EMMMMMBARASSSSSSINGGGG!

I can't believe that I am actually going to print this, but I am. It was too funny not to. So the other night we are in the grocery store and I am loading my things onto the conveyor belt while the lady is ringing up someone else. All of a sudden Zaylin spots a "Soap Opera Digest" and starts exclaiming as if it were his best friend, "Look Mommy! It's Victor! It's Victor!" I just continue to load my groceries like I have no idea what he is talking about. Well, this only makes him yell louder, and in more detail. "MOM! It's Victor! He got shot by the crazy lady... remember?" At this point people are starting to look, and I am mortified. I have a confession. I have watched "The Young and the Restless" since I was like 3. I have quit several times, but I always come back. So.... when I put Zaylin to bed, I watch it while I eat my lunch, and I love every juicy minute of it. I obviously don't let him watch it, but every now and then he catches a minute or two before he goes to sleep, or if he gets up to pee pee. Well, apparently he is catching more than I think.
As he is narrating rather loudly, the checker next to us turns around and says, "Is he talking about soaps?"
I say, "NO!!" And try to shrug it off.
Zaylin frankly looks at her and says, "Yes! Victor got shot by the crazy lady and now he's in the hospital!"
She just started busting up laughing. She said, "Oh my gosh. He knows what's going on!"
Pretty soon he has drawn a crowd.
He launches into the next story.
"Victor is with Ashley. She had a baby. Adam is not nice to her and her baby. Jack yells."
It was like I had my own Soap Opera Digest right in my cart! Mortified, I quickly grabbed the Enquirer with Obama on the cover and demanded, "Who is this?"
Thank goodness he said, "Barack Obama. The President of the United States."
I felt somewhat redeemed. At least I proved that I teach him something during the day besides how to come back from the dead and marry your sister's brother's cat!

Story numero dos.
We walk out of church on Sunday and my sweet boy presents me with a drawing that he made during nursery. I say, "Zaylin! This is beautiful! What is it?"
He says, "It's my fingers!"
I said, "Oh they are lovely. What is that over there?"
He said, "It's the whiskers in your armpits."
Wow. Could any parent be more proud? What was going through his crazy little mind?

More Fall Festivities

I love Fall, and we ALL love Halloween. Zaylin can't seem to get enough of it... scary guys and all! We went to the pumpkin patch today and picked out this lovely pumpkin. Zaylin was thrilled and can't wait to cut it.

Here is Zaylin and his pumpkin going for a ride int the cart. Notice the "corral" over Matt's left shoulder, well, that's the paparazzi corral. Yes. They have a paparazzi coral at the pumpkin patch. Only in LA.

Zaylin was obsessed with this HUGE slide and couldn't wait to do it! His face was pretty funny.

Here's my little pumpkin!

Most adorable child on the planet :)

They had a pirate ship which was of course a big hit!

Mr. Know-it-all showing the other kids how to use the oars.

Yesterday we went to Disneyland again. I only snapped these two odd pictures, but I guess it was because we are there so much. I had to get proof that my kid went in the teacups. I HATE this ride! I hate spinny things, and Zaylin was so happy that Poppy took him on it. Look at him all kicked back yelling, "Weeee!"

This. This is MY kid. The social butterfly. We were waiting for dinner and he made some new friends. Princesses of course. He managed to get quite the train of children running around the fountain by the time we were ready for our table. Such a joy!

Best Buds

This is Zaylin and Neil. I just loved this picture. Why is it still not OK for two boys to hold hands? They are two headstrong boys who are both type A personalities, but they just can't get enough of each other!


Does this look like trouble or what?? Two little naughties getting soaked at The Grove.

"Yeah Mom! It's hilarious!"

Also we had an exciting visit from our old pals Carol and Nicholas. They moved to Ohio last year, but came for a visit. We miss them so much and wish they could have stayed longer! Nicholas was the sweetest boy and was so well behaved at dinner. He set a good example for Zaylin! What would we do without our friends?? We are so happy to have so many wonderful people in our lives!

Privacy Please

Like his father, Zaylin takes his potty time very seriously. This face says it all. My favorite part has to bee the Tinkerbell sunglasses, they add a nice touch.

The whole potty thing has really cracked me up. Zaylin likes to watch EVERY aspect of the ordeal no matter who is going. Then he claps and yells, "Oh good! Now you get a Gordon!" The other day I told him I would be right back and to hold on. He proceeded to escort me into the bathroom, sit me down and then put his hand up and said, "OK, now just relax. It will all be fine. Just relax. I will go away, let me know when you are finished." And as he closed the door, he gave me on last, "Relax."
Thanks Zaylin. I appreciate all of your help!

