Category Archives: Calvin

This is as reported to me by Wyatt and other members of the ward. I haven’t been to church in – ahem- a while, so this is second hand. Wish I was there.

Calvin wanted to bear his testimony, so Olivia said she would take him up and help him. Well, she led him up there, but left him on his own for the testimony.

He stood up to the mic, and very exuberantly (read: too loudly) declared:

“I LOVE MY DAD!”

“And I know Jesus is real.”

And then turning back to the bishopric, but still speaking loud enough that the mic picked it up, he asked:

“What do I say now?”

And then, turning back -

“Oh yeah. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.”

Several ward members reported it caused a bit of a chuckle.

But of course my question was “Doesn’t he love his mom?”

But get real, Dad always has and always will be way cooler than mom.

I’m glad he has the beginnings of his own testimony of the gospel. A testimony will be the single greatest tool he can have to face the battles of this life.

UPDATE-

This afternoon I was sitting non-nonchalantly on the couch. The kids were in the kitchen eating their lunch. Suddenly I hear what sounded like water being poured. I looked up to see Calvin had left his post at the table, and was standing bare-bummed in the hallway, urinating into a cup on the floor.

Seriously, kid?

TRAVELOGUE – very boring, unless you’re me and want to remember these details forever. AND EVER.

Sometime back in February I think, I made a vague mention that maybe we would go to Disneyland . . .

Of course, never make vague mentionings to a four year old girl with a heart of gold and a belief that her parent’s word is law. She latched onto that like a newborn who hasn’t been fed all day.

How’s that imagery for you?

Anyhow, it became “the thing.”

“When we go to Disneyland we’ll . . . “

or how about

“At Disneyland they have . . . “

or

“The Princess’ at Disneyland . . .”

you get the point.

We decided to wait until the fall – better weather, more time to prepare. We first thought we’d go in September, then maybe October. Finally we decided Thanksgiving weekend would be the perfect opportunity to steal away to Southern California. We’d already be half way, with our Turkey Feast taking place in Saint George this year.

Bright and early Friday morning we woke, shuffled the wish-they-were-still-sleeping-but-now-they’re-awake-and-going-to-need-attention-the-whole-drive kids into the car. We made it to Anaheim without much ado. My arm was numb from sitting twisted in the front seat so I could hold Everett’s bottle for the last hour and a half – but hey, that’s normal.

We checked into our hotel, climbed out of our PJ’s, and made a mad dash (pushing 3 kids in two strollers, you can imagine how fast we went) for the park. We got into the park about 2:30. We hit the merry-go-round, the boat ride, and the kids favorite: Toon Town. The crowds weren’t bad. Our longest line was about twenty minutes – very manageable. As the evening wore on, we even walked onto a ride or two.

But alas, seven thirty came early that night, and Calvin turned into a pumpkin promptly. He fell asleep in his daddy’s arms, and not even the excitement of Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride could rouse him. We called it a night.

The next morning we headed to the park first thing. Olivia had been asking for the Dumbo ride, and where the day before the line had been an hour long, that morning we walked right on. Dumbo is a great ride.

We finished up the fun rides at Fantasyland before heading over to Frontierland and Critter Country. Olivia discovered a new love: Roller Coasters. Her favorite was Splash Mountain, which she rode several times with her mama and daddy. The little buckaroos enjoyed canoe rides, and a ride on a pirate ship, and exploring in Tarzan’s tree house. We enjoyed a jungle river boat trip, cotton candy, and some adventures with Winnie the Pooh. We really did a lot, and by 3:00 the kids were close to melt down. We decided to head back to the hotel for naps. “We’ll come back tonight. We’ll watch world of color, and ride more rides.”

But that night it rained. I mean, it poured. We rode the swings in California Adventure, then stood 20 minutes under an awning waiting for the World of Color. But by then we were so cold we decided to just bag the whole thing. We walked home across the park as World of Color splashed in magnificence behind us.

