Conover Family: November 2012

It was such a full month but we have our home together and our power and comforts of life that weren’t compromised during Hurricane Sandy and we have so much to be grateful for. We can’t get over the devastation that has hit most of those to the north of us. It has given us a reminder of what our precious possessions really are.

Here is a rundown of what our most prized possessions are up to.

Dylan-while I was tucking in Faith’s baby doll I said, “Good bye, dolly.” Dylan responded with a goodbye. I let him know I was talking to a toy, not to him. He is used to being called “Dolly,” or, my favorite, “Doll,” by all of us now. Faith gave him the most hilarious nickname for a little boy ever and he wears it proud, he has never even acted embarrassed at home or in public. The girls in his first grade class used to call him “Hello Kitty,” that may have prepared him for what was to come from his little sis. He says “literally” to everything. I am literally so hungry. It is literally cold outside. The word is literally getting old as Ethan is picking up on it as well. It’s a funny phase…. Literally.

Ethan-old school kid through and through. He says things like, Mom, I’m hungry, mom, I’m bored, mom, are we there yet. Mom, I’m complaining… Just to get a rise out of me. I ask him if he’s made his bed, he says no, eventhough it is made. I ask him if he’s brushed his teeth, washed his hands, done his chores. His answer is always no even though his work has been done, again just to get a rise out of me. He thinks he is so smart. I dropped him off at our mailbox the other day and he asked me to wait for him. I sat there with the van in park as he ran passed me to beat me to the house sticking out his tongue while he almost tripped because his pants were falling down. While this makes him sound like a huge stinker he is actually quite entertaining and super sweet. He knows how to make us laugh and is a natural clown.

Faith-Loves to tell us meaningless secrets. They are actually unintelligible. She thinks these bits of information are very important and that we all need to hear them. They tickle our ears and as we try to give space for Faith’s mouth to move she gets upset because she thinks we don’t want to hear her valuable information. And speaking of secrets, she made an important announcement in primary last week. There were a few ladies who came up to me after her nursery class and told me. They were talking about how everyone is a child of Heavenly Father’s, there are boys and girls. To which Faith said. “Channing is a boy and he has a penis.“ Fortunately the teachers saw the humor in her innappropriate comment. We did too. And to think she is the one who is always telling us we are being "unappropriate!" I am glad she doesn't feel any pressure to be politically correct.

Channing’s penis has received a lot of attention this month. He had to have surgery on it, poor guy, because he was born with hypospadias. The hole wasn’t in the right place and they had to move it to the tip. Faith has been so concerned with the condition of Channing’s all-too-mentionable unmentionables that she hasn’t forgotten his penis in a prayer she has said since. And she always announces with gladness that his penis is getting better. She is still announcing that Channing has teeth. He has had them for a good 8 months now. “Dolly! Channing has teeth! ET, Channing has teeth! Mama! Channing has teeth!” He has been walking for a while and she does this rendition as though he just started walking as well. I think she just likes to celebrate! It is very cute.

Channing is recovering well. Walking just fine and hasn’t been bothered by the extra attention. He finally stopped laughing while walking and can go normal distances now. He thought it was so funny when he would walk that he would lose balance from his laughter. Him and Faith go off together and play well. It is fun to see them get along. Channing calls his blanket “ball ball.” Says mama, papa, brothers, cracker, car, truck, up, dog, and ball to everything round. Perhaps this explains ball ball, there are little polka dots on his blanket.

We went camping last month. It was our first overnight outdoors with all six of us. We had a great time and as I lay there under the moon and stars with the leaves overhead I thought to myself this is too good to be true. No rain, beautiful temperature, mild, crickets singing, babies sleeping. As soon as I finished soaking it all in, Faith and Channing told me it was too good to be true in their not-so-subtle ways by waking up more times than I could count. I was grateful to see the sun in the morning and know that our trial run was only one night out!

