“You can tell a lot about a kid by what’s under their pillow.” – Jim Bob

Said after discovering Lego magazine under Jacob’s this evening.  A while ago we found a fun discovery under Katey’s pillow:

2 pink containers of bubbles.

Our Relief Society Birthday dinner was on September 9th.  The theme was “Beauty Within”.  We had yummy bread bowls and a variety of soups.  Perfect for this time of year and so nice to do when many people are helping out.  I was on the committee this time.  I got to help make invitations and arrange the centerpieces.  I also got to help dish up the yummy dessert – blonde brownies topped with vanilla ice cream and drizzled with a buttery syrup and caramel.  yum!

Those on the committee also got to do the program (I found that out later 😉 ).  It was neat though.  They had each of us tell about a talent we have.  They asked for unique talents and I thought for a while.  I do feel blessed.  I had parents that told me often that I was talented while growing up.  And I believed them.  One of the first talents that came to mind (and I stuck with) is that I can entertain and teach children.  I’m still working on the patience part.  I definitely don’t have it all figured out, but I do love spending time with children – partly because I am so childish myself.

I read a book to the sisters there.  It’s one of my favorites and fit nicely with the “Beauty Within” (we-all-have-different-talents) theme.  Want a peeksy?

“Stand Tall, Molly Lou Melon” by Patty Lovell, Illustrated by David Catrow.

The book begins, “Molly Lou Melon stood just taller than her dog and was the shortest girl in the first grade. She didn’t mind. Her grandma had told her, ‘Walk as proudly as you can and the world will look up to you.’ … So she did.”

“Molly Lou Melon had buck teeth that stuck out so far, she could stack pennies on them. She didn’t mind. Her grandma had told her, ‘Smile big and the world will smile right alongside you.’ … So she did.”

The book goes on to describe a few more of the unique characteristics of Molly Lou Melon and the sage advice from her grandma. Towards the middle of the story, “…Molly Lou Melon moved to a new town. She had to say good-bye to her grandma and all of her friends… and start in a new school.”

One kid at the new school trys to make fun of her for her uniqueness, but she shows how wonderful those characteristics can be. Read the book to find out how she accomplishes that task and why at the end she writes to her grandma, “I wanted to tell you that everything you told me was exactly right! Love, Molly Lou Melon”

So sweet and good!

I also talked about dress-up and how much fun we have with that at our house.  I made mustache suckers for my little ones and we had so much fun with them – we made them for a family reunion too.

I talked about how it is fun to change our outward appearance, but it is truly what is on the inside that counts.  The Lord looks on the heart and we should strive to as well.

I made a mustache sucker for each of the ladies there.  I made them using “He’s the Man” digital kit by Dani Mogstad and Traci Reed:

I told them that they could eat them themselves or take them to someone they thought would enjoy it.  I taught them how to use them (oh-so-hard! 😉 ).  I mentioned that Bishop Bingham had already taught us to unwrap them.  I demonstrated with the wrapper on though and showed how to pop the sucker in and instantly change your appearance.  🙂  I wiggled my eyebrows (love the play-by-play??) and then put the sucker back in the big bowl of suckers ready to hand out.  Oops!  I grabbed it out fast and said “I’ll just keep this one”.  I never said being smooth was one of my talents.

{If you want to download the file to print your own, go here (Girl Talk, the creative team blog for Dani).}

{{Actions on photos from Sarah Cornish at myfourhens photography.  ”Hand Crafted” from Blended set.  *swoon*}}

Katey and I were playing in nursery today.  Katey had lined up a whole variety of plates, utensils and cups.  She explained the whole buffet to me (including “hot dogs” that looked suspiciously like corn on the cob).  She had a little cup she was “drinking” out of.  I asked what was in that one and she replied, “tea”.  I explained that tea is not good for our bodies, but we could pretend it was something else.  Hot chocolate, lemonade, juice… so many possibilities.  I then asked what was in her cup.  “Tea” she said.

I was trying to decide whether to continue the lesson or let it wait for a different time.  She is only two I told myself.  While I sat there debating I saw her pick up the cup, walk over to the play kitchen and pour the “tea” down the sink.  She then washed the cup (complete with whooshing water sounds) and returned to the table.  “It has juice!” she announced.  Later she told me, “Apple juice is good for our bodies”.

I should have known she was capable of understanding.  But just talking about it wasn’t going to change what was in the cup.  You have to act.  Katey showed me that today.  And there you have it.  A one-on-one Word of Wisdom lesson in nursery.  For the both of us.