Cause that happens every day...

I promise that we do way more than sit around and pray all day, but so many notable moments happen when the heads are (supposed to be) bowed.

So recently, we were blessing the food and Blake and Gracie were being anything but humble and contrite, so after I reminded them that prayer was a time for reverence NO MATTER WHAT.

And then Gavin corrected me: "That's true, Mom, but if a wild monkey ran through the kitchen and grabbed one of us during a prayer, then it would be okay to not be reverent if you had to chase us outside and save us."

Yes, Gavin, that is correct.

That's Me!

Today while cleaning the kitchen, I found a survey Blake filled in about me at preschool as part of my Mother's Day gift. It's one I'll always hold dear to my heart:

Your Mom's Name: Autumn
What does she do? Pretty much, she doesn't do anything.
Her Age: 57
Favorite color: I don't know, maybe pink.
Where does she like to take you for fun? Jamba Juice and Swirlz
My mommy is smart because she knows: How to clean

There you have it! I've got to go now and do...nothing. Because I just cleaned, so what else is there?

The Evolution of Scissors

Tonight I was trimming the kids' fingernails with the nail scissors. It was Blake's turn and as he sat on my lap and watched, he said, "I kind of don't like to have my nails cut because then I can't scratch people anymore."

"Blake," I said, "You shouldn't scratch people anyway."

"I know," he replied, "that's why Jesus invented scissors."

They're On to Us

Today Alex walked in from school with a neighbor friend and asked me (in front of the friend) if the friend could stay and play. That's a no-no over here as I try to keep any mean mom perceptions discreet. But I let it go and mumbled "Sure."

As they walked out to ask the friend's mom if it was okay for her to come play at our house, I heard the friend say, "Stand right by me when I ask if I can play, because she won't want to say 'no' if you're right there because then she'll look like a mean mom."

Okay. So they're on to us. But we're on to them.

He's Got All the Answers

The other night, Michael was reading scriptures with the kids. He likes to explain them, verse by verse, as they read. After reading, "Ask and ye shall receive; knock, and it shall be opened unto you," Michael asked the kids WHO it is they are "asking." After a couple of thoughtful seconds, Gavin replied, "Google?"

Oh Blake

Today Blake asked Gavin, "How old will I be when you're 15?"

Gavin replied, "12."

Blake: "Oh. I'll probably be grounded then."

Cause that's what you do when you're 12.

Santa!! I Know Him!

Friday night, my dear friend and neighbor Abby watched my younger kids so Michael and I could attend Alex's voice performance.

Afterwards, she told me that Blake was examining Christmas card pictures of extended family that she had posted on her cabinets. He asked her who all those people in the pictures are.

"Cousins," she replied.

He eyed her knowingly and said, "So you're saying Santa's your cousin, huh?"

Deep Thoughts by Blake

Tonight during story time, Blake asked, "Mom, did Jesus bless us with 'the force'?"

"Regretfully, no, Blake."

He pondered this then said, "Well, did he bless us by sticking skeletons down our bodies?"

Affirmative.

Swiper Progresses

We left a friend's house and I did my usual pat-down of the kids to see what souvenirs they intended to bring home. As I took a foreign bracelet off of Gracie, Blake looked at me and proudly beamed,

"Mommy, I didn't steal anything today!"