Kids Say the Darndest Things

Bekah’s Questions When She was 8 Years Old 

 Hannah’s Questions When She was 6 Years Old

Questions about Daddy

1. What is something dad always says to you?

Hannah: I love you

Bekah: I’m a tom boy.

2. What makes dad happy? Hannah: When I say I love you.  Bekah:  Sticking out his tongue and burping at the table.

3. What makes daddy sad? Hannah: When I disobey.  Bekah:  When someone dies.

4. How does your daddy make you laugh? Hannah:  When I do something silly.  Bekah:He tickles me, makes faces at me and burps at the table.

5. What was your dad like as a child? Hannah:  Joyful.  Bekah:  Kind

6. How old is your daddy? Hannah:  I don’t know. . . 42.  Bekah:  44

7. How tall is your daddy? Hannah: Over the 6  Bekah: Two yard sticks.

8. What is his favorite thing to do? Hannah: Keeps a secret to go out to places.  Bekah:  Singing

9. What does your dad do when you're not around? Hannah:  Watches TV.  Bekah:  He works, plays on his iPad.

10. If your dad becomes famous, what will it be for? Hannah:  Being a doctor (giggles)  Bekah:  Singing and playing the drums.

11. What is your daddy really good at? Hannah:  I can’t think of anything that daddy is not good at, except going on walks.  You never go on walks.  Bekah:  Working for Papa Karl.

12. What is your dad not very good at? Hannah:  Going on walks.  Bekah:Walks

13. What does your dad do for a job? Hannah:  Goes to the office.  Bekah:  Works for Papa Karl and gets phone calls.

14.What is your dad’s favorite food? Hannah:  I have to say Ice cream.  Bekah:  Meat- tri-tip , pork chops

15.What makes you proud of your daddy?  Hannah: I’m out of ideas.  Bekah:  He gets money to pay for our school and he is very kind.

16. If your dad were a character, who would he be?  Hannah:   Mr. Banks in Mary Poppins   Bekah:  He would make a good Pooh Bear.

17. What do you and your dad do together?   Hannah:  Watch Movies.  Bekah:  Wrestle, spend time together.

18. How are you and your dad the same?  Hannah:  No idea.  Bekah:  We like to wrestle and burp at the table out loud.

19. How are you and your dad different? Hannah:  He has a mustache and I don’t.  Bekah:  He is stronger than I am.

20. How do you know your dad loves you? Hannah: You say you love me.  Bekah:  If I hit my sister, he makes me deal with it-doesn’t just let it go.

21. What does your dad like most about your mom? Hannah:  I can’t answer that.  Too creepy.   (In disgust) You kiss each other.  Bekah:  Mom is solemn and stern.

22. Where is your dad’s favorite place to go? Hannah:  Bodin. Bekah:  Coldstone.

23. How old was your Dad when you were born? Hannah: 24 years old.  Bekah:  30.

Questions about Mommy

1. What is something mom always says to you?

Hannah: I love you  Bekah: I love you

2. What makes mom happy? Hannah: When I obey and when I say I love you.   Bekah:  When I obey and when I help you clean the house.

3. What makes mom sad? Hannah: When I disobey.  Bekah:  When I disobey and we can’t go to a fun place because of that.

4. How does your mom make you laugh? Hannah:  When she does something silly like make faces.   Bekah:   When she plays fun games with me and tickles me.

5. What was your mom like as a child? Hannah:  I don’t know.  Bekah:  Playful, fun and kind.

6. How old is your mom? Hannah:  I don’t know. . . 40’s.  Bekah:   32

7. How tall is your mom? Hannah:  (Looks at height chart) 6 foot  Bekah:  A yard stick and a foot.

8. What is her favorite thing to do? Hannah: Take pictures  Bekah: Spend time with me.

9. What does your mom do when you're not around? Hannah:  Clean the house   Bekah: Sleeping, but when you aren’t sleeping, you clean and go shopping.

10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for? Hannah:  To help people and take care of them.  You would be a good nurse to be a super hero.  Bekah:  For making GF cookies.

11. What is your mom really good at? Hannah:  Being silly.  Bekah:  Baking

12. What is your mom not very good at? Hannah:  Being mad.  You don’t get mad a lot.  Bekah:  Singing and sneezing, cause you sneeze really loud.  Hatchooie!

13. What does your mom do for a job? Hannah:  Take care of people.  Babies.   Bekah:  Works nights shift taking care of babies.

