The Best.

There simply aren't enough words in the English language to describe how much I love this kid. Yesterday I told him he had to stop growing up and he said to me, "Mom, I'm not Peter Pan!"

A couple years back, one night when I was tucking him in, he said to me, "Mom, you are the best." To which I kissed his forehead and replied, "No Wyatt, you are the best!" To which he raised his eyebrows and shrugged his shoulders and said "We are the best TOGETHER!"

Ever since, we say that last line in unison every night.

The best. Together. 

This Kid

I've been a book hermit again. 3 in 2 days. Today Wyatt said to me, "Mom, you love to read. A lot a lot!" That made me smile and ask him what else he knew to be true about his Momma. He replied, "You love Twilight and Diet Coke and ME!" When I couldn't stop laughing he said, "I crack myself up. And I'm badass." 

Seriously. THIS KID.

Kissimos

A few months back, as I was walking out of Wyatt's room after prayers and goodnight kisses, he hollered after me,

"Mom, come back! I need a Kissimo!"

I wasn't sure what he meant.

More kisses obviously, which I was happy to oblidge.

But why was he calling them "kissimos?"

I assumed more kisses = Kissi Mos.

So I bent down to give him another kiss on the lips.

But he squirmed away and said,

"No, Mom! Not on the lips.

I want a Kissimo!"

So I had to ask him,

"What is a Kissimo?"

"With your nose, Mom. Like we live in the snow!"

Ahhh!!!

Eskimo Kiss = Kissimo.

I can't tell you how many times a day I stop this kid for a Kissimo.

Too many, probably.

But I'm okay with that!
I love Kissimos.

Linking up to

These Are A Few Of Our

Favorite Things!

Since today is 1/11/11, I figured I should have some kind of mind blowing, life changing, make the world better, soul searching kind of post.  Um yeah...don't have one of those up my sleeve right now. But I think this one is just as good. It's one of my favorite "re-occurring" posts I do each year!

A few Januarys ago I started a tradition where at the start of each year, I ask the kids for answers as to what their favorite things are and then write them down. I think it's so fun to see what changes and what stays the same as they grow. Following are the exact words that came out of their mouths after I asked each question. The pictures were taken this morning before school. (Isn't picnik.com's "Eye Bright" tool awesome?!) I told each of them to just "Give Mommy a nice smile." Apparently, Wyatt thinks nice = frame my face with my hands! I had to laugh out loud.

Megan, age 7
Color: Black...and I guess still Turquoise too!
Food: Cinnamon Rolls or those Butter Noodles that you make
Drink: Water
Dessert or Treat: Frozen Yogurt
Toy: my DS

TV Show: Good Luck Charlie or House of Inubis
Game to play: SpongeBob Marbles on the iPad
Car: White Convertible Bug
Friend: Paige DeCinces
Song: The song at the start of Big Time Rush
Thing to do with Daddy: Snuggle with him
Thing to do with Mommy: Read books
About Molly: She has my talent, She likes to chase boys. (no joke...straight from her mouth!)
About Wyatt: He always plays with me no matter what.
About School:I have the best teacher ever! (Mrs. Lori Bell)
When I grow up I want to be: A gymnast in the olympics

Molly, almost 6
Color: Turquoise or Black
Food: Sushi! Any Sushi!
Drink: Trader Joe's Blood Orange Juice
Dessert or Treat: Kit Kat
Toy: my DS

TV Show: iCarly or Big Time Rush
Game to play: Super Mario Bros on my DS
Car: Yellow Bug with the top that goes down
Friend: Karsen Doyle (neighbor down the street, these 3 are inseparable!)
Song: Ice Cream Freeze (from the Hannah Montana soundtrack)
Thing to do with Daddy: Snuggle with him
Thing to do with Mommy: Make food in the kitchen
About Megan: Everything
About Wyatt: When he comes and snuggles in bed with me in the morning
About School: learning centers and eating lunch with Megan
When I grow up I want to be: A teacher or make clothes 

Wyatt, 3 years
Color: Blue
Food: Wheat Thins
Drink: Apple Juice
Dessert or Treat: Cookies
Toy: My At-At

TV Show: Spiderman
Game to play: colors
Car: Mommy's car
Friend: Owen Price
Song: "Duhnt duhnt da da da DAAAA duhnt, da da da DAAAA duhnt, da da da DUHNT!" (he sang the Star Wars Theme)
Thing to do with Daddy: dart guns
Thing to do with Mommy: snuggle
About Megan: when she plays with me
About Molly: when she plays with me
About School: snack and paint
When I grow up I want to be: No one. Just Wyatt.

