Mom Remembers

Toddlers make me smile.  One of the really fun things about them is the things they say.  They imitate the big people in their life and for some reason that's funny.  (And endearing, which Scott would say is a survival mechanism.) Sven has been in rare form lately.  He's always listening but he doesn't always understand what's going on around him.  It comes out later, which gives me insight into the aspects of family life that are most salient to him. What he has revealed shouldn't surprise me: our family life revolves around our homeschool.  Even though a good portion of schooling happens during his independent playtime and his naptime, Sven still uses the lingo.  He wants to be a part of that most demanding part of my life and it makes me smile. Some of the things he has said: * while coloring at the table: "I'm doing my math." * after a bedtime story:  "Mom, can you give me a narration for that story?" * commenting on his brothers...

I have been looking forward to Christmas at my parent's house for months.  My mom goes above and beyond when preparing to welcome company and, as a result, her home is the most comfortable place in the world. While looking forward to our visit, I was reminded of a very old talk given by Neal A. Maxwell that reminded me of my mom.  He said that "When we return to our real home, it will be with the 'mutual approbation' of those who reign in the 'royal courts on high.'  There we will find beauty such as mortal 'eye hath not seen'; we will hear sounds of surpassing music which mortal 'ear hath not heard.'  Could such a regal homecoming be possible without the anticipatory arrangements of a Heavenly Mother?" Yeah, my mom makes coming home feel like that.  And since it had been five years since I'd gone home for Christmas, my excitement for the holiday this year was almost as great as when I was a child. Here are some of my favorite mem...

I fried SPAM for the kids this morning.  Unfortunately, I fried it a little longer than they like.  It was slightly toasted on one side, which is perfect for me but is "burnt" to them.  They know they are not allowed to complain about the food but Carl always likes to comment anyway.  He used his most cheerful voice to pay me a false compliment: CARL:  Wow!  This SPAM is really well cooked! SOREN:  Yeah, it has carbon on it.  That's because SPAM is organic. Thanks, boys.

When I was a girl, my mom would settle disputes between my brother and I by arbitrating a guessing game.  She would pick a number between one and ten, then invite each of us to guess what the number was.  Whoever guessed closest would win the dispute.  This was her way of choosing who would have the first turn at a game, with a toy, or in the kitchen.  Randomness was, supposedly, more fair. The only problem with this game was that my mother always picked the same number.  Patrick knew it and so did I.  So rather than having these inconsequential issues resolved randomly, victory always went to the quickest contestant.  The first person to blurt out mom's number would win. That number was 8. When I lost the blurting contest, I would whine.  "That's not fair.  You always  pick eight." My mom would smile--how could she smile when life was so unfair?--and say that eight was her favorite number.  "You can get baptized when you ar...

Babies don't know that it's their birthday.  No amount of singing and being excited on their behalf will change their disposition. So it shouldn't be surprising that Leif was upset this morning.  In spite of all my good cheer, he was cranky as all get out.  He didn't like breakfast, he didn't want to play with toys, and he didn't want to have any of his brothers make silly faces at him.  He just wanted me to hold and nurse him, which I could only do so much of because I was getting everyone ready for church. He was the maddest about the drive to church.  It was bitter cold and he wouldn't let anyone warm up his hands.  It wasn't until Nan gave him a granola bar that the day started to look up.  But only moderately so, because being one is mostly frustrating. Here's how we tried to make the day special: 1. Sven was really excited about Leif's birthday.  He wished him a "Happy Birthday, Leif!" just about every time he saw him.  Th...