Wherein I Play Catch Up: Episode II

Right now on my counter, I have:

• caramel nut trail mix
• a bag of licorice (variety of flavors)
• sugar cookies made with each of our names on it (delivered last night with Joy to the World sung in harmony!)
• Monkey Munch
• a dozen Raspberry rolls and 2 pull apart cinnamon breads from Shirley's Bakery
• frosted chocolate cake
• fruit bread
• banana bread
• a toffee crunch Belgian chocolate bar
• shortbread cookies
• a rice crispy treat from Funky Chunky
• sparkling apple cider
• sour Santa gummies
• hot chocolate
• cinnamon honey butter. 

Yesterday there were also 6 beyond-delicious white chocolate/peppermint cupcakes that disappeared after dinner.  I kid you not--the best cupcakes I have ever had. Thanks neighbors, coworkers and friends for all the gifts.  In an attempt to distract myself from all the sugary deliciousness calling my name, I'll play a little more catch-up and post our Top Ten for October/November. 

10--Announcement of impending birth of baby #5 is met with complete and utter disbelief.  As in, Kye scoffed and said, "Yeah, right, dad!"  Lucy said, "Nuh-uh," a dozen times like we were trying to pull her leg.   I'll be the first to admit that Zach might be a bit of a tease with the kids, but I was still a little surprised at their reactions.  It took 10 minutes of convincing and the showing of the ultrasound picture before they believed us.

9--Overheard while the kids were playing "super-powers":
K: Boom!  Tornado Power!
L: Boom! Hurricane Power!
K: Boom!  Fire Power!
I: These are the BEST ones--Boom!  Scripture Power!  Boom!  Priesthood Power!

8--L: I don't know who played on the computer downstairs.
A: I did.  I was checking out my email. 

7--We are a family of readers.  I pretty much think that's undisputed.  I grew up in a family of readers.  I remember distinctly the uncontained excitement of getting home from the library with a new bag of books to read.  I remember rushing through chores so I could sit lengthwise on the bottom stair and pull out a new book and throw myself into another world.  (My other favorite reading spot was lying on the couch facing the back of it with my leg thrown up over the top, but I digress.)  Anyway, I laughed out loud at this conversation with my niece, Hannah.
H: Where are your books?  Are you not an avid reader, like me and my mom?
M: I'm trying to read less this month so I get more done.  I'm doing it on purpose.
H: (thoughtfully) Yeah . . . I'm trying to read less, too.  I'm limiting myself to one book a day.

6--A: (yelling through the door) Mom, are you in my bathroom?
M: No, I'm in my bathroom.
A: It's MY bathroom now . . . and you can't pee in my bathroom!  Mwahahahaha!

5--Palm-reading abounds:
I: Mom, is this "M" in my hand here because I'm Mormon?
(You'd better check your palm lines, people.  If there's an "M" it means you should be a Mormon, too!)

4--I happen to be fond of idioms and proverbs.  This is something my kids know (and don't love) about me.  I remember hearing them all the time from my grandma.  "Loose lips sink ships" and "It was the dishwiper who didn't get half the dirt" and the like.  Zach doesn't believe that most of these proverbs actually exist.  He thinks I make them up.  I totally don't. One of my faves: "If wishes were horses, then beggars would ride.  If wishes were fishes we'd all have a fry.  If wishes were horse poop, then no one would die." Observe:
K:  Oh, I wish . . .
M: If wishes were horses, then beggars would ride.  If wishes were fishes . . .
K: We'd all have a fry.
M: If wishes were horse poop . . .
K: Then everything would stink!  Hahahahaha!
True dat, funny man.

3--Disneyland!!  Our first trip there in 7 years, so like a brand new experience for all involved.  Already blogged about.  Still memorable enough to mention here.

2--After watching "Hook," which was a little more intense than I remembered, what with the hook-shaped hole through all of the walls, kidnapping of children, crocodiles, scary music and the like, little A shared his feelings.
A: Oh!  That was so scawy!
M: Which part was scary?
A: Oh!  It was so scawy when da mommy frew away da daddy's cell phone out da window into da snow.
(I choose to ignore all implications that might be derived from this comment.)

1--Momnesia returns.  I know it never really leaves once you start having kids, but it certainly intensifies during pregnancy.  I have trouble remember common words like "cupboard" and "flour" (but interestingly never things like "chocolate" and "cookies."  Hm.)  And worst of all, my idioms get all mixed up.  Case in point:
Me: Maybe we shouldn't get one with all the bells and jingles yet.
Zach: (Snort) Ummmmm, do you mean "whistles"?
Me: Yes, whistles.

Sigh.  My brain will come back, right?  Remind me often that it will, people!

And that concludes our combined Oct/Nov top ten.  And that means I have officially caught up.  Yeehawzers!  We were going to make our traditional Christmas treats today (BandJ-killer cookies and fudge) but I'm thinking we don't need one more ounce of sugar in this house.  We'll see--maybe we'll go sledding instead.  (I mean the outside kind . . . not just sledding down the basement stairs in sleeping bags, which the children are doing as I speak write.)