The next day the park was dead.

I mean – we walked onto the Matterhorn – four times! Around and around and around we went. Wyatt would ride with Cal while O and I stayed with Ejo. Then O and I would go while Wyatt and Cal waited. Over and over again. Calvin LOVED the Matterhorn.

We rode on Autotopia, where Calvin got to drive the car all by himself. We went on a submarine voyage to find Nemo. We rode the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad a couple times, and even hit Splash Mountain again. We were walking onto all of these rides. The lines were just non-existent. We finished up all the rides we wanted to go on, went to California Adventure for a few attractions there (ironically, the scariest ride in the whole place is the Ferris Wheel at California Adventure! Ugh). And then we circled back and hit all our favorites again.

And by 3:00 the kids were mo’ done. As we left, each child chose a souvenir. Calvin chose a sword to “lead the way” aka- stab the back of Dad’s seat the entire drive home. Olivia chose a Princess Aurora doll, which she contentedly cuddled with in the back seat as we drove again across the wilderness of the American Southwest, and headed home.

PS- Pictures coming soon!

Look closely at this pile of laundry.

Happiness is a baby boy who sucks on his fingers.

Happiness is stopping by the store to find Christmas gifts on a great sale!

Happiness is having Carrie come over for a few days.

Happiness is playing in the leaves.

Happiness is home made corn chowder and corn bread.

And candy cane hot chocolate.

And home made carmel popcorn, and pink white chocolate popcorn.

And lasagna.

And not thinking about the calorie count until blogging about it two days later.

Happiness is looking up to see Olivia leading Bullseye down the paddock by herself with all the confidence of a girl who is meant to ride.

Happiness is having the toilet set and the bathtub working in the downstairs bathroom.

Happiness is a Super Calvin who wakes up at 7 am on the dot – even with the time change.

Happiness is a hot date with a man who loves me.

Happiness is My Family every day.

What is Happiness to you?

DearEST,

Today Olivia learned about dinosaurs at pre-school. She came home with a pill that “grew” into a dinosaur in water. She brought one home for Calvin too. That’s just like her to think of her brother and share with him.

In the meantime Calvin, Everett and I built the awesomEST blanket fort ever. It will be headquarters for our week o’ fun. After we picked up Baby Sunshine from school we hit the Post Office and mailed those rebates (told you I’d do it ) as well as a few pictures for my new internet friend Cindy. I should have more internet friends. Problem is my unfriendliness in real life translates in magnificitude (ha ha, I love that word. I totally just made that up. I know, I’m the coolEST) on the internet.

We made Place Mats like these - paper towels & contact paper

This afternoon we played outside and made place mats a’la these. Frescas Frijoles I say. They turned out pretty good, and Olivia was all too thrilled to color on them.

Then I fed the missionaries. I know, can I be any more on top of it? Lemon Chicken Pasta and Boston Cream Pie. Did you know that Boston Cream Pie is really good? I don’t think I’ve ever had it before. But alas I sent the leftovers home with the mish’s.

BECAUSE . . . we got mo’ junk at the store today – chocolate chips were on sale, so cookies it is for the week! And ice cream and bananas for banana splits. I stopped short of giant marshmallows to “roast” in the tent. We’re going to Par-Tay Calvin style.

Oh, and I daydreamed about Christmas . . . of course you’re not surprised by that. Speaking of which, off to do some internet searches for Christmas gifts. I’m thinking Mickey for SuperCal.

Love you, Miss you, You miss us ‘cuz we’re having mo’ fun. And yes, that was a little jab since you’re off on an international adventure, and I’m here watching Mickey Mouse Clubhouse for the kajillionth time.

-Anj

PS – In other exciting domestic news, it must be said: My new vacuum came today. I am the happiEST and the cleanEST, except that other than straightening up for the mish’s tonight, cleaning is not on my agenda this week.

