I'll Take Some Perspective, Please

I've had the opportunity to watch "Ratatouille" a couple times recently. Tis a funny movie and I've enjoyed it more than I remembered liking it in the theater. I love when the critic "Ego" orders some "perspective". The waiter is completely dumbfounded and then Ego replies "Well since you're all out of perspective and the whole town is out of perspective, then bring me whatever he dares to make me." That probably shouldn't be in quotes. He wants to bring everyone a new "perspective" on Linguini's food.

Here at the "K" home (in case you haven't noticed my blog URL) we've been running out as well. Well mostly "M" was. That's M for mom not M for Emma. She does lose her own perspective sometimes too, but she's 9 and I'm- well getting becoming more and more seasoned in my 30's. Sure I can blame PMS, but that excuse doesn't hold a lot of water (actually maybe it does) even with me. I know it's a real thing, I just don't like being a victim of it. Anyway, I've been snappy lately. And kinda yo-yo-ish. Like snappy and then regroup and then snappy again. My kids may be wondering at times which mom they will be talking to and I don't like that.

That's when I came across Nie Nie's blog- post plane crash and working everyday to try and recover. I didn't know the old Nie Nie but heard the story along with everyone after the tragedy happened. I don't know the new Nie Nie either, but she is inspiring. Still full of faith, still grateful, trying not to ask "why me?". That's when I got a bucketful of perspective right in the face. I shed a few tears. Prayed for her, thanked Heavenly Father for my countless blessings, and went out back and enjoyed my kids.

Now for the hard part- holding on TIGHT.

What if...?

This is a phrase we hear frequently from this little guy. He's very inquistive (as most of you may well know) and curious about many things. I do love that, and try my best to answer his questions until I really feel like I can't go on or don't have anymore time to go on.
Tonight he was asking about dying and said-

"What if someone died on their birthday?"

I said "Yeah that's happened. That's pretty sad huh?"

He said "Yeah.....and who would eat the cake?"

And he said it in a serious tone like it would be a tragedy in and of itself. An extremely valid kid concern.

I've also been getting alot of "I love you"s lately. Eli, how do you get sweeter by the day? I love you too!!!

Hand Signs

Holly is really into showing me and Dana something she thinks or wants instead of telling us. I'm thinking her creativity stems from hardly ever being able to get a word in. I'm bummed my pathetic memory card cut her off because she's got some other good ones :)

A Spring Break Stay-cation

Dear 96 Honda civic with 180K miles,

I REALLY miss you. You were a good car! We bought you in SLC in 1999 when we found out we were going to be parents. We later brought that baby home from the hospital inside your roomy interior. (I sat in the back and held that floppy head up the whole way home.) Same story with #2 and unbelieveabley #3. You didn't seem quite so roomy anymore with 3 carseats jammed into the back. You were as much a family member as a car can be. Well, we never gave you a name which I know people do...but anyway.

Aside from all that, I'm really missing you because we haven't replaced you with your upgraded version yet and that means I'm left with no car at all after Dana goes to work. Which could be considered an extra bummer during Spring Break. Okay so it is- but so far we've at least managed to keep busy. And sometimes beg other cars for rides. Here's some stay-cation highlights...

A super, fun St. Patricks Day activity with some friends this morning! Already playing in the water! The second we hit 80 deg. my kids are all over it. Fun with cousins. We got to watch Jane, Dal, and Campbell for 2 days while their mom and big sis went to NYC!
Party in the puddle- the poorman's swimming pool Cousins in the fairy tent Creative dress-up clothes Family coming to visit. (Uncle David doing a great rendition of "Brier Rabbit" which had all the kids entralled for a good 15-20 mins)
Family dinner. (Loved seeing you and meeting Bubba, Randa! Sally and I have named you guys "Ran-ba") Carnival face paint. (pre-spring break) Be-a-u-ti-ful Butterfly
...You may have been kind of excited when we drove past you on the side of the rode in Mesa Saturday night, U-turned, and then came back. See, we do miss you, but we were really just interested to see what your new sign said asking $1500 more than we sold you for. Pretty funny story. To your new owner I send a sincere- "good luck". I'm glad you finally got your cracked timing belt fixed! That must be nice. Hmmm..I wonder if your left rear door now opens from the outside...
Stay Awesome and thanks for the memories!

"Bap"

Got these cute pictures of Sadie in the "bap" the other day. One of her favorite words- and activities.

She's beginning to repeat everything I say and I just LOVE the babytalk phase. I love it. I've heard that you're supposed to correct them after they say something wrong like "nana" you say "That's right 'banana' ". I always end up having the opposite happen. I reinforce the way they say it until they begin to correct me. Sometimes I still ask my kids to say things the way they used to say them because I just love remembering the way their little voices sounded. Maybe that's weird- I'm not sure. It's one of my mommy loves.

When we were going to Disneyland last month Holly was calling it "Dis-lee-land." I was so sad when Emma told her the right way to say it. I just think there's nothing cuter. So I'm sooooo happy Sadie is just starting it :) She says "El-no no" (Elmo), "Hony"(Pony)- which she says right when she wakes up because she wants to watch a "My Little Pony" video we have. She's my first toddler to struggle with making the harder sounds so I'm new to the guessing game of, for example, when she says "doodie" is it shoes-ie?, bootie? (pirate booty), or foodie? But I know she'll get them down later so for now I'm enjoying- and thinking hard about the context.

She's just beginning to get a little sassy. It's cute-I ain't gonna lie. Dana and I have to try not to smile and laugh. That's one I don't reinforce because it gets a lot less cute all too soon. If I take something away she'll come up to me with her little mini fist and say "bop! mom" (stop). And then she'll do this little number with a little spit sound which I accidentally got a picture of:

Non-sassy Sadie

I had to post this picture of Holly I stole off her preschool blog. I just love it! She's learning so much lately. She's really seems to love learning new things and LOVES when I take time to work with her- which should be more. Although, there's a part of me that doesn't want to since she has another year before Kindergarten and she can read 3 letter words like "hat" "net" etc. She's so sweet and I enjoy her so much. She's signed up for the "Early Learners" program in Mesa next fall, and it's everyday. I'll miss having her around as much as I do now.