The Leatherwoods: June 2010

Thursday, June 10, 2010

Double digits

Jackson turned 10 years old back on May 12th and he made a very astute observation that day ... Dave and I now have two kids in "double digits." It's possible that he was just calling us OLD, but since it was his birthday, we let it slide ... just this once. He wanted a DSi and a Pokemon (can some one PLEASE tell me when the POKEMON phase ENDS!!!) game, so he was happy about that. He's also OBSESSED with Fanta, so his very own 12-pack made him pretty happy. He now walks around with an orange mustache all the time.
He requested "that one chocolate cake with the whipped cream and toffee." Seemed inappropriate to make BTS cake for a 10-year-old's birthday, so we called it "that one chocolate cake with the whipped cream and toffee" and nobody knew the difference. I'm no Betty Crocker, but I seriously rock at this cake (probably cause it's super easy and has like five ingredients). I'm just sayin.
Jackson elected to go to Jump-On-It for his birthday and we took Landon along with us. The kids had a FANTASTIC time in the huge warehouse FULL of trampolines. I'm not sure who owns this place, but seriously .... WHAT A BRILLIANT IDEA! The kids loved it, Dave might have loved it even more, and Jackson had a really fun birthday. I was the designated camera operator and got some great shots of the kids having fun.

I'm thinking my kids are a bunch of camera-hogging show-offs. They were seriously clamoring for my attention the ENTIRE time. Gee ... I wonder where they get it from?!!

I guess I am a little floored by the fact that I have "two kids in double digits." As cliche as it is, time has really flown by. Seems like yesterday Jackson was just a baby in my arms, and now I have to catch up with him if I want his attention. He was such a good baby and never really cried or anything. He's grown into a really fun personality since then. He's very talkative and jokes around A LOT. He's a great brother and spends a lot of time with T.J. and London making them laugh and making up fun games for them to play together. Austin and Jackson have been inseparable since Jackson was born. They go everywhere together, do everything together, share friends, share a room, have fun together, laugh uncontrollably together .... and I couldn't love it more. They really are best friends, and they almost never fight with each other. What they have is really fun for me to watch, and I just hope they always stays that way. Jackson keeps us laughing and smiling with his sense of humor and prides himself on being the "most entertaining kid" in his school class. He's fun to be around and loves to have a good time. What a great kid. Love you Jacks. Welcome to the double digits.

Funny kids

A new road just opened up by us called Pioneer Crossing. T.J. and I were on it the other day when he asked where all the pioneers were. I explained that they lived a long time ago and talked a little about the pioneers to him. He said, "Well, if the pioneers are dead, how can they be crossing the road?"
At the Qquirrh Mountain Temple Open House, there was a player grand piano playing hymns as we exited the temple. T.J. wanted to know who was playing the piano, so of course Dave told him it was a ghost. T.J. wanted to know, "Dad, is it the Holy Ghost?"
T.J. was changing himself out of his wet swimming suit today and into his pajamas when he took a few laps around the living room completely naked. I chased after him and said, "T.J., you can't run around naked. Get some clothes on!" He gets all indignant and says. "Mom, I'm NOT naked ... I have sunscreen on."
T.J. came running up to me this morning and said "Mom, I want to play knock-knock joke." I said, "Well good luck with that. You should probably wait until your father gets home becuase he's better with the whole knock-knock joke thing." T.J. said, "No I'll do it." I said okay, and he ran off. So a few minutes later there was a knock at the door. I answered it and it was T.J. laughing hysterically. I was a little confused and said, "What's up T.J.?" To which he responded, "We played it mom. We played knock-knock joke, and it's so funny." Apparently knocking and then laughing when people answer is now called "playing knock-knock joke."
London wanted me to buy her a new movie at the store today and I told her "no." She, of course, started in with the "Why not?" and "How come?" and all of that. So I just said, "London we don't have enough money to buy every new movie that comes out!" So she said, "Well, why don't you do some jobs and save up your money?" To which I responded, "London, are you serious? You want me to do jobs and save up my money so you can have a new movie?" She said, "If you work hard mom, you could do it."
I told T.J. the other day that he had to clean up some toys he had gotten out before he could have the piece of candy he wanted. So I said, "Come on, let's just hurry and clean it up. I'll help you." So he comes over for a minute and we pick up a few things and then he just walks away. I said, "Hey! Where are you going?" And he said, "You don't need my help mom. You're a big girl. You can do it all by yourself."
T.J. always wants me or Dave to lay by him at night while he falls asleep. Sometimes we do and sometimes we don't. Tonight, we were busy with other things, and T.J. was in there calling for me, "Mommy, come lay by me." I said, "T.J. I can't right now but I love you." So he said, "No Mommy, don't love me ... just lay by me."
I think my kids might be getting a little too much "election" exposure this year. We were at Partyland the other day having fun looking at costumes. Dave found a Barack Obama mask and put it on. London was not amused and told Dave, "No Daddy! Don't be him. He makes bad choices." You got that right London.
T.J. got into trouble yesterday and I got after him for it. He says to me, "Don't get mad at me or I'll call you a big red chicken." Huh?
I've been thinking about going back to school, and we were asking the kids what they thought about it the other day. So Dave says to Austin and Jackson, "What do you think mom should be? What should she study in school?" Austin gave some perfectly reasonable responses like "teacher" and "writer." Jackson says, "Mom, can you be a really famous football player?" You bet Jacks. You know what Dave's response was? "Jackson, have you ever seen mom run?" How rude!
So T.J. is pretty much potty trained, but we're having a few issues with number two. So, I walk into the room today and clearly caught him in "the act." So I say, "Uh oh T.J. Guess what?" And he says, "Uh ... I don't know. Maybe you smell something?" I definitely smelled something.
I went to put T.J. in his car seat the other day, and he said it was too hot. I said, "I'm sorry. What should I do?" So he thought about it and said, "Can you blow on it for me?" So I did, and then he said it was only warm and happily got buckled up.
Austin needs to have a wart burned off his finger. Jackson happens to be an expert on the subject after much experience a few years ago. So he reassures Austin by saying, "It doesn't hurt too bad ... maybe like London scratching you about 5 times .... or maybe 10." Thanks Jacks.
In the midst of a Saturday full of errands, we agreed to take the kids to McDonald's to play on the playground and have some lunch. They were all excited, but I think London most of all. She jumped out of the car at McDonalds, ran over to me, and in her most dramatic fashion ever said, "Oh thank you mom! I just knew we were a happy family."
We always tease London about eating like a bird, and she really does. But it may be getting a little out of hand. Last Sunday when I handed her the sacrament tray of bread, she said matter of factly, "No thanks mom. I'm full."
The week of London's 5th birthday, Austin, in family prayer, makes a heartfelt plea that London will "understand the reponsibilities of being 5." What a good brother. Now if someone could just explain what these "responsibilities" are ... maybe I'll ask Austin.
Jackson broke the personal, family, and possibly world record the other day by thoughtfully saying in his prayer NINE TIMES: "Please bless us to have a good time." Wow! This kid is seriously concerned about having a good time.
London was playing her computer game this morning and after passing off a level, she was really proud of herself. I was happy for her and told her "Wow! Good job. You are really good at that." She was really excited about her accomplishment and my praise and exclaimed, "Mom, I did such a good job. Maybe I should be in a parade."

The Leatherwoods

Thursday, June 10, 2010

Double digits

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