Max sayings and close calls

Max: Don't marry.
Me: I'm already married to dad.
Max: Don't do it again.
Me: I won't
Max: I saw you.
Me: What did you see?
Max: I saw you kiss dad and it was disgusting.

As Zannah was leaving for school this morning I heard Max say, "Zannah you look really pretty today."

We had the sister missionaries over for dinner.  Max put his head under the table and then came up and said: "Hey sister! I yiiiike your shoes. They are soooo sparkly!"

During Max's prayer he said, "And please bless Ava because I hurt her today."  Ava is his friend and he had accidentally hurt her earlier that day.

A few minutes into one of Max's crying sessions or tantrums, he suddenly stops and says with tears streaming down his face and a big smile, "Just tricking ya!"  It's his way of coping I guess, because I'm pretty sure he wasn't just tricking us.

While in the car Max was asking question after question of which I didn't have the answers.  After Repeatedly saying "I don't know" to him he responded, "You should know everything since you boss at me everyday."

I try from time to time to tell Z and M about their ethnicity.  One day after Z had seen and oohed-and-ahhed over some Mexican dancers, I reminded her that she was half-hispanic and that was part of her heritage.  I then told Max that he was part black and how awesome that is.  He then inspects his arms and legs and lifts up his shirt and says, "Well, I don't see any black.  Oh wait, there is a little in my belly button. Yup there is my black."  

I have no doubt Max has twice as many angels assigned to him than most.  He is just wild and fearless and reckless.  We had two close calls this summer, a near drowning incident and a playing in the hot car and no one knew where he was incident.  I am so thankful neither turned out how they could have.  It was terrifying and humbling.  Max is such a fun, wild, sweet boy and I'm grateful he is still here.

Cousin Time Summer 2014

Zannah and Anne didn't fight once!

We read a scripture about being careful to not judge good as bad and bad as good.  The girls applied that as not listening to the world about immodesty being cool.  Then Anne said, "I can't believe Barrack Obama thinks it is okay that a man can marry a man and a woman can marry a woman. That is ridiculous!"  Zannah's eyes are getting large.  Somehow the conversation turns to a little boy in Anne's class that kissed her.  I tell her not to let him do that again and the only boys we kiss are our dads and grandpas. I tell them that they will grow up and fall in love with someone and then they can kiss when they get married.  Zannah says, "I think I am going to fall in love with Damon."  Anne and Claire giggle and say, "Zannah, you can't, he is your cousin!" Claire: "Zannah, that is illegal!"  Anne: "Did you know in Egypt some brothers married their sisters and their babies were born with club feet?"  Claire: "Anne, that was long ago." Zannah's mouth is gaping open at this point.

Max peed at a reception, narrowly missing a guy's boot. Literally, decided to pee right where he was standing, which was next to Papa Max who was visiting with a friend.
Horses rides. Lots of trampoline games.  Inventions.  Sprinklers.  Rock Festival 2014,  these kids whined just as much as we used to about picking rocks.

Zannah sayings

Marcus: Zannah get ready, you have school.
Zannah: I don't want to go to school.
Marcus: You get to go to school!
Zannah: But I don't want to go, look I have a living.
Marcus: What?
Z: Look I have a living here, I'm looking after animals (she waves towards all of her stuffed animals). See my animals, you know nature.

Z likes to eat her quesedillas with tongs. The tongs were dirty and in the dishwasher when she needed them at lunch.  She got them out and said, "Are the dishes in here dirty?"  "Yes, they are." I answered.  "Oh so these aren't ripe?"  "What do you mean by ripe? Do you mean clean?"  I asked.  "Yup, ripe."  

Z:  Is the day over? I don't want to hit the slide.
Me:  You mean hit the hay?
Z:  No, hit the slide.

After a visit to the dentist Z says, "Well, that isn't how I imagined it would be."

Zannah was having me tie bows out of fabric she had cut into strips for her bow shop.  She says to me, "Mom, keep up the good work and maybe I'll give you a day off."

Zannah has her first permanent tooth growing in on the bottom, but she hasn't lost a tooth yet nor are any loose.  So, it looks like she has a second row of teeth. It disturbs me.  The dentist isn't concerned about it.  Z loves it.  She makes comments like: I brush my little tooth everyday!  or I wonder if my little tooth can bite this carrot?

After church as we are eating our Sunday dinner, we take turns talking about what we learned in our classes. Zannah was leading the discussion this particular Sunday:
Z: I learned about being a good example today.
Me: That is what I learned about too.
Z: Dad, what did you learn about today at church?
Marcus: I taught a lesson on chastity.
Z: What is chastity?
silence
Z: Come on Dad tell us all about it!
Me: Yes Marcus, please do.
Marcus: Well, yadayadyadayada (he was giving a great explanation, I just can't remember it word for word)
Z looking bored cuts him off:  Okay, Max what did you learn today?