The Make Up of My Heart

The girls went with Papa Don to a Christmas Party last week and came home with some extravagantly painted faces, of which they were very proud!

 (The turquoise fingernails might be my favorite part of this picture.)

And of course, after a few pics, a pajama'd Wyatt had to join the fun.

One night a few months back, I told Wyatt a bedtime story about the pieces of my heart. How one belongs to him, one to Megan, one to Molly, one to Daddy, one to Jesus, one to Grammie & Papa....and so on. Now, each night when I kiss him goodnight, he says to me, "Mom, I make up your heart, right?!"

SIGH.

So much.

These three make up SO MUCH of my heart.

Random Tidbits

The sermon last week in church was about WORDS. And trying to go 24 hours without saying anything bad about anyone. It's been way harder that I thought!

My TiVo currently has 47 episodes of Young and the Restless in its que. I need Matt to take a trip to Costa Rica so I can catch up at night! Sadly, I could probably delete every.single.one. and still know what's going on.

For lunch, Molly powered down a hot dog doused in mustard and heavy with sauerkraut. She's so my people.

This weekend is my Glass Slipper Gala. Do you say it GAL-la? or GAY-la? I haven't a clue. But I hope to squeeze into my dress that's Haute Blue. Right after I sew some straps for it. Cause I'm not 17... and my boobs have nursed 3 babes. Me and strapless are not friends.

Whenever we walk thru a parking structure, the halls of Matt's school, or a big building...Wyatt hollers at the top of his lungs "GECKO!" and waits for it to bounce back to him. It's hilarious.

I better hurry up and watch those Y&R's cause on May 13th...if there is no room for Oprah, I'll freak.

The girls were playing house last night. Megan was dressing up as the Dad. I heard Molly holler from the bathroom as she grabbed a wad of TP, "I got your penis, Megan!" Awesome.

I absolutely love that on a whim, I can decide to take Matt lunch...pack up the kids, and be sitting with him face to face in under 10 minutes.

Cause his smile is better than any can of caffeine to get me through the rest of my day.

Can't Be Tamed rocked my socks. Loved every single thing about it.

All I want for Mother's Day is a Poolside Family BBQ. I'll even do the cooking. As long as Crack Burgers are on the menu. And Sapphire Martinis. And Blueberry Pizza.

(This post inspired by Cookie Mondays...who I get to squeeze this weekend. HOLLA!)

Comediens

Last's nights dinner was fabulous!
And it had very little to do with the food.
I mean, the food was YUMMY of course.
I made White Chicken Chili and Green Chile Cornbread.
But the food is not what made our family dinner so fun.
It was the conversation.

I had crunched up Tostito's corn chips over the chili.
But Wyatt wasn't happy with the little pieces in his bowl.
He wanted "BIG SCOOPERS!"
So Molly ran to the kitchen and brought the whole bag to the table.


Wyatt proceeded to take out chip after chip and turn them into something new.
His imagination had us all in stitches!

A BOAT

A BIRD'S NEST

A CROWN

Not to be outdone, Molly had to get in on the action.

A CLAM

As I was laughing and taking Molly's picture, Megan tapped me on the shoulder and said,

"LOOK MOM, EDWARD!

And then I DIED.
From laughter.
My kids are rad.

Today is Earth Day! We are "Going Green" by making our own Compost Bin (so excited to use it's results in my garden! Yummy, organically fed tomatoes, here I come!), walking to school, and making Sourdough Bread from a starter!! Very organic of me, don'tcha think?! I'll try and post pics of our Compost Bin soon.