Thursday night Carrie and I sat up talking, when suddenly we heard Everett crying from his room. Not just crying – screaming in a panicked sort of way. We jumped up to go to him. Poor boy, when I walked in his face was covered with something white. When I picked him up I smelled it. Vomit. Baby boy had thrown up all over himself. He then proceeded to vomit on me. Several hours later he finally settled down back to sleep.

The next morning we were supposed to drive out with the Smith’s to Manti. In light of Everett’s condition we slept in, then debated the trip. But then, how could we disappoint Calvin, who had been crying for three day’s straight waiting for the day we would “go to Manti.” Besides, we reasoned, we hadn’t really been anywhere all summer. We loaded up, and headed down.

Day one was spent in the shade of the Cottonwood next to the garden, talking about nothing important, letting the kids have run of the yard (and tractor, as was the case with Calvin). We ate pizza and watched TV and Olivia and I colored. Everett seemed better. No fever, no other symptoms to give alarm to illness. He was happy and content playing with each of us.

Of course that night the regurgitation returned. We cleaned him up, and put him back to bed. He did better the rest of the night.

The next morning Rick washed the lawn mower, I washed Cal’s bike; all in reaction to Calvin, who had tried to wash both with tire shine found off the back porch. Tire shine is goopy stuff. Still, Rick was gracious, and both came clean.

Later we all packed up for an afternoon drive in the mountains, and a picnic at the lake. Poor little Cal was so tired, he just begged to be carried everywhere. The weather was perfect, the views incredible. And Wyatt and Cal did a good job of not completely melting down.

That night Mike and Bret came down. Dinner was everything Labor Day weekend should be: Burgers and fresh veggies from the garden. Rootbeer floats and movies, and bed early for me because I had been up the night before with Everett.

Sunday really was  a day of rest. A little R&R, a walk, a few pictures, and more movies. Little Ev had a rough night Sunday night though. He threw up a couple times, and generally had a hard time sleeping. He survived, and I did too, though by Monday I was really dragging from the several sleepless nights.

Monday morning we didn’t do much. We packed and cleaned – the five of us can sure make a mess fast – and then headed North and back to real life.

The weekend was lovely. Thank you to the Smiths for the accommodations, entertainment, delectable cuisine, and general graciousness of us and our vomitous/mischievous children.

Dear Calvin,

Happy Birthday Baby Boy – Big Boy. People have asked: “can you believe he’s already three?” And I think, “he’s ONLY three?” Because I cannot remember life without you. In my heart you have always been here, and it’s as if life before you came was somehow before – a fuzzy, irredescent dream that only vaguely resembles me.

Now life has really begun, for both me and you. You are three, and it is practically ordained to be a time of great adventure. I feel as if there will be very little Daddy and I can do to stop you in your curious and exciting discoveries that are to come. I am excited for you, a little aprehensive for me.

I also want to tell you, because I want you to know, because you probably won’t remember much of this year of your life. But I want you to know, because in the years to come, when life will get stormy and hazy and hard to navigate at times, I want you to know, that when you were three – just three years here on earth, three years from leaving Heavenly Father, which is hardly a heartbeat in the whole of time – that you, you, who you are, and what you are: is so good. I want you to know that at age three you show so much love, goodness, and compassion to those around you. I am astonished at your sensitivity to others, your small heart is so great. I love you little boy. Remember that you are wonderful, loved, and precious. Remember it all your days, even when it’s hard. Take my word for it.

I love having a three year old boy.

It was the day! First, four wheeling up at Beaver Springs. Then, dinner at the diner. Then, drumroll please . . .

Everett’s first Rodeo!

It was a lovely evening. *Sigh.*

Leslee & Jason, Jared, and Beth & Alex all came along this year.

Calvin playing with Everett:

This little piggy played inside
This little piggy had time out
This little piggy played outside
AND THIS LITTLE PIGGY RIDES FOUR WHEELERS!!!!!!!!

