Totally makes the chaos of mornings worth it when I find love notes from my 6 year old, after cleaning up the tornado, left on the front door

This morning Branten was asking me how to spell "you"....I was in the middle of finding football pads, making breakfast, making home lunches and signing off homework so I didn't ask what he was doing.  After I took all of the boys to school I came home and heading into the Den to work on the computer.  When I passed the front door I noticed this note left for me.  

I left the note up there because I loved looking at it whenever I passed.  When Branten came home from school he noticed it was still there and asked me if I had seen anything on the front door :)  I told him I had and loved looking at it and that is why I left it there. 

B's thoughtfulness on Cute Joanie, baseball, and missions

Branten has been giving a lot of thought to things lately.  We were at Easton's baseball game a few weeks ago and B sat next to me asking me questions about why the ump was calling the pitches balls or strikes.  He also wanted to know why the catcher and ump were wearing gear.  He asked about why kids got on base without hitting (a walk) or why they got out on first when they hit the ball (they were thrown out) he also noticed when one kid should have been thrown out at first but was safe..... he told me the throw was not very good and the first baseman had to reach really low to get the ball and his foot came off the base.  He literally sat by me for a good 20-30 minutes discussing the rules and plays of the game.

Just a few days ago we were in the kitchen at the counter and this was his random thoughts...
B: "Mom, why do you love me?"
Me: "Well, I love you because you are my son.  You are kind to others and you make good choices.  I love you because....."
B: "Mom, do you love me because I can do hard things?"
Me:  "Yes B, I love you because you can do hard things."

I hope that he ALWAYS remembers he can do hard things and never lets anything stand in his way.


This past weekend we were staying at Nate and Sara's and B was in the same room as us to sleep.  When we were all getting into bed he began asking all about when Cute Joanie died and how long he got to be with her in heaven because he waited the longest to come down.  He also started contemplating, out loud, where Layton might be called on his mission.  He then stated that he really wanted to be called on his mission to the jungle so that he could see all sorts of cool animals like monkeys.  He said he would like his house to be in a tress with vines so he could swing to other people houses to teach them.  He then concluded that it wouldn't be very easy to swing on vines in a suit and tie so maybe a house on the ground would be better.


I enjoy his insights so much and love how much thought he puts into things.  It also surprises me when he brings up past conversations that I have had with Derek when he was around.  I am always under the assumption that little ones are not paying attention but I am finding that he is most of the time, even if he is actively jumping around or playing ipods when we are talking.  

Christmas 2012

Christmas this year was lots of fun with Branten.  He started several letters to Santa on his own and finally had me transcribe one for him, this is what it said:

"Dear Santa,  I am the littlest boy downstairs on the couch.  I would like a Ninjago and Hobbit house Legos"

With the letter in his hand he then came up to me in the kitchen and asked if we had any tools.  I asked him what he needed tools for and he told me that Santa needed new tools so he could make lots of toys.  I don't think I have had any of my boys ever think of giving Santa a gift.  We went to Walmart and picked out some tools for Santa and Branten wrapped them him self and left them next to the cookies by the fireplace.
















Santa left a note thanking B for his thoughtfulness, and Dad liked those tools so much that I bought some just like them so that B could give them to his Dad at some time.

 Santa made a HUGE mistake and left a Barbie for Branten.  He wasn't very happy but even Santa makes mistakes and Branten was very quick to forgive when he opened his next gift and it was a Ninjago.  Santa must have dropped B's last gift when he set out all of the other gifts because we found it under the couch.  Branten was very happy with everything he received but wasn't very happy with me for posting the video of him getting a barbie on FaceBook because everyone keeps asking him about it.