Home Remedy

The Lord works in mysterious ways, doesn't he?!

I woke feeling better today. I felt better even yesterday.

But I still wasn't my jolly 100% self.

My plate is still quite full and I am doing my best to juggle it all.

(No ostriches in sight!)

But the Lord knew I needed an angel to get me feeling just right.

And He sent a mischevious one!

When I went to get Wyatt out of the car to pick up Molly from school, I discovered he had colored - with magic marker - ALL OVER his arms and legs. Big, bold, black, yellow and red scribbles. All I can guess is that the markers were in the back of the car from something the girls had left behind. I know he did not get into the car with the markers!

I gasped and said "OH NO! What is this? Wyatt...we only color on paper. You know that!" I pointed to his marked up skin all up and down his arms and legs and asked, "Is this paper, Wyatt?"

He looked at me like I was the dumbest Mom in the world and replied very mater of factly, "No Mom. This is SpiderMan!"

Trying not to laugh, I told him "I don't think Daddy is going to be very happy about this!" (Like how I make Matt the bad guy?) 

Again, Wyatt looked at me, ROLLED HIS EYES, and shook his head at me... "No Mom! It's fine. My Dad loves me!"

With a laugh and a sigh and a HUGE hug for my sent from above Munchie...I felt myself snap back. I mean...you can't stay funky long when this smile fills your days! (Notice the marker!)

A Lesson in Juxtaposistion by MollyB

It's weird to me how so much awesome can happen in the same year as so much crappy.

Matt and I each lost a Grandparent this past week. My Granny on Monday, his Grandpa on Thursday.

Lately I've been thinking "Good Riddance 2009!" As far as I'm concerned, the new year can't get here fast enough. 2009 took GG, Aunt Barbara, Granny, and Grandpa John. It brought Carter and Aunt Kathy cancer. It presented hiccup after hiccup in the functioning of our everyday lives.

But then again, 2009 has been one of the best yet. Matt and I celebrated 10 years of marriage (and still really like each other!) Kate & Paul got married,

my mom beat cancer (for the 2nd time!)  Chris made it to the Bigs,

we moved into our new home, we learned Matt's brother and his wife are finally gonna give us a baby cousin,

(we love you already Guppy Graber!)

and right around the corner, a clean water well will be built in Africa.

I guess that's life at it's finest, right? Good with the Bad. Pretty with the Ugly. Awesome with the Crappy.

Before I had kids, I never really thought about what it would be like to learn from my children. To see things from their point of view. I always thought it would be me teaching them, me bringing them up, me showing them how to see the world.

Both girls have really been looking forward to going to Iowa this Christmas. We bit the bullet a couple weeks ago and bought all 5 of us plane tickets to spend Christmas on the Farm. We new it would be Grandpa John's last - if he made it - and he had yet to meet Wyatt.

So you can imagine how hard it was for me to tell them Grandpa had passed away this week. Before we could get there to say one last goodbye. I had tears in my eyes and I wasn't too sure how they were going to take it. I was especially worried about Molly. Just the day prior, she had colored the most beautiful picture to take to him.

To my surprise (and enlightenment) this is how our conversation went:

ME: "Girls, I have something to tell you and it might make you sad. Grandpa John went to Heaven today....Do you understand what that means?"

MEGAN: "Yeah. He died. Daddy will be so sad!"

ME: "Well yes, he did. And yes, he will. But what I mean is, Grandpa wont be there this Christmas when we go back to the Farm. What do you think about that?"

MOLLY: "That's so cool Mom. Papa John is lucky."

ME: "Lucky? Why?"

MOLLY: "Cause he gets to know what Jesus looks like FOR REALS!"

Well I guess you're right my MollyB. Grandpa doesn't get to spend Christmas with us, but he does get to know what Jesus looks like for reals! Apparently, when put side by side, Death is a lot like Life. Good with the Bad. Pretty with the Ugly. Awesome with the Crappy.

Who ever knew a 4 year old could teach you so much?

