I am a cub scout Wolf leader and get to work with the 8 yr. old boys in my ward. We had our Blue and Gold Banquet for Cub Scouts last night. This is an annual "birthday" party to celebrate the Cub Scouting program. Because I work with a wonderful group of people, our evening was a big hit. The theme we picked was a 'Rootin Tootin' good time! We had Tyler Smithson's famous pulled pork sandwiches, and Texas sheet cake!
A few leaders performed a silly skit! AKA the "Chin-agains!" Try not to listen to my singing! Haha I really didn't know all the lyrics and sang a little obnoxious. I'm the leader with the red bandana.
Amber and I "reenacting" our fabulous skit!
Leaders and Boys made these adorable Wanted posters.
Who wouldn't want to work with their best friends?!?!
One of my FAVORITE aspects of our church is it's focused on the family. I am able to serve and help these cub scout boys but at the same time still be a mother and let my children participate as well. Our monthly pack meetings are a family affair, fully equipped with on-time drawings, gathering activities, crazy awards and cheers. While it can be a little crazy with kids running around I wouldn't have it any other way.
Such a fun night, definitely makes serving in this church rewarding and easy.
This soccer session I ended up being Noah's coach! It happened more by mistake but it has been pretty fun! So, now I'm not the annoying mom yelling from the sidelines, I'm the annoying coach jumping and screaming out on the field! Haha. (Seriously!) Coaching 4 year olds definitely has it's challenges but it has also been very fun! The way these kids faces light up when the get the ball or shoot a goal is amazing!
We are the Purple Rhinos. My biggest struggle this season has been getting Noah to put on his purple jersey! Seriously! This kid is funny, he doesn't want to wear a purple shirt. He fights us almost every Saturday saying "I don't want to wear purple! Purple is a girl color!"
Go RHINOS!
The victory tunnel at the end of every game is always a favorite!
The only down side to coaching Noah's team is that I really havn't gotten to see Mason play very much. A lot of their games are at the same times on Saturdays and Ron and I usually split up.
I'm human and make many mistakes. Lately, my folly has been losing my temper with my children. I'm not proud of this but it does happen. This seems to occur almost daily, from the hours of 4-7pm. Maybe it's because of Ron's longer work hours, or maybe it's just because I dread making dinner EVERY day, I'm not sure which but I had one particularly rough day last week. We had a wonderful day, filled with story time, playing games, and good naps. At about 7pm the boys were in the bathtub while I was getting Callie ready for bed. I could hear screams of excitment and lots of splashing. I had calmly warned them multiple times to stop and please just get out of the tub. The fourth and final time I went in to warn them I noticed Mason outside the tub and a "careless" mess on the toilet from him. It really wasn't bad but I lost it. I started yelling and demanded they both get out and get their pajamas on. As I was yelling I felt like I was having an out of body experience. I see the cranky scary mom and I tell myself to stop. But I don't listen to that voice... As I cleaned the bathroom with clorox wipes, and mopped the floors (not sure why I mopped maybe just to vent and take it out on the floors) I just got more and more disappointed with myself, I knew I needed to change but I didn't know how. As I agressively mopped Mason cautiously approached me with something in his hand. He then handed me a $5 bill. My heart melted and I asked "What is this for?" He replied "Because you were mad." I think that was his way for making amends and apologizing for his actions. I of course took him aside hugged him and we talked about all that had happened and returned his "tip" to him.
One of my personal goals is to work really hard on not raising my voice with my kids. I am grateful for the Christlike love and forgiveness that my children show me EVERY day.
8/19/2018 - I gave April a small glass of lemonade. She looked in the cup and said "It looks like Pee"
8/18/2018 - April came to me with a bag of my sewing supplies that I keep with my sewing machine in her room. I took the bag back in her room and explained that it went on the floor in the corner with my sewing machine. She then insisted/demanded "No! It's messing up my room!" She has been on a kick lately of cleaning her room. "cleaning as in shoving everything into her play kitchen.
