adventures with little dude

Luckily for me, my brother-in-law, Paul, and my nephew spent Thanksgiving here in Utah with Paul's family. I was able to steal some time with them and it made me oh-so-happy.

Here are some of my favorite Holland stories, or "Hollandisms" as Paul calls them, and the lessons I've learned from him.

This summer my sister, Holland, and I were cleaning the kitchen. And by that, I mean that my sister and I were cleaning the kitchen while my nephew pushed a chair around the kitchen while repeating, "I help! I help!". When I say he pushed the chair around the kitchen, I mean, ALL around that friggin' kitchen. He was two (he still is) so he couldn't do much, but his enthusiasm was adorable. And to be quite honest, if adults went around trying to help as much as children did this world would be a much different place. lesson number 1.

Also this summer, my nephew wanted to help me clean the kitchen (on a separate occasion). I was cleaning by myself and overseeing the little munchkin at the time (the family was somewhere in the house) so I gave him the lime juice bottle and helped him put it away. After putting it in the door shelf where I motioned, I said, "Thank you, Holland! You did it!" Apparently, this was the single greatest thing that he had accomplished in his 2 year life span because he whooped and hollered and yelled, "I did it! I did it!" He jumped a few times, and then he began running around the house yelling, "I DID ITTTT!!! I DID IT I DID IT!!!"

I have to admit. It was one of the happiest things I have ever seen. Why can't we do that? Why can't we relish in our joy and our accomplishments? heck yes, you better believe I actually got out of bed and put on clothes today! Booyah, I just made myself an actual balanced meal with vegetables and everything. lesson number 2.

Saturday I went to Provo Beach (a recreation/entertainment facility) with Paul, Holland, and Paul's sister and her adorable family. At one point in the evening Paul, Holland, and I were eating chicken fingers and fries in an area they have that is decorated like an old diner. The entire place is fun and adorable you should all go--did I mention they have a carousel? Well, little man was quite tired of eating and wanted to watch the dinosaurs (an arcade game). So he started climbing, or attempting to climb, on top of the back of the booth. Before he could get all the way up, I said, "Holland. You can't climb up there." He looked at me. I looked at him. He got down, he drooped his shoulders lower than I've seen anyone droop their shoulders, and he just closed his eyes. And that was it. He closed his eyes, opened them about 30 seconds later, and then went on to the next thing.

Oh to be a kid again. Next time I lose my keys, drop my phone, or burn some rice I'm just going to droop my shoulders and close my eyes. Done. I can now handle stress. lesson number 3.

I had many more adventures with little dude while they were here--including an exciting story involving Coldstone and vomit, but that will have to wait.

probably one of my favorite pictures of little dude.

Background: he didn't want to put his shoes on.

he has such a 'tude.

twas the night before Thanksgiving

Twas the night before Thanksgiving when all through 360

I sat alone in my room, feeling kind of shitty icky

For you see the night before, I slept not one whit.

I had a throat that was sore and a runny nose that wouldn't quit!

In the morning I awoke quite ill and unrested

but I trudged on to work to prove I wasn't bested.

All through the day I used tissue after tissue

I knew that today, I just needed to push thr-ough.

After work I rushed home and closed my shutters,

then I found some solace underneath my covers.

I took a nap of an hour, maybe two or three,

then I ate some stuffing and a yummy, giant cookie.

Just kidding, it wasn't just a cookie I ate,

I made a batch of dough and didn't want to wait.

So I watched a movie, Top Gun if you must know,

and held my bowl in front of me and started to go.

Spoon it once, spoon it twice

and maybe spoon it thrice.

Oh how happy I was 

with my spoon oh so nice!

I am so grateful for this cookie dough,

to make my day a little sweeter

and the modern medicine I have

that makes my body that much better.

I am grateful for my friends, my roommates, and more--

the people I meet, and get to know, and adore.

They help shape me and teach me so much everyday.

They help guide me and lead me and show me the way.