(She did!)

Get that Wiggle Some Midol!

We're pretty big into Peter Pan here at Bringing Up Burns lately. We read it, watch it, act it out. The story, with it's fairies, lost boys, mermaids, pirates, pixie dust, indians, crocodiles, and big sisters who know best - is one that keeps everyone here entertained.

And I thought I had heard my last "Hot Potato" about a year ago. But seems I was counting my feathers before my swords because Wyatt has also taken a liking to the Wiggles recently. (Lord help me. Yummy Yummy.)

Yesterday Wyatt and I had the following conversation:

ME: Hey Munch, will you sing the Pirate song for Mommy?

 WY: "Yo Ho! Pirate Life ME...Arrrgh!"

 ME: "Yay! I love you little pirate. Is your name Captain Hook?"

WY: "No I not CapHook, Mom! No way. Go WAY CapHook!"

ME: "You don't like Captain Hook?"

WY: "No Way!"

ME: "Why don't you like Captain Hook?"

WY: "Cause Mom. CapHook is a mean Wiggle!"

ME: "What? Captain Hook's not a Wiggle, silly!"

WY: "Yeah Mom. CapHook bad. He mad, Mom. CapHook mean Wiggle. Really mean Wiggle, CapHook."

Later in the day, when Captain Feathersword was on TV gyrating and sqwaking in all his puffy pantaloon pirate glory, Wyatt pointed to the TV and said "See Mom?! He happy now. He nice Wiggle. Right Mom?"

And I GOT IT!

Wyatt thinks Hook is a pissed off Feathersword!

Ahhh.....being his mom rocks.

Heaven is Laughing

(Self Portrait)

Miss Molly B is always goofing off! She goes a mile a minute and loves to make people laugh. Best of all - she never tries to make people laugh...she's just funny! So when people start laughing, she's always a little taken back, like "What did I do?" But then she eats up all the attention!

Molly was playing with some glow necklaces the other day. Those kind that come in a package and you "snap" them then shake and they glow in the dark all sorts of neon colors. You can click them together to make bracelets, necklaces...Anyhow - she had a bright orange one around her neck and had pushed it up so that it rested right under her nose. She turned to me and shouted

"Hey Mom, look at me! I look just like GG!!"

(GG had oxygen tubes for the last two months of her life) At first I was a little shocked...then I had to laugh. I told her, "Molly, GG is probably laughing in Heaven right now!"

Word Master Wyatt

Munchie loves cupcakes. Rather he loves the frosting and the top of the cup. The cake part he feeds to the dog. Who patiently waits THIS CLOSE to his side until Wyatt holds out his hand and says "Okay!"


I probably shouldn't let the dog eat sweets, but I can't resist rewarding his good, behaved self when he doesn't gobble my Munchie (and cupcake) right up. I mean, I squash urges to eat this little boy everyday, so I know the restraint Duke is using!

Munchie is also talking up a storm. Seems like everyday there is a new word, or two or three tumbling out his mouth. Just for my own reference, here's all the new ones as of late. Stud!

Swing
(at least 100 times a day)
Side (outside)
Hat
House
Charlie
Andy
Paul
Kate
Wiggles
Happy (my current favorite)
Dancing
Elmo
Beep Beep
Truck
Cow
Moo
Donkey
HeeHaw
Kitty Cat
Meow
Woof Woof (already could say Dog)
Birdie
Tweet Tweet
Coke
(hmmmm...wonder where that one came from?!)
MINE
Cry
Sorry
Please
Thank You
No, No! (comes complete with wide eyes and little waving finger)
Help
Sausage
Cookie
(his two favorite foods)
Bat
Catch
Baseball
Football
Baskey Ball
(he also names them all correctly when they come on TV)
Shoes
Diaper
Poop
PeePee
Chair
YAY!
Yard-gins
George
Cookie
Airplane
Nose
Eyes
Teeth
Hair
Ears
Toes
Belly

Just this morning, as all 5 of us were snuggling in our bed, he grabbed the pillow under my head and said "Fight! Fight!" You can guess what ensued.