8/16/2018 - April is doing great on the toilet now and rarely wants help in the bathroom. When she goes #2 I usually come in to help her wipe. While in there she starts excitedly yelling at me "Mom! LOOK! Unicorn poop! It's unicorn poop!" I look in the toilet to see a little pile of poop in the design of the top of an ice cream cone. The dallop on top must have resembled a unicorn horn to April. haha
8/6/2018 - At SeaWorld I had April at the Polar Bear exhibit while everyone else was riding a roller coaster. We got to see a walrus up close, feel the ice wall, and look at some beautiful Balooga Whales. As we were leaving the exhibit April turns to me and says "Mom. I want to go see the Unicorns now"
4/8/2017 - Kids were talking in the car and Callie said, "Grandpa is like Santa Clause because he gives us whatever we want. Like he takes us to Chick-fil-A or Wendy's for lunch."
11/20/2016 - April doesn't talk very much but she says more and more each day. Today I went to visit a friend in the ward whose husband died tragically in a car accident. I only had April with me since the other kids were in school. As we left I put a plate of cookies on Donna's kitchen counter and of course April noticed. The whole drive home she said in her cute little pouty voice "Want to go back to Donna's and get cookies" It was adorable.
9/2/2016 - A conversation their friend Colter had with Noah. I guess Noah and Mason were fighting and got sent to separate rooms. Colter was in the room with Noah and told him "I like Mason 0%, Callie 90%, and April 100%" And then Colter admitted he liked his own sister Sydney 20% and Chance 100%.
8/23/16 - Callieism today "Hey mom. I want to be a doctor when I grow up." Me- "What kind of Doctor?" Callie- "I don't know. Maybe the kind that helps dogs and stuff." Me - "So you want to be a veterinarian? A doctor that helps animals?" Callie - "Yeah. You know like work at Petsmart only more like a hospital."
8/10/16 - Noah says that 2nd grade is the best so far because he has more homework.
7/23/2016 - We went to Knott's Berry Farm for our family vacation this summer. Our trip happened to fall overlapping a Sunday. I love how aware of the Holy Sabbath Day they are. Mason prayed in the hotel room and apologized to Heavenly Father for not going to church. Noah commented on Saturday evening that Knott's "wouldn't be busy tomorrow because it's Sunday and people go to church."
6/2016 - Noah's conversation about homework: Noah: I can't wait for 2nd grade so I can get real homework. Me: what do you mean? You got homework in kindergarten and 1st grade. Noah: it wasn't real homework it was easy. Last year I just got kindergarten homework. Me: You want more homework? Noah: Yes, I want harder homework that takes longer.
5-5-16 This bunny rabbit must workout. It has veins in its ears. -Mason
4/11/16 - Callie had her first kiss at pre-school today. That night at dinner when she was talking about it she announced to us all "That is not going to happen ever again. That's just stupid!" Amen Sister!
4/11/16 - Mason asked me yesterday "Mom. When you're old can I have Goofy?" I explained to him that Goofy probably wouldn't be around when I was old and his rebuttal was "Grandma and Grandpa still have Rosco!"
4/7/16 - Noah was mad at Ron the other evening for not turning the baseball game off the TV and putting on something a little more kid friendly. He was pouting on the floor and announced "I'm not going to take care of you when you're old" Ron asked him Why. His reply "Because you're so MEAN!" (With emphasis on the word mean)
3/1/16 - Driving to California Callie looks out the window and says: "Mason look! This train is such a slow poke" ... The train was parked on the tracks.
2/7/16 - Callie whispered during fast and testimony meeting, "Mom. Why do most of them cry like that?" Sis. Ames was crying up on the stand.
2/3/2016 - Callie and I were trying a new recipe with chia seeds and strawberries for homemade yogurt. She tried a bite and said "Yuck! That's terrifying!"
7/2015 - Mason and Noah were talking to me about their game on the IPad called Monster Legends. As I listened to the excited boy talk about monsters and eggs and buildings. It was hard to focus until I heard the word "breeding", my interest peeked. I asked them "What does breeding mean?" Noah confidently responded "it means the monsters fall in love and have babies" I was impressed. I responded "That's right! Dad and I bred you guys!" Both Mason and Noah looked at me with a skeptical eye and emphatically responded "We were never eggs." Lol
01/2016 - Callie had been playing with her brothers outside ALL day. She came in the house and sweetly informed me "I love Mason so much...I'm going to marry him." A few mins later she came in a little sad and seriously asked "mom. Can you marry your brother?" I gently explained to her that isn't allowed. She ran in tears to her bedroom yelling "Fine!! I'm not going to marry ANYONE EVER!" Both boys tried to comfort her and she was inconsolable for about 30 mins. Poor little dear! I'm a little nervous for the teenage years ahead of us.
