The Question Was Leading...

"If I get dessert tonight, I will be happy. If I don't get dessert tonight, I just won't be happy...pause...You want me to be happy, right?"

Intelligence and Facial Hair

A conversation:

Curtis: "Mom, do you know who is the smartest person in the whole entire universe?"

Mom: "No, who?"

Curtis: "Heavenly Father...and Jesus is super smart too."

Mom: "Yup, I think you're right."

Pause

Curtis: "I think it's the beards."

Details, Details

Lindy is working on a Hidden Picture drawing for Curtis. She was asking for ideas for items to include in her drawing.

Lindy: What should I put in the picture?

Curtis: A dog.

Lindy: Not an animal.

Curtis: A cat.

Lindy: That's an animal. Not an animal.

Curtis: A fish.

Lindy: NOT an animal.

Mom: (helping) Something that isn't alive, Curtis.

Curtis: A dead fish.

Problems

Curtis: "Dad, I have a problem. My problem is -- I don't know how to do karate."

The Island

We've been talking about getting an island in our kitchen. I've been making calls, setting up appointments, and planning the layout. I hadn't really thought of what the children would be thinking of it all, but was surprised when Ellie announced today that she couldn't wait for the island!!!!

Because she was sooooooo very excited to play in the sand.

Oh. I get it.

Thank You?

Curtis: "When you guys turn old and die you can be up in heaven looking at me."

A Laugh Before Dying

He has a fever. And a slight cough. So he lays, pathetic, on the couch.

He beckons to me to come closer and whispers, "I'm dying...I'm trying to hang on, though."

As I stifle my laughter he continues to explain, "When you're super, super sick...you die."

I tried, to no avail, to explain that he is not "super, super sick". 

We've agreed to disagree.

The Holy Ghost and Other Good Guys

Curtis has developed a recent fascination with the Holy Ghost. The up side to this is that he has total faith and belief that the Holy Ghost is a "good guy". Good.

Unfortunately he is also convinced that a good guy's responsibilities include the termination of all bad guys. And when I say termination...

Let me 'splain.

The other day his oldest sister decided to tell him about the boogeyman. (Thanks, kiddo.) His three year-old brain then burst into action and so, for the last few days, he's been informing most people he talks to that "the Holy Ghost killed and ate the bogey man" at our house.

Problem solved. At least for him.

The other "good guy" we've heard a lot about is Jesus. From his power over the Egyptians to this latest epiphany on the way into Costco:

Curtis: "Mom, if Jesus didn't make cars for us we would be SO tired from walking all the time."

Power

The kids were watching Prince of Egypt this afternoon while Ian and I continued to unpack. After the Angel of Death visited the Egyptians, Curtis decided to fill me in on the story. He excitedly told me that "the mean people's kids died from Jesus' power".

I love television.

The Boy

School Pictures - Fall 2011

So, he wasn't exactly cooperative with the photographer. I stood on the sidelines, less than surprised as he refused to respond to her many, kind attempts to produce a smile. But, I do know she did much better than I could have...he actually held still for her!

The haircut is courtesy of the Jones Family Clippers. That's what happens when our stylist is out of town...so don't judge, Kim. It could have been worse. Trust me.

He has kept us laughing, which is par for the course, this week. There were a couple things that stood out, however, and I knew I wanted to document.

As we were driving down the street the other day Curtis randomly asks, "Mom, do you like nuts?" Ignoring the oddity of the question, I responded, "Yes, I like nuts." He pondered this for a moment then added, "Hmmm. Only bad mommy's like nuts."

Last night he sidled up to me, gave me the sweetest, kindest smile he can produce and quietly asked, "Mommy, may I pleeeeeaaase have a yogurt to eat? Please?" With that he tipped his head ever so slightly to the side and batted his beautiful blue eyes. What could I do? I opened the fridge and told him, "Well, of course you can have a yogurt. You asked me so nicely!" He then grabbed the yogurt, let out a less-than-sweet chuckle, and said, "I was just pretending."

Oh dear.

Mom, It's Me!

In the midst of a daily routine (staring hopefully into the fridge waiting for dinner to magically make itself known) Curtis came running into the kitchen and planted himself beside me. He was wearing his Superman cape and standing majestically, hands on hips, as he announced, "I'm hungry! Superman is HUNGRY!!!"

With a chuckle, I asked, "Okay, Superman...what would you like to eat?"

He suddenly reached up, yanked off the cape, and grabbed me by the shoulder to let me in on a little secret.

"Mom, it's me! Curtis!"

As you can imagine, I was SO surprised.

New Girls

We spent some time today watching the Saturday sessions of General Conference. Ian and I were surprised to see our son exhibit some odd behavior. He sat down in front of the television and began to pay attention. (I know, right?)

He suddenly announced, "Mom, we need to get some new girls!"