He's also started putting words together more and more. Like "MiMi cry" or "Mommy, help!" and "Go Side....Wy Swing." It's so fun to hear.

I love you Munch. Beware...I might eat you for Lunch!

Honest Truth

Yesterday morning Megan and I were in the bathroom getting ready for the day. She was brushing her teeth and I was brushing my hair. I noticed we looked almost identical. Both in white t-shirts with blond hair parted the same, hanging straight down. I knelt down beside her face and smiled. "Hey - We look like twins today!" I said. "Yeah, We do!" she exclaimed. "Except I don't have a black stripe on the top of my head."

Awesome. 

I think it's time for a hair appointment.

And So It Begins

So two days this past week I have had to sign "Accident Reports" when I picked Megan up from school. One for a skinned knee. One for a cut up, bruised ankle. On the way home yesterday, I decided to get to the bottom of it.

ME: "Megan, how do you keep getting hurt at school?"
MEGAN: "When I am riding bikes, Mom. I just tip over I'm going so fast!"
ME: "Well maybe you should slow down. Especially when you are turning corners."
MEGAN: "I can't slow down, Mom. I have like 50 boys chasing me!"

Fabulous. Can't wait till Daddy hears this!

Today is the girls' Christmas Program. Megan has been faithfully practicing her lines. (She is the announcer at the beginning of the play, as well as an Angel) and Molly has been faithfully practicing her song ("Come On Ring those Bells!") I am over the moon excited to go watch! Hopefully I'll have pictures and video to post later today. 

These Are The Days

Matt moved our treadmill out of our bedroom and into the the living room last week. Our home is teensy tiny. No joke. I'm talking less than 1000 square feet for 5 people! And tripping over the treadmill (which to tell you the truth has become more of a glorified clothes rack) on his way to trip over the pack n' play (where daycare child #1 or #2 sleeps) whilst making his way out of bed each morning, just got to be too much!

And while I COMPLETELY understand my sweet husband's frustration and sympathize with his plight....the living room is no place for the treadmill. This is the same living room - all 300 square feet of it - that I and 6, yes count them...SIX children play in every day. ALL DAY. And anyone who's spent time with a toddler can tell you, if there is something in the room you don't want them to touch - that thing becomes like a live pony ride in the middle of the room. They can't get enough of it!

So you can imagine how this past week went at our house.

"No No. This is not a toy. You can get hurt. Can you please get down? Let's play over here!"

"Oooh! Look at what a strong girl you are! But really honey, swinging from the arms of the treadmill is not such a good idea. Come see what I'm doing over here!"

"WOW! You are such a big boy to get up there all by yourself! But you can't get down now, can you? Careful, don't bonk! Ooops! You bonked, huh? See Mommy was right. No more treadmill, okay?!"

"FOR THE HUNDRETH TIME TODAY, STAY OFF THE FREAKIN' TREADMILL!"

SO... I thought you would smile to know that the treadmill made its way to the garage last night! YAY! But only to be replaced by a freshly decorated Christmas tree. Not sure which is worse in the case of 15 month old toddler-dom? Wyatt now thinks the twinkling lights are teething toys and all the ornaments are "balls" that are his to throw across the room!

Cherish these moments, right? They will fly by and I will be begging for them back in just a few short years...RIGHT?!

Nothing blogging and a glass of chardonnay can't make better! Hope everyone is enjoying the Sparkle and Spirit this holiday brings! I am. Honestly, I am!!

On another note: after decorating the tree tonight, Molly said to me, "Mom, we have to write a letter to the GWINCH and tell him PWEASE...Don't take our tree! I love it!" She literally kissed the pine needles as she said it. I'm afraid she's going to be our tree hugger. God Bless her!

Fuzzy Caterpillar

Everytime Molly sings this song it makes me cry. I'm not sure why, really. I think my heart just gets so big with love for her little face, her little voice, her sweet heart, that it has to let some of it out. My favorite part is how she says "bLutterfly." Oh, how this little one has my heart!