I am grateful for my dear family

even though we are not together.

Because I know that through Christ

we can be together forever.

So do not worry about me on this Thanksgiving Eve,

because I'm excited about tomorrow, oh yes indeed!

A day to eat, share, and express our gratitude and love

to that God who loves us and sends blessings from above!

the time i wore a pink tutu

When I was younger I used to play dress-up. All the time. It was one of my favorite things to do. We had a dress up chest (it looks like an enormous pirate treasure chest--my parents still have it in their house) that was filled to the brim with beautiful dresses, shiny (fake) chainmail, capes, cloaks, and anything else children need to fuel their imagination and explore the world. 

I remember one of my favorite dresses was my mother's prom dress. It was a gorgeous lavender A-line gown. I remember putting that dress on and standing in front of my parents' mirrored closet doors on a chair so that the dress could perfectly hit the ground. I felt like a princess. I guess this started my little vanity kick because the story I'm about to tell you also involves a mirror.

I was around 7 at the time, and in true Kayla fashion I was playing dress-up. I opted for a pink leotard/tutu combination this day and I was quite in love with it. For some reason, I decided to forego my parents easily accessible closet full-length mirrors and instead vowed to admire myself in the bathroom. Well, being a small 7 year old and not an adult, I couldn't see my tutu in the bathroom mirror! 

Obviously, this could be quickly fixed if I was on the counter. 

So I quickly clambered onto the small bathroom counter to get the full effect. 

I don't remember how long I was on the counter. I remember climbing up, and standing precariously on the little piece of counter that is between the front of the sink and the edge of the counter, and then I remember falling. 

I fell backward off the counter. On the way I managed to hit and break the towel rack with my left arm before slamming onto the floor and back wall of the bathroom. My mom--probably upon hearing the thud of my body--ran into the bathroom and asked if I was okay. I simply replied, "Mom, I think I broke my arm."

Apparently my mom didn't think so. She reassured me that I didn't break my arm and put me on our couch in the family room. She told me to wait 30 minutes and if my arm still hurt we could go to the doctor. 

I waited.

I didn't move.

I waited.

Thirty minutes later my mom came to check on me. I told her, "Mom, I think I broke my arm." So she took me to the hospital and sure enough. I had broken it. Yep. 

Actually, I turned out that my arm broke so easily from the fall because my humerus had a cyst in it. So I got a nice full-arm pink cast and a lot of trips to the doctor after that. 

Moral of the story: if you're going to be vain and check yourself out in a mirror, try not to do it on the bathroom counter. If you must stand on the bathroom counter, put lots of pillows around so you don't break your arm.

because one of my best friends is in Australia

YOU GUYS.

I got a letter in the mail today. But not just any letter. A letter that flew all the way from Australia to Provo just for me.

Meet Madeline. 

She's been featured in some of my other posts because she's great.

She's the one who sent me the letter.

12 reasons you should know Madeline:

1. you can bond over food with her--more specifically Swig/Sodalicious, chocolate, ice cream, burritos, burgers, fries, pizza, candy, etc. 

2. she doesn't hate you when you accidentally throw butter across the kitchen. on the contrary she thinks it's hilarious and she will bring it up at random times--in letters, at church, at dance parties, etc. 

3. she will relentlessly make fun of you for your quirks, but in a lovable way. 

4. sometimes she dresses as a fluffy pineapple (as seen in the picture above)

5. she will have a dance party with you whenever and wherever. 

6. she is hilarious. 

7. she'll get up at 4am for snack-time, will people watch/spy with you, and is a terrific late night pillow talker

8. she can SING. really, you should hear her. she's going to be famous one day.

9. she's wickedly clever, an amazing writer and arteest

10. she's quite horrible at ice skating which will make you more confident in your own ice skating abilities and make you laugh at the same time

11. sometimes she makes funny faces just for the heck of it 

12. even if she lives on the other side of the world, she will make you a priority. 

Here's to you, Madeline!