The Robot

Santa did it! He pulled it off. Who knew he could build such a robot?

I think this thing is a little creepy. I am waiting for it to take over our house at night while we are asleep. So far we're still in control.

You might have to watch this video more than once. Check out the robot's moves but don't miss the skilled BYU Robot dancers either.

Do You Believe?

Last week Theron and I had the following conversation:

T: "Mom, what do you want for Christmas?"
M: "Hmm...I just want to watch you boys open your presents."
T: "I think you should get a robot."
M: "Oh, really. Why?"
T: "Because a robot would help you with your chores."
(Wheels in the head spinning; lights go on; BING!!)
"I want a robot for Christmas!"

Immediately afterward he wrote an elaborate letter to Santa Claus. It said, "ROBOT SANTA". I helped him send it in the mail to the North Pole.
Last night Travis went out to get the mail. We found this letter in the box.

No kidding! My heart nearly skipped a beat. It was pretty exciting. Even for a 28 year old. Who knew that Santa would have time to write back to Theron?! I showed him the letter this morning.

He was pretty cute. He just kept acting as if he was trying to figure everything out.
If this doesn't help a boy to believe nothing else would.

Mr. Smooshy Face

A New Star Wars Character

Does anyone remember seeing this guy in the last Star Wars movie? I'm not sure if he is good or from the dark side. He has a peanut butter smudge on his face and wears a baseball cap backwards, night vision goggles, a pirate bandanna around his waist. But most intimidating of all...FOUR light sabers!!!!

A Play Date

BOY DEFINED:
Nature's answer to that false belief
that there is no such thing as perpetual motion.

--Author Unknown

We've Got Talent

I'll show you MESSY...

Here's one for the imagination. A photo just won't cut it.
We were eating dinner and Charlie was upstairs taking a nap...so we thought. He came down in the middle of the meal with bag balm caked on his hands. Instantly remembering his bedroom is upstairs and the kitchen is downstairs I left Travis to clean up the Beau and I went to examine the damage.
It was more cute than awful. Just above each step on the wall was a greasy Charlie-sized hand print.

It's Snowing

"OH!! MESSY!!"

Abs are used for...

1. Lifting
2. Brushing teeth
3. Vacuuming
   
4. Pushing a shopping cart
5. Driving
6. Coughing
7. Crunches (out of the question)
8. Mopping
9. Crushing milk cartons
10. Brushing teeth
11. Bathing children
12. Reaching
13. Throwing up
14. Pumping lotion out
15. Sneezing--definitely sneezing
    

Burke's Blessing

Sweet Burke William received a baby blessing from Travis on Sunday. We were blessed to have lots of friends and family there with us.

Sardines

It's become tradition in our family to play sardines in the winter time just before putting the boys to bed each night. It's a winter game because we play in the dark and the sun goes down early. All the lights go out and we wander around the house looking for the "hider", in this case Isaac.
So far Travis is famous for the best hiding spot ever. Last year his parents were visiting and we were all searching and searching for him. I was about to start searching in the garage, which is off limits, when we somehow discovered him in the shower, suspending himself at the top like spider man. What a stud.

Flowers

My thoughtful sister Cassie sent me flowers all the way from Utah. They were beautiful red tulips. I think she's pretty swell. It made my day.

Then a few days later I came walking into the front room to find my thoughtful Theron with a pile of tulip pedals next to my beautiful tulips.

He said, "Look, mom!! with a proud smile on his face.

All I could say was, "Oh." Aren't they beautiful now?

I'm thankful for...

...cute boys...

...with spunk...

...and bedtime.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

Grandma Saves the Day

She might be dead tired when she leaves but at least she'll be remembered as a hero. I feel like I have been a commanding officer in the military this week. I can't lift much of anything and she and Travis have been pulling quite a bit of extra weight. Any thoughts I ever had that it would be nice to have someone wait on me hand and foot have disappeared. While I appreciate it, I look forward to the day when I'll be able to take out the garbage, lift my own baby, and vacuum my own floor.

Burke

Mr. Chubba

Suga'

We returned home from the hospital late in the afternoon. We still had a couple of hours before Grandma arrived to save us.
While Travis was trying his hardest to make sure I was comfortable (ha ha) and had everything I needed Charlie was very busy growing a beard...I mean dumping sugar on every inch of floor he could find downstairs.

It was not cool...but it was so yummy.

Excused Absense

I just had surgery a few days ago and I think I should be excused from posting for another day or two. If you want to know how it went, I think this picture speaks for itself.

The Hunter Returns

Travis got his first deer with his bow and arrow today. I think he's pretty stoked.

It's hanging in our garage. Something about the "meat tastes better after it's been hanging out [with the bikes and strollers] in the cold winter air".

Today must be his lucky day. He shot a deer, sold our refrigerator, and won some luggage at a work outing by bowling five strikes in a row. Maybe it's talent and skill but whatever it is...he's on a roll. I think I better keep him close by. Who knows what else might happen?

Seven Year Sentence

While I was taking a shower, Travis was upstairs, and the older two boys were glued to the TV Charlie broke a glass candler holder and spread it nicely over the main floor of our house. Travis discovered the situation when Charlie came to him with blood all over his hands.
The next day I came downstairs to find my mirror had been broken by "You-know-who". Does that mean the bad luck is on his shoulders or mine?

Days Like This Are Numbered and Few

I'm confident that we can't expect to enjoy 70 degree weather for too many more days in November but we'll take advantage of it while we can.

The boys have been building "fires" on the deck and collecting acorns and seeds. I just hope that seven acorns will be enough for our long cold winter.

I think boys are born with some sort of connection to rocks that stays with them even until they are grown men. Have you ever been to the mountains with a man who didn't stop to throw a rock down into the valley? Have you ever been to a lake with a man who didn't stop to check his rock throwing ability but lugging a large rock toward the middle or a tiny rock as far as he could?