14.What is your mom's favorite food? Hannah:  Mashed Potatoes and the long green things (asparagus)   Bekah:  Cheese puffs, tritip, artichokes, carrots, asparagus.

15.What makes you proud of your mom? Hannah:  When you take care of me.  You are such a good mom.   Bekah:  She takes good care of us.  When we do something wrong she doesn’t ignore it, she take care of it.  

16. If your mom were a character, who would she be? Hannah:  Mary Poppins  Bekah:  You would make a good rabbit.  Like the one in Winnie the Pooh.  Because his house is clean and that is like mom’s house.  And Mary Poppins too, since she can snap her fingers and clean a room. That is just like you.

17. What do you and your mom do together? Hannah:  Go to the park.   Bekah:  Go out to ice cream, go out to the park and just play together.

18. How are you and your mom the same? Hannah:  We like to take walks together.   Bekah:  We like to sort things and have things in its spot.

19. How are you and your mom different? Hannah:  You are taller than me. Bekah:  I don’t keep my room clean and you do.

20. How do you know your mom loves you? Hannah: You say you love me.  Bekah:  When I get hurt you are there to help me.  You help feed me, have a bed to sleep in and give me clothes.

21. What does your mom like most about your dad? IHannah: That he sleeps with you.   Bekah: That he is inappropriate.   He burps at the table.

22. Where is your mom's favorite place to go? Hannah: On a walk to the park.  Bekah:  To work because you have lots of friends there, the beach and the park to be with us.

23. How old was your Mom when you were born?  Hannah: 24 years old.  Bekah: 32

Turning a Disappointment into a Beautiful Gift

 Today Hannah and I drove to the library.  This is a special time for her.  She gets new books and CDs to listen to.  She gets to play big girl games on the library computer.  

 However, today we arrived and found out that the library is closed the whole weekend because of the holiday on Monday.  My little girls head dropped and tears were gathering in her eyes.  Her whole body reflected her disappointment. 

 At that moment I decided to turn this sorrow into a beautiful memory for both of us. 

So we went on a pretty leaf hunt.  

The sun was shining, the smell of autumn was in the air and there were leaves making a path for our shoes-crunching under our feet.  Hannah was in heaven finding handfuls of leaves. 

 I kept remembering a phrase that Anne Voskamp often writes-the Hurry Hurts the  Kids.  So instead of hurrying on our walk, I slowed down and just enjoyed the moment.  So many times I almost told her to hurry.  I almost refused to smell each and every flower that we past.  But I didn't.  I kept my mouth shut and a smile on my face and I was blessed with a beautiful time with my daughter.

Hannah worked on reading the sign.  She did a pretty good job too.

For you mommy!!

Take the time today to just be with your kids.  Don't hurry them.  Don't think about all that you have to get done today.  Just be there 100% with them.  Smell those flowers and accept the gifts and smile and laugh and hug and love them.

Getting the Kids Involved

My girls are four and six years old.  They are big enough to be a great help to me with the house work. The problem is that one of my little ones doesn't much like helping.  Hannah, my youngest, loves to help out in any way imaginable.  She changes over the laundry and folds the towels, scrubs the toilets and the sinks, sets the table, unloads the dishwasher, makes her bed, picks up her toys and helps me all the time.  She has such a servants heart and this comes naturally to her.

However, not so for Bekah.   She does all those things, but it is not easy for her.  She would much rather be playing or coloring.  Who wouldn't?  However, I am her momma and I will train her to run a house hold and take care of her family.  That is my job as a mommy.

I didn't like all of the housework as a girl.  One time I remember thinking that when I was a mom, I would never make my kids work like slaves in the house.  I would just let them play and have fun each and every day, since that is what kids are supposed to do.  My mom didn't believe in that.  She taught my sister and I to cook and clean and manage our money.  We learned very quickly to be independent and take care of our selves.  I hated it at the time, but am so grateful today.  Running a house hold isn't that big of a deal since I had already been trained.

So advance 20 years: Now I am the mom and I am training my little ones on how to cook and clean it is a whole new world.  We recently gave the girls their own chores to do each day.  Bekah thought about it for a bit and then told me, "I don't think that this is a good idea.  I just don't think so.  I don't want to have to set the table and empty the dishwasher. "  She was not pleased that I would ask her to do such things.  We talked about it for a bit and I explained why I was doing it.  She didn't really get it until last night though.

Bekah was picking on Hannah like most kids do.  So I decided to pull Bekah into the kitchen to help me and Hannah went out back to play.  Dinner took twice as long to cook with her helping, but it was so fun.  I read off the ingredients and Bekah found them by herself.  It's great now that she is learning to read.  We prepped the chicken and the fried rice.  She had such fun measuring out all the ingredients and cooking with very little help from me.