"What?"

"We need some new girls, mom."

"Do you mean, instead of Lindy and Ellie?"

"Yup...those girls up there match."

From what I was able to gather, he was letting us know that the girls in the Primary choir were more preferable than his sisters due to their matching shirts. Go figure.

"Hey, Mom!"

Curtis: "Hey, Mom! This is a great place to put my light saber?"

Mom (laughing): "Yup, I think it's perfect."

Curtis: "Yeah, it's AWESOME!"

Too Hot

Curtis has been fairly adamant about picking out his own wardrobe. When he showed up in this new long-sleeved shirt we tried to convince him that it was too hot outside for long sleeves.

No problem, he'll just blow on it a bit to cool it down.

The Bad Guy

Curtis has a new voice. A deep, gravelly, take-me-serious voice which he uses to demand attention and respect. (It really is quite something.) Earlier this afternoon he used aforementioned voice to announce, "I'm a BAD GUY!!!" I nearly shook with fright.

When this bold declaration was followed by strange "clicking", I knew I needed to find out what new horror would be unleashed upon his unsuspecting family members!

Hmmm...are those Snow White Princess High-Heels? Indeed they are. Fashionably teamed up with a smiling cookie-face and shorts. (Whew! Crisis averted.)

I very nearly had to take him seriously when he showed me the "keys" in his pocket, and began shooting Ellie with his "gun".

But wait a minute. Yup...those are still Snow White Princess High-Heels.

We're good.

Vocabulary

Let me sum up Curtis: that boy moves. A lot.

No really, a LOT. Jumping, climbing, hopping, bouncing, running, skipping, then more climbing, jumping, running...you get the picture.

I find that I spend the majority of my days trying to prevent some major bone-breaking, blood-losing, spine-jarring tragedy. It can be exhausting.

Today he was jumping (of course) off of a chair and ended up crashing into the floor. He came wailing up to me, holding his head in his hands, and loudly exclaimed, "Mom! I broke my head open!"

At lease I've repeated myself enough to impact his vocabulary...if not his actions.

Curtis in April

Favorite Movies:

"Despicable Me" (A.K.A. "Pickle Meat")

"Monsters, Inc." (A.K.A. "Monsters AND Inc.")

Favorite Toy:

Anything that can be a gun. For example, he'll grab a hanger, yell at me to "put your hands up, mom!" and when I do...he shoots me.

Closest Call:

I caught him in our bathroom, with Ian's razor, trying to shave his head.

Awesome.

Improv on the Road

From the backseat this afternoon:

Ellie: "Hey, Curtis...why did the rooster cross the road?"

Curtis (yelling):"Cause he was MAD!"

Ellie: "No...because it was the chicken's day off."

Curtis: "Hmph!"

Ellie: "Curtis, it's just a joke."

Curtis (with fury): "IT'S NOT A JOKE TO ME!"

Not a good day for comedy.

Ugly Pancakes

When Lindy was little I surprised her one morning with a German Pancake. As I pulled it out of the oven she grimaced and told me she WOULD NOT eat it. When I assured her that it was just a different way of making pancakes, she shrugged and said, "Yeah, well it's an ugly pancake." and walked away.

Her given nick-name has stuck. In spite of it's rough beginning, it is now one of the girl's favorite breakfast items and they request it all the time. Since it's an easy one, we end up eating it more than we probably should. (But, because it's delicious, I rarely complain.)

Puffed Oven Pancakes

(A.K.A. Ugly Pancakes)

4 Tbsp. butter or margarine

6 eggs

1 c. flour

1 c. milk

1/2 tsp. salt

Preheat oven to 400˚. Place butter in bottom of 9x13 pan (glass pans work better) and place in oven for 3 to 5 minutes or till butter melts. In a mixing bowl use a wire whisk or rotary beater to beat eggs till combined. Add flour, milk, and salt. Beat till mixture is smooth. Immediately poor into hot pan and place in oven. Bake about 25 minutes or till puffed and well browned.

Cut into wedges and serve warm. Makes 12(ish) servings (which barely feeds my family of 5).

You can top with fruit, sprinkle with powdered sugar, or top with whipped cream. Our favorite topping? Smuckers Boysenberry Syrup. Yummy!

Recipe from the Better Homes and Gardens New Cook Book - 2000 Edition (doubled)

Tidbits

January 20 - Lindy's Prayer

"Please bless my mom to fix something other than cereal for breakfast in the morning."

January 23 - Curtis Discovers A New Phrase

Today Curtis didn't want to go to Church because "nursery hurts [his] feelings". Then later on, when I took away the remote I "hurt [his] feelings". When I didn't give him the food he wanted at dinner, I apparently "hurt [his] feelings". Then, at bedtime, he couldn't go to bed because his "pillow hurt [his] feelings".

What a rough day, little one.