Test Battle

"Hey Mom.  Today I had a test battle with a kid at school.   I have a scratch on my stomach from the wood chips."  begins Gavin as he walks into the room pulling up on his shirt.
"Really?  What does "test battle" mean Gavin?" I inquire looking at the small scratch on his tummy.
"I had to take down a kid." he comments matter-a-factly. When he sees I look concerned he adds, "So we could see who was stronger.  He told me he was stronger.  Then I said no you're not.  Then I said, Hey!  Let's have a test battle to see who is strongest." replies Gdog.
"What do you mean take down? Like wrestling?"  I say remembering his 19 year old cousin teaching him a "take down" wrestling maneuver.
"Yeah, just like Nick showed me.  You grab the legs and push em down."
"Okayyyy....." I say trying not to make too big of a deal out of it. "Gavin remember when the teacher said no fighting at school?  Wrestling is a kind of fighting unless you are on the team.  Did you know you can get kicked out of school for that."  I say trying to further discourage his physical challenges at school.
"Really?" He says with joy on his little face. "I wouldn't have to go to school?"
Shoot. I think to myself, I totally miss-judged that one.
"Nope." I reply. "No school, no friends, no recess.  You would just sit at the kitchen table all day and do worksheets."  I let that sink in, and watch the smile on his face lessen as he ponders the new information.  "I could call your teacher  and tell her you want to do school at home."  I wait as he considers this possibility.
"Ummmm.  I think I am not going to test battle anymore.  Okay mom?"

Little Girls

I was sitting with a little girl, chatting about little girl things.  What is her favorite color of tutu, which Disney princess is she like, and what is her favorite kind of cupcake.  Her face lit up as we talked about things she enjoyed.  I thought about days gone by where I would listen endlessly to my three girls talk about such things.  I loved the simplicity and enjoyment that this brought the girls and I over the years.

Then in simple sweetness she began talking about my new car, and asked me why I liked it.  I told her about a couple of my favorite things, enjoying that she cared to talk about something that she knew I liked.  She listened intently and was puzzled about how I would drive somewhere and meet Shawn and get back with two cars.

I was pleased that she was fully invested in our conversation and complimented her on how smart that was to think that all the way through.  Then another adult who was listening to our conversation commented, "You don't have to be smart, you are cute."

While the little girl is very cute, I was taken back by the comment.  I know it was said in jest, but why would she need to be one or the other?  And why on earth would we encourage her to be only one?

I leaned in quietly and said  "You can be both pretty and smart."

My New Car!

I LOVE LOVE LOVE my new car!  It is a 2012 Chevy Equinox, in twilight, metallic, blue.

Because Gavin names all our cars , I began lobbying for a good name a week or so ago.  (Jocelyn's car is blue and he named it "Peach-o".  He had just seen the "Ponyo" movie and decided to give it a little twist. Seriously?  It isn't even peach colored, and it makes no sense.  Jocelyn laughed, thought of it more as a Gavin-ism and doesn't seem to mind the name.  ( I refer to her car as Ponyo, hoping Gavin will forget he named it Peach-o.  Hasn't worked yet. :))

Marissa's bright yellow car is named "Fireball", Shawn's Porsche "Speedy".  I liked Fireball, but began my lobbying for Shawn's car a little too late and, "the Dark Night", didn't take.  At least "Speedy" makes sense.

Realizing my previous misstep, this time I began lobbying Gavin with reasoning, telling Gavin that I didn't get the red car because it was not BYU appropriate. (Hey if you're not going to be loyal to "the only true school" you need to really commit yourself....oh wait that's the only true church---so confusing!   Digressing again....)  My next step was to ask him the question "What could we name it that would be a cool BYU name?"  And Gavin decided on the name of COUGAR!

On the way home from the dealership I started telling Shawn "I wish I could get a vanity plate that said "Cougar" but I am sure that would be already taken in Utah."  Then it occurred to me, as I was finishing the sentence, that one might think the plate referred to me--instead of the car.  Good thing I thought that all the way through.  (I did laugh a bit about it-- being 42 and all!)  BYU bookstore here I come to buy a silver "Y" for the back instead.

Here is the mileage of the new car when we picked it up!

 So far I love the two-tone leather seats, remote start, climate control, the awesome speakers that make the rear-view mirror vibrate with the bass beat, XM radio, 26-34 miles to the gallon, lumbar support and the blue interior lighting.  But don't worry my Sonic friends, a route 44 drink fits in the cup holders!

Thank you Shawn for letting me pick, select add-ons, bargain and negotiate for my beautiful, blue NEW car!  You take such great care of me!  I feel like a princess in a really cool, technologically advanced chariot.