Q: How old are you?
A: Three.

Q: What's it like to be three?
A: Hmm. Really fun with our friends.

Q: What did you do yesterday?
A: Yesterday I played fun with my friends at the castle park.

Q: What are we going to do today?
A: Have fun at my class at church. Because there's a lot of games in my class at church.

Abby: Do you want me to show you how I do big R's?
Me: Yeah.
Abby: (Drawing a very interesting R.) I do a circle then one line down. Then another line down. I don't really know how to draw an "R" huh? I need to practice.


Q: What's you favorite song?
A: Hmm. (singing) Hashi shee shu shee shee. I'm going to the temple some day. I'm going there someday. That's the song I like. I'm going to the temple.



Q: What do you want to be when you grow up?
A: Um, I want to be the princess ARIEL. That's what I want to be when I grow up. And, I'll change into different things. I'll change into Tangled and The Little Mermaid.



Q: What will you be doing in five years - what will you be doing when you are 8 years old?
A: Going to be a teacher. When I'm 5 on Halloween I will be Ariel. I like her dress.

Another Interview with Abby

Q: How are things?
A: Good, with this ring that I'm sucking on. (a ring pop)

Q: What did you do last night?
A: Went to a fun place. Um, I played games and went on a ride but I don't know which ride. An animal ride and the spiderman car. Last night on the spiderman car there's a red moving thing in the car. That thing, I like that thing that's in there.

Q: What prizes did you get?
A: I got this one (showing her ring pop) if you touch it with your hand, it's all sticky.

Q: Did you call a boy this week?
A: Hunter. I called Hunter.

Q: Why did you call Hunter?
A: Because I wanted to say I'm marrying him.

Q: Did you learn any new songs this week?
A: (singing) Rain come, rain come, down down down come play and I really love you and come to my birthday and I'll ask my mom and you can ask your mom?

Q: Wow! Did you just barely make up that song?
A: Yeah.

Q: Do you know you're really good at making up songs?
A: Well, I kind of don't.

Interview with Abby: Christmas Edition

Abby: Knock knock
me: Whose there?
Abby: Orange
me: Orange who?
Abby: Orange you say banana

Q: How was your Thanksgiving trip?
A: Good

Q: What did you do?
A: Play with my friends. Seth said to go downstairs because there was a bad guy there so I killed him with Ollie's gun.

Q: What else did you do?
A: Play with Brianna. Hey, I drinked my chocolate milk all gone. (Speaking to Mom) He's making letters huh? (points to the computer) That thing is making letters.

Q: What do you want for Christmas?
A: Some baby clothes and a barbie.

Q: What does Santa do?
A: (laughs) Plays with kids.

Q: What are you learning in school?
A: Sings ABC song while shaking a maraca wildly.

Q: When is Christmas?
A: In five weeks.

Q: What do we do on Christmas
A: Put up our decorations. (Sings Santa Clause is Coming to Town)

Q: What are you getting Mom for Christmas?
A:  I will let her have a angel. Mommy, you're going to get an angel for Christmas.

Q: What do you want to get Dad for Christmas?
A: Uh ahh. A singing trumpet.

Q and A with Abby

Q: How old are you?
A: "Two. I was two and a half, and then I'm three now."

Q: What is you favorite thing to do at school?
A: "I like to play house."

Q: What is your favorite food?
A: "My favorite food is fruit snacks."

Q: What did you do with daddy yesterday?
A: "I stayed with you when mommy left and we played the play dough robot game." (cranium)

Q: What is your favorite thing about church?
A: "My favorite thing likes to color at church."

Q: Who is your best friend?
A: "My best friend is Lexi."

Q: Best friend at school?
A: "McKenna"

Q: What is your favorite thing do with Mom and Dad?
A: "I... My favorite thing is doing... doing... doing... I don't know. Favorite thing, I don't know, I don't know. (singing) I don't know I don't know. Washhu Wasshu. Naaae."

Q: What is your favorite (FHE) Lesson?
A: Uh, my favorite lesson is... uh I don't know.

Q: What happens in your princess dreams?
A: (baking pretend cookies) "I need to go potty." (runs up stairs)

Q: What do you dream about last night?
A: "I had a Belle one."

Q: What did you do in your dream?
A: "I spinned with Beast."

Indie Churchy Rock?

For those who don't know, I'm in charge of the youth program for the boys in our church. This constitutes boys from the ages of 12-18. When it came time for us to be in charge of the September combined activity (which includes the young women), I thought it would be fun to do something a little different. The theme of our program this year is the thirteenth article of faith which talks about seeking after good things. Two of the other leaders and I came up with an activity for the kids to do and we had three groups of kids who rotated through the different stations. I chose to write a song and have the kids add some singing and claps to round out the sound. I basically rearranged the words of the verse to fit into a song (with a little poetic licence taken of course.) All in all we had about 25 kids there that night who contributed to the song. You can listen to it here.

It's Alive!

This blog has been mostly dead for a few consecutive months now, I'm sorry to say. It just seemed like I needed a big reason to blog again because it had been so long. Well big reasons have come and gone and I continued my neglect of this digital space. Life is good, and life is busy. There have been ups and downs, but mostly ups.

Lately, some people who I care about deeply are in the midst of incredibly trying times. It brings me down when I think about it, and I've had a heavy heart for a couple of weeks now. With the sadness though comes more reliance on faith and a greater desire to help and support where I can. We certainly are never helpless, never comfortless, and never without a friend.

There is incredible strength in the bonds that we share with our family and friends. Courage and hope can be drawn from the most simple of gestures and connections. I recognize the need in myself to improve in my ability and willingness to act.

I've learned that gratitude is the most effective remedy for sadness and sorrow. Everyday I'm more and more grateful for my family. Natalie is an absolute rock. The best partner I could ever wish for in this life. Abby is the most fun person I've ever met. She is so full of life and energy. She amazes and inspires me every day, and she makes me laugh constantly. From her lips have been uttered some of the most pure and sincere and beautiful prayers I've ever heard.

The Amazing Millie

I've written in the past about my friends Brady and Amanda. Their daughter Millie is fighting Leukemia, and recently a complete stranger heard about Millie and offered to set up a donation website to help with her extensive medical expenses. I want to share with you all a link to the donation website as well as a thank you video that Amanda put together showing Millie's progress through the treatment, trials, and tears that this brave little soul has endured. You can read more about this amazing family on their blog.