Zannah gives really fabulous prayers.  She blesses the wicked.  She always prays for our chickens.  She thanks Heavenly Father that Grandad is with his sweetheart, Grandma Barbara.  And she always remember to pray that Metta will grow healthy and strong.  Recently she also added in the phrase.  "Please bless Metta, we know she has a hard life."

Lately it is a fight to get Z in the tub and a fight to get her out of the tub.
Me: Zannah it is time to get out of the tub.
Z: What's the password?
Me: Please?
Z: Nope.
Z: How old am I?
Six
Z: Do I go to school?
Yup
Do I play soccer or not?
You do
Am I the greatest and the best girl you know?
Yup
Am I the strongest?
Yup
Am I the smartest?
Yup
Okay I'll get out.

While playing chase with Marcus I hear Z yell out, "I'm too old to die!"

Metta Has a Foot Thing

It's like she was born with 4 hands.  She literally picks up toys with her feet and brings them up to her face and hands.  And it is a must that her feet be involved at meal times.

Two Wheels

The week he turned 4, Max started riding without training wheels and within a couple days Zannah followed.    

Kids

I doubt my kids are the only ones who continually draw all over themselves or mix potions day in and day out (I'm just glad this batch was outside and not in bed) or play pretend non-stop or eat a brick of cheese off a knife.  The best yet happened last week when I caught Z on the peak of the roof.  I nearly had a heart attack while talking her down.  Oye, they wear me out.  

They also crack me up. Here are some quotes as of late:

Max: Mom, is that meat in the spaghetti sauce?

Me: Yes Max.

Max: I did not see that coming.

Max to Zannah: You are my witch.

Zannah: You mean your wife?

Max: Yeah

(Ouch. Are witch and wife interchangeable?)

Me to Zannah: Try to stop pushing my buttons. 

Z: You have buttons?

Me: It's just a saying. 

Z: Oh, like you are going to throw us out of the house, 

but you aren't really going to throw us out, just walk us out.

Too many unkind "sayings" obviously fly out of my mouth. 

I was not letting Max have his way and he said to me, "You aren't even trying to be my mom." I explained that that is exactly what I was "trying" to do, but he was not buying it. 

This Dude is 4

Here is an interview with a fresh 4 year old, word for word.

 Max, it's your birthday!

Yup (falls off of bed)  Owe, I'm good, I'm good.

:

Max, 4 years ago what happened on this exact day? 

I broke the lantern. (pointing to the ceiling light)

Max, that was 4 days ago, not 4 years ago. 

Whose tummy did you grow in?
 Anastasia's!

We are so grateful you are here with us. 

(smiles and nods in agreement)

What is your favorite food?

What? Hmmmmmm.....I like mangos and pears, you know that.

Favorite show?

Paw Patrol and all the movies are my favorite shows.

How do you feel about Zannah? 

Sad, because I don't like to share my donut.

How do you feel about Metta? 

Happy, because I be nice to her sometimes.

How do you feel about me? 

Happy, cause I just like you.

How do you feel about Dad? 

Happy, Happy. Happy. I like him when he takes me on rides on the forker-lift.

Who are you?

MAX!

Tell me about your body.

Some of my bones just break.

What do you want to be when you grow-up?

I'm going to be working with dad and you and playing in the sand.  Do you know what I'm

not going to do? I'm not going to be going in the back alley. Do you know? When I was a little

boy in Anastasia's belly and I came to you and bited on this (pointing to the crib) and

that's just what happened. Watch this! Bulls can really jump on things. Remember? Watch me!

What do you know about Jesus?

I just already know about Him. I know about Heavenly Father and Jesus

and Heavenly Father and Jesus, that's all I do. And I'll pray for them.

Are you wild?

No

How was your birthday?

Good

What did you like? 

I like flying my kite and I like my presents and the ducks and my presents, 

presents, PRESENTS!

How do you like being 4?

I just like it.

What is different about being 4?

I'll tell you the whole story.  Now and then the whole story was Jack and the Beanstalk and then

Jack and the Beast and the beast was very tall. Like this tall! And then he smelled something! And then that little guy hide and he got the key and then sing and sing and sing and she kept on singing and his helpers were Mickey Mouse and the witch and then.....

The interview was abruptly over as Max got distracted by his all time favorite birthday present, 

his hot juice also known as soda pop. 

Max is a wild one.  He climbs and jumps off everything.  The problem is, he trips literally over his own feet quite often and falls out of trees, and hangs from ceiling lights until they shatter, and jumps backwards from the top bunk.  He almost always bounces up and says, "I'm otay, I'm otay."   He is loveable and his cheeks are still squishy and very kissable.  He started riding his bike without training wheels this week and is pretty proud of it.  He likes to help me cook and help dad do anything.  He plays and fights with Zannah passionately.  Can't imagine life without little Max.