Why do we not learn from history? OR Ethan's 2nd talk in Primary

Ethan gave a talk in Primary today. After our last experience, you would think that we would remember to take Ethan to the bathroom before ushering him into Primary. But no, we failed in our parental duty of bladder vigilance. Ethan's talk was cut in two with a brief intermission of "I love to see the temple".

But the talk itself was good and it was all Ethan's words. Mr M helped him write it by asking questions. He strung together Ethan's answers into something quite coherent. Here is the text:

We read the scriptures and pray every day because the prophet told us to and because it helps us to live righteously. A long time ago, I read the scriptures for the first time. I liked it. I liked it because it was so fun that I wanted to do it every day and I'm very excited and very very very happy.

I read the scriptures at night with my family. Right now we are reading in Helaman about the Gadianton robbers. The people believed Nephi for a while (here is where the peepee dance became totally obvious and Mr M whisked him out to the bathroom. He returned to finish, picking up at "The people believed Nephi...") but they became Gadianton robbers. The Gadianton robbers were wicked and did not obey God's commandments. This taught me to live righteously. Not obeying God's commandments is not ok. Not obeying God's commandments makes God sad.

In my house, we pray to understand the scriptures. We also pray on our food. Three times each day. When we pray it makes Heavenly Father feel happy. I think that someday that I will live in heaven again with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.

In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Welcome, sweet Eden!

Here she is, the sweetest baby girl I've ever seen, and I haven't even met her in person! I'm completely smitten. Congratulations to her proud parents and a very special welcome to Eden Elizabeth. Can't wait to meet you in July...

Fun at the Kidspace Museum

Yes, we are still alive over at the Daily Moos, which some people have suggested we rename the Monthly Moos. On to today's story...

We had a fabulous time visiting the Kidspace Museum earlier this week with our new friends, Sarah and Penny. It was a day of firsts: our first time at the Rose Bowl, our first time at the museum, our first outing with aforementioned new friends...

This museum has recreated an anthill on a giant scale - and we crawled through it! It was creepy being in a small dark space and then realizing the huge white things next to me were eggs. Blech! But I told myself, "This is built for kids. You can handle it." Ethan's initial reaction was similar - "Mom, it's too dark. I can't see. I'm scared" - but after his eyes adjusted to the dark, he was willing to try it. He was very pleased to climb out at the top. "I did it!" Scott refused to even peek inside, but he did take advantage of an open bag of chips set outside the entrance. Other people's food - yummy! He may be an ant at heart.

After meeting a real female stick bug named Stick'emUp at the nature room, we went outside. There were two separate bike tracks with Ethan-sized and Scott-sized bikes and helmets. Ethan went around and around for about 40 minutes. Scott had more fun playing at the water station. Pour it in, let it out, pour it in, let it out... He does the same thing at our kitchen sink and will stay there for hours.

Our last station for the day was up the hill behind the bike tracks. At the top of the hill is a gazebo with a corrugated roof. Every 5 minutes or so, water pours down off the roof into a little pond, creating the effect of rain. One side of the pond opens up into a stream that runs down the hill. The rain was a big hit. "I touch it!" insisted Scott. Of course, when you are touching water, it's hard to stay dry. Luckily, Sarah had warned me to bring extra clothes for the boys.

At the end of the afternoon, two tired and happy boys left with one happy mom. We will have to go back there again! Thanks, Sarah!

Do not touch

I just heard Ethan screaming, "Scott, do not touch! Do not touch!" When I went to check it out, Ethan had a pen in his hand and was carefully writing his message on the wall . It clearly said, "Do not th." He told me that the "th" was an abbreviation for touch. Sigh... At least he's writing now:)

Please and thank you

We've been trying to teach the boys to use please and thank you. Before Scott was really talking, we taught him a few signs and one was thank you. He makes a fist and rubs it in a circle over his heart.

At the dinner table recently, Scott said, "I want that" and pointed at something (I forget what). "Say please," we instructed him. He willings made the sign, rubbing his fist over his heart. "Say it with your mouth," encouraged Mr M, expecting to hear a little voice say, "Please."

Scott did the best he could - he took his fist and rubbed it over his lips. We laughed and laughed and did give him what he had been asking for:) Kids are so literal.