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Here are two cute things, and one not-so-cute thing, Caleb has done in the last 2 days:

1.  Derek and I went on a date (a real-official-date!) on Saturday night.  On the way to drop the kids off at some friends' house, Caleb said "Are you going on your BEEHIVE?'

"Our beehive?  What do you mean?"

"You know…the date you go on after your wedding?"

"You mean our HONEYMOON?" 

"Yeahh!  You're honeymoon!"

Cute that he had the bee/honey connection in his brain!

2.  After we picked the kids up, we tucked him in bed, and he exclaimed (half-asleep) "This is the place I've always wanted…this one place in this whole house…my cozy, cozy bed."

3.  This morning while Samuel was throwing up and I was trying to get it cleaned up, Caleb told me that he couldn't hear out of one of his ears.  I did not pay it much attention, since I had vomit on me.  (One thing at a time, right?!)  While bathing Samuel, I heard Derek sharply chastising Caleb in the other room.  Uh, oh, I thought…that doesn't sound good.  He brings him in to me with that look of "I'm-late-for-work-and-you-won't-believe-what-YOUR-son-just-did".  Caleb is crying.  He had stuck a teeny-tiny piece of pink foam in his ear.  We have NO idea where this tiny piece of pink foam came from (it's about 1/8 of a pencil eraser).  Caleb claims he found it under the couch.  And then stuck it in his ear…DEEP in to his ear, causing loss of hearing!  What he was thinking, I will NEVER know.  This is the same kid that stuck a raisin in his nostril when he was 2 and had to have the ER doctor fish it out.  It looked like it was going to be a repeat performance, but with Derek pulling on both sides of the ear and me sticking my tweezers down there (gently) we were able to get it out.  And we're hoping that temporary hearing loss was enough of a lesson to keep him from doing it again.

Today while blog reading, I noticed that someone mentioned ‘Charlie’ perfume.  And, boy, did it take me back.  Good ol’ drugstore Charlie.  The scent I wore in high school.  It was that and my other favorite, ‘Colors’ by United Colors of Benetton.  But that was just a treat that I got as a gift…and so it had to last a looonnng time. And then I had a friend who wore ‘Paris’…and she was cute and adored by all the boys.  And I was just sure it must be the fragrance.  Because ‘Charlie’ was getting me nowhere.  This fragrance will always remind me of Alisa Stewart! And then there’s college.  And everywhere you went you could smell ONE perfume.  Every sorority girl at Southwest Texas State University (one of the largest sorority populations in the nation) had this perfume, “Sunflowers”.  If you were cool, you had to have it. I, for one, DID NOT. I liked the way it smelled…still do.  But it was just way too mainstream for me. And finally, the scents of today. This one will ALWAYS remind of my mom.  It’s her signature scent, ‘Angel’, and I love it. My kids come home from being with her and they always have it lingering on their clothes. You can always tell when Nana’s been holdin’ my babies! My current favorites…one is called “Flowerbomb” by Viktor & Rolf, the other is Marc Jacobs. Isn’t it funny how scents are tied to memories and people and places?  What are your scent memories…good or bad?

If you've been to my house recently, you have probably seen the 3 pictures on my living room end table.  They are the one-year pictures of all 3 of the boys.  A close-up picture taken at Kiddie Kandids (of all places).  I took Jacob's one-year pictures there and have continued the tradition, because I LOVE seeing side-by-side pictures of the same pose of my kids.  It is a theme I have.  I love to see how much they look alike and how different they are at the same time.  Anyway…recently we noticed that the picture of Jacob had little green/blue dots all over it.  Uh, oh.  I took the picture out and as I did it peeled away from the glass, leaving part of the picture on the glass!  I was horrified.  It's one of my favorite pictures of ALL time.  And I've planned the other two boys' pictures specifically to match this one!  Lesson learned – use a matte, or investigate a way to keep the pictures off the glass (any ideas?!). 

That night I woke up in the middle of the night thinking about this picture.  I got up and did a mad-search of my craft room/picture keeping/guest room.  From 3 to 4:30 a.m.  Couldn't find an extra.  Not even a smaller version of the same picture.  I was so sad.

But called Kiddie Kandids the next morning and lo and behold…they have ARCHIVES.  Should have thought of that before the 3 am search-and-rescue-mission.  But oh well. 

I was thrilled, and jubilated and so thankful.  SO I have a brand new print of my favorite picture.  And will be finding a new way to display my side-by-side pictures of my three favorite boys.

    

Tonight we were having leftovers of a spinach lasagna, a quite yummy one I might add, that I made on Tuesday.  So, for the kids, it meant a second night of pure torture. 🙂

I remarked to Derek that it's too bad the kids don't know Popeye, which was always the way my mom encouraged US to eat our spinach. 

So we pulled up this Youtube video to show the kids how important spinach is in the life of Popeye the Sailor Man!! 

Mind you, I asked them to ignore the pipe.  So he wasn't the perfect picture of health, after all! 🙂

Getting on the treadmill to work off last night's meal…

Then headed to SLC for Derek's sister's wedding.

More on Monday.

WOW!  It was spectacular.  The theme was the last dinner on the Titanic.  The menu was taken from the actual menu served to the 1st class passengers on the Titanic that fatal night.  So fun (for us, not them sadly)!  Thanks, Christi and Phoebe, for a fun evening and delicious cuisine.

Take a look at this menu!  The orange had orange sherbet inside with a meringue on top – delicious!

Look closely…on the chocolate eclair there are real gold flecks!  And are these petit four hats just the prettiest things you've ever seen!?!  These were the take-home gift.  And mine is too cute to eat…the one with the big bow (top right).  Each one was unique and different…what a treat!

