Kids, Kids, Kids

Like I said, I'm at Monique's house for a while.

I've been noticing that kids are a lot more "fun" and "interesting" as they get older and can communicate and think for themselves a little bit.

On Monday, I took Lexy in the jogging stroller and ran the mile and a half to Caiti and Troy's and then a mile around the track at the high school and then the mile and a half home. When I got to Troy and Caiti's, the kids all came out to run around the track with me -- well, four of the five did. Little Rebekah, however, got on her bike and started to ride around. When she caught up to us, I told her she shouldn't really ride her bike on the track because it could ruin it. So she dutifully took it back to her yard and came to run with the rest of us. At that point, we had run two laps and had two more to go. Rebekah made it around the first bend and then asked me why I was running. I told her that it is really good for you -- it helps your heart stay healthy and helps build muscles and --- she cut me off and very thoughtfully said, "And it really hurts." I laughed. Her "r" sounds more like a "w" so she said, "And it willy huwts." Why didn't I think of that one in my list?

Tuesday Nique and I were talking about what we want to do here. I mentioned that I would like to make it to Utah to see some friends. Lexy piped up, in the most sincerely astonished and surprised voice, "You have friends?" Amazing, I know; but it's true.

Tuesday we decided to try to go for a bikeride. We got the bike trailers hooked up to the bikes and moved to the front yard. Nique took Lexy out and got her buckled in. Then we moved over to secure my bike trailer to Aaron's bike. As we were leaned over to secure the trailer, it started to rain really hard. All of a sudden we hear Lexy say, "Um, guys -- it's raining." Thank you, Lexy.

Tonight I had just finished putting Isaac to bed and was swaddling and singing to Abby when Monique walked in the room and whispered, "Guess what the kids just did?" I asked what and she said, "They threw the cat in the ditch!" It wasn't our cat, first of all, so I don't know where they found a cat to throw in the ditch; but apparently the youngest (four years old) got the bright idea and was encouraged by the other four. This was quickly followed by some time out and a short lesson in making good choices. Seriously, how does the thought to do something like that even enter your head when you're between three and eight years of age?

It reminded me of a time when I was younger -- probably eight or so, really. My brothers and I had gotten in trouble and had to walk to church. Their friend came with us, and his cat followed us the whole way there. Pretty soon one of the boys decided it would be fun to put the cat in the chapel while they were passing the sacrament. Someone did it, and then they all scattered to not get caught. All except me. I didn't feel the impact of what they had just done; and I was sitting on the sofa outside the chapel when one of the men from church opened the door and put the cat outside. I'll never forget his look of utter disapproval or how horrible I felt. My mom made us write notes to the bishop to apologize. I couldn't write very well, so I drew him a picture. When we took the notes to his house, he invited us in and -- trying really hard not to laugh -- explained that he was pretty sure Heavenly Father has a sense of humor. All the same, he was glad we were sorry and hoped we had learned our lesson.

There have been other things, but I forget right now. Needless to say, I need to stay on top of my blog journal here and . . . . . well, I'm sure I'll have lots to write as the weeks go on.