Henry- age 9 yr 10 mo.

This is Henry telling me that he's going to tell his friend about his progress on a video game.
"I'm bound to give him another update since I got out of that weird realm."
I love raising kids who are readers. It takes their vocabulary to new realms. :)

Henry and sleep

Henry: Mom, I haven't slept for a month!
Keri: Then why do I have to wake you up for school every morning?!

January 21, 2009 - Star Wars Dinnertime

For months my boys have been enjoying the Youtube video, "Star Wars - an a capella tribute to John Williams". They know every note and every word - even Abigail knows all the tunes and about half of the words. (If you haven't seen this video, here is the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cs7jAzAQN_4)

So at dinner, Tim was trying to encourage Abigail (3 yrs. 5 mo.) to use her silverware instead of eating with her fingers.

Tim sings: You must use your fork.
Keri sings: You must use...
Cameron sings: You must use...
Henry sings: You must use...
All: ...your fork!

Abigail sings in reply: I won't use my fork! I just use my fingers!

From August - Abigail 2 yrs. 11 mo.

So I'm reading nursery rhymes with Abigail at bedtime. She's helping, since she has the book nearly memorized. We're reading "Hey, Diddle, Diddle." The illustration shows all the characters, including the dish and the spoon who appear to be running.

Keri: Hey diddle
Abigail: diddle
Keri: the cat and the
Abigail: fiddle
Keri: the cow jumped
Abigail: over the moon.
Keri: the little dog
Abigail: laughed
Keri: to see such sport. And the dish...
Abigail: is standing right there!

From September - Henry - 9 yrs. 5 mo.

Beethoven's Ode to Joy
Utah Symphony/Utah Symphony Chorus, conducted by Keith Lockhart

Henry and my husband Tim attended the concert, and I sang with the chorus. Henry wanted to meet Maestro Lockhart afterward, so I took him backstage. The conversation went like this:

Keri: Maestro Lockhart, my son wanted to meet you. Henry, this is Keith Lockhart; this is my son, Henry.

Keith Lockhart: Henry, it's nice to meet you. (He shook Henry's hand.)
Henry: I have about a million questions I want to ask you.
KL: Well, why don't you pick you favorite one and ask it.
Henry: Why...Why did you pick Beethoven?
KL: Well, one reason is because there's a man, O.C. Tanner, who gives a lot of money to the symphony. Beethoven is one of his favorite composers. Also, he sponsors the opening concert each year, so he's giving money to support this concert. The other reason is because, choosing music is like choosing food - what you want depends on what you're in the mood for - but if someone put their hands around your throat and demanded that you tell them what the greatest music of all time was, you might just have to say Beethoven's 9th.
Henry: Cool.
KL: I'll answer another question the next time I see you.
Henry: Thanks.

From December - Abigail - 3 yrs. 3 mo.

We're sitting in church, and I've been snuggling my month-old niece for five minutes: "Mom, can we sit with someone who doesn't have a baby!"

From December - Abigail - 3 yrs. 3 mo.

We're driving in the car and the song, "It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas" comes on the radio: "It already looks like Christmas! Turn off the radio!"

From August - Abigail - 2 yrs. 11 mo.

Preparations for her first "real" birthday party are underway. "I'm gonna have a birthday party here with friends. It's gonna be so cool!"

Cameron, age 7 yr. 1 mo.

To his sister, who was jumping on him, blanket-wrapped: "I'm a blanket with feelings!"

I don't have time for this, but...

Parenting is an everyday adventure. One of my favorite things about being a parent is hearing the interesting, funny, and amazing things my children say. Perhaps you may enjoy them, too. On, dear reader!