Mollyisms

Whenever we see pretty things around us, or simple joys in our everyday - like a sunset, the changing leaves, raindrops, a new baby - I always try and point them out to the kids saying "Look at that! Isn't it so special? We are lucky God gave us this special gift."

Last night I was tucking Molly into bed and the following conversation ensued:

MOLLY "Ooh, Mom! Look at my jammies, they are glowing in the dark!"
MOM "Yes, I can see them. Isn't that so special?!"
MOLLY "Yeah Mom. Did Jesus give me these jammies?!"

Sorry Molly, while your jammies ARE super special, they were not a gift from Jesus. Just Grammie!

Today I am Thankful for my Mom & Dad. For the example they have set for me as husband and wife, as mother and father, as friends - both to each other and to me, and as Christians. They bend over backward for their children and always make us feel important and loved. They are good people and they make my heart happy. Thank you God for my parents!

Outed by Enzyte

Matt gets up before all of us. He usually turns on Sports Center and has a few minutes to himself before the rest of the house begins to stir. Megan is usually up next. Matt starts a TiVo'd show for her and them jumps in the shower. I usually drag my tired bum out of bed whenever Molly and Wyatt wake up. (Do you wake up rested? Because I don't. It may have something to do with my bedtime, but I digress.) On a good, quiet morning, Molly and Wyatt sleep until right before Matt leaves for work. About 7AM. I wake them up if they are still sleeping - because NO ONE wants to deal with a sad, grumpy Molly who didn't get to say goodbye to her Daddy!

One morning last week, Matt had left for work and the kids and I were eating breakfast. The show the girls had been watching was paused on the television. I told them they could start it back up after they got dressed and while I finished the breakfast dishes. Somewhere in this span of time, their show must have ended and Sports Center come back on. Because Molly came to me in the kitchen and said:

"Mom - Santa is on TV - but he's not Santa. He is just a GUY!" And I was like..."What?" So I walked over to the TV to see what she was talking about. Suddenly it all made sense. An Enzyte commercial was playing and Crazy Smiling Bob was dressed as Santa. "See Mom! Santa is really just a GUY!" Molly kept saying.

Really!? My child's visions of sugarplums are being shattered by a Male Enhancement commercial? I don't think so! I quickly played it off that this was a silly man, just dressing up for a party. The REAL Santa was in the North Pole working hard at making toys for sweet girls and boys. (This last part being of utmost importance, since we have been using it as leverage lately, reminding them girls about good behavior!) I quickly changed the channel. Molly looked at me skeptically, but I think she bought it.

Find more videos like this on www.truveo.com.

Today I am Thankful for my Friday Park Lunch Buddies. Carolina, Laura, Stacie, Keri, Susan and many more. These woman are such a great sounding board for me. I love their sweet children who play so nicely with my own, and I enjoy talking and laughing with them about motherhood in this town. Their friendship gives me encouragement, strength and a sense of humor to keep juggling along. Thank you God for my Ladies Who Lunch - on Fridays at the Park!

Meganisms

MEGAN "Mom, is my name always going to be Megan?"
MOM "Yes - always. Why? Do you not want it to be?"
MEGAN "Well, Megan is too much of a kiddie name for a Mom."
MOM "Oh, well then - when you are a Mom, if you still want to, you can change your name."
MEGAN "Mom! I wont be a mom for like, 50 hundred years!"

Does this mean she thinks I am 50 hundred years old?!

Faster than a Speeding Bullet

Megan and Molly are really into Superheroes right now. They both watched the Spiderman movies with Daddy, and sometimes early in the mornings, we find old Superman or Spiderman cartoons on TV. We've also read a Bible series together that talks about being Superheroes for God.

The other day Megan colored and cut out a big "S" and then asked me to tape it onto her shirt. Molly was standing right behind her with a "W" in hand. Happy to oblige, I asked them why we were taping letters onto their shirts. Megan replied, in a tone that told me her answer should have been totally obvious, "Because Mom! I am Super Girl and Molly is Wonder Woman!"

Loving this fierce faced one.So happy I am in good hands!