This was me:

6:22 am . . . really? REALLY? REALLY?

Walk in from working out. Come around the corner to catch Cal doing this.

Kissy kissy bye bye hubby.

Baby Sunshine comes down, wild haired. Carry her back upstairs, pour breakfast for her and her brother.

Make the bottle for Everett. Go in to greet him.

He stinks. Blow out. Awesome.

Nakie baby and I take a shower.

Kids are done with breakfast. Time to change bums. One, two, three.

Time to get dressed.

Wrestle Calvin into his selected outfit (why are you wearing that winter jacket again?) – while holding baby Everett on my lap. He’s suddenly turned clingy.

Clothes on, shoes on, walk down the hall. Suddenly, Calvin is wailing!!

He wet himself (in the misadventures of potty training). He does not like the wet.

This time I put Everett down with another bottle, back down the hall to Cal’s room, strip him, dress him again.

Everett must have finished the Bah. He’s crying, and crawling, down the hall towards me.

“Olivia, go get the hair brush.” I eye her tangled locks.

I pick up Everett. Olivia has already begun to whine about having her hair brushed.

French braid/pony tail thing is not so neat or so cute. Raise my eyebrows in defeat.

Pick up Everett (still crying) again, down the hall. Now we’re really on our way.

Everett regurgitates all over himself and ME!

No way we’re getting changed. Spit up is a fashion accessory in my life.

Wipe us down as best I can. Outside.

Dig out bikes, helmets, and wagon. Ready for a walk.

Round the corner to Kellie’s, not home. We play in her abandoned back yard, alone.

Home again, into the car. Gotta run some errands. Bank, Credit Union, in-laws for Calvin’s long lost – not urinated on – shoes. A visit to Daddy’s office.

The sight of him makes all the children wail. They want to play with daddy. Maybe an afternoon visit was not such a good idea. Home again.

Lunch. Bananas? All gone. Remember this morning?

Corn dogs? Sure. With ketchup please.

Fold the laundry. Change the laundry. Curse the laundry.

Dinner? Oh yeah. Sigh with over whelming underwhelmedness.

Dinner, Baths, Bedtime. Please bedtime.

TV, computer, ready to start again?

We went on an evening hike with our friends, the Fletchers & Sparks. I’ve never heard of this waterfall before, but it was a mo’ easy hike:
short
not steep
short
Awesome

Afterwards:
Snow Cones at the Shaw Shack

We ate peanut butter sandwiches with home-made strawberry freezer jam on the faded plastic picnic table – a hand-me-down from the neighbors.

The sun shone so hot on our backs. Even boredom of a backyard played in a billion times couldn’t convince us to go inside.

Olivia swang – up, down, up, down; the blue sky like a never ended dome above her with soft white clouds that couldn’t make up their minds which shape they wanted to be.

Calvin climbed the ladder. Then he climbed down. He played with the garden stakes – swords he said. He shared with Olivia, even when she whined and wanted both. He played on the slide, he inspected the rocks. There was a great deal of interest in them. I lay in the grass, playing with my camera, trying to imagine how to capture perfection . . . in focus.

Today was the day I’ve been dreaming of for months and months – all winter long, and even last summer when my big belly made it impossible (or at least uncomfortable) to bend over the earth.

My daydream was this: me working in the yard, the warm sun on my back; the kids playing on the playset, calling me to inspect a worm or watch them in a climbing feat, and the baby happy on a blanket, rolling over, this way and that, finally falling asleep in the warm afternoon.

Today that daydream was my reality.

Later, when I had gone inside, the kids still outside happily running from one activity to the next, inside, then outside then inside again, Calvin said to me: “Mom, we’re best friends!”

“What?” I turned from the veggies I was dicing for dinner. I heard what he said, but wanted to hear it again. This time Olivia came around the corner, and putting her arm around Calvin’s shoulders, said:

“We’re best friends.”

