Funny Tanner Moments

Fall 2017

"I have a sleeve opener" as he opens a drawer with his shirt sleeve that got caught on a knob.

"Squash makes me nervous.  It makes me throw up."

"I am allergic to squash."

We were in the kitchen and I smashed a fruit fly between my hands.  As I do this Tanner cries out wanting me to stop.  When he found out that I had killed it, he almost begins to cry saying "that was my best friend."  I said "oh I am sorry.  If he was your friend what was his name."  Instantly he replies that his friend's name was Pencil.  I apologized and explained that Pencil had lots for family members so he could make a new friend.  From then on he would see Pencil's cousin and Pencil #2 and Pencil #3.

Jan 17, 2018

Talking with me: "I don't remember what you got for Christmas."
Me: "I got clothes."
Tanner:  "Oh... That is so sad."
Me:  "Why?"
Tanner:  "Because no one can play with them.  I hated that present I got with clothes in it."

"My brain sent me that message."

He always says: "My heart beats for..." when he wants something; such as a glass of water at night.

He has decided that Brian is his official butt wiper.  He treats this task as if it were a privilege.  One morning he was on the toilet and called out to me for help.  I walk in to do the duty and he says, "Wait.  Is dad gone already?"
Me:  "Yes."
Tanner:  "Then I guess you get to wipe my butt."

Jan 19, 2018

He was over at friend's house playing.  He comes out and tells the mom he can't play in the playroom anymore because there was a big spider named Jerry.  He knew the spider's name was Jerry because he was wearing a name tag.

Jan 20, 2018

Last night after he got his teeth brushed he said he was scared because there was a man with a knife that was going to kill him.  The man was standing outside the window and he was going to throw the knife through the window and the knife would hit him and kill him.  Then as questioned and reassured him the story grew to the many had lots of knives that he was going to throw through the window and then it got sillier from there.

Fun Family Times

So this is not so much a fun family moment but I think Tanner might finally be potty trained.  He has been completely capable of using the toilet for some time but he has chosen not to.  In fact, he had used the toilet more times than any of the other kids before actually regularly using the toilet.  There were several times he purposely peed and pooped in the the tub or shower because he didn't want to use the toilet.  He enjoyed the convenience of diapers.  Some days he would want to be a big boy and then the next day when I tried to get him to use the toilet he would tell me "no, I just want to be a little boy."  There was one day when he would run screaming from me because he didn't want to use the toilet.  So as you can see this is a big, exciting moment.  I had nightmares that he would be in kindergarten still wearing diapers.  I don't fully trust him yet so he is my only child that will use pull-ups regularly.

In other fun moments, last night we took the kids out for ice cream for reaching a goal.  The goal was to pay attention and not be wild during scripture study for 5 nights out of 6.  We went to Cold Stone and Kelsey had white chocolate chips as a mix-in.  She began pulling some out because she said there were too many.  Brian scooped up one chocolate chip on his spoon asking her if she was going to eat them.  Her response was that she wasn't so Brian popped it into his mouth.  As soon as he swallowed it she starts laughing and says "you know those were in my mouth, don't you."  He is a little grossed out and asked why she didn't say anything before.  "Because I wanted to see you eat one."  Kelsey!  She is quite the tease.  She is quick-witted and likes to get a laugh.  There are times when she tries our patience and we try not to laugh as she does it.  Other times she tries our patience and we have a hard time controlling the anger that simmers from her comments. Sigh.

 At Cold Stone

In other good news, I beat Macy and Brian in monopoly tonight.  Macy didn't listen to her dad's strong advice because she had her own plan and then they were in a negotiations stand-off.  This allowed me to slip in for the win.  It was a sweet feeling since Macy beat me the other night when I played her and Brian has a tendency to win most of the games we play.  Sequence and Rummicube are the only ones I can consistently win at.  I think I might have finally gotten the upper hand at Ticket to Ride but it has been awhile.

First Family Ski Trip

The whole family went skiing on Jan 2 except Tanman.  Grandma watched him for the day.  We had a great time even me.  I know that for some that might be shocking to hear but Brian has been building up my arsenal of cold weather gear and last year when Sports Authority went out of business I bought the kids some of the rental skis and boots for a great price.  It was such a great deal for the occasional skier that I picked myself up some skis. So when Brian  planned a ski day I thought I might as well go too.  I really like the activity of skiing.  I don't love to be cold.

