Family Home Evening –  a night of hurled insults and outraged exclamations as we play Star Wars Trouble, dunk Oreos, and take selfies.

Good times.

 

Dallin entered the literature portion of the Reflections competition this year at school. The theme was, “The World Would Be a Better Place If . . .” He thought long and hard about what he wanted to say, he stayed in from recess a few times to work on his entry, and he wrote a beautiful poem about the world being a better place if everyone had a home and family. We got a call from the school the other day to inform us that Dallin won 1st place for his age division! We are so proud of you, Dallin. You have always had the most generous of hearts. I think the world be a better place if everyone loved as deeply as you.

And Dad really likes your Deadpool shirt. I think he’s a little jealous.

 

Hyrum came running into the kitchen the other day, crying loudly. When I asked him what was wrong, he replied, “I smashed my thumb toe!” He was one sad little boy, until I pulled out the camera and asked him to show me which toe was his “thumb toe.” Then, suddenly, everything was hilarious.

I like the phrase “thumb toe.” I think that’s what I will call my big toe from now on.

Grandma invited us to a Halloween party and it was all Dallin and Hyrum could talk about for weeks. They were beside themselves with excitement and the party exceeded even their wildest expectations. My sweet mom and sister spent a month planning games, shopping for supplies, printing labels, organizing menus, stuffing and blowing up balloons, choosing favors, and creating appetizers in preparation for this party of all parties. The next morning, Hyrum said, “Mom, do you have Grandma’s phone number? I want to call her and tell her ‘Best party ever!'” And it really was.

We played tons of games. They had to unwrap Tootsie Rolls and Smarties with oven mitts on, then gobble them up in record time.

They got to paint spiders on their cheeks without looking and transfer Pixie Sticks from one cup to another using only chopsticks (or tongs for the little ones.)

They ran around outside on a beautiful fall day, popping balloons filled with candy.

They put on their costumes and went trick-or-treating at seven different rooms in Grandma and Grandpa’s house. Grandpa scared them with the spooky soundtrack at his door. Great-Grandma had them sing her a song at her door. And Uncle Lynn made them duck and dodge the flying candy at his door.

And the food . . . the food was amazing. We had all kinds of fun Halloween treats that my mom had spent hours making. The main dish was salad, rolls, and homemade clam chowder, chili, broccoli and cheese soup, and chicken noodle soup. Yum….

After dinner, the kids decorated sugar cookies and piled them high with so much candy that they barely looked like cookies anymore. Then they played, and played, and played with their cousins. It was a perfect day. Thanks for the happy memories, Grandma and Grandpa.

Best Party Ever.

The KoolAid mustache is a right of passage for little boys. Whenever I see one on Hyrum, I inevitably think about my little brother, Lynn. He had a permanent KoolAid mustache growing up. It wouldn’t scrub off. In every picture we have of Lynn, you can see the faint red stain above that upper lip.

Hyrum wears it well. The KoolAid mustache holds a tender place in my heart.

 

Dallin has been enjoying soccer this season. The division he plays in gets to have goal keepers and he has proven himself a force to be reckoned with in that box. He has brilliant saves and amazing drop-kicks. He doesn’t shy away from the ball when it comes barreling towards him at high speeds. His tracking skills are sharp and he knows just when to rush the ball and when to hang back for the save. I have loved watching this 7-year-old play.

The other day I caught the youngest two walking out the front door.

“Where are you guys going?” I asked.

Without slowing down, Dallin called over his shoulder, “We’re going to go stand on the corner.”

“Hold on!” I commanded and they slowed slightly. “Why are you going to stand on the corner?”

Dallin didn’t even bat an eye when he responded, “So I can sell Hyrum.”

That was when I noticed the sign Hyrum was holding. It said, “I’m for 8 dolars. if you want to get me.”

“Dallin!” I exclaimed, slightly panicked at this point. “Get back in this house right now.”

Dallin’s shoulders slumped, “But Mom, I really, really need eight dollars.”

“What could you possibly need eight dollars for?” I demanded.

His reply was simple and straight to the point. “So I can buy a sock monkey.”

It took me a few seconds to put a sentence together. “Dallin Farley! You cannot sell your brother for a sock monkey.”

“Awww man!” They both replied. In unison.

“Hyrum!” I was dumbfounded. “Why in the world would you want to be sold?”

“I was gonna run away back home after Dallin got the money. Then I could play with his sock monkey too!

Motherhood is tough.

 

Hyrum brought a quarter to the breakfast table the other day and told Jared, “I’m going to flip it and you guess – heads or eagles?” Jared laughed and said, “I think you mean heads or tails, Buddy.” Hyrum shook his head. “No, there are no tails on the other side. Just eagles. Now pick one – heads or eagles.”

 

I’m not exactly sure what to say about these photos. I think I’ll tuck them away safely, until he’s a teenager.