Moser Minutes: When the Music Plays

Dance!

Things to Remember - Benson

16 months
Benson loves to do what his brothers are doing. It worries me because he now knows how to climb up on the arms of the couches. However another thing he has picked up from his brothers is what to do when it is time to say prayers. He is usually the first one to fold his arms and put his face down on the couch, just like he sees his brothers do. I don't think he has noticed their knees yet. It is so cute to see his chubby little arms folded across his chest. Sometimes he even says 'words' into the couch like McKay does. He is a sponge, watching their every move and trying to be just like them.

At 14 months Benson has 4 responsibilities he takes very seriously and does EVERY DAY without fail. 1. Unplug anything he sees plugged in, particularly the fans. 2. Make sure my dish towel is never hanging on the stove handle. The floor is where it should be! 3. Keep my cupboards, drawers and/or pantry 'organized' or emptied, regularly. 4. Make sure we all laugh and smile every single day!

Benson loves to climb and is great at it.

Things To Remember - McKay

6 years

9-19-13
McKay's reading skills have really taken off and he can read pretty much anything. Music to my ears were when McKay said "mom I am almost done with this page." and "I only have 4 more pages left in this book." He loves reading and can't seem to get enough. Thank you Dr. Suess!

5 1/2 years

6-18-13
McKay just told me that Daddy can smell better than I can. I asked him what made him think that (cause it is SO not true...) and he said because Mrs. Trafton (his K teacher) said that younger people can smell better than older people and since Daddy is younger than me, he can smell better!

3-31-13
Today for Easter Sunday, McKay was asked to give a talk in primary. I got his talk ready for him and once it was printed, he took ownership of it by practicing it and making sure he had it folded and safely in his shirt pocket. It didn't seem to occur to him that I would help him with the words - he planned to read it on his own. If I had thought about that, I would have double spaced it for him to read it easier! He did a FABULOUS job and only need help with a couple of words he could have sounded out but I helped him anyway. All of the primary leaders were shocked at how well he read. I thought I was going to bust with pride!

3-27-13
The Friend for April came today and you would have thought McKay got 10 packages in the mail. He opened it right up and began doing activities.

When McKay is saying the family prayer, Maxwell prompts him with what to say next in loud whispers. McKay used to pray for President Monson, President Uctdorf and David O. McKay (he likes the name) until we explained that David O. McKay doesn't need to be blessed anymore. However, Maxwell notices he is forgetting him and keeps reminding him to bless David O. McKay. McKay responsibly keeps going and ignores his brother!

3-21-13
Mommy, will you please put my blankets on me? It's in my story. (from super why)

3-1-13

At McKay's first t-ball game his coach gave him the game ball because he played the hardest and did the best. McKay was all smiles and we couldn't be more proud. He paid attention the whole time and stopped "8 or 9 balls". (he counted!)

At the same game another parent said McKay is the most polite boy he has ever met.

1-30-13
McKay woke up and told me he had a dream that Nanna Anna gave him lots of box tops. :) (McKay's school collects boxtops and he finds them and points them out. Even at a Costco display of cereal. Yes, we have to buy them to get the box tops!

1-29-13
McKay is getting to be a really good reader. Each night, he reads his own verse of scripture during our family scripture study. He is starting to really comprehend what he is reading and tonight he was talking/asking questions about what he was reading. He read Moroni 7:14 and we had a great discussion about how everything from God is good and anything evil is from the devil.

1-10-13
I never know what McKay will say when he is talking to people and he seems to talk to everyone he has a small chance of talking to. Anyway, some nice people in our ward (Julie Harper and her girls) brought us dinner because we were all sick and McKay was telling them how "Daddy is taller than Mommy (so he could reach the dart that was stuck on the door up high) but Mommy is OLDER than Daddy. Mommy is in the 3's and Daddy is in the 2's".

5 years

11-3-12
McKay: Is today Saturday?
Me: yes
McKay: Finally!

10-23-12
I loved hearing McKay and Maxwell playing and laughing together outside for over an hour with their bikes, sidewalk chalk, balls and dirt.

9-15-12
Mrs Trafton (Kindergarten teacher) says I'm on fire to the moon. (Rocket to the Moon reading books)

"I like prizes!"