9/30/2015 - Tonight at the family dinner table Callie prayed "please bless April that she will get more teeth so she can eat better". This girl knows what's important... Teeth.
8/2015 - Mason walked into Grandma Faler’s house and asked her if she was done with her Shutterfly Book Project for Grandma and Grandpa Hopkins. She said: “Yes! I am FREE and I can do something besides work on the book!” Mason replied: “Well, I GUESS!!! - EIGHTY Things We Love About You! That is A LOT!” Grandma was feeling pretty good. Validation from an eight year old! As Mason walked away he was muttering “Grandpa Faler only got 60 things…”
8/2015 - leaving Callie's gymnastics class she says "I'm so hot and sweaty. I just wish we lived in Calfornia"
7/2015 - driving home from the pool with our 15 yr. old cousin Parker in the car. We stopped at the Gilbert and southern light and Callie looks over at Parker and says (with attitude) "Are you buckled up?" He wasn't.
6/20/2015 - Traveling through Heber, Arizona on our way home from a family vacation in Colorado. Callie was looking out the window and exclaimed "Dude you should have seen that tree! It was AWESOME! It didn't have any green stuff on it. It was NAKED!"
4/21/2015 - Noah is vigorously eating cinnamon rolls and bacon and says "I love Father's Day and Mother's Day. Because we get a really good breakfast and we get to spend time together"
3/26/2014 - My really good friend Jenessa nanny's my kids while I work now. She sent me the following text message today about Callie: "I told Callie to stop feeding Goofy popcorn. I said it's one thing if it drops on the floor but don't feed him. Next thing I hear: 'How is this possibly happening?! My popcorn keeps dropping on the floor! It just keeps discapearing' I look over and she's 'dropping' the popcorn on the floor for Goofy while looking in the other direction. LOL"
3/2015 - Ron was laying by Callie to help her fall asleep. She asked him to tickle her back. He started to rub her back and she demands "No! Use your claws!"
8/30/2014 - Callie wanted to wash her hands but mason is in the bathroom so she yelled "hurry up dude!" And he said "stop yelling dude." Then she yelled "I'm not a dude! I'm a girl!"
9/5/2014 - Ron was teasing Noah about being grounded so Noah replied "No! You're grounded. I'm going to tell mom to get you in trouble and then you'll be grounded from the news."
4/2014 - I was late getting home from work so Callie told Breanna "If my mom don't never come back. You are gonna have to stay with us FOREVER!"
4/24/2014 - I was tucking Callie in bed one night when she whispered "We cannot let the bad guys get in our house" I replied "they wont." She responds confidently "Yeah. Cuz they are with their families."
12/23/2013 - Ron took Mason and Noah for some last minute Christmas shopping. We all met up afterwards for dinner at Serranos. Noah walks right up to me and announces "We bought you a shirt and a necklace." Mason responds "Noah! That was a surprise! You weren't supposed to tell mom!" Noah responds very matter-of-factly "She doesn't know what they look like!" LOL What a funny kid
9/16/2013 - Conversation between Mason and Ron. TV was on and Mason saw a lady and said she was pretty. Ron said, "You know who I think is pretty?" Mason replied "Mom... I think she is really pretty when she puts makeup on." Then with a grin he added "Don't tell mom that!"
8/5/2013 - Pulled up to a McDonald's Restaurant and Mason said "Oh. This is the ice cream place" Noah turns to him and says " No. This is Old McDonalds. What do u fink it is?"
7/3/2013 - Trying to take a group picture at the Talley's annual Independence Day BBQ. After reviewing one of the pictures Lindsey says "Oh. Someone need to stand in front of me for the next picture" Mason looks at Lindsey and responds "Is it because you think your legs look fat? My mom says that too."
5/30/2013- Ron sent me this text tonight while I was in a class: Callie is a pill, but also really funny. She just asked for cereal because she didn't eat much for dinner so I gave her Cheerios. The boys of course wanted some but I said no cause they already brushed their teeth. They were complaining that it wasn't fair and Callie turned to them and yelled "Callie is the baby!" As if to say that is why I get Cheerios. Way funny.
