Only in Utah!

No words are needed. Yes, it's SEPTEMBER...

N V T S Nuts!

I don't want to be premature here, but it seems as though Elijah and Hannah are actually getting along better these days. For those not in the know - the two of them have been fighting like dogs ALL THE TIME for the past year or so. They have their nice moments, but most of the time is just nark after nark after nark....ALL DAY LONG....

"Mommy, Elijah called my stuffed animal stupid."

"Daddy, Hannah said I wasn't allowed to eat dessert."

"Daddy, Elijah touched my shoulder in a rough way."

"Mommy, Hannah looked at me with one eye open."

"Mommy, Elijah was thinking about saying that I was a moron."

"Daddy, Hannah is still breathing."

Anyway, we've been waiting for them to get past all this and finally start being more friendly with eachother and the tide seems to be chaning ever so slightly these days.

The two of them have started playing this game with eachother that involves a nylon sleeping bag and a set of stairs. They line the stairs with the slippery sleeping bag and slide down the stairs at high speed as the bag flies up and lands on them at the bottom. It's fun to watch even if my heart nearly jumps out of my chest with every smack of their bodies against the ground at the bottom of the stairs. Legs go flying, bodies disappear in the rubble and the laughter never stops.

Last night as they were getting ready to call it a night, they started to get rammy (as kids often do as you ask them to wrap things up) and the play got more and more daring and loud. On the final trip down the stairs, Hannah's legs whipped up over her head and her left pinky toe smacked square into her brother's crotch.

Rolling over on the carpet with his hands cradeling his developing package, and in a fit of laughter, he screamed out a line I will never forget...

"OH MY GOD....MY NUTS!!"

Classic.

You Never Forget Your First One (well, Dad certainly won't)

So I picked up Elijah today from the Dojo as usual, around 6pm. We have a routine of sorts when I pick him up. He gets in the car, closes the door and says, "What's UP, Dad?" To which I almost ALWAYS reply, "Nothin' really....'SUP WITCHU?"

Then we go through his day and I hear about school and things like this. Today, I heard about something I had not heard about before and probably will hear about MANY MANY MANY more times in the coming years.

"Hey Dad....remember Sofia from my class in first grade last year, who's Mom is from Argentina?"

"Um....not really....I bet Mom does, though."

"Guess what? I GOT HER PHONE NUMBER TODAY!"

"'Scuse me? You got her phone number?"

"Yeah!! I really did!! It's in my shorts. Now I can call her and see if she can come over on the weekends."

I wasn't even ready to think about Bar Mitzvah dates yet and now THIS?

He went on to tell me that they were friends last year, but this year have taken the relationship to a whole new level. They started hugging last week, kissing on Friday, got to third base today and now are talking about retirement.

Actually, I faintly started hearing "Cat's in the Cradle" in the background during the whole ride home.

Tonight when he was going to sleep, I asked him how his friend Morgan was. Morgan has been in karate with him since he started. He told me she was doing well and that she got a whole new hairdo with two barettes and a part on the side.

HE'S NOTICING!!!

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Speaking of noticing...did you see that cool new Widget in the upper right of the page? It shows the location of folks who access the page. Pretty cool, huh? It's in test mode...not sure if I like it yet.

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Abuela was here in town for a few days...seemed like a few hours. She left on Monday afternoon. Monday night the kiddies all had issues going to sleep. No matter how many books we read them or how long we cuddle with them, nothing compares to being put night-night by their Abuela. Nothing comes close. They were going to alternate nights with her - each getting two to themselves - but that didn't last. She slept with BOTH OF THEM on the final two nights. I don't know how she got any sleep in the queen sized bed. I don't think she cared much either. It was still vacation for her.

Deb and I got to have a DATE when Abuela was here....one that didn't cost us an extra bundle for babysitting!! This is a cool perk for when Abuela visits. THANKS ABUELA!! We miss you already!!!!!!