When telling Jordan about his first day of school, McKay said his teacher 'looks cute'. He liked school and wished he could stay longer. (For the first month he got out at noon instead of 1:40.) Every day after school McKay wanted to know what we did while he was gone, if Max went potty, if Benson took a nap, etc. I had a lump in my throat for the first several days after taking him to his class.
For the first month or so of school McKay called us Mom & Dad unless he slipped with a Mommy.
After the first week of school we got a lot of questions from McKay like 'what is jail'.

Maxwell would run back to McKay yelling 'Wait McKay (hugs) I love you!'

9-6-12
This morning at breakfast the boys were going back and forth (a common occurrence these days) about something: Yes I am, no you're not, etc. So I said 'Who is going to be the peacemaker and stop first?' McKay stopped and Maxwell said 'I am!' to which McKay replied, "I am the peacemaker, because I stopped first". Maxwell responded with "No I'M THE PIECE OF PAPER!". :) I guess it does kind of sound like peacemaker.

'Please bless Dustin at Home" (not in Peru anymore)

McKay decided against checking a book out from the library because "it is to long and you will fall asleep if we read it". Probably right!

"This pencil is out of blink" (ink).

previews= pee-views
hotel= hospital (he has the same "disease" as Jordan... they say something that sounds similar but is the wrong word!)
"Yay! Tonight we get to stay in a hospital!"

McKay to Jordan: You have beautiful eyes.
(maybe from Rio?)

4 1/2 years

McKay recently began praying for David O. McKay in addition to President Monson and President Uchtdorf.

7-11-12
McKay has learned how to recognize the 'no parking' sign (a line through the P), the stoplight ahead sign, and the U-turn signs and is constantly informing me of them while I drive. 'Mommy, you can't park by that sidewalk over there okay?" "Mommy, you can do a U-turn here if you want to." 'Mommy, a stoplight is coming up!". 'No u-turns here okay Mommy?'

7-1-12
McKay was watching Nanna Anna type a letter to Uncle Dustin on his mission in Peru and saw her type M&M to describe his birthday cake. He said 'It's M-E-M... you need an E between the M's!" He and Maxwell love to eat 'mems'

6-29-12
We were driving to the beach to meet Uncle Todd and his family with Grandpa and Grandma Moser and Jordan said 'everybody look for signs' McKay responded with: "I'm sorry Daddy but I can't read yet so I can look for the sign".

6-25-12
Jordan to McKay: Get your tushie back in bed!
McKay: I don't like the name you gave me...
Jordan: What name?
McKay: tissue boy

6-19-12
I took the boys to storytime at the library for the first time since Benson was born. When we went before, Maxwell usually would stick pretty close to me except when there were songs and then he'd join McKay and his friend Melody. This time our friends didn't come and McKay and Maxwell sat together the whole time and were so cute together. McKay had his arm around Maxwell's neck and they laughed, danced and sang together. The looks Max gave his big brother were adoring and admiring and McKay enjoyed laughing and being with his brother, including him in everything and making sure he got his favorite color of bean bag for the bean bag toss song (McKay's favorite). I loved watching them and just smiled when other Moms commented on how cute they were together. Warms my heart - I hope they are always such good friends.

6-17-12
fort = 'fork'
ipad = 'ipod'

McKay loves to get his gloves on and pull weeds with Jordan. He gets offended if Jordan pulls weeds without him.

5-31-12
"I want to skip June because I am too excited for my birthday in July."

"Max, can I snuggle up to you?" (sit close when watching a movie)

McKay's friend Melody told him she wants to marry him because they are best friends.

5-5-12
Daddy: What would I do without you McKay?
McKay: I don't know. I just have to go with you everywhere.

4-22-12
"I woke up like Daddy does... really loud noise!" I had wondered what that sound was! Jordan likes to enjoy his stretches in the morning and the boys think it is funny.

"Daddy, will you please pour me a quarter and a half inches of milk?"

4-5-12
After a rough hour McKay said 'I need to change my attitude.' He did and we had a great day.

After Sacrament meeting one Sunday, the sister sitting behind us said 'Your boys look like they stepped off a cloud from heaven'.

3-20-12
As my pregnancy with baby boy #3 progresses, McKay cheerfully picks things up from the floor for me.

3-5-12
For McKay: hanitizer = hand sanitizer, and ploblem = problem

3-1-12
McKay and I put the dates for March on his write/wipe calendar and added general conference on March 31st. McKay said "yay! I love General Conference!".

2-17-12
McKay asks if Max wants to play hide-and-seek with him several times each day and isn't easily discouraged when Maxwell says 'no thanks' sometimes.

