Stealing

Cougar, Phoenix and I went to AutoZone today to switch cars with Mark. Cougar kept asking for different kinds of candy and I kept telling him "No". As we were getting back into the car he said in his sad voice "Mom, I don't want to go to jail, because I love you."

"Okay..." I said not knowing where that came from, but he's often saying very strange things. As I'm buckling him up he tells me he's got candy in a paper bag he was carrying his stuffed animals in. "What?" I open the bag and sure enough right there with his stuffed monkey is a package of Sour Patch Kids. He was quickly marched back to the store where we talked about how stealing was wrong and he had to apologize to the manager (Daddy). I felt kind of rotten that I hadn't been watching him close enough to notice. I was shocked that my sweet boy was turning into a criminal. (I had visions of piercing and tattoos and crazy hair on my sweet little boy in a bright orange jumpsuit) I gave myself a big F on my forehead. Then I realized that he knew it was wrong and he felt bad about it. That means I'm doing something right. We had a teaching moment and hopefully he won't do it again. I can remember stealing a mailbox of conversation hearts when I was around 4 or so. I had eaten all but one before my mom noticed, and the only reason she did notice was because I proudly proclaimed that I was going to share the last one with my older sister, Heidi. I turned out all right (at least I think I did) so there's still hope for Cougie.

Helping Mom

In preparation for Thanksgiving, I've been making a few pies. Cougar loves to help and very often tells me that he's a chef and needs to taste it. I'm not sure where he got that but my guess is Grandpa Kindlespire. Here he is wearing the Chocolate Peanut Butter Dream Pudding Pie we made. (Yes, it is as delish as it sounds) I hope I got your mouth watering for tomorrow. Mine sure is. I love turkey.

Zonked

Phoenix is a growing boy. Here he is zonked out, snuggling with Mama after a wonderful dinner. Yeah, we call him Fatty and Chubs more than his real name. Look at that arm! This sweet boy slept for 6 1/2 solid hours last night. I almost feel like a new woman!

Family Pictures!

We got family pictures taken last Saturday and I'm so happy! (I would be ecstatic if my oldest son had been slightly more cheerful) The photographer we used was awesome. He took about a bizillion pictures. Considering what Cougar was giving him to work with (screaming, crying, snot, and hands in front of face) he is the Houdini of photographers. Thanks Courtney!!

I don't know why, but I could not get this picture to rotate.

What a cutie! I love that his wrinkley palm is included.

The photographer was able to capture Cougar as he truly is.

Now, why couldn't he smile like this for all the pictures? Stinker! I love this picture. I think it just screams mischief.

By the way, the panda is not a third child. You've got to pick your battles and Cougar really wanted to hold the stinkin' thing. It didn't really help him smile, but at least he's not screaming.

Blog Rename

So a few weeks ago my older sister renamed her blog to "We Love to Live". Taken from a poem written by a great grandma of ours. I was jealous because I didn't think of it first. I've never really liked the name of our blog but couldn't think of anything else. Well, after coming across our wedding invitation I finally had a stroke of genius. On our wedding invite we (or I, Mark didn't really have a choice about it) included an ending line from one of Grandma's poems.

Just one place I am belonging,

and I know it is with you.

Well, it's still true. There is only one place for me and that's with these boys. Crazy though the days may be. Even if I have to deal with 3 bird breeders (Phoenix's favorite toy is a red little bird, it starts so young.) I can't think of a better place for me. And with that I change the name of our blog to Just One Place.

Cougar said "We go at the zeeum. We on a scabber hunt for horthogs. They have forns."

This was said while telling Daddy about our trip to the Bean Museum today.

Translation. "We went to the museum. We were on a scavenger hunt for worthogs. They have horns." He also decided that one of the lions, "With the hair all around" (a mane) looks like Daddy. We had a fun trip. Cougar was so excited and amazingly well behaved.

Pheasants and Phreezers

This past weekend was the annual Utah Pheasant Society Show. It's something that Mark looks forward to all year long. If you're wondering what a pheasant show is think, dog show, but with pheasants. (As I say that I get a funny image of Mark running his birds around a ring with green carpet). Anyway, it's always fun to see how our birds compare with others. Mark got a whole load of ribbons including 10 first place. Cougar entered some birds this year as well. He got 1 first place, 1 second and 2 third. Man, was he proud of himself.

I've said this before, but I really don't get the obsession with birds. I try to be supportive and I really do enjoy seeing Mark win something that is important to him, but if we stopped raising birds tomorrow I don't think I'd miss it. However, this show made it worth it to me. Every year at the show they have a big raffle. We have won little things(boxes of cheese its and various other things) But this year, we won BIG. Cougar's ticket was drawn for a brand new, still in the box, 21 cubic foot, upright, frigidaire freezer. I couldn't hardly believe it. I've been wanting a freezer for soooooooo long! I'm so excited! That's the power of positive thinking. I had been telling everyone all weekend that it was mine. I was going to win it. What a blessing! I can't wait to go to costco now I've got some real freezer space!