The day we went it snowed all day.  When we got back to the car we had 4 to 5 inches of snow.  Luckily the wind wasn't blowing so it was so beautiful and not as cold as it could have been.  We only had Braden crying once because his hands were cold (I think he was hungry too) and Kelsey cried once because Macy was laughing at her while she was stuck in deep powder.  We laughed, spent tons of money on food and enjoyed the hour plus it took to get from Brighton down to the mouth of the canyon because of the road conditions.  We made it down to the valley in time for the another storm to hit.  We had to help one girl three times on the way home.  The first and third time she was stuck in snow banks and the second time she tried to go up a snowy hill in a 2-wheel drive vehicle.  We couldn't follow her home so I am hoping she made it.

 Lunch

 View of the parking lot from the lift line

 Braden and I having a snack while Brian and the girls took a last run.  Braden was cold and tired.  I honestly could have gone another time without being too cold.

 Back at the car.

December was a Great Month

Some of the highlights are:

• After Brian was released from the bishopric he thought he might have a little break and breath a little, especially because he is starting to get a grip on work, but the very afternoon he was released the new bishop came by and asked him to be young mens president.  For the time being and as long as it works for our family, I will stay in as young womens secretary.  So far Brian says young mens president is more work than being in the bishopric.
• This year my siblings decided not to give gifts to one another this year.  Instead we went to the nickelcade with the kids and then after left them with Macy and Kelsey to babysit while we went to the new Star Wars movie.

Basketball started for Kelsey and Braden.  She has great coaches and a fun team.

 The kids and I went to see the candy windows at the South Jordan City Center.  They were pretty cool.  Macy went too but wouldn't be in the picture

 Above is Braden's Christmas List.  It says:
To Santa from Braden this is what I want
$160 (he wants to buy his own mini ipad because we won't get him one but said he could save up and buy it himself)
wii U
Minecraft
hatchimal
a big photo booth
a soccer field
a medium size tramp (a friend has a smaller tramp in their basement)
I want more legos
I want the movie BFG it stands for big friendly giant
and I want beanie boos
and I want football gear
and I want a football game on the xbox it is a football game
and I want a hamster
and I want a remote control helicopter
and I want a nerf zombie strike gun
and I want spray for a football field (he explained to me that he wanted to spray his own field on the side of our house)

 Tanner rearranged my nativity one day.  I call it "Oh come let us adore Him"

 I made gingerbread houses from scratch and the kids decorated them.  Tanner was a maniac and had to most of it buy himself.

 Macy's

 Kelsey's

 Tanner's

 Braden's

 Tanner went to the Dicken's Festival with grandma, grandpa and Stefanie while I went shopping

 Tanner was given bath fizzes that colored the water.  He had to use all 4 colors at once even thought I told him it would make it brown.  He said he wanted it brown.

Brian really enjoyed playing with the kids new remote control helicopters after they were in bed.  He also spent some time playing one of their new video games after they were asleep.

Kids are such a boost to self esteem

About a week ago the bishopric in our ward was released and a new one sustained.  Brian had only been a part of the old bishopric for about 9-10 months.  The Saturday evening before his release Kelsey started asking questions about how a bishop and his counselors are chosen.  Brian told her the process. He told her the stake presidency thinks, prays and seeks inspiration and the Lord's approval for who should be bishop.  The bishop then goes through the same process for his counselors.  When Brian is done Kelsey says "and they picked you?"  After a good laugh, realizing her mistake she says "no I just meant I didn't think you were old enough."

Kelsey was on a roll because the next day we were at my mom's celebrating her and JT's birthday.  We were eating ice cream and one of the flavors was a chocolate brownie.  Kelsey didn't like this flavor so she says "I don't want this 'poo' ice cream. Can I have more Moose Tracks?"  JT was scooping so he gave her this huge, I mean huge serving of ice cream.  Kelsey exclaims "finally someone who understands me."