Mmm . . . wanna melt a mamma’s heart?! Oh how I hope to hear those same sentiments in twenty years.

Best friends are the best!

This is Calvin, asleep after a joyful afternoon of mischief.

Sweet boy Calvin – he whines, he cries, he doesn’t understand, he’s sad . . . he’s two.

But then, at the first sign of distress in my voice, all that emotion immediately melts away from him, his eyes get big and round, and he says, most softly: “What’s wrong mommy?”

And then he climbs up to give cuddles and kisses until we are both happy again.

Sweet boy Calvin.

Olivia wanted a pet. She’s wanted a pet for months and months now. At first it was deep sighs and desperate pleadings for a kitty {and why not? Lyssy and ‘Azanah have at least seventeen!) And then it was gentle recollections: “remember when we had a doggie, Mom?” One day a few weeks ago Olivia asked me first thing: “Mom, can we go visit Cowboy today?”

An explanation of why that was not possible was followed with the statement, emphasized with all the feeling of a four year old heart: “I want a pet so bad.”

And so on Monday Wyatt surprised us all, saying: “Tonight for family home evening we will go to the store and get some pet fish.”

That evening, kids in tow, we visited our local PetSmart. We looked at the brightly colored canaries in their cages, we oohed at the bright tree frogs, and awed at the ginormous gilla monsters. Then we looked at the fish: Gold Fish were only 13¢ per. But the Betas: 30x more in cost, were 50x more hearty. So we were told by the acne-prone teenager with his pants cinched too high. I’m partial to Beta’s myself. Our 26¢ excursion turned into $11.79 with food.

As we climbed into the car, balancing plastic tuperwares of fish and water, we asked each elated child: what will you name your fish.

Olivia said emphatically: Cursey. I don’t know where she came up with the name.

And Cal said, as if he had thought over the “coolness” implications long and hard: “Fish, the Dawg!”

Calvin sent daddy a postcard today.

Daddy sent one back.

And he sent one to Olivia for good measure.

No one sent me a post card.

PS – Notice that Calvin used proper punctuation.

Kellie gave us the little potty we asked to borrow. Cal had been asking for his own ever since we told him that was a possibility. So finally yesterday I went over to Kel’s and helped her find it. We brought it home, washed it down, and set it right next to the big potty, with instructions to Cal that it was HIS potty, and isn’t it fun to pull down our underwear and sit on it.

After teaching him the concept for a few minutes we went on our way and about our day.

Then Leslee was over. She called from my room (where she was trying on this): “Hey Anj, do you have your camera handy? Cal has something he wants to show you.”

And out walked Calvin with this:

And I was so happy. SO SO HAPPY!

We shouted Hurray! And took pictures! And got marshmallows for treats.

And then tonight after a fun evening out, Cal pulled down his underwear and went and did it again.

The potty training has begun.

Today Wyatt was in search of the remote.

It’s lost you see. I’d like to say I’m so neat and organized, and my children are so mellow and predictable that nothing ever gets misplaced, things are always right where they should be. But if I said that you’d know I was lying. And what good does that do me?

So anyway, it’s lost. And Wyatt was in search. Watching tv without a remote is ANNOYING.

He pulled all the cushions off the couch. Do you know what you find inside my couch? Well, besides popcorn crumbs and matchbox cars?

Wyatt found . . .

Da-da-da-da (drumroll)

My keys!

They’ve only been lost since about two weeks before Christmas. Do you know how long that is? That’s longer than last year when I lost them right after christmas! It’s was Calvin, not me, who lost them this year. He has this thing with keys. And one day he was playing with mine, and they hadn’t been seen since.

Wyatt brought them up to me in victory. But I was confused . . .

Those couch cushions have been off the couch, in fort formation at least half a dozen times since the keys were lost.

But rather than hurt my brain trying to figure that out, I’m just happy to have my jingle back.

Now to find the remote . . .