5/14/2013 - Mason - "I just LOVE these new markers we got. They make me want to scream out loud!"
12/26/2012 - Noah has had a pretty bad winter rash on his face for a few days. At night we put lotion and vaseline on his face like crazy and then instruct him to sleep on his back. Ron was taking the kids to the store and Noah started complaining that his face hurt. Ron tried to reassure him but had to tell Noah they weren't home and couldn't put anything on it. Mason turned to Noah, slightly annoyed with Noah's whinning, and asks "Noah. Did you sleep on your face? Mom told NOT to sleep on your face!"
11/5/2012 - Noah LOVES to color. He will sit and color for an entire hour or more sometimes. He really wanted to color out of one of Mason's coloring books today. So he asked me "Mom, can you call Mason's teacher at school and ask Mason if I can color out of his Spiderman book?" Too cute! What a good brother to know he should ask permission!
11/2/2012 - Aunt Maryann was babysitting and when Callie woke up from her nap. She had only been asleep for about 30 mins. so Maryann decided to see if she would go back to sleep. Callie started rambling and talking from her crib. This is what she said when she realized no one was coming to get her "Bad Mason!... (pause) Bad Noah!... Bad Nana!... Bad Mommy!" (Nana is Breanna, our babysitter when I'm at work)
9/2012- At the grocery store with the kids and I asked them "Hey guys, what should we get Dad for his Birthday?" Noah immediately responds "A Buzz Lightyear that talks and has buttons!" Mason thinks for a min. and says "A new husband!" I explained to Mason that Dad was the husband. He responds with a smile "A new wife then."
6/6/2012- In the car Mason had the following conversation with my mom (Grandma Faler): Grandma - "Ok Mason. We are going to your friends house." Mason- "Yes. I have lots of friends..." (he lists about 5 friends) then says, "And I have a girlfriend too." Grandma- "Oh. You do. What's her name?" Mason- "I don't remember." Grandma- "What do you like about her?" Mason- "Her swimsuit." Grandma- "What else do you like about her?" Mason- "Her swimsuit." This girl is on Mason's swim team. She is a cute girl but the only girl on his team that wears a bikini.
5/2012- Noah and I were sitting on the couch, he looks at me and tells me "Mom. You have beautiful eyes. That's why I love you."
4/2012 - I found some gum in the carpet, so I called over Mason and Noah to investigate. Both boys of course denied it. Mason pointed the finger at Noah and Noah responded "I didn't do it. Maybe Santa Clause did." The next couple weeks when the boys were denied gum because of this incident Noah stuck to his story, Santa Clause put gum in the carpet.
4/2012 - We watched and took care of Nate and Maryann's dog Dutchess (aka Sweet D) this week. On one of our dog walks some neighborhood dogs were barking at us. Mason commented "Mom. Dogs can talk to eachother." I replied "They do huh?" Mason responds, "Yeah. They speak spanish."
4/14/2012 - Noah spent the night last night at Grandma Faler's house. In the morning Grandma Faler asked Noah if he wanted to go to McDonald's with Grandpa. Noah responded "No. I want to stay here... What's a Donalds?" Grandma explained "You can eat food like eggs, or french toast." Noah "No. I don't want to go to Donald's" Then Grandpa tried to convince him, "Noah. They have a playgound at McDonald's." Noah replies "Yay! I want to go to Donalds!"
4/4/2012 - When Ron left for work this morning Mason yelled "Bye Dad! Love you... Be good at work!... And listen to your boss!"
2/14/2012 - I got this text message from Maddy today while I was running errands. "I'm trying to get your kids to eat. Mason just wants snacks and Noah said he ate last week." To Noah, EVERYTHING in past tense was "last week". I think it is really cute.
2/13/2012 - Ron was looking through a Kohls magazine add and Mason said "find the girls". Ron responded "You like the girls?" And Mason replied "the pretty ones."
12/5/2011 - We were watching a movie about Christ's birth tonight. During the part where the angel announces of Christ's birth to the Shepherds. Mason thought the angel looked like Jesus and said "That's Jesus. He's wearing sweaty clothes." I thought I heard him wrong so I asked him to repeat and he said "Jesus wears sweaty clothes". So I replied "Ohhh. Do you mean Jesus wore swaddling clothes?"