2-7-12
McKay wanted to keep his night light on all night so he could 'see happy faces whenever I want" (his pillow case is black with smily faces on it).

1-29-12
McKay is so excited for my birthday. He keeps asking how many days left and is making me lots of 'presents' (whispered) out of paper.

1-17-12
McKay tells us to 'trace it off the calendar' when we are not going to do something we have written on the calendar or when Jordan or I wish we could skip Friday and go straight to Saturday. I am not sure he quite understands that just because we erase the day off his calendar doesn't mean that we can skip it!

1-13-12
"Tomorrow my lips will be 40 inches better because I am using chapstick every morning and night."

"Daddy better not have to work on Saturday because I NEED HIM HOME."

When McKay asks Jordan questions he will often respond with 'to make little boys ask questions', which is a response he remembers getting from his Dad and not understanding why he would say that. Now he gets it. Like Father like Son!

1-9-12
When McKay got up this morning he told me he 'got out of bed and went to the beach with Nanna & Papa then got back in bed.' Guess he had a dream!

1-4-12
"Super duper extra pretty pretty please??"

1-2-12
McKay still does not like the vacuum and is either on the couch or his bed the whole time I am vacuuming. However it is his job to wind up the cord and put the vacuum away and I get in trouble if I forget it!

12-28-11
McKay says we need a timer for the lights on his little Christmas tree because he is getting tired of turning them on every day. It could be because we have a timer for the sprinklers in the back, a timer for my bed warmer, and a timer for the lights on the big Christmas tree to hopefully deter Max from messing with the outlet.

There is a little boy in McKay's primary class who can't sit still and listen very well and is always poking or pushing McKay. We found out their family is moving at the end of January and I told McKay about it. His response was: I've been waiting and waiting for Barrett to move!

12-25-11
McKay got new Sunday shoes for Christmas and got to wear them to church Christmas Day. However, when Jordan went to cut off the tags/strings, McKay objected. He wanted them to stay on. Since we only had sacrament meeting we compromised by cutting off the tags and leaving the elastic string that keeps the shoes together. He could only take about 8 inch steps but he was happy! We got a good laugh out of watching him walk and he got lots of compliments on his 'new shoes'.

12-22-11
McKay has it all figured out. When he hears Santa he'll come out of his room and help him wrap presents. Then, when it is time for his gifts to be wrapped, he'll hide behind his door so he doesn't see what it is. He plans to 'stay up really early'.

McKay doesn't totally understand what dreams are. He seems to think they are what you think about when you are laying down. He requested his curtains be closed during quiet time today so he could 'sleep and dream about Santa and Christmas'.

McKay got a plastic ring from the party he had at preschool and he thinks plastic rings are pretty awesome (he cried for an hour when his spider ring got lost at church). I was using the bathroom and could hear McKay using the other bathroom when suddenly he started crying. I figured he had bumped his head on the sink or something. No, he had dropped his precious ring in.the.toilet. while he was going. He cried and cried as I laughed and laughed. Totally not what I expected to find. Lucky for him (and me) I had a rubber glove handy that I used to fish out his ring. Disaster averted!

12-18-11
McKay taught our Family Home Evening lesson tonight by telling us the Christmas story as he had heard it that day in Primary. He did a great job! I am pretty sure he is the only sunbeam who could re-tell the story.

Nightly McKay prays for 'President S Monson'.

12-17-11
McKay and I made christmas sugar cookies and he helped me frost them. His favorite part was adding the 'sprinklers'.

12-11-11
McKay likes to pretend he is a puppy, barking on all fours. It is a great reminder to me that we will never have a real puppy.

11-21-11
When McKay found out he was getting the flu shot at the doctors office he requested the doctor give him a 'soft shot'. He was very brave and has not cried when receiving shots for a few years now.

McKay was wearing the black McCleve reunion shirt that has McCleve written sideways on it. After explaining to Jordan that his shirt said McCleve sideways he said it is the 'coolest shirt ever'. Jordan thought I had put him up to it. NOPE, that was 100% McKay.

11-13-11
McKay said his part for his first primary program all by himself and he and Jordan and I got compliments all day on how well he did with his part as well as singing all the songs. Since he is a sunbeam, he was right up in front!

McKay to me: "Maybe next time you make the bed you can snap to do it." (like Mary Poppins does)

11-6-11
McKay loves to give us kisses at night before bedtime. He kisses one cheek then the other back and forth. Occasionally he throws in a bite/growl kiss followed by giggles.