 Hannah came in and started to help wash the dishes.  I began setting the table since  Bekah was cooking the rice. Bekah began talking about how she couldn't set the table since it was so much work  cooking.  I had a great conversation discussing how when one is cooking and working so hard, it is difficult to set the table and do other things.  She finally got why I am asking them to help out around the kitchen.  She is starting to understand that when everyone helps out around the house, life is better.  When we all do our part, then no one is burdened with the entire job.

And look at the joy on her face as she helps out.  

Serving others blesses you and blesses others.

Mom's Pamper Day in Kindergarten

I had such a delightful afternoon with my sweet kindergartener.  The children had a whole afternoon of pampering lined up for the moms.  I got there early and played on the playground with the kids.  All the boys were showing off for me and kept calling, "Mrs. Kuhner!  Mrs. Kuhner!  Look at me!"  Bekah played on the monkey bars and rubbed a huge chunk of skin off of her hand.  We got a band-aid and some ice for her and she was ready to go.

All the sweet presents lined up for the mommies.  They made us each a jar of sugar scrub and a flower that says, "I love you, Mommy!"  Wow do I like Mother's Day!!

This was the massage chair for the mommies.

All the kids decorated the tables with pictures for mom.  This is the one Bekah drew for me.  She knows that I love Christmas trees.  

This brought a smile to my face!

Mrs. Fletcher was telling us about each pamper station when in walked her son.  One of the mom's found him on facebook and asked him to come pamper his mom.  I was almost in tears.  It was so sweet  to see him come to honor her.

The kids first sang, "Skinamarinkidinkido."  They were darling!

Bekah wanted to paint my toes and fingers.  Since her right hand was hurting, she did all the painting with her left hand.  She did a fantastic job and loved every minute of it.

Then we moved to the massage station where she used a fire truck to massage my legs for 10 seconds.    We will have to work on her endurance.  :o)

Then I got some precious gifts from my girl.

Snack time was next.  I think this was Bekah's favorite station.  She sat on my lap and snuggled with me while we ate a snack.

She made me a bracelet too.

Then spent some time at the relaxation station.  Bekah gently placed cucumbers on my eyes, took them off after 2 seconds, dropped them and then put them back on for a picture.  So funny!  Then she put a lovely mist of body splash on me.  And then another one.  And another one.  And finally a fourth.  I smelled really good.   It was so fun seeing her enjoy pampering me.

After doing a sugar scrub and lotion on our hands, we headed back to the manicure station.

She had fun adding a bunch of different  colors to my pretty toes and fingernails.

This is the end result.  I bet you all are jealous of my beautiful nails.  

Each moment with my girls is a gift.  Days like this are so precious to me.  I love every little thing that they do to show their love to me.  I will treasure up each moment knowing that they will be grown up all too soon.  

All the mom's agreed that we could handle being pampered by our kids every week.   Not sure if Mrs. Fletcher could fit it into the curriculum, but we can at least ask.  

Just Loving This Christmas Season

Hannah ran to the Christmas tree and got her favorite ornament, a simple nut cracker.  

I love the little things that bring happiness to those that seek it.

Daddy loves his littlest girl.  She begged him to sit next to her for pictures and he did.  

I just love this sweet photo of my baby and my husband.

I also loved a picture similar to this one on pinterest and tried it tonight.  I turned off every light in the house besides the tree.  Then I had the girls stand very still in front of the tree.  It was fun seeing the different poses that we could get.

As a child I always loved lying under the Christmas tree.  I had my girls do that tonight just for fun.  Christmas time is so fun.  

Bekah's First Day of Kindergarten

Bekah started kindergarten at Rincon Valley Christian School on Monday.   She was so excited and a little nervous too.  This was her first time to be away from Mommy and Daddy in this type of setting. 

I was excited for her to start school.  She is so bright and eager to learn.  I can see that she is starting to get a bit bored at home and I know that school will be so good for her.  

Last week we bought her school supplies, packed her bag, got yummy things for her lunch and I modged podged pictures of family in her pencil box.  She liked that.  Bekah told me on Thursday that she looks at the pictures when she misses us at school.

Bekah had fun packing her lunch.  She is so hungry at school.   We keep having to pack more and more food for her.  I guess learning burns calories.  I love Hannah's face watching her big sis.

Daddy gives Bekah some hugs before we left for school.

