A Great, Big Post of Randoms

So I usually try to make my post themed, and have it all fit together. For the last few weeks though, so many small things have occurred that I want to get them all down. This blog is as much for our entertainment and memory augmentation as it is yours. So if you are okay going from perpetual lilly pad to lilly pad, read on. If you need more organized, collected writings in your life then stop right here.

China

Lately, Tierra has been obsessed with the fact that everything is made in China. She searches all items she can turn upside down to find out just where it was made, hoping to find someplace outside of China. A few weeks back she was so excited to have finally found a new one. She came running to me to ask what the new place was. She hands me the toy, and eagerly awaits my translation, " What does it say dad? What does it say!?" I, of course, do nothing to add to the suspense. Finally I read it out-loud, "Made in Hong Kong." Tierra is so excited for a few seconds before asking me where Hong Kong is. As I hold back the laugh, I frankly say, "Hong Kong is in China." Her face of bewilderment/anger/understanding was awesome. Like the kid who opens up a christmas present and gets clothes. Not the gift they wanted, but still happy its christmas and there are still a few presents with their name on them under the tree.

Google

Our kids are still under the wonderful impression that as parents, we know everything. This has worked to such a wonderful advantage for many years now. It is because of this that I declare war on the unknown neighborhood kid that dared tell our kids about Google. See up to this point if something was answered as "I don't know" I assumed our kids just figured that if mom and dad didn't know the answer then there must not be an answer, and this was always okay with them. They never challenged it. So the other day I gave out an "I don't know" more because I wasn't paying much attention to what was even asked. Instead of that ending the conversation, it was clearly explained to me that when I don't know something, I can just google it. "That's what mom's and dad's do when they need to learn something."

Wild West

A strong genetic link can be proven simply by observing Eli's love of trains. When I was a wee tot, I loved trains. Dad used to drive me up to the top of 8000 west when the Kennecott trains would still cruise by so I could count the cars. Eli also loves trains. However, due to cartoons, Eli believes that real trains are only in the wild west. When we see any trains he asks if we are in the wild west. I have said "Yes, yes we are" every single time and even told the kids to be on the lookout for wild horses and Indians with spears. It worked out really well when we drove past a field with many horses in it. Still looking for the indians though. The kids love the Wild West.

Running

Rebecca has been doing a lot of it. She is training for the half marathon over Labor Day. In the meantime she has been running several 10K races. It makes me tired thinking about the training.

Mommy/Daddy

I couldn't leave something about Haylee out. She has learned to speak a few words really well. Two being "mommy" and "daddy." She knows that these refer to Rebecca and I, but I am not sure she has fully grasped the singularity of each just yet, as she has used them interchangeably. So she loves to waddle up to one of us, smack us on the legs for attention while saying "mommy" or "daddy" until we turn our attention her way. Once she has our attention she babbles something incoherent and points to something undetermined. A simple "Oh!" or "Okay!" usually satisfied her need for attention for about 15 seconds, while the routine starts again.

A Final Jab

UFA Firefighters beat the Unified Police 25 to 5. It is probably our fault if your service fee goes up next year. Purely out of spite.

Disneyland

Notice I didn't mention it once (until now). Just for you Unca Lin!