Jordan was tilling up the back yard by hand to plant grass and McKay kept him going by saying "Daddy, Look how much you've done!"

Jordan and McKay were in Home Depot looking at Christmas yard decorations and one worker came and took one to another part of the store. McKay's response: "I wasn't done looking at it!"

10-30-11
McKay is convinced the lyrics to 'Who let the dogs out' actually say 'who makes the dog sound?'

10-25-11
McKay came in my room just after I got dressed and said "You look so pretty today Mommy!" Made my day.

10-24-11
McKay is constantly sharing his stickers with Maxwell and I. Max loves it but I keep finding stickers in the laundry!

'Woah' prefaces a lot of what McKay says, ex. woah I'm hungry, woah that was fun, woah this is taking a long time.

10-5-11
"When it is raining the sun goes down because he doesn't want to get wet."

Things To Remember - Maxwell

3 years

5-27-13
"Mommy, can I sit in your chair?" (he wanted to sit where I was sitting...)

To Jordan as they passed each other through the door: 'you may go past now'.

2 1/2 years

4-18-13
I was playing doctor with Maxwell and it was his turn to be the doctor. He took my temperature and said in a very serious voice 'uh oh. you have a beaver.'

3-31-13
If there is an unusual way to eat something, Max will often eat it that way! For example, rather than eating a candy bar from the end, he'll take a big bite out of the middle!

3-27-13
Maxwell climbed into bed with me when he woke up and said "I have an extra great idea. If I sleep a little more, I will be a superpower!"

When McKay is saying the family prayer, Maxwell prompts him with what to say next in loud whispers. McKay used to pray for President Monson, President Uctdorf and David O. McKay (he likes the name) until we explained that David O. McKay doesn't need to be blessed anymore. However, Maxwell notices he is forgetting him and keeps reminding him to bless David O. McKay. McKay responsibly keeps going and ignores his brother!

Max annunciates very clearly and gets compliments on his speech and vocabulary quite regularly.

3-22-13
When we were crossing the street after getting McKay from school today, the crosswalk lady said 'Have a good Easter!' to which Maxwell said (over his shoulder) 'We got trains for Christmas!" He tells EVERYONE he got trains for Christmas (pest control guy, plumber, cashier, etc) and he plays with them EVERY Day. :) I may have to do a train cake again this year for his birthday!

3-14-13
I had a conversation with Maxwell today while he sat on my lap at my computer and we each had calculators up to our ears. They DO look like phones!

2-27-13

Maxwell turns his head away from the sun when he is getting out of the van "so the sun won't get into my eyes". Sometimes I have to help him get out of the van because he is backing up.

2-5-13
Maxwell was playing with the leap frog magnet on teh fridge and said "Mommy F say 'sniff!" I was confused until I realized the 'f' sound DOES sound like a sniff especially when the toy makes the sound!

2-2-13
"Mini mini mo, my Mom is the best one!" (Each time Maxwell copied what he learned from McKay it was a little different but cute every time.)

1-29-13
When Maxwell wears his pajamas that have the feet with grippers on them he says he has 'smart skates feets'

When he begins eating a cookie or other treat, Maxwell will break off a piece of it to share with Jordan or I. He'll often ask for it back if we haven't eaten it by the time he is finished with his treat but it is so sweet of him to be concerned and want to share!

Max will come across the room to brush hair away from my eyes for me.

He has started doing a 'bad guy' laugh: heh heh heh!

1-2-13
Jordan to Maxwell: "Whats going on in your head?"
Maxwell:"Hey! I'm not a head!"

11-12-12
Maxwell sits in the bumbo and then gets out of it on his hands and knees with the bumbo on his back. "I'm a Turtle!"

Maxwell closes any closet doors that have been left open, puts all Benson's used diapers he finds in the garbage and can't sleep until all the clothes are in the drawer and the drawer is closed. I hope it never changes!

11-8-12
Maxwell scolding me for turning right on red. 'No Mommy! Red means stop!'

11-5-12
Maxwell to McKay: Hand it to me right now! 1-2-3-4... Thank you!

11-2-12
"I saw a trolley! I'm so lucky. I see a flag. I'm so lucky again!"

2 years

10-23-12
The laundry basket is his 'nest'.

I loved hearing McKay and Maxwell playing and laughing together outside for over an hour with their bikes, sidewalk chalk, balls and dirt.

"Mommy say 'thats good singing Maxwell!"

10-17-12
'There's a lion chasing me!'

