Peas and Pizza

I didn't expect Brent home for dinner on Monday night, and so I took full advantage of his absence with a very "kid friendly" dinner:  Mini Pizzas and Peas.  

Well, Brent finished his project early and was home in time for dinner.  

When it's just me and the kids at the dinner table, I can't say that we have tons of fun.  After spending all day together, we're all tired and sometimes cranky; what patience I might have had in the morning has long been spent.  

Brent, however, provides a "breath of fresh air."  When he's home for dinner we almost always end up having fun.  He lightens my mood as well as the kids'.  

Monday was no different.  He did not complain at such a simple dinner (I'm sure he wouldn't dare, but also he's just that sweet).  Rather, he made a dinner of pizza on English muffins and frozen peas into something entirely new: Pea Pizza.  

Sounds gross, right?  At least I thought it sounded and looked gross.  I was the only one.

The kids LOVED it!

the letter "p"

Please be warned.  This post is not for the faint of heart.  That being said, Mercedes and I had a funny conversation today.

This afternoon she came out of the bathroom and said,  "Mommy, you know that stuff that goes in the toilet that starts with the letter p?"

(My mother always used "correct" terms for everything, and so bestowed the same habit upon me.  I CANNOT STAND the "p" word.  When I was little I once came home from my cousins' house and excitedly shared with my mother - "Mommy!  Aunt Sharon calls it BM!"  Just one of my many idiosyncrasies).

My reply:  "You mean urine?  It's called urine."

"Well, I just went and it wasn't yellow at all.  It was white!"  She was SO excited about this.  

When she was little she used to drink tons of water and stayed well-hydrated.  These days, she doesn't drink much and I've told her that if her, ahem, urine is yellow it means that she isn't drinking enough water. 

"Wow, that's great."

"And all day it's been white!  Even when I first woke up this morning?  It was white!"

"Mercedes, that's not true.  No one's is white when they first wake up in the morning."

"Oh.  Well... just now it was white!"

It just cracks me up that she was SO excited about it.

big trouble

This afternoon, shortly after I had finished washing a load of dishes, Cooper came into the kitchen for a drink.  

I had spilled water all over while rinsing out a large baking dish.

As soon as he saw me, Cooper said: "Mommy, you spilled water on you tummy?"

"Oh yes, I spilled water while I was doing the dishes."

"You in big trouble Mommy!  You spilled water!"

The funny thing is, no one gets in trouble for spilling water in our house.  Earlier today Cooper spilled a whole bottle of pickle juice on the floor and didn't get in trouble (even though he should NOT have been getting into the pickles while I was in the shower).  I'm just glad that the accident happened before I mopped the floor.

But he's been using that expression often lately.  I catch Mercedes saying it to him every once in a while; "Cooper, you'd better give that back to me or you'll be in big trouble!"

I guess I should go and give myself a time-out.  Wouldn't that be lovely?

Watch out... he's a mover!

Brent home teaches a family in our ward who has a baby boy just three 

weeks younger than Lincoln. When they asked about Lincoln last 

week, Brent told them about his "crawling," and they were shocked.  

They said that their baby just lays there quietly. It's true!  

I see him in church and he's just sitting calmly on his mother's lap.  

I've been in the mother's lounge with him; he nurses quietly and 

calmly. Lincoln is NEVER still, unless of course he's sleeping.  

What would it be like? I must admit that I'm envious, 

but it's also fun to see Lincoln trying to chase after his brother 

and sister. When I go in to get him from his crib he is almost 

always on his hands and knees, rocking away. One of these 

days he'll sit up to play and do a little less spitting up on the 

carpet (I hope!).

Chef Mercedes

Yesterday, Mercedes asked Brent if they could make cookies together.  

Brent decided that it would be a good idea for Mercedes to do

 ALL of the work ALL by herself.

Completely.

By herself.

Brent sat in his "director's chair" and simply gave instructions.

I'm so glad that he has more patience than I do.

In her chef's hat, measuring the shortening.

She was VERY focused.

A little help from Cooper.

Cooper also served as the resident "taster."

Cleaning up.

Mmmmm, tasty!

Ready to deliver some to her friends.

AWESOME JOB MERCEDES!