8/2011 - Lana was babysitting and Mason got mad at her. He told her "I want Linda! Linda is the BEST babysitter!" (Linda is Lana's twin sister.) Noah stopped playing with his toys and responded "No! Mommy is the best babysitter!" Mason answered "No mommy isn't a babysitter. She's just a mommy!" Noah replied "No! Mommy is the best babysitter!" Then he continued to play with his toys.Linda and Lana are twin sisters that watch my kids one day a week while I work.
8/5/2011 - Aunt Maryann watches my kids on Fridays while I am at work. She sent me this text today: "Mason sort of implied you were a witch this morning. I asked him where the broom was and he said 'Uh, I think my mom takes it to work.' Haha!"
07/11/2011 - Mason woke up this morning declaring "My nose is broken!" He had a stuffy nose. 5 mins. later as he was sniffing heavily through his nose he announced "My nose works!"
05/2011 - Telephone call between Mason and Grandma Faler. Mason - "Hello?" Grandma - "Hi Mason! This is Grandma! How are you?" Mason - "Is this Grandma Faler or Grandma Rosco?" Grandma Huber has an adorable little dog named Rosco that both Mason and Noah LOVE.
04/02/2011 - We've been having some fruit fly problems in our house lately. So I put some fly paper up close to where we keep the fruit. During General Conference today I went to check on the boys and Mason comes running up to me and says excitedly, "Look Mom! My hands are all sticky!" At once I knew he found the fly paper! Yuck! While attempting to scrub the sticky goo off his hands I asked Mason, "Why did you play with that?" Mason confidently responded, "I was trying to climb like Spiderman!"
03/18/2011 - Ron woke up with a good size scab on his nose. Funny part is he has no idea how he got it. (He claims I did it to him while he was sleeping. ha!) Noah was looking at Ron and asked "You got a owie?" Ron replies, "Yes." Noah - "How you get your owie?" Ron - "I don't know." Noah - "You get hit with a stick?" Super funny that an owie is an indication of getting hit with a stick. Hilarious!
03/2011 - Mason – “Mom can I go live in the trees?” Shelly – “What? You want to live in the trees?” Mason – “Yeah. Like Joseph. His mom told him to go live in the trees. Do you remember? And he saw Jesus and God. And an angel! And they told him non of the churches were true. I want to go live in the forest like Joseph and grow big and strong.” Shelly – “Oh you mean when Joseph Smith went and prayed to Heavenly Father in the forest.” Mason – “Yeah. Can I go live in the forest like Joseph?” Shelly – “But Mason I’ll be really sad if you go live in the forest.” Mason – “That’s ok mom. I’ll come back and visit you.”
01/31/2011 - The boys had been in bed for about 30mins. when Ron went to check on them. Noah was out cold (in Mason's bed), and Mason was just laying there starring at the ceiling. Ron goes in the room to say hi, and Mason says, "Will you lay by me?" Ron says "No, there isn't room". Mason replies "Can I play with your ear for a minute?" While Mason is rubbing Ron's ear they have the following conversation: Mason - "Dad, you wanna hear a secret?... Nana is coming over tomorrow... You wanna hear another secret? We're making cookies." Ron - "Oh." Mason - "Can I tell you another secret? Harley's coming over tomorrow... I love her." (Nana is Aunt Maryann and Harley is Mason's 13 yr. old cousin! Super cute!)
12/10/2010 - Mason was at the Winward's home playing outside. Grandpa Winward was holding Mason's cousin Baby Kate while he was moving the black garbage dumpster. Mason observing this says to Maddy (Kate's mom), "Um. Excuse me, Maddy. Is that man throwing your baby in the garbage?"
12/05/2010 - Ron and I went away for the weekend and my parents had both boys for a few days. On the last morning Noah woke up crying a little for "Mommy". Mason trying to soothe him said, "It's ok Noah. Mommy will be here in 5 mins." I love how optimistic Mason is.
10/30/2010 - Ron was talking to Mason at bedtime. He was telling him stories about past hunting trips and how he's going hunting next week. And hopefully will get to shoot a deer. At one point Ron tells Mason that he will get to go hunting with Dad in a couple years. Mason replies, "But Dad my gun doesn't have any fire in it!" Mason was a cowboy for Halloween and I bought him a toy gun to go with his costume. Obviously he needs "fire" in his gun to go hunting with Dad.