Maxwell likes to quote lines from movies.

Maxwell loves to run 'As Fast as I can go'

Maxwell: Ouch, ouch, Ouch, ouch
Me: Are you okay?
Maxwell: yes

10-9-12
"Mommy, I'm a dreaming child."

10-1-12
Overheard on the way to school:
McKay: Okay Maxwell, I'm going to be gone all day.
Maxwell: I will miss you!

9-27-12
Maxwell followed me out to the garage and said 'well hi!' coyly

During scripture study, Maxwell turned to me and seriously said "Are you a baboon?"

"These are my cool sunglasses!"

"Come on sweetie-pie Mommy"

"I pooped in my bum" (tooted)

When Maxwell plays with his cars, they have good manners with each other.

Me: Why are all the cars lined up on the TV stand?
Maxwell: so Finn McMissle can take their picture (the finn car with the light)

9-18-12
Maxwell: "This makes me happy."
Me: "What makes you happy?"
Maxwell: "My face."
Me: Your face makes you happy?
Maxwell: yes!

9-15-12
"Oh man, I'm rong (strong) Mommy!" (Carrying cars bin.)

"Mommy, can I have my sweet shamu?"

"I'm really so fast!"

9-13-12
"Can I run with these feet?" (pointing to his)

"Oooh, I am fast!"

"When I was gone with Daddy..." Max talked about when only he went with Daddy to the store and to get frozen yogurt for a couple of weeks after.

9-7-12
Tonight at dinner:
Maxwell: McKay, you go to bed!
McKay: No I don't have to, you're not the boss!
Maxwell: yes I am the box!

To McKay when we dropped him off at School "See ya later alligator!"

9-6-12
This morning at breakfast the boys were going back and forth (a common occurrence these days) about something: Yes I am, no you're not, etc. So I said 'Who is going to be the peacemaker and stop first?' McKay stopped and Maxwell said 'I am!' to which McKay replied, "I am the peacemaker, because I stopped first". Maxwell responded with "No I'M THE PIECE OF PAPER!". :) I guess it does kind of sound like peacemaker.

"I'm not very happy I scraped my knee today."

8-31-12
'I guess..."
"For a Second"
"I wish..."

Maxwell likes to watch Thomas with his Thomas sunglasses on.

Max is sure the Ralph Lauren insignia is the Angel Moroni.

Maxwell prompts McKay when McKay is saying the family prayer 'You forgot Maxwell!"

Maxwell to McKay at school "Wait McKay! I love you!"

"McKay-a-million" - After Jordan called him Maxamillion.

8-27-12
"Quiet!! I'm talking on the phone!" (Dressed in Thomas Sunglasses and underwear)

8-19-12
"I am a good hugger!" - (Maxwell does give really good hugs.)

Maxwell: Crying
Maria: Hey! What's that??
Jordan: A helicopter??
McKay: No, an airplane.
(really nothing of course.)

"I really... want to, need to go potty, etc"

Max has replaced his ready response of 'no way' with a quick 'sure' and I LOVE it!

August Idaho camping reunion with the Moser family:
Max, yelling over his shoulder to no one in particular "We'll be right back guys!" (usually a potty break)

"Mommy, would you like to run with me?' (what 2 yr old says 'would you'??- love it)

"I'm running with my friends (cousins)!"

"Excuse me guys" to cousins (Erin & Shayla) who had belongings in the path to the stairs.

"Are we almost there?" (30 minutes into the drive - progressively sooner)

Maxwell must have been going stir crazy during the drive because he was hitting one of his hands with the other hand and saying 'no hitting!'

About 10 minutes before we stopped in Phoenix, I could hear Maxwell shifting around in his car seat. Then he burst out "I need to get out!"

Grandpa McCleve to Maxwell: You're a good boy!
Maxwell: No I'm not!

"No way!"

"Way to go way to go Idaho" (from Toy Story "way to go Idaho... he just gets a little stuck)

Maxwell saw the camp fire and said 'look, a happy birthday!"

"I'm racing away" (like Thomas the Tank Engine does)

"Thomas and friends, making tracks all nations' (to all destinations)

When the boys are watching a disney movie and the Sleeping Beauty castle is on the screen Maxwell says 'there's the temple!'

"Wait... a stoplight is coming!" - already a backseat driver.

"You do it next time!" Usually said to McKay when it is time to say the prayer or play with the coveted Lightening McQueen toy or ride on Daddy's ipad (back) to brush teeth... etc.

