Key Strokes

I often have many blog topics running through my head (including this one) but few of them actually come to fruition.

Why, you ask?

Insecurity. Yep.

Lame, right?

But it is my reality.

I know I'm not the sharpest tack. I don't have the best grammar. My spelling is worse. (Google and my walking spell check, aka Scott, make this discernible for you.) Besides being afraid that I'm boring you all.

I blurk a lot and I compare my blog to everyone else's. They all write so eloquent. They seem so inspired and creative. So "perfect". Some of those I frequent have thousands of followers, hundreds of comments on every post, and they even advertise. I didn't even know such things were possible until recently. This makes for a ridiculous comparison, I know.

One of my favorite blogs is Mommy Snark. She loves to write and now even has her first book, of many I'm sure, being published. It's very exciting. She blogs of being nervous having others read her words. Now I'm not a writer, nor will I EVER be an author, but I understand her angst. I'm terrified to have others judging me through my writing. I guess that's why it's easier to bring you Hunter's words than my own. As cute as they are, that's only part of my goal here.

I guess the real key is that my thoughts and words represent me. Cracked, broken. Haha, big surprise, this front is not what it appears to be. I am not doing myself or my handful of followers any good by pretending it is.

So here is the truth.

I am not always in control of my emotions. Ok, rarely. I struggle to find balance. My house is lucky to be clean 20% of the time. My kids often have bedhead. My mouth often runs off without me.

I am compassionate. I am simple. I love my family and friends. I am eternally loyal. I am, well, me.

Hmm, maybe just like a lot of those I feel I fall short of. :)

In the end I try to focus on why I blog. Most important it's a journal of sorts to pass along to my kids. If they learn nothing else from my experiences, I hope they see that Mommy pushed through her fears to try new things. She let her flaws show and stepped outside her comfort zone. And when I need a little extra encouragement, I remember a very sweet comment from Aunt Renae about my writing.

I forge on.

*After writing this post, I noticed that I have a new follower!! Who? None other than Mommy Snark herself. Well looky there.

It's Good to have Backups

Scott: Hunter, take off your glasses, I wanna see your eyes.... I love those eyes!

Hunter: Yeah, they're my blue ones.

Because you have spares in other colors? He usually thinks they're orange.

Jesus, is that You?

Directly following the Sacrament prayer, Hunter leans to me and asks,

"Mommy, was that Jesus?"

I was confused..."Was what Jesus?"

"Saying the prayer, Mommy."

It's always difficult to not laugh when a child is so innocent. It's even more difficult to not laugh when it's a prohibited situation. I did giggle a little as I explained how the boys crouch behind the Sacrament table and speak into a microphone. I guess it does make sense that one would think they heard Jesus when no one is in sight and you hear a booming voice.

Cloning

In case anyone was wondering, Dolly wasn't the only thing ever cloned.

Sorry for the off center picture of Hunter. He is always trying to run around the camera to see it before the flash even goes off. Needless to say, I rarely catch him in the shot.

The picture of Hunter was taken earlier this year, making him 4 years and a little. The picture of Scott was taken for school pictures in 1983, which would make him 3 1/2. People always laugh when I question myself as the mother. Hopefully, now they understand why. Very often I am told that he looks like me. Does anyone still see that? Coop does look more like me, actually, more like Cameron. I plan on getting a picture from my mom and doing a comparison of them as well.

What do you think?

God Bless America

I mourn the loss of thousands of precious lives, but I will not rejoice in the death of one, not even an enemy.

Today I celebrate what our country, my America, stands for. God bless American, God bless us all.

We Laugh All Day

After church, Hunter told us about a video he watched in primary. Here is just a part of our conversation:

Hunter: I watched a movie about Joseph Smiff.

Me: What did Mr. Joseph do?

Hunter: He stole the plates.

Me: No, Moroni told him where to go get them.

Hunter: Yeah, up on the hill.

Scott: How many times did Moroni come?

Hunter: FOOOOUR times! (said with his fingers and eyebrows up)

*********

Scott: Who came to see Joseph?

Hunter: I don't remember.

Scott: Heavenly Father and Jesus.

Hunter: Yeah, and they said, 'don't join none church.' They all said, 'I'm special, no I'm special. Join me! Join me!'

Later his primary teachers showed up at our door. They wanted to tell us about sharing time and how Hunter was the spotlight. Oh how I wish we were there. He was invited to stand at the microphone and answer questions from the other primary children. Apparently it was beyond hilarious. Only for the last few questions did his teachers think to pull out their phone and get some video. I am a firm believer in no electronics at church, but I am so glad they had theirs today. They are going to email the video to us. When we get it, if I can get it to upload, I will share it. We are told the events went something like this:

What's your favorite color?

Hunter: orange

What's your favorite cake?

Hunter: orange

What's your favorite frosting?

Hunter: orange

What's your favorite ice cream?

Hunter: orange

What's your other favorite ice cream?

Hunter: strawberry

What's your favorite fruit?

Hunter: orange (no, not oranges)

What's your favorite food?

Hunter: cottage cheese

Teacher: cottage cheese? (surprised he didn't answer oranges)

Hunter: yeah, it's good for you. I'll make it for you sometime.

What's your favorite movie?

Hunter: train movie (aka Mighty Machines)

What's your favorite TV show?

Hunter: train movie

I don't think this added much to the reverence.

Later over dinner....

Hunter: Karen, do you know what a squig says?

Karen: No

Hunter: (indiscernible sound)

Karen: What's a squig?

Hunter: It's like a fish that looks like an octopus.

Karen: Oh, you mean a squid!!!

*********

Scott: What do policemen do?

Hunter: Protect the restaurants and the stores....from tornadoes!

...if only.

*********

Scott: Hunter, you say a lot of things.

Hunter: Yeah. I have a mouth.

At bedtime....

Hunter: Daddy, you can read me a story because you are out of the potty.

During his prayer....

Hunter: I'm thankful for Cooper and for my baby brother.

I can't wait for what he will say tomorrow.

Family Ties

"Daddy, my strawberries didn't want me to eat their family."

He did not respect their wishes.