Pretty or Nice?

When children are little, it's so easy to tell them all the time how cute they are. There has been a time or two when I've heard young kids (mine -cringe- or others) say, "I know." instead of, "Thank you." when an adult tells them they are pretty or cute or whatever. Although the response probably comes mostly from toddler age kids who don't know better, that cringe is a good reminder for me to try to praise my kids when they've talked nicely, done something nice for someone else, or shared, just as often as I compliment them on the way they look. Sometimes I'll follow up a "You're so cute!" squeeze with an, "I'm glad you're so nice, too." just to remind them that it is more important to be nice than to look cute (although of course, cute can also mean cute acting).

But tonight I blew it. Danny took Jeremy to his 8:00 basketball game, and I decided that the rest of us needed to stay home so I could get the 4 littles to bed on time. But I caved, and let them finish the movie "Up" that they were finally watching for the first time. By the time they were moseying to bed, it was an hour past their bedtime. And as I should have known it would, it turned into, "I'm hungry", "I want to watch the part I missed", "I'm scared", and I started to lose my patience a little bit. When both girls came upstairs with, "I don't have a drink downstairs", my own tiredness got the best of me. "I'm going to have to spank if you don't get in your beds right now." Mollie ran down the stairs saying, "You're pretty, Mom."

Pretty (which of course is questionable in one of Danny's shirts and no make up), but not nice. Dang it.

I'm grateful for new days. :)

Last September, I took Mollie out back for some pictures. My girls generally don't enjoy having their picture taken by me. But this time she was pretty and nice.

We Like You, Jazz.

At our evening prayer a few nights ago, Jeremy even prayed for you to "finally" win a game. I believe Danny told him after that that might not be appropriate and I (privately) said, "Why not?" They need it. Jeremy totally reminds me of my brother Jeremy and his emotional ties to his teams. He gets a little upset when they're not at the top of their game or blowing their season.

One year ago this month, Danny, Jeremy, Sadie, and I were at a Jazz/T-Wolves game. There was a cute dad holding up his cuter daughter while she danced, so I took some pictures so I could send some to them. Then I forgot where I put his email. Whoopsie. But hey, hey! Just found it! I do miss Jazz games with AmEx.

Cute President Monson seems to be at almost every game. I admit that sometimes I watch him when the Jazz Girls are dancing and wonder what he is thinking about it all.

AND, super cuter L. Tom Perry. Love him.

Some fan was going to win a large sum of money if he could hit this target with a football. He wasn't....really even close...at all. So then they brought out the '08-'09 Utah QB and said the fan could still win if QB hit it. Bullseye. Follow the faces...can you see the ball?

Hey, Biceps.

I think that Jeremy was on the jumbotron a dozen times last year. Sometimes more than once during a game. Two years ago I could never get him to move. Last year, I couldn't stop him. A little too much hands on the head and hip for my taste, babe. (See New Year's Eve post.) But hey. Whatever gets you on the big screen Big J.

Sadie is on Danny's shoulders, but you can't capture the screen too well. Sorry that you're headless, Sade.

Good Boy.

With 5 kids, and 4 still at home most of the day, there is a lot of craziness. Lots of ups and downs, and lots of noise. Sometimes I just want it to be a little more quiet. Or at least less of the angry, annoyed, tattle-tale, sassy, naughty, making disasters, complaining type of noise. Today, I got that from one child. Asher. Not one "Go 'way!" or "Hate you Mommy." (I know, it's sad that our 2-year-old's vocabulary has aquired such stinging words, but I've learned to kind of giggle about it.) I don't think he even said, "Hate naps!" as I went to put him down. There was no hitting, kicking, eye scratching, or pinching. Okay, there was one little cheek grab of Mollie, but she forgave. Today, there was none of this...

Yes, look at yourself, child. You don't want to look like a scary monster. Let's not do that again, okay?

Okay.

Nor any of this today...

(Sadie, "I'll clean it up Mommy." Scrubbing the entire table down with a soggy paper towel no less.)

Desitin is made to stay on skin you know.

Scrubbing.

All clean.

Today didn't even have any of this...

Today felt more like this...

Oh hi.

Good boy Asher. Rock on.

Oh Sweet Baby Doll!

Welcome Lizzie (one of my favorite and almost used names)! It seems that Melanie and Sterling have been waiting forever and a day for this darling baby. She's so beautiful and I am so excited for another little niece! Off to a rough start, but oh, what a trooper...Melanie too! Such a blessing and a little miracle baby.

Ohhhhhh...kissy, kissy.