Maxwell: Mommy, what time is it?
Mommy: 6:34 (or whatever it is)
Maxwell: oh or OK.
I am not sure why he started asking what time it is or if he has any idea what it means! Maybe because it is often 'time' to go?

I was getting ready to lay Maxwell down for his nap and was pretending to be asleep/snoring. He said "no that's Grandpa!" It then became a game of pretending we were asleep and snoring like Grandpa Moser and then waking ourselves up with a snort. Max thought it was hilarious.

"I need a pacifier!"

When introducing himself: "This is me." Then he started saying 'This is Maswell"

I peeked in the nursery on my way to the mothers lounge to feed Benson at church and saw all the kids gathered at the table for snacks. Maxwell was sitting in his chair. The nursery leader asked 'what do we do before we eat?' Max said 'say a prayer'. They asked if he would say it. He said yes and said it just like he does at home. They were surprised and impressed and I couldn't have been more proud... and glad I happened to peek in just then! They told Jordan about it when he picked Maxwell up after church.

"I'm a tow truck!"

Maxwell likes to walk by himself (not hold your hand) as much as possible but when he needs some attention from me he'll ask to hold my hand as I walk around house. It is sweet, though it can be tricky to do things one handed.

Max likes to have me kiss him better when he gets hurt.

6-19-12
I took the boys to storytime at the library for the first time since Benson was born. When we went before, Maxwell usually would stick pretty close to me except when there were songs and then he'd join McKay and his friend Melody. This time our friends didn't come and McKay and Maxwell sat together the whole time and were so cute together. McKay had his arm around Maxwell's neck and they laughed, danced and sang together. The looks Max gave his big brother were adoring and admiring and McKay enjoyed laughing and being with his brother, including him in everything and making sure he got his favorite color of bean bag for the bean bag toss song (McKay's favorite). I loved watching them and just smiled when other Moms commented on how cute they were together. Warms my heart - I hope they are always such good friends.

Maxwell calls Pirates Booty 'Pirates booties'.

When there isn't much room he says 'not much rooms'.

"Silly man Mommy (or kids, or daddy or peoples, or Kay)"

"My underon (underwear) has trains and shapes and sizes... so cool!"

When our family is passed the sacrament at church Maxwell says 'thats nice!"

Maxwell is convinced when he asks after prayers to get on 'your ipod' he is asking for a piggy back ride to the bathroom to brush teeth.

Maxwell calls Holly, the purple girl car from Cars 2, 'girly'

"Look how fast me go!"

Maxwell will as 'Kay' to take care of things for him using the same instructions I gave him such as: 'pick up the dishes and put them in the sink... thank you' McKay is usually happy to help him out!

Maxwell was sitting on my lap as I browsed Facebook and saw a picture of the temple. He got excited and said 'Hey look! Temple, marry'. Glad to know some of family home evening does sink in!

'Mommy, will you set Benson down?' (when he wants to be up or needs help with something when I am holding Benson)

Max points to the outline of the pipes of the tabernacle organ on the hymnal and calls it the temple.

Overheard 'I come in peace!' (from Buzz on Toy Story)

23 Months

'Hmm. not so bad" usually after trying a bite of his food, sometimes referring to taste, other times to whether it is too hot or not so bad.

Before running: 'Buzz Lightyear and beyond' - usually he doesn't get 'beyond' out before he takes off running. Max picked this up from McKay

22 months
'Oh... hee'

'What does a coc doo doo say?'

Maxwell: 'AHHHHHH'
McKay: 'AHHHHHH'
Maxwell: Hey! Thats my said!

When Max plays I Spy in the van, he always 'spies' a tree.

Maxwell loves to set the table and is very through at making sure everyone has all the silverware they need, usually from the drawer now instead of from the dirty dishwasher.

21 1/2 months
Jordan's face was scruffy and Maxwell touched his face and said 'Daddy wash face."

"mmm yummy-licious"

Max narrates what he sees as we drive in the van: See people run, see dog walk, garbage truck, almost home, we're home!

Every meal Maxwell pushes a chair over to the light switch in the kitchen to 'turn light on you"

Maxwell was playing with the sorting-shapes toy. As he finished putting all the shapes in the correct spot he said 'Yay for me!"

"How boooooooouut (fill in 'here' or 'this one')' when finding a spot for his sticker on his potty sticker chart or looking for a snack in the pantry or fridge.

Maxwell likes to set silverware on the table for everyone from the dishwasher, whether they are clean or dirty.

