Rich's expectations for church

ME: Rich, we’re going to church. You’re going to go to nursery!

RICH: Nursery.

ME: Yeah, you’ll get to be with the other kids.

RICH: Gwan. (said like Grant)

ME: No, Grant’s not going to be there. But there will be all the other kids.

RICH: Kay.

ME: No, McKay’s not going to be there either. But the other kids will be there.

A minute later, I was getting Rich out of his car seat.

RICH: Kenna.

ME: No, McKenna’s not going to be at church, but you’ll get to be with all the other kids in nursery.

Also, this was Rich's first time running up to the stand during sacrament meeting. We spent the last ten minutes of the meeting in a nearby classroom.

The cousins plan their escape

I was the only one downstairs with Rich and Grant for a few minutes this afternoon. At one point I watched them go to the entry way doors, stand on their toes, and try the locks on the knobs. Grant tried the front door and Rich tried the door to the garage, which are right next to each other. After a little while, Grant stopped trying the front door and looked over at Rich. He took a few small steps toward him.

GRANT: Hey.

Rich, on his toes, turned to look at Grant. He got down from his toes. They looked at each other for a few seconds before Rich backed away from the door and Grant stepped in to give it a try. Grant tried that lock too. Then they both walked away and on to other things.

Is there some unspoken understanding they have between each other?

The toddler speaks

Rich is picking up new words and phrases at a very rapid rate. Several times a day I ask him to say something and he gives it a try. Here’s an exchange that happened this afternoon.

ME: Richie, say Grant.

RICH: ...

ME: Richie, can you say Grant?

RICH: Ken.

I think that one went well. I asked him a few more times later and he said Ken again. Here’s another one, my personal favorite for the day. It happened in the car.

ME: Richie, we’re going to Cafe Rio to get some dinner.

RICH: ...

ME: Richie, say Cafe Rio.

RICH: ...

ME: Richie, can you say Cafe Rio?

(brief pause)

RICH: Yes.

After dinner I decided to head upstairs to use the bathroom before Rich’s shower. He still sat in his highchair, so I kissed Karen and then kissed Rich and headed up. But as I gave him a kiss on the head he said, “Hi!”, which cracked me up. He usually says “Bye” if anything, so it surprised me.

Grant's Elephant Pants

Up in the sky,

My oh my,

A bear in a gondola's passing by!

"It's neat to meet you," spanted Grant

In a pair of pants

Decked in red elephants,

Spanting as only Grant could ever spant in those pants.

"Top of the morning, it's a jolly good day!

Today is the day we'll be jolly, I say!"

The bear in the gondola grabbed by the pants

Young Mr. Grant who began with a chant,

"A bear in a gondola! A bear in a gondola!

Who ever heard of a bear in a gondola?"

Up and out and over the clouds,

Grant and the bear shouted out

To all their friends and all their fans,

To Stewie and Louie and Stan,

As they came to the land

Where they landed and handed

Bags full of toys

To the girls and boys

Who delighted in joys of whistles and noise,

Till the sun came down on the town

And Grant and the bear left off without a sound.

The bear and the boy had a wonderful day.

"'Twill be jolly I said, so it's jolly I say,"

Ended the bear as he turned away

And turned back to his normal self to say,

"See, I am Richie!

We're Richie and Grant!

Things seemed as they aren't on account of those pants!

We two, it's true—

Just me and you—

Can view anything we ever want to!"

Grant clapped and clapped, to his knee gave a slap,

And threw back his head and threw out a laugh,

Guffawed till the night grew weary and dark

And slept and dreamt of a bear and an ark.

Or was it a gondola?

Oh yes, quite a gondola!

The bear and the gondola and Grant's elephants,

Off to the dream where the two always went.

Happy Birthday, Grant!

Christmas comes once a month

Some things just feel like Christmas. Let me say that it is absolutely awesome to have McKay, McKenna, and Grant here with us. They came into Logan around 5:00 pm, and it has been super to catch up with them and play some board games already. I made Brent’s ham fried rice for dinner (the most delicious recipe in the world) and we played Acquire and Dominion, two of our favorites. We always just have so much fun with them, and we are excited to spend the weekend together. Seriously, this is like the best gift ever, a visit from them. Tomorrow evening we get together with Kim and Kris and their families, and they plan to leave Monday morning (probably), which leaves us lots of time to play games and relax.

By the way, McKenna beat everyone at Acquire, which is a game of stocks. And then she beat us at the first round of Dominion, which is a card game. I am determined to take her down.