Gourmet Club has been a once-in-a-lifetime experience.  I have learned SO much and enjoyed every bite.  There wasn't anything I didn't try, and I think I ate more than anyone (for example…I don't have a picture of the salmon/shrimp because I was too busy devouring it)! 

Jacob had his spring recital on Saturday.  My mom joined us.  He did very well in his Guild performance, in front of the judge…scoring 26 C's (commendation) and only 2 A's (acceptable).  You want more C's in that test! 

I did not worry much about his recital.  He was playing his favorite 2 pieces from the 7 he learned this semester. 

He nailed the first one…"Night Horseman"

The second one ("Creepy Cat") was going great, but then he forgot the last third of it.  And he was devastated.  I could see his frustration as he tried again.  And then grabbed his head.  There was silence.  But he finished with the last couple of measures.  Then ran down to us with tears in his eyes.  I had to take him out of the room because he was so upset. 

We felt so bad for him.  These are good things to go through, although you hate it for your kids.  Life lessons…hard moments…embarassment…all part of growing up.  He'll be better for it in the end.

We're proud of him.

In our church, everything is done by a "lay" ministry.  No one gets paid…we all just perform duties when called upon.  The leaders (who are also called by other leaders) pray to know who to ask, and seek inspiration when it's time to let someone have a break and "call" someone new. 

Since January of 2005 Derek has been serving as a Counselor in our ward's Bishopric.  Essentially, he has been an assistant to the Bishop (the priesthood leader of our local congregation).  Each ward has their own Bishop.  Each Bishop has 2 counselors and a secretary and a clerk.  Derek has served under Richard Platt in the Frisco 4th Ward, as 1st counselor and Ken Taylor in the Frisco 5th Ward, as 2nd counselor.  This has meant that he's been gone most of the day on Sundays.  And it's meant that he didn't sit with us during our Sunday meetings…I've been on my own.  It's meant he's been gone every Wednesday night.  It's meant he's been at various other meetings, activities, baptisms, dances, etc during the week.  It's meant that he's been BUSY! 

But it's also meant that he's been able to rub shoulders with great men and women.  It's meant that he's had a tremendous opportunity to love and care about the people he's served.  It's meant that he's grown spiritually and emotionally.  It's meant that he's been able to serve the children and the youth, which he loved.  It's meant that he's been able to learn and share and study and work.  And it's meant that me and the kids have come to appreciate him more.

This past Sunday he was released from that duty.  And we were both a little sad (not the boys…they were thrilled!).  It's been a great blessing to our family.  But we're also thrilled to have him back with us on Sunday, and in our meetings.  We get to sit as a family in church! 

But, there is always more work to be done, and he has accepted a new calling to be the Cub Committee Chair for our Cub Scout troop.  This will also mean a LOT of work.  And he's excited to get going on it.

Derek…job well done.  I love you.

Caleb's preschool had a big event for all of their graduates last week…a ceremony, a slideshow, and a barbecue lunch.  He has loved this little Methodist preschool.  He's made some great friends, and he's really grown this year.  I'm so pleased with our decision to hold him back a year from Kindergarten.  He has matured so much and is really ready for school now.  I love this kid…he makes me laugh all the time.  Just today we were shopping at the craft store for some things for Derek's sister's upcoming wedding.  He kept picking things out for me to look at, trying to be helpful.  At one point I said, "oh, thanks buddy, but I don't really like that one".  He quickly replied, "Well, this is not all about you Mom."  I can't tell you how many times I've said that to the boys when they're being selfish.  And to hear it come out of his mouth cracked me up. 

He is helpful, and sweet…he loves back rubs, and makes his own lunch (with guidance).  He does NOT like the heat (never has, even as a baby).  I always think he's my kid that will end up living in the mountains somewhere, where it's cool.  He is always asking to play duck, duck, goose.  He is starting to read little words.  His laugh is contagious.  He is a super LOUD crier (always has been, even as a baby).  He doesn't take No for an answer.  He will do anything to get Jacob in trouble (we're working on this one).  He can't keep his hands off of Samuel…always wanting to pick him up or touch him, which drives Sam crazy.  He will never, ever, ever let me leave without a goodbye hug and kiss.  He calls out everytime he sees a Ford Mustang, a convertible, a Corvette, a Slug Bug, or a Hummer.  Even when he's in the middle of a sentence.  He has promised me that when he has his own convertible, he will let me drive it.  And I believe him.  Because he'll always be a momma's boy.

I love everything about this kid.  He's one-of-a-kind.

My great-grandfather was William Andrew Robinson.  His first wife was Effie Hancock, who died in December of 1903.  They had 4 girls…Neva Irene, Lila Jo (her grandson was at our recent family reunion), Ina, and Mary Lucille.  Mary Lucille Robinson was their youngest and she died when she was only 17.  At the time they were living in Celina, TX…and “Daddy Bill”, as he was called, bought plots in the Old Celina Cemetery.  He later married Una Vay King (who was my great-grandmother) in 1906 and they had 7 children, 2 of whom died as infants.  One of their children was my grandpa, Byron.

On Sunday we drove the short distance up to Celina to find Effie and Mary Lucille’s graves.  Public records show that Daddy Bill bought a plot for himself and is buried there as well, but we don’t believe that to be true.  We hope to find where he is buried (maybe Sherman?).  We were successful!  And it was so neat to stand where my ancestors stood.  Effie died in Dec of 1903 (according to the gravestone…but a book says Jan of 1904) and has a beautiful plot underneath a tree.  Her gravestone is worn and we had to feel the numbers with our hands to make sure we were reading them correctly.  Mary Lucille and I share the same initials (my maiden name was Meredith Louise Robinson)…MLR.  Although these two are not “blood” relatives, my great-grandfather loved them, and so I feel a special connection to them.