Anytime anyone coughs or sneezes he says 'bless you Daddy (or whomever needs the blessing).

Max likes to play I Spy in the van with us. He says "spy little eye... right here!" We all play along with him.

21 months
Max figured out how to open doors.

Maxwell has started quoting his favorite characters from movies. "Rio says..." and "Mater says..."

When I pour him Lucky Charms in the morning he says 'tell me stop Mommy...stop!" McKay and I laugh because often he has just one or two pieces of cereal in his bowl.

"Good job Mommy!"

After putting an M&M in his mouth Maxwell said "M-e-M dancing move-it."

"Play nice me"

After Sacrament meeting one Sunday, the sister sitting behind us said 'Your boys look like they stepped off a cloud from heaven'.

20 1/2 months
Favorite things Maxwell says these days: 'Wait me!' 'Let go me!' (he often thinks he is too big to hold my hand) "Oh Man!" "Cute Mommy" (while playing with my hair... heart melter) "oosie" (oopsy) "Later al-gator'

He has started playing hide-and-seek with McKay. He usually hides the same places McKay just hid and willingly takes his turn to count with his face against the door '1,2,3,4,5,7,8,9,10, 20,29'.

Maxwell sings 'clean up clean up everybody clean up, clean up clean up...etc' when he cleans/picks up the toys.

Max loves seeing the trolly and crossing the train tracks when we drive to McKay's preschool. He even knows when we are getting 'close train tracks?'

Maxwell is always excited when it is time to 'get kay' from preschool, usually sooner than it is time to go.

Every now and then Maxwell will insist on calling me 'meeah'.

20 months
When he counts things by himself he says either '1..2...1...2' or '7...8...9...10'.

Max can recognizably sing Jesus Wants Me for a Sunbeam (always his choice for FHE), Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, The Itsy Bitsy Spider, and I Am a Child of God

When Max does something silly/funny, like put his finger through the center of a cucumber or put his shoes on just his toes he says 'ook' (look) until you do and comment on how funny he is.

Max has a little chuckle he does when I show him something he didn't see before (an apple in his bowl he didn't see and asked for more) or when he thinks something is funny. hehe

19 1/2 months

When Max says elephant it sounds like 'I wan(t) it'.

Maxwell is quick to say sorry when anyone says 'ouch!' including himself.

Max is intrigued by the vacuum and often gets in the way trying to 'help' me.

Max calls the hymnal 'scriptures'

Maxwell frequently responds to questions with 'ya'.

He also says 'hey' a lot, usually like hey that's mine or hey don't turn that off, etc.

When I am putting cream on McKay after baths at night, Max likes to stand behind me and say 'hey!' (where's Max) and then 'surprise' me by popping his head around and saying 'there he is!'

19 months

12-28-11 Maxwell is still excited every time the outside Christmas lights come on even though they have been coming on every night for a month.

When we say the ABCs Maxwell often will say the letter that comes next. He can also say what number comes next when we count to 10 as well as the words in "I Am a Child of God".

Max responds with 'no' most of the time even if he means 'yes'.

'Moo-me' (excuse me) Maxwell has very good manners.

We were sitting in our pew waiting for church to begin when the person conducting began speaking. Max quickly folded his arms for the prayer and looked at Jordan. Jordan wasn't folding his arms so he took his apart and said 'almost!'

Maxwell will yell 'help' or 'stuck' or 'reach' a few times and then say 'go-t it' when he resolves his dilemma on his own. So funny.

During church on Christmas day, Max was sitting on Jordan's lap and saying (not very quietly) 'bonk... bonk...bonk..." as he softly 'bonked' his head against Jordan's head. It was pretty funny.

Max & McKay each got emergency vehicles (fire and ambulance) for Christmas. McKay had his opened first and Max was too distracted by it to open his. Jordan & I couldn't get the trucks cut loose from the boxes fast enough for them!

Maxwell loves giving hugs by wrapping his little arms all around your neck and squeezing, his whole body tightening up. LOVE it! He usually follows up with kisses too. mmwah!

Max scolding (usually McKay) and shaking his finger 'no, no, no, nose' (pointing at his nose)

18 1/2 months
Maxwell gives you a 'thumbs up' with his pointer fingers.

Today at the store Max handed each item to the cashier who was very patient and appreciative of his help.

Max likes to talk on the phone to 'Jordan'.

Maxwell says "good boy!" when he successfully uses the potty.