10/18/2010 - Today we found out that I am having a Baby Girl!!!! We are very excited and had a fun appointment at the ultrasound place. When we were leaving the appointment Ron turned to me and said (kinda sarcastically), "Shelly, can I have your debit card?" Ha Ha! I was buying baby girl stuff even before I knew she was a girl! ... in my defense I just figured if I wasn't ever blessed with a baby girl I'd just give those items away as baby gifts!
10/18/2010 - Today I was looking at some You Tube videos with Mason. We watched "The Nativity" portraying Christ's birth. I was explaining to Mason that Mary was pregnant with Baby Jesus. He was very impressed that Jesus was born in a stable with animals. Later I asked him what we should name our baby girl. He replied, "JESUS!". Even later that evening when Ron got home from work he asked Mason what was in Mommy's tummy. Mason answered, "Baby Jesus!"
08/21/2010 - Ron asked Mason the following, "Mason, will you go get me a popsickle out of the freezer?" Mason replies, "Yes! What color you want?". Ron answers "Hmm...Pink." Mason responds, "No. You can't have Pink! Pink is for girls."
07/28/2010 - Every night we have a bedtime routine. This includes brushing teeth, reading stories, family prayer and lights out. Every night Mason always asks Ron or I to stay and lay down with him for a min. or two. Tonight after our bedtime routine Mason asks excitedly "Who wants to lay by me?" Lately when I'm trying to get the boys excited about something I'll say "Who wants to __________? Raise your hand!" I guess Mason was trying to trick us into being excited to stay with him!!
05/18/2010 - Mason has a very dominant personality. And can be really bossy and order Noah around sometimes. Today at lunch I was talking to Mason about being bossy. "Mason do you know what it means to be bossy?" Mason replies, "Yes. It means to not hit." After a 3-4min. conversation where I explain what it means to be bossy and how it's not nice. I then ask Mason AGAIN "So, Mason what does it mean to be bossy?" Mason replies, "It means to not hit."
05/17/2010 - Driving home from the zoo. Noah was getting a little cranky in the car so I suggested singing one of his favorite songs, "Popcorn Popping". I start to sing and Mason yells, "NO! Don't sing! You're driving! You can't sing!" Apparently driving and singing is too much to do at once.
05/10/2010 - At Nanny Lana's home today the boys got to hold some of their bunnies. Suddenly Mason says, "The bunny is peeing on me. That's disgusting. The bunny is supposed to pee on the grass! That's disgusting!"
05/10/2010 - Mason has been sick with a fever the last 24 hours. Tonight when Daddy got home he asked Mason how he felt. Mason replied "I feel better. My head's not broken anymore."
03/10/2010 - Mason is having a hard time going to bed. He keeps turning on the TV and starting a movie. Dad turns the TV off everytime and informs Mason it's time for bed. Mason responds, "Dad! If you turn the TV off one more time you're going to be in BIG trouble, AND you'll have to go to bed."
03/08/2010 - Mason got mad at me when I told him it was time to get ready for naps. He storms into my craft room (which leads to the garage) and yells angrily, "DON'T COME BACK HERE MOM!" Slams the door. Opens the door and yells again. "MOM! DON'T COME BACK HERE!"...then he looks and spies Noah coming his way and says VERY sweetly, "Noah, you can come back here. Come on Noah." Shuts door. Opens the door again and announces, "Mom we are going in the garage. I won't let Noah bump his head. He won't get hurt. He won't bump his head. Ok mom?" Mason isn't allowed to play in the garage with out supervision and he knows it. We are constantly telling him that he or Noah could get hurt.
01/03/2010 - Dad - "Mason, what's his name?" (pointing to Noah). Mason - "Noah Kenneth Huber!" Dad - "No! His name is Noah VON Huber, YOUR name is Mason Kenneth Huber" Mason - "No, it's Noah Kenneth Huber."
01/02/2010 - Mason - "I want Dinosaur food!" Babysitter - "What do you want?" Mason - "I want DINOSAUR food!" Babysitter - She then proceeds to point to each item in the cupboard asking, "Is this Dinosaur food?... Is this?" (Dinosaur food is Frosted miniwheats! Ron and I called shredded wheat "dinosaur food" ONE TIME, when he was 2! I guess it stuck!)
