiful I might add. My boys and I had fun this morning planting pansies all around them to hopefully start to fill in my berm areas in the front. We still have a long way to go. . . but its fun!

8. If anyone is looking for a great little series of books to read I just read some of the best books. Its "The Hunger Games" by Suzanne Collins - followed by "Catching Fire." SO Good. I couldn't put them down. They were the cause of a couple bad mommy days. The only problem is that the third book in the series (and also the last) doesn't come out until August. Hopefully I last that long - these books kind of leave you hanging - but so worth it!

9. Benjamin turns 3 in a little less than a month. His birthday's are really hard for me. But this will be even harder since once he turns 3 all the early intervention he has received - all the therapists and playgroups etc. will end. He will go into preschool but since his birthday is the end of the school year he won't start until next fall. So we are going to have to come up with some things to keep us busy - and I'm sure we will - but its just crazy how full and busy our lives have been with all these amazing people who have worked with him! We have been so very lucky.

10. I forgot to mention how much fun we had on Saturday at the final spring practice for the BYU football team. Its so funny how used to this kind of thing our kids have become. Now we just have to wait until fall until the real games and fun starts all over again! It hasn't even started yet but I'm already feeling like summer is overrated. . . . kinda.