Max calls McKay 'Kay'.

When Maxwell doesn't want to be left he says 'wait! wait!'

18 months
When Max is 'wrestling' with Jordan or playing with us or singing a song etc, and wants to do it again he follows up with 'gain' in a playful voice. He gets a lot of mileage out of that!

When something dings or buzzes (dryer, timer, etc) Maxwell says 'READY!'

Max likes to rub in lotion when he sees me get some and get chapstick on his lips.

17 1/2 months
Recently Maxwell has wanted to hold my hand while I clean the kitchen or pick up toys. It slows me waaaayy down but is so sweet at the same time.

Whenever Max or anyone around him passes gas or burps, Max says 'scuse you!'

Maxwell pushes a chair over to his highchair, throws the cushion off an climbs into his chair when he is hungry. sometimes he'll even wait patiently for 30 minutes while I finish making dinner! He wants to eat most of his meals at exactly the same time every day no matter how many snacks he has had!

Max always notices the flowers as we pass in the van as well as any balloons he happens to see.

Max LOVES to check the mail with me after his afternoon nap.

17 months
Instead of saying 'beep beep' (excuse me) he says 'boop boop'

Max: Momma... (wink wink)

Dogs = ruff

Max loves to find bubbles in his milk.

Maxwell's latest question is 'doing?'

Jordan didn't fold his arms for the prayer at Church and Maxwell reprimanded him with a 'Daddy!" He quickly folded his arms.

Max always says 'aaa-men' at the end of the prayer. At night he says it as he runs to the bathroom to brush teeth.

16 1/2 months
Max says 'me? me?' (watch me) and when you agree to watch him he takes off running to the end of the hallway and back.

He has discovered he can use the stool to reach things, usually in McKay's bedroom. He has also discovered he can climb on the kitchen chairs (after pulling off the chair pad) to reach things in the kitchen and climb into his high chair. We are in SO much trouble!

Maxwell throws his head back and says 'ahhh' when Jordan brushes his teeth.

Max says 'bye' and waves his arm back and forth whenever we leave anywhere. It is so stinkin' cute and we get smiles from other moms at the park, library, restaurants, preschool, store, etc.

Favorite Quotes

Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities no doubt crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day; begin it well and serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense.

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

"If you wish to go where God is, you must be like God, or possess the principles which God possesses, for if we are not drawing towards God in principle, we are going from Him and drawing towards the devil."
Joseph Smith, History of the Church, 4:588

“A home is much more than a house built of lumber, brick, or stone. A home is made of love, sacrifice, and respect. We are responsible for the homes we build. We must build wisely, for eternity is not a short voyage. There will be calm and wind, sunlight and shadows, joy and sorrow. But if we really try, our home can be a bit of heaven here on earth.”

-Thomas S. Monson

“Water cannot be drawn from an empty well, and if you are not setting aside a little time for what replenishes you, you will have less and less to give to others, even to your children.” M. Russell Ballard

"The only way to get through life is to laugh your way through it. You either have to laugh or cry. I prefer to laugh. Crying gives me a headache." Sister Marjorie Pay Hinckley

"Those who bring sunshine to the lives of others cannot keep it from themselves." J.M Barrie, A Window in Thrums (1917), 137.

"The next time you're tempted to groan, you might try to laugh instead. It will extend your life and make the lives of all those around you more enjoyable." Elder Joseph B. Worthlin, Ens. Nov 2008, 27.

Guide me, O Lord, in all the changes and varieties of this world; that in all things that shall happen, I may have an evenness and tranquility of spirit; that my soul may be wholly resigned to Thy divine will and pleasure.
-Jeremy Taylor

20 minutes a day

Read to your children
Twenty minutes a day;
You have the time,
And so do they.
Read while the laundry is in the machine;
Read while dinner cooks;
Tuck a child in the crook of your arm
And reach for the library books.
Hide the remote,
Let the computer games cool,
For one day your child will be off to school;
Remedial? Gifted? You have the choice.
Let them hear their first tales,
In the sound of your voice.
Read in the morning,
Read over noon,
Read by the light of
Goodnight Moon.
Turn the pages together,
Sitting close as you'll fit,
Till a small voice beside you says,
“Hey, don't quit.”

Author Unknown

"A house without books is like a room without windows."
--Heinreich Mann (1871-1950)

Friday, November 13, 2009

When the Music Plays

2 comments:

McKay

Maxwell

Benson

Things to Remember - Benson

forget the list...

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