We spent a delightful Thanksgiving weekend (actually Tuesday evening to Saturday morning) in Denver with David, Jan’L and their three boys. David worked a lot while we were there (setting up the store for Black Friday) so we took the kids to see Disney’s “Tangled” (a delightful animated movie based on the story of Rapunzel). Grandma and the boys took daily long walks with Sophie in tow (who was a good little house guest). Jan’L fixed a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner which we happily ate until we were stuffed . . . then enjoyed the leftovers for another couple of meals (isn’t that the fun of Thanksgiving anyway?)I wish I had written down all the hilarious comments during our three days together, but here are some I can remember:
* Jan’L frequently reminds the boys - when they apologize after they have done something wrong - that “sorry doesn’t cut it!” Following one episode while we were there, in which Kyle was particularly naughty, his Dad asked him to apologize. This extra bright little four-year-old responded, “Sorry does cut it, Dad” Needless to say, we all nearly fell off our chairs with laughter.
* During Thanksgiving dinner, Kyle wanted something (I don’t remember what) but his mother told him “no” so he stomped off into the other room, calling over his shoulder, “I think this Thanksgiving stinks!”
* Another Kyle-ism: Kyle and his barefoot grandma were sitting on the couch watching TV. At some point he asked me how I had gotten so old, to which I responded “one birthday at a time.” Then he reminded me I am old all over, “except your feet aren’t old!” I can only assume he had come to that conclusion because I had just had a pedicure and have red toes.
* And then there was the nail clipper incident! Kyle rushed into the bathroom and closed the door because he had to “go poop!” A few minutes went by and we heard a “clunk” followed by his plaintive cry of “oh, no! My dad’s going to kill me!” David went to see what catastrophe had occurred only to find that Kyle had dropped the nail clippers into the unflushed toilet! It only took Daddy a moment to determine this was a job for Kyle’s mother, who - undaunted - put on her rubber gloves and dove in! Another cause for laughter . . . although it was obvious neither Kyle nor Jan’L thought it was funny.
* 8-year-old Kole is amazingly bright and inquisitive! While I was making Master Mix, I asked Kole to find me the shortening. He wanted to know “why do they call it shortening?” We also had several good conversations about lots of interesting topics. Thank goodness for the internet. By the way, for those of you who know the family story about “Grandpa’s waffles,” David’s boys told him he makes “the best waffles ever” which caused us all to break into gales of laughter. Grandma gets no credit!!!
* Kaler, who just turned 12 and is now a Deacon in his ward, really wanted us to stay over for Sunday since it will be the first time he passes the Sacrament. He was fun to be around and got a little emotional when we were packing up the car to leave - even called me on my cell phone from upstairs to tell me he loves me. Jan’L also reported her oldest son wrote an essay about his family for a school assignment. In it, he noted his parents were mean to him always saying “if you break it, you buy it!” Jan’L encouraged him to do a re-write to put his parents in a better light for his teacher. He did . . . it read, “I have really nice parents who always say, ‘if you break it, you buy it.’” No word on the grade he got on this paper, but Jan’L has some concern about what his teacher must think of her and Kaler’s daddy.
* David told us the story of one of his employees who thought the Friday after Thanksgiving was “African American Friday.” David said it was all he could do to keep from laughing until the tears ran down his face while explaining the true significance of this new American holiday his sister Kaytee calls her “super bowl.”
Jan’L is such a darling, but she stresses (as most women do) about her inability to be a perfect wife, mother, daughter, sister and friend, while she has her hands full riding herd on her 4 boys! David - and the rest of our family - is lucky to have her!!!
PS: Jan’L called to make sure we got home safely . . . and to tell me one more Kyle story. I made turkey noodle soup while in Denver. Jan’L and Kyle had some last night and Kyle remarked how good it was to which Jan’L noted, “Grandma Linda made this soup.” Kyle responded, “Well, she should be very proud of herself!”
