What will he say next?

WARNING:The following dialogue takes place at a local drugstore after a strange encounter with a man wearing Electric Blue spandex shorts.

Kyle: Mom, that man's shorts are kind of funny, huh?

Kyle: Mom, those shorts kind of look like underwear, huh?

(Kyle dissolving into laughter)

Kyle: Mom, I think that man accidentally wore his underwear to the store today!!!

~~~

(In case you wondering, there was no discretion involved in this dialogue. It took place at full-blast, ear-piercing, 3-year-old decibel levels.)

Just call me "Betty Goodwrench"

Allow me a moment of bragging. Kevin has not yet been gone for 12 hours and I've already become a "do-it-yourselfer."

The job was quite simple, really. All I had to do was replace the tube on one of the wheels of the jogging stroller. But that simple job was important for two reasons:

1. That stroller just may be my sanity for the next 4 1/2 weeks.
2. Perhaps now I'll have the confidence to deal with any other catastrophes or unexpected projects that occur.

Now, here's hoping that we don't encounter any car problems! I'm not quite ready to deal with that yet.

Choices

Well, it's official. Kevin and I have relinquished all control. The little man officially rules the roost.

In our last weekend together, and in an attempt for some family fun, the Turner family had big plans to attend a baseball game last night. We talked about it all week long, planning for it and getting Kyle excited. The problem? Well, Kyle never appeared to be very excited. We were a little confused, seeing as how Kyle's always up for a baseball game. So we ignored his apathy and continued on with our plans.

But as the hour approached, Kyle continued telling us he didn't want to go to a baseball game. Then he proceeded with these elaborate plans of having a "sleepover in the living room and having popcorn and watching a movie - a kid movie - and sleeping on the air mattress."

And that's when Kevin and I looked at each other, silently consulted, and lost all control.

"Kyle, would you rather go to the baseball game or have a sleepover?" I asked.

"Sleepover!!!" he shouted.

GULP.

"Even though a baseball game would be more fun?" I asked, weakly.

"Yeah, sleepover!" he shouted again.

Every parenting book I've read has taught the same things. Lesson #1: Give your child choices. But none of them covered what to do when my child chooses the lesser option. Oh wait - yes, they did. Lesson #2: Only give your child choices that you like.

Looks like I failed.

And so it was that the Turners had a family sleepover in the living room last night. And you know what? It was every bit as much fun as a baseball game.

So long, farewell...

It was a long, wonderful relationship. But after years of traveling down life's roads together, she's gone. It was a departure void of tears and it left a few hundred dollars in our pocket. Yes, we've sold Jalopy.

Truth be told, the relationship had started to sour over the years. A cracked radiator and a faulty battery/electrical system left us annoyed and frustrated. So we retaliated with two years of neglect, where Jalopy sat by her lonesome in the corner of the parking lot (it's been said that the tires were actually stuck to the asphalt when Kevin tried to drive her away).

And so yesterday we bid farewell. And though the last few years haven't been good to us, it's not as though we don't have some wonderful memories:

• Falling in love and breaking up (several dozen times)
• Cramming five adults in on a roadtrip to Jackson.
• Getting stuck in the mud on that roadtrip to Jackson.
• Getting stuck in the mud at the movie theater about a month later (it wasn't a very powerful car)
• Ruth getting her first ticket driving through Wyoming.
• Guys' roadtrip to Oregon, complete with speeding, hydroplaning and being pulled over by police.
• And last, but not least, driving down the freeway with the wind rushing in our ears - not because it was a convertible, but because the doors didn't close very tightly.

It's been good, Jalopy, but I think it was time. Best of luck in your next stage of life. And good luck to your new owner.

Prom, revisited

A few weeks ago, I posted pictures from my little sister's high school prom. Well, she looked so beautiful and had so much fun that I decided I needed in on the action. So, imagine my excitement when Kevin asked me to our "Ward Prom." I painstakingly searched through the racks of dresses at an elegant consignment shop (a.k.a. The DI) and found the perfect hairstyle. And well, I think the results speak for themselves:

I know, I know. Not everybody can pull off puffed sleeves, a side ponytail, and a purple boa. Eat your heart out, little sister!

PS: I'll save the dress for you to wear next year!

Family Photo Shoot

We had family pictures taken last week and here's a preview of the results:

I love how his eyes look so dark in this picture.

We had to keep loosening Kyle's arms from the strangle-hold he had on Kevin's neck.

Family kisses

A kiss just for mom. Love it!

I can't decide if I like the black and white or color better...

We saw this awesome green caterpillar just as we were finishing up. Kyle had a ball playing with it!

Cousins Make the Best Friends

Kyle loves his friends. Not a day goes by that he doesn't ask to call somebody on the phone or invite someone outside to play. He's simply a social kid who doesn't find satisfaction in staying home with mom and dad all day, every day.

But more than his friends, Kyle LOVES his cousins. And lucky for him, he just happens to have the best cousins in the entire world. He's never more content that when he's running around with the gaggle of kids.

And so it was that Kyle had a little taste of heaven this weekend. While mom and dad went out on a hot date, he got to spend the weekend with the cousins. Eating meals with them! Sleepover! Playing outside! Soccer games! It was almost more excitement than the little boy could bear.

I suppose we could be offended that his departing words were, "I won't miss you because I will be with my cousins!" But instead, it was a relief. A relief that he was so well taken care of. A relief that he wouldn't be sad. A relief that we could have the time of our lives and not worry one bit about our boy.

There are no words to describe the sadness we feel that we'll be moving away from Kyle's "best friends." It's such a joy to see the special relationship they have. But I grew up seeing my cousins only a few times a year, and I still felt that special bond. We'd write letters and send each other trinkets, and by the time the next visit rolled around, it was as if we'd never left. Here's hoping Kyle and his cousins will be the same way.

Because, afterall, friends come and go, but family is forever.

Fashion, revisited

Well, it seems that Kevin has become the fashion guru. While sitting in the parking lot at Jiffy Lube today, he commented on the appearance of an innocent-passerby. His comments began with the phrase, "Well, that girl is an interesting specimen," and went on to include everything wrong with her appearance. Redheads wearing all black? Not cool. Sandals with pants? Apparently a fashion faux pas.

After he was done with his commentary, I said something to the effect of, "Who died and made you the fashion god?"

To which he replied, "Honey, if I were the fashion guru, this world would be a much different place."

Exactly, honey. Exactly.

Happy Mother's Day

I'll be honest, there are days when motherhood can seem fairly unrewarding. But thankfully, those moments are fleeting. And it only takes one mother's day to let you know exactly how much you're loved.

My boys made me feel extra special this year. Not only did I get breakfast in bed, but also a fabulous new pasta cookbook I've been wanting and a new journal. But the best part was my very first homemade mother's day gift from my little guy:

I was bursting with pride and love as that little guy ran up to the stand during sacrament meeting and sang, "I Often Go Walking" and "Love is Spoken Here." He sang his heart out with a big smile on his face. I think my smile might have been bigger than his.

Motherhood is such a gift - the ultimate gift. I know how much I love my mother, and if Kyle loves me that much, I'll consider myself one lucky girl.