I so love my girls.  They make me smile with their enthusiasm and love for life.    

At school we bought a milk card for Bekah, saw Grandmom, then walked to the playground.  The kids were already going into their rooms.  I helped Bekah find her name tag and hang up her backpack.  She was a little overwhelmed with so many kids and parents in the room.  I was a little overwhelmed too.  There are things every where to play with and the choices are almost too much.  I stayed with Bekah until she found the creation flannel grafts to play with.  It was so cute as Hannah sat right down with her and they played together.  I was one of the first parents to go.  I felt that Bekah was going to be fine and the teacher couldn't start school with all the parents there. 

 It was a little sad leaving her, mostly because I wished I could sit in the corner and just watch her.  I want to see what she struggles with, what she faces with confidence, who she sits with and how she interacts with everyone.  I don't feel the need to hold her hand.   I know that she can do it and will have a blast.   I just really wanted to experience it with her.

It really helped me to have Christine, Jen and Patricia there as I left the class room.  They have all been through this before.  Patricia's daughter had Mrs. Fletcher last year and she was so encouraging.  It was nice to talk to the other moms and realize that I was starting a new season in my life.  

We were joking about how we were close to crying, so of course we roped Andy B. into getting a picture of us pretend crying.  It was so funny that it made me not  even get choked up at all.

I love having friends that I can laugh with (and cry too) as we go through life together.  

I had a meeting at work, then went to a few stores.  Hannah got to be my special helper and even pushed the tiny cart at Olivers.  I think she really will like having one on one time with me (and daddy too) while Bekah is in school.  Then we ate lunch, had a short rest and it was already time to pick up Bekah from school.  

It is so weird having Bekah in a class where I don't know anyone.  I don't know the kids or the parents. We all gathered at the side of the building where our kids would come to wait for them.  I got a chance to have a few conversations and meet a few of the parents.  One of the families is new to the area and we bonded with them at the back to school night.  I want to get to know them all and be comfortable around them, but I know that takes time.

Finally they came out.  What a cute group they are.  Bekah saw me and ran to give me a hug.  I was so glad to have her in my arms again.  I missed her so much.  I asked her how school went.  She said, "It was super fun!  But I am so exhausted and hungry too.  Can I have the rest of my lunch on the way home?"  

We live 20 minutes from the school.  At times it is a pain to drive it and I really wished we lived closer. But it is nice having a chance to just talk. They can't go anywhere else.  So I heard all about her day.   She met Emma and Luke and played with them.  Then she said that a really nice boy kept smiling at her and they are friends, but she didn't know his name yet.  It was so cute.  Today she told me that he didn't want to play her her at recess because she kept trying to give him kisses and hugs.  Her eyes lit up and she said, "I love him."  Oh dear.  We had a talk about just being friends and not trying to kiss and hug all the boys she likes since they don't really want to do that.  I didn't think that that talk came this early.  

Since I have had to work almost every day this week, I am having to let go even more.  Chris took her to school Wednesday and Thursday and will take her tomorrow.   Since I don't get off of work until 7:30 am and she has to leave our house around 7:35 am, I don't get to give her or Hannah hugs and kisses before going to bed.  This has been hard on Bekah and my heart as well.  Bekah told me on Wednesday night that she didn't want to go to school anymore.  She was going to stay home so that she could see me in the morning.  For months now, she crys at night begging me not to go to work.  She just wants both mommy and daddy to be at home with her all the time.  We talk about how I have to work so that we can have a house and food and send her to school.  She is ok with it most of the time, but it was super hard for her not to see me in the morning.  We came up with a plan that I would call her as soon as I left work.   Then we could talk before she headed off to school.  This worked well today and I'll keep doing it.  I love hearing her tell me she loves me and to have a good sleep. 

We talk every night before she goes to sleep.  I lay down next to her and rub her back.  She talks and talks and then asks me to tell her stories of when I was a little girl.  I told her about my kindergarten teacher and all the fun toys that I got to play with at school.  I told her about a little boy at my table that pooped his pants.  Obviously that made a big impression on me.  :o)  I just want to keep her close to my heart.  I love having my girls tell me about everything.  Someday that may change, but I am going to do everything I can to help it not change.

I found this quote on pinterest that I love.   It is currently hanging on my fridge to remind me to listen to all they have to say.

Listen earnestly to anything your children want to tell you, no matter what.  If you don't listen eagerly to the little stuff when they are little, they won't tell you the big stuff when they are big, because to them all of it has always been big stuff. 

 Catherine M. Wallace