I love it when my boys appreciate the classics. Lately Chase hasn't been able to get enough of "Rocky and Bullwinkle", "Pink Panther", "Inspector Gadget", and my newest find from my past where Santa Claus visits the Orphans. I know it's not quite Christmas yet, but I couldn't help sitting with both of them on my lap and watching it (two times) while the snow threatens us outside. One of the many small moments that makes everything worth it.

Chase (while watching Charlie Brown's Thanksgiving) :  "You're not going to die because you are married."
Me: "Really?"
Chase: "Yes, and I'm not going to die because I went to the kid's temple and the kid married me."
Me: Really?!?"
Chase : "Yes, well actually I still need to go to the kid's temple."
Me: "Do you know where one is? Because I don't"
Chase: "hmmmm.... no but maybe we could ride a really fast cycle to get there."
Me: "Well, how are we going to find it if we don't know where it is?"
Chase: "We could get a map!"
Me: "Ok, that's a good idea, but where are we going to get a map?"
Chase:  "At the store.  There is a kid's store on this Earth!"
Me: "Where is it?"
Chase : "I don't know, but maybe we could ride our really fast cycle to that store."
Me: "How are we going to find it if we don't know where it is?"
Chase: "We could get a map."
Me: "Where's the map?
Chase: "At the kid's store, of course!"

Me (to Brody who was mad I was changing his diaper) :  "Sorry Brodes,  I gotta change you because you pooped."
Brody screams.
Chase: "I guess we'll have to get that other baby."
Me: "What other baby?"
Chase: "Just a different baby."
Me: "You mean you want to trade Brody in for a different baby?!?!"
Chase : "Yeah.  Because he just keeps on pooping"
Me: "Well where are we going to get a different baby?"
C: "Where the babies are."
Me: "Where are the babies?"
C: "At the hospital."
Me: "You want to go to the hospital and trade Brody in for another baby?!?!"
C: "YES!"
Me: (Jokingly for the record) "Ok, let's go."
C: "...Or maybe I'd rather keep him just a little longer.  I'm not ready to let him go yet."
Me: "Ok."

I hate painting...

I can't pick out paint colors, and while trying ended up with 8 different colors trying to find the right one.  I had painted splotches all over the boys room trying to find the right color combos to the point that the walls were almost covered, just with different colors in patches.

Chase, with all the sincerity only a child can have: "Thank you so much for painting my room these colors Mom!" 
.......I guess maybe I should have painted the boys room a little sooner...

I guess this weekend was the first time Chase has gotten sick that he remembers.  It started off with a runny nose and sore throat and we heard things like:

"My nose isn't working very good."
"Why is my nose doing this?"
"Maybe if I blow my nose I could blow all the germs out and get better."

It's so funny to watch these kids discovering how the world works and their bodies. :)

 Being a mother, by default, means that I am a maid, a cook, a babysitter, a teacher, a playmate and a disciplinarian.

 I have been screamed at, pooped on, yelled at, gotten the silent treatment, been hit and kicked, puked on, told my food is bad, peed on, scratched, clawed, and the list goes on.

 I often feel tired, frustrated, tired, angry, tired, sad, tired, like the worst mother ever tired, and worn out!

I work the day shift, graveyard shift, holidays and weekends.

Motherhood is by far the hardest thing I have ever done with my time. 

Harder than a hotel maid, lifeguard or fast food. Harder than wearing long sleeves and heavy pants and doing physical labor in temperatures up to 120*.  

Harder than anatomy, physiology, organic chemistry, or any nutrition class I have taken.

But it is my privileged to take these sweet little souls that God has trusted to my care and to be their tour guides of this world.

To be the first to show them how things work and what they are.

It's my privileged to see their joy as they explore their world...and to comfort them when I or the world fails their expectations.

It is my privileged to be their mother.

It is my greatest privilege to be part of this family.

And that is exactly how I'm feeling tonight.

Our first snow of winter

 Although I wasn't quite as excited as Chase was to wake up to falling snow the day after a nice warm Halloween evening, it sure was nice of mother nature to hold off the snow until November.

Chase: "Mom can we got to the Johnians?"
"Who are the Johnains?"
Chase: People
Me:"Ok, what people?
C:"They are kinda boys, can we go?"
Me: "Well I'm not sure where you are talking about"
C: "Come on, we'll walk there.  They live at Notgreekan."
Me: "Wow, that clears everything up."
C: "What?"

Our halloween

 Ward Halloween party

 My little "Cycle Rider"

 Carving pumpkins ended up being about as fun as Chase makes it look here.  He didn't want anything to do with the pumpkin guts.

 Brody however, had a great time when he woke up and joined us.

 and dug right in.

 For Chase's preschool we had the kids wear their costumes for a little Halloween party at our house.

 My little trick or treaters.

The night ended with yummy treats and happy boys!

After a rough night between both boys and Chase sleeping on our bedroom floor he wakes up in the middle of the night and says, "Mom, Mom!" 
Me: "What Chase?"
C: "Was that just your imagination?"
Me: "Yes"
C: "O.K."
..........
Me: "Chase?"
C: (snore)

"Mom, I love you but....  you've GOT to get your hair out of my face."   -Chase as I buckled him in his car seat.