A Sweet Story

I just wanted to remember this forever, because I thought it was so touching. In our church we have what are called home teachers. They are men that are assigned to your family, basically like a buddy system, that you can call when you are in need of something. They come and visit you once a month just to make sure that everything is OK with your family and bring you a message of inspiration.
Well, we have the best home teacher on the planet. He is good looking, cultured, successful, and most of all considerate of every one's needs around him. All three of us just love him! He has babysat Zaylin quite a few times, he brings treats, and we always know that we can call him whatever the day or time.
Last weekend I had a friend ask me to help her move a large dresser that she was purchasing from her employer. She is single, doesn't know a lot of people, and has a really small car. I told her that Matt would be happy to do it, and between the three of us we could make it work. The night before we were supposed to move it, she called me and said, "I am not going to lie. This thing is huge, and I just realized that the drawers do not come out! I think we are going to need another guy, but I don't know anyone. What am I going to do?" I immediately committed my home teacher without hesitation even though I had not asked him, and then settled her concerns.
Of course when I asked he cheerfully answered, "Sure! When and where?"
We went and moved the dresser. Thank goodness he was there. It WAS a huge piece of furniture and I was glad that I didn't have to help! Plus, Rod also offered great advice on where to place the monstrosity!
After dropping it off at her apartment, she just looked at me in amazement and humility. She expressed gratitude and that she could not believe a man who she does not know, whom she will probably never see again, was willing to drop what he was doing on a Sunday afternoon to come and help a complete stranger move furniture.
That is what he does. That is who he is. Matt and I talked about it later and commented that it is just a different mindset than what the rest of the world has. We know that we are here to serve our brothers and sisters no matter who they are, where they go to church, or how much money they have, as long as they aren't liberals. (I just had to slip that in there... kidding of course, well sorta. I said, HE was the great one, not me.)
I just wanted to remember this small act of kindness forever and share what a wonderful example Rod is to our family. We love him so much!

Reeeeealllly???

Zaylin never ceases to amuse me with his strange parallels and observations, but today he really puzzled me. I walked into his room to wake him up from a 4 hour nap and I think he was a bit delirious! I was wearing this shirt with some really cute fitted flared tobacco pants.
He looks up at me and says, "Good morning Mommy. Oh. You're wearing an Ellen shirt?"
"What??" I said.
"Yes Mommy. You are wearing an Ellen shirt."
I just stood there puzzled while he kept looking up at me adoringly. I thought perhaps he thought it said Ellen? But no. After another minute he looked at me and said, "Mommy. You look just like Ellen when you wear that shirt. It has buttons."
I just started cracking up. It is one of two button up shirts that I own- and I rarely wear them. So apparently I look like a manly lesbian when I wear button up shirts.

Funny thing number two for posterity. I was on the phone with my Grandma the other day and Matt unexpectedly walked in the door. Zaylin immediately ran over to him and tattled on me. He said, "Mommy has been hitting me. She slapped me across the face too." Matt wasn't even through the door when this announcement was made. I could overhear him trying to figure things out and rationalize with Zaylin while I was continuing my conversation. Pretty soon he walks right up to me and says indignantly, "You're not going to hit me anymore are you Mommy." My Grandma just started busting up laughing. Not only was it what he said, but how he said it! I swear that kid is going to get me thrown in jail! To explain, we were sitting in his chair and he went to head butt me. I saw it coming and put up my hand which blocked him from knocking my teeth out! So the "hitting and slapping" was done purely in self-defense.

Fantastic Fall

Zaylin has just been beside himself waiting for Halloween. I am amazed that he remembered everything about it from last year. That was like half of his life ago! I bought him this shirt with a ghost and a scary house on it and he now wants to wear it every day. Each night he wants to pretend trick or treat, and it seems to consume all conversation. The thing I am pleased about is that candy has not come up once..... that's my boy!

We went to Disneyland and Zaylin was overjoyed with all of the decorations and new fireworks.
Here's my little candy corn. Funny story about this sweatshirt. Matt bought it for Zaylin for Christmas when he was 12 months old. He was so excited to shop for his new baby and went all by himself. Well, he came home with presents already gift wrapped so I did not see them before hand. He said, "Don't worry. I told the lady that Zaylin was big, so they won't be too small." I thought, OK... he bought 18 month. Perfect. Well, I opened the sweatshirt and as you can see, it definitely wasn't too small! I just pulled it out for him and it is STILL big! But, it was cute that he finally got to wear it for his Poppy.

The sun was a pain at this time, so Zaylin was a little put out with it in his eyes, but he loved the carousel. We also took him on Star Tours, but he wasn't too thrilled with that. We got off and he said, "Well, that was pretty scary!"

Here is Zaylin with his other best friend Tanner. He is such a sweet boy... I love him like my own!

We are so happy it's Fall and we can wear our Fall shirts :)