TV

Part of Anya's prayer: "We thank Thee for the TV . . . and that Mom didn't break it."

I've threatened to break the TV more than once (hey, Henry B Eyring's Mom did it . . .), but I likely won't, since it allows me to take showers and make dinner some days.

Here are some favorite non-TV activities we have engaged in lately: Lego house building, sticking markers in the holes under the dining table, and making a floor of books.

Jimmy, We Love You

This is Jimmy. But probably more interesting is the ghetto bird feeder he and his friends eat from. Can you see what it is? It was VERY cheap, installation was a snap and it works like a charm. I highly recommend it!

This is Bobby.

And this bird has not earned a name, because he doesn't frequent like Jimmy and Bobby (or all of Jimmy and Bobbies look-a-likes . . .).

Parenting Moment #4

We don't have the nicest dishwasher, and it sometimes has bad days, but it more or less gets the job done. Thus, I was a little irked when I reached into the utensil drawer and our knives, forks and spoons had large gobs of food and crusties all over.

Austria loves to pull them out when we empty the dishwasher and put them into the aforementioned drawer, so I figured she just didn't notice the ones that didn't quite get clean.

I put them back in the dishwasher for the next cycle.

For the next few days, our dishwasher had a bad streak and almost every utensil I found in the drawer was filthy.

I was about ready to call maintenance when I turned the corner just in time to see Anya finish spreading some butter on some bread, and then, with enough butter for three more slices on the knife, she put it back into the drawer.

Ah ha! The culprit is found! (I should have known.)

So, in case you were wondering, spoons with apple sauce residue, forks with dried syrup and knives with sugar, cinammon and butter streaks really don't add to the enjoyment of a meal.

However, I guess she is starting to grasp the idea of putting something away when you are done with it. Consolation prize...

Book of Mormon Stories

We've been reading the old school Book of Mormon reader with Anya. She loves it and she asks A LOT of questions, often about the pictures.

The other day she was running around in her underwear and said, "I look like a Lamanite!" She is referring to the pictures of Lamanites in loin cloths.

Since it is not appropriate to post pictures of that event, here are some closely related :)

Identity

Me: "Bippity boppity boo! I'm your fairy godmother."

Anya: "Mommy, you are a child of God-mother, not a fairy godmother."

Tutor

Here are a couple reasons I know Anya has something to do with the words Austria is learning:

1. Austria can say Cinderella and knows who she is. I don't know how I feel about this being one of her first words . . . but at least she learned Jesus first :)

2. Austria and Anya often have long conversations where Austria asks Anya over and over, "But why?" and Anya explains.