I thought it was just Marty

Does anyone remember how Marty used to read encyclopedias? I always thought that it was a little strange. Well, I have a child who does the same thing....only she can't read yet, so she must just be studying the pictures. She has been known to sneak them to bed every now and then. Little miss Clayre-bees.

This morning I went upstairs. The T.V wasn't working so while Clayre and Kate were waiting for me to come up and fix it, they got out all the World Book Encyclopedias (good gift, mom) and were going through them. Clayre said to me, "I didn't know train had two O's in it." I'm not sure what that means. Maybe she was "reading" about Choo Choo trains?

Anyway, the T.V. is back working so after they but all the books back (Clayre sang the alpha-bet song to know the order to put them back, right. Genious!) ....it's off to learning how to count to 10 in Spanish from who better than, Dora the Explorer!

Graduation=Cool Things

Now that I have graduated from college, I have noticed that I have a lot of things that I didn't have before I graduated from college. Like a new camera. Actually, that's the only thing, but it's pretty nice.

Happy Birthday Lily!

Happy 7th Birthday Lily.
Here's a cake for you.
Too bad you don't live closer.
It was yummy.

Love,
Parly, Clayre, Kate, and Maggie

Happy Birthday Little Dazer

Here I am teaching a class full of 9th graders about King Arthur when I remember it's my sister's birthday. It's amazing how willingly my students sacrificed 20 minutes of learning so that they could let me call Daisy and sing happy birthday to her (I mean, we had to go through a few practice runs first). It was at this moment that I realized that we owe a lot to little Dais, and here's why...Feel free to add any more I left out:

• "Taking turns" scratching backs
• giving Isaac a birthday present of service cards for ways that he could serve you
• Scarlett and Rhett butler frame with pictures of your boyfriends
• Dole stickers
• List of "things to do" (I always remember seeing some)
• million dollar inventions (really, you're good at that)
• juicy journal entries (not that I would know)
• always being able to find anything missing once we announce a reward
• always being picked out with Emily as the "ring leader"
• good phone conversationalist
• contains a welath of TV and celebrity knowledge
• great blogger

That's a whole lot to accomplish in a mere 29? years.

Leggo my Eggo

So when exactly will my kids be able to cut their own waffles. I mean—this step will be a bigger hurdle than leaving the home for college. It was a good day, maybe the best of my whole life, when Lily started washing her own hair and Canyon started buckling his own seat belt…but when can I stop cutting up their waffles, meat, etc.? I have these visions of me and Lily at college—me, cutting her waffles every morning before she goes to class. I suppose that some people are high maintenance, that their expectations in life include great vacations, money, power, nice homes, cars…. Me? I just want my kids to cut their own waffles.

Answering the call

So, I guess now that I've been formally invited to join the blog I have no excuse for witholding my gems of knowledge and impressive writing skills. (<---I'm starting to sound like Marty aren't I.)

At any rate, I did write something for the blog---but I wouldn't expect it to ever happen again. So, I hope you all enjoy this epic narrative of important life lessons as taught by a four year old. Here goes:

Most people could agree that competition is a normal part of life. (Those who would argue are probably doing so because they think they are better than everyone else.) If your neighbors have an immaculate house, then the pressure is on to keep your house looking justa s impressive. Each week when I go babysitting I get to witness competition at it's best as cute 4-year-old Kenzie takes on the world.

Last week, as I watched Angie and Alex (their little one-year-old) in the front yard I could overhear the conversation going on in the back yard. Kenzie and her friend Brooke were jumping on the trampoline together when Brooke began the Challenge. It started with little comparisons about the trials their family has endured. Soon enough I heard brook brag, "Well my Dad's cousin....he DIED!"

Thinking this ultimate glory of knowing someone who died would have to trump all else I was surprised when without hesitation Kenzie made her comeback. "Well, my Grandpa got a bloody nose!" she responded. In astonishment Brooke gasped at the idea of such a horrible thing and their little battle quickly ended knowing that no one could top a bloody nose. And really, who could top that!?

So in conclusion, my advise to all is when your neighbor drives that flashy new car of theirs, just get out your fanciest key chain and flaunt it! Take that! ZING!!

Let me in.

So, what does a guy have to do to be able to blog around here? It's because I'm not "officially" part of the family isn't it.

--- Christian
(cjwest@cc.usu.edu)