Thirty Reasons I Love Cory:
1. Those curly blond locks.
2. He's tall and hot. And that butt....
3. He's so patient with me and the kids.
3. He actually helps out around the house.
4. I can make him laugh himself silly.
5. He doesn't let small things bother him.
6. He knows the capitol of Mongolia. And just about everywhere else.
7. He cares about his community, his country, and his planet.
8. He's conscientious at work, but doesn't bring it home with him.
9. His addiction to Dr. Pepper rivals mine.
10. The way his face lights up when he sees his kids when he gets home.
11. I know he's home before he steps foot in the door, because he is always whistling.
12. He compliments me every day.
13. He supports me in my flute endeavors, even though it often means being alone in the evenings.
14. He is constantly learning - and he remembers almost all of it.
15. He understands how difficult being a stay at home mom can be, and is always looking for ways to help me cope better.
16. I could spend every moment of every day with him, and it wouldn't be enough.
17. He has his priorities straight.
18. He doesn't have to have every new toy and gadget that comes out.
19. He loves the outdoors, and is looking forward to teaching our kids to, as well.
20. He is open to new foods, and is willing to try anything. He's even learned to like kimchee.
21. Those random loud noises.
22. He is willing to make sacrifices for his family's sake - like a second car, riding the bus to work, iPods, video games, and season tickets to the Jazz.
23. He will play Hide and Seek and other silly games with our children for hours.
24. He is ALWAYS willing to help others - and he does it cheerfully, without complaint.
25. When he proposed, he forgot the ring - he was so nervous he left it in the car.
26. The respect with which he treats his parents and grandparents.
27. The wonderful friendships he shares with his brothers.
28. Those mad French skills.
29. He truly trusts me.
30. I have never been able to be so completely open with anyone else, without fear, self- consciousness, or insecurity.
I could add a thousand more reasons. I love you Cory. Happy birthday.
Lear quote: "I'm gonna kiss your cheek, mommy, because I don't like your minty toothpaste."
Ella quote: "Shake your booty! Shake your booty!" Shouted as loud as she could at the grocery store.
I only work for money two hours a week, at home, teaching flute lessons. This is what happens when my kids have to entertain themselves while I'm teaching. It might not be EVERY piece of underwear that they own (today is laundry day), but it's probably close. Sorry for the sideways pictures.
I'm actually sad. I'm not looking forward to him coming home and asking me what certain words mean, or why naked women are so interesting, or something else like that. I know he's excited, and that he is more than ready to go out and learn. This boy can already read simple books all by himself, and he knows so many things that I don't remember knowing until I was older. I have to remember that I can't hold him back for my silly personal fears.
I took the kids to the Museum of Ancient Life at Thanksgiving Point today. Most of the stuff there is only $2 on Tuesdays during the summer. I realized that today was the last Tuesday in August, so I booked it down to Lehi to go. (This is also the first Tuesday all summer that I've had a car, since Cory usually had our only car on Tuesdays. We bought a little Chevy Aveo last week, however, since Cory's starting his MBA, and he couldn't get to class on public transportation unless he wanted to be half an hour late every time.) We've been promising the kids, especially Lear, that we'd take them there for weeks. Regular admission is $13 for kids and $15 for adults, so I was happy to wait in line to get in and brave the crowds for once. Usually, crowds and lines are sure to make me change my plans.
Lear has had a front tooth that was shorter than the other. I thought that he had ground it down, but the dentist pointed out that if that were the case, both of his front teeth would've been shorter. What actually happened is that sometime Lear fell on his face, and jammed the tooth into his gums. I have no idea when it happened. My guess is that it happened at preschool, and they forgot to tell me. Anyway, when he jammed the tooth in, the root broke. By the time we got an x-ray of it, the root had already reabsorbed into his gums, and all he had left was the crown of the tooth. The dentist said to try to get it out, and if we couldn't do it, we'd have to have it pulled. So, we wiggled it, we pulled on it, and we tried to tie a string around it, but nothing worked. I took Lear back to the dentist so they could give him some laughing gas, numb up his mouth, and pop the tooth out. We probably could've skipped the laughing gas and numbing altogether and simply took some pliers to it ourselves, because it popped out so easily the dentist was surprised. Now, however, since the tooth came out accidently and not naturally, he'll be toothless for a year or so because the permanent tooth is so far up in his mouth. At least it wasn't his permanent tooth that was covertly destroyed.
This is something Lear made at church for my dad. The teacher spelled "Janes" wrong - easy mistake. We've called Cory's dad Papa and mine Grandpa Janes to differentiate the two Grandpa Ja(y)neses. Lear was so proud that he drew Grandpa's glasses and brown hair. The text on the reverse side says basically that Lear loves Grandpa because he goes down the scary slide with him. Considering my father's disability, it goes to show how much he loves his grandchildren, and that he will do anything for them. My father may be a man of few words, but his heart is big nonetheless. 
As per my mother's request, here are pictures of Lear and Ella on Easter. Ella is my mother's only granddaughter (she has three and a half grandsons), and she is having way too much fun shopping for adorable little girl dresses. Ella is better dressed than everyone else in the house.
This is a picture of Ella with a train stuck in her hair. I'm really not sure why she decided to put a motorized toy train on her head, but I guess being two, she doesn't really need a reason. Luckily, simply putting the train in reverse was sufficient to get it out. I haven't ever cut Ella's hair, because she didn't have any for so long, so I was reluctant to put it to scissors.
The top picture is of Ella in Time Out. She refused to sit on her bum for Time Out, so protested by sitting in Time Out on her head. I didn't help her push up into the headstand, nor did I help her stay there - she did it all by herself. I guess she got my gymnastics genes. I was having a very hard time not laughing at her, even though she was screaming mad the whole time.
