Mess With The Bull You Get The Horns

Earlier this week Gage was pestering Claire.  He was spanking her bottom and the more she said, "DON'T...Bummie"  the more he did it.  Luke was peacefully reading a book on the couch and I could tell he was starting to get agitated that Gage was bugging Claire.  Next thing I know Luke flew off the couch and picked up Gage from behind and threw him backwards.  Then he climbed on top of him.  Once he was done opening a can of whip cream on Gage he said, "That's what you get....from me....for messin' with my Claire Bear!"  Gage and I busted up laughing.  Although I noticed that Gage didn't pester Claire the rest of night. 

I have to laugh because Luke pesters Claire plenty but I guess he thinks he is the only one who should have the pleasure.  The same thing applies to Gage.  Gage and an older boy from church, who Gage idolizes, were wrestling at mutual on Wednesday and Luke is content to stand by until he feels like Gage is in trouble and then he was all over that kid like a cheap suit.  He is like a pit bull.  He is average size for his age but I wouldn't take him on. 

I love Luke's protective quality.  It reminds me of my brother Nate.  He certainly pestered me enough growing up but he was always on my side if someone else was doing it.  I hope that the kids always feel this way about each other.  Since losing my mom I realize that siblings really are the people who stick with you the longest.  If my kids are friends into their adulthood I'll be one happy mama.   

Any Guesses?

Which of Claire's Aunts is a self proclaimed hottie?

Soccer Man

Luke started his soccer class last week. He likes sports and was super excited to start. He got into one of Gage's old uniforms about 3 hours before the class started and he was obsessed with his shin guards. He was really decked out. It is a class that a parent has to be with the child and it warmed my heart to see him and Tim out there working on his soccer skills. It is fun for Tim to have a kid interested in the sport he likes. It is way too early to tell, but he definitely has the interest and Tim's athletic ability. It is so fun for him to have an activity that is just his. He really is growing up.

To Give You A Titanic Laugh

Gage got a book from school about the Titanic and he was very interested in the subject. I told him there was a movie and that I could show him some parts from it so he could get an idea how big the ship was. I told him my mom had a copy and that we would have to borrow it next time we visited. For obvious reasons that got put on the back burner for over a month.

Last week, we went to Mcdonalds with my dad and on the way back to his house Gage asked if he could watch Titanic in the car. I told him that he couldn't because he could only watch selected parts and that I had to watch with him. Always the curious one, "Why?" I'm sure I could have thought of a better thing to tell him, but instead I said, "Because there is a naked lady in it and it isn't appropriate for you to see that." That fueled more questions of why was she naked, what was she doing. I answered them all honestly. Gage grew quiet.

Then Luke pipes up, "Oooooh. A naked lady....I want to watch that part!" I better watch that boy.

Mom

This is a personal post. Not one I ever wanted to write. To make sure it is covered for my personal record and for my posterity I decided to write something and writing is cathartic for me.

Paulette H. Burt "Just Peachy"

1946-2011

Paulette Humphries Burt passed away February 19, 2011 from complications of cancer. She died peacefully at her home in East Mill Creek.Paulette was born September 28, 1946 to Ray Bleak and Charlotte Blake Humphries. She has eight wonderful sisters and enjoyed their friendship and sister parties throughout her life. She graduated from Granger High School and attended Utah State University. Served a mission for the LDS Church in the Pacific Northwest Mission. In 1968 she married her sweetheart, Paul Curtis Burt, in the Salt Lake Temple and later raised their five children. She was active in the LDS Church and she and Paul were serving a service mission to the Utah State Prison. Paulette was a natural people person who always looked for the best in others and readily accepted them free from judgment. She had a sincere desire to see others succeed and rooted for the under-dog. Those that knew her best have lost their best life-cheerleader. She made friends wherever she went and took interest in people others often overlooked, such as housekeeping staff at the hospital and cashiers at the grocery store. Paulette maintained a positive outlook throughout her battles with cancer and was a source of love and light to all those around her. She made us laugh when we wanted to cry and reminded us daily of the love of our Savior, Jesus Christ. She loved being with her family, reading and listening to loud music. She was a hoot to be around and kept young by constantly talking on her cell phone and texting. It brought a smile to our face every time we heard Lady Gaga as her ring tone. She is preceded in death by her beloved parents and granddaughter. She is survived by her husband, Paul; five children: Pam, Todd (Dawn), Rachel (Christopher), Nathan (Sarah), Jessica (Tim); 14 grandchildren; eight sisters. She will be greatly missed by all who were within her influence. We look forward to when we will see her again. Funeral services will be held Friday, February 25, 2011, 12:00 noon at the East Millcreek 2nd Ward, 3750 South Hillside Lane (2600 E.) where viewings will be held Thursday, 6-8 p.m. and Friday, 11-11:45 a.m. Interment, Murray City Cemetery. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the American Cancer Society.

The mother - daughter relationship is certainly an interesting one. I don't think I'm alone when I say that as a teenager I was sure I was nothing like my mother. And frankly didn't want to be. Sure, I loved her, but she just could not know anything about life. She was too old....things had changed too much....and let's face it I'm smarter than her. Such was my juvenile thinking.

Of course, that attitude changed real quick by the time I got married and had Gage. Around that time I was in my early 20's and I conceded that mom certainly knew a few things and that I sure needed her expertise with this infant that seemed to always need something and I was never sure what. However, she did raise her children a long time ago and I left long lists of things that I was sure would kill my baby. It went something like this, "Don't sleep him on his stomach, Just one blanket in his crib, Don't give him peanut butter....or Honey! Do you know how to use this car seat?" Mom was always patient with me while I spelled out this list. Occasionally, she would remind me that she raised 5 children and she hadn't killed one yet. I didn't quite appreciate the wealth of knowledge that was my mom.

By the time I had Luke I had no illusions that my mom could walk circles around me in the baby whispering department. She could whip any infant, or any age child really, into shape. We lovingly called it Grandma Paulette-ing. Around this time is when I thought, "Yeah, my mom is great, but I can improve on a few things." Only to find out rather quickly that motherhood rarely gives you what you expect and I suddenly started saying to myself, how did mom do it? I'll never be able to raise as many kids as she did....and we all turned out pretty good I think....I only have two and she raised five!

By the time I had Claire I really started to grasp not only all the things my mom had sacrificed and endured to raise her family but how much I still had to learn. I embraced how stupid I truly am and that mom almost always had the answer. I called about how to get stains out, how to discipline my children, how to cook a roast, what she thought about this person saying this to me or about me, to tell her something funny, to hear something funny, to hear her affirmation that I am a good person or mother.

Isn't it funny that I went from being so sure I never wanted to be anything like her to thinking that when someone told me I looked like my mom, at her viewing, that it was the highest compliment I'd ever been paid?

My sister told me yesterday that it is very possible that we will live longer without our mom than we lived with her. I can't think about that because I'll lose my mind....I can only think about today. Today, I keep thinking what a huge hole I have in my heart and how ironic it is that the person I always turned to, to fix that kind of thing, is the very person whose absence has caused it.