Another good story that happened recently involved Tanner.  He was picking his nose and Brian saw him.  Brian asked him to stop.  Tanner says "There is just something in it."  To which Brian replies "So that makes it ok?"  Tanner continues to pick and says "There is just something small in it."  Yes, Tanner it is called a buggar.

Other fun events this week: 

• zoo on Wednesday with snow that evening which culminated into a snowball fight because of JT's suggestion
• Thanksgiving at Uncle Dale's on Thursday
• Mall shopping with Macy and Kelsey on Friday
• sleepover at Grandma Wendy's Friday night with cousins and decorating her tree on Saturday
• snow fort building with JT on the same Saturday
• Decorating our tree Sunday
• more snow last night which meant a desperate attempt at sledding after dinner, we didn't get tons of snow

More Things to Remember about this Past Year

I believe this happened sometime around May.
Me: "Did you fart?"
Tanner: "no"
Me: "Are you sure?  It really stinks."
Tanner: "No. Kelsey did it."

Kelsey was at school at the time.

Tanner is very sensitive to stinky smells.  He plugs his nose around farm animals and will ask what the smell is.  Well around the same time as the conversation above, Tanner went through a phase for a week or so of crying and plugging his nose after Kelsey would fart.  He would cry and be so mad at her.

I found a text to my mom and Emily on May 21.  I said "Not sure if I love this, but I am downstairs and can hear my kids playing baseball inside.  I guess at least they are getting along somewhat.  Of course Macy is ensuring they follow every rule she can come up with, especially ones she has to make up on the fly because the situation doesn't fit in current rules."

Around the beginning of June we took measures to get rid of Tanner's binky.  I snipped it piece by piece just like I did with Macy.  At first he didn't notice or he didn't say anything about it getting shorter.  He just took it.  Finally one day at nap time he said, "my binky popped."
Me: "yep"
Tanner tried the other binky and said, "My other binky popped."
Me: "Oh no."
Tanner: "Fix it," as he handed it to me.
Me: "I can't."
Tanner:  "Yes you can.  Get duct tape."

The funny thing is it has been at least 4 months since the binky has been broken and just the other day he was asking for it.

That kid is a problem solver.  He will try to figure out to get whatever he wants.  He uses my 5 gal wheat, sugar, and flour buckets as stools.  He has done this since he was at least 2 1/2.  He moves them all over the main floor.  He uses them to feed himself from the fridge and pantry.  He gets cups out of the cupboards and uses them to help cook when I don't really want his help.

He gave up his nap shortly after the binkies were gone.  This is both good and bad.  He doesn't sleep any longer at night.  He gets up at 5:30 to 6:30 AM no matter what time he goes to bed.  He will fall asleep in the car in the afternoons.  If you can manage to wake him up he is a beast for an hour at least.  If you just let him sleep he will sleep 2 hours+ and not go to sleep at night.  He quickly figured out how to turn on his bedroom light at night.  Luckily his room light is a fan so when we put him down at night we had to pull the string so he couldn't get up and play.  About 2 months ago we finally stopped locking his bedroom door.  I think we had to lock his door for about 2 years because he hasn't consistently slept through the night and we didn't want him falling down the stairs in the dark.  It was also at least a year where he would cry at his door if he didn't want to go to bed.  He is stubborn and strong willed.

Right now I love to hear Tanner talk.  He uses sound effects to help describe what he is talking about.  For example he was said "I want a bow and arrow for Christmas.  It goes phssh, like that."  I wish I could remember more examples.  He uses sound effects as descriptions all the time.

If You Build it, It Will Come

Last summer we built an RV pad and finished the backyard.  We have been wanting a boat for so long.  We had gotten used to the idea of not having a boat and I thought the RV pad would never see a boat.  Well today we finally bought a boat.  I think Brian went through a mid-work life crisis.  Things had been a little stressful with the new job.  Sunday night he was browsing KSL looking at boats and who knows what else.  He came across a good deal on a 2006 Tige.  He shouts down to me from the computer.  "I am going to look at this boat tomorrow.  It looks amazing.  I might have to buy it right then so someone else doesn't get it.  Are you okay with that?"  I told him sure thinking Brian isn't that type of person to do something like that.  Well he came home Monday night saying he bought the boat and asked if I could get a check the next day to pay the people.