Faith was wearing a princess dress-up dress not long ago and I asked her if she was Cinderella. Her response was, “No, I’m Princess Leia.” She is clearly sister to three brothers. Naturally this shaped our Halloween this year. Dylan was Obi Wan Kenobi, Ethan wanted to be an Ewok and Channing made the perfect Yoda. For our ward’s trunk or treat Chris and I joined the bunch as Darth Vader and I was a Clone Trooper.

Chris went to MIT this month for a lecture series and that was definitely a highlight for him.

The boys and I ran a fun run for the Cub Scouts fundraiser last weekend. They beat me... I guess that goes without saying. But I’m glad they had it in them!

After the run I headed to the local Republican office and made some calls on behalf of Romney and team. It felt so good to feel like I did something for this important Presidential race. Chris headed into the office last weekend as well and had a chance to meet the Governor of VA and a few other nice folks as well.

We were geared up for Romney’s visit to George Mason University but unfortunately Chris wasn’t able to join us. The kids and I waited and waited in line. Had our tickets scanned, almost walked through the doors but as we approached they told us it was full. We ran to the north entrance where we were informed we could enter into an overflow area but that was full as well. We hung around outside listening to the enthusiasm being projected outside and to our delight we were told Romney would pay us outsiders a visit! We were so excited to see him and Ann close up. They are lovely. I was thrilled my four kiddos got to be a part of history and witness the excitement that goes into an election. They cheered and clapped and asked me questions while enjoying their tootsie roll pops I brought with me in the case they got bored. Unfortunately my photo was terrible from trying to take a phone pic in one hand while bouncing Channing to keep him warm and happy.

We were praying our hearts out that the election would go to Romney. Something that has really erked me in this election is abortion being thrown under the blanket of “women’s health.” And I’m afraid too many American’s are being duped from this cunning phrase. It could more accurately be called what it is, murder. But we wouldn’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings, let alone save real lives.

Spending is the other ringer in this race. The person to spend the most money is always popular. “Sure have whatever you want,” Obama tells the American public as though we can afford anything and everything. But in the end money can’t buy love. It would be like a grandpa spending his money to buy the love of his family but upon his death his family finding out that he never really had money in fact he just had debt. So much so that he didn’t even have money to help pay for his burial. Instead of passing on wisdom he passed down his bills for his posterity to pay. I’m sure he was really popular while buying everyone their heart’s desire but in the end there wasn’t true love or respect or wisdom. That isn’t a legacy anyone wants but it seems to be the legacy the democrat party is willing to leave just as long as they are popular. The democrats in office forget the future, and live in the here and now. Money seems pretend at this point.

Chris and I sent in our absentee ballots and we and the kids had a pretend election. We made our ballots and box and had ourselves a few giggles over the candidates we had to choose from. Mitt Romney won over Bobby Shafto and other random characters. The boys were so passionate about this election (the real one) and seem to understand some of the pressing issues of our day. They were disappointed this morning. I’m proud of them and praying for their bright future. I am grateful I get to focus on them for the next four years.

We were gifted with this crawdad, crayfish (?). Whatever you call it, it was entertainment! It was almost dinner as well but we didn't think it was quite big enough to eat... at least that's what we told the kids.

Happy Camper

Everyone was catching this amount of trout from the lake but do you think we could catch one?!! Nope. But a sypathetic onlooker gave us one of his. I gutted it for our appetizer. I need a lot more practice!

Ethan was a very patient fisherman.
He and I could have stayed there all night long
catching nothing but the fresh air in our lungs.
Fishing is theraputic whether you are reeling in a fish or a stick covered with goo.

Channing was such a big boy this month. It was traumatic for him. He did so well the day of his surgery. The day after was a struggle as I think he was a little sore, but then the real pain came. His dressing was supposed to come off easily, even on its own, but it wouldn't budge. We felt like we were torturing him. Days later I finally had success. This was followed by a flew shot, then a few days later his one year immunizations, then he had to have blood work done because he has anemia. It was hard to watch. He was the cutest pin cushion I have ever seen. It made me feel for parents who have children who are truly sick and have to go through this routine on a regular basis.
I counted my blessings.