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.