Annnd another installment of "Kids Say the Darndest Things"

It's my last week of work at the Boys&Girls Club. It is super sad this summer because I won't be returning next summer to be with my kids again. Kind of weird because I have been at the club every summer since it opened in Kuna :(

Anywhoo..the kids have been hilarious and also quite sentimental lately, so I thought I'd share some things that make me chuckle.

One of my favorite boys looks like Harry Potter. He is going into 2nd grade and is an only child. So one day I was talking about my sisters and my brother and this boys says, "I really want a brother".

I say, "well, you can have mine...I don't need him".

Boy responds, "Really? Okay. Is he nice?".

"Yeah. He's really nice. He's just a regular teenage boy. Kinda weird."

"Okay. I'll have him."

"K. I'll bring him to the club in a box for you. He's all yours."

So most kids would probably forget about this conversation, or realize that people don't REALLY give brothers away in a box. BUT not this kid. Every day he comes to me and says, "Maren, you SAID you'd bring me your brother. I really want a brother." Ohhh man. He is the cutest and I just don't know how to break it to him that I'm not going to box my brother Reed up and send him away. So I am still currently dealing with this issue and I have yet to tell this boy that he is out of luck on the whole brother thing. Soooo cute.

This one involves the same boy. Please keep in mind during this story that his father is a police officer.

I told some of the kids that I wanted to pack them up and take them home and to school with me because I will just miss them too much. They all laugh and one of the older ones says that I can't kidnap children. I told them that I wouldn't ACTUALLY kidnap them because I don't want the police to track me down. They all laugh again. Sooo...we're assuming they all know this is a joke, right?!

Well as I'm leaving work last night this same boy stops me in the hall and says, "I'm coming home with you. You said you wanted to take us home!"

"Well...I can't really kidnap children."

"Can I have a hall-pass? Let me just call my dad."

"Ohhh....ummm...you don't need to ask your dad. I can't take you with me."

"But I really want to come to your house with you. I'll give you my phone number and you can just talk to my dad."

Yeah...I guess this boy just doesn't know when I'm joking. I am realllllly hoping he doesn't go home and tell his police officer dad that I want to kidnap him and I'm planning on taking him to my house. I promise I'm not a creep. But I guess we could kill two birds with one stone and I could bring him home and then let him take my brother with him when he leaves. Hm.

One of my 3rd graders last summer legitimately thought he could beat me in a race. He talked and talked about it and I would just laugh...until he started trash talking and telling me I would lose because I was a girl and I was old and yada yada yada. Sooo I decide to race him. He was fast...but he was a 3rd grader. Of course I'm going to beat him. So I did.

So the other day we're sitting outside reminiscing about that funny time and one of the boys that wasn't there for the event says, "Well, I bet IIIII could beat you." The boy that I beat looks at this kid, puts his hands up, looks almost panicked, and says "YOU REALLY DON'T WANT TO DO THAT!" haha. I wish I could show you through blog how this kid said it. It was as if he never wanted anyone to have to race me again. So...I didn't race this new challenger because he quickly backed off. I chuckled all afternoon.

Finally, I will share just a couple sentimental moments. Sharing them all would make me sad and take up too much blog. But this kid was my 3rd grader last summer (and one of my favorites). Today he came up to me and put his arm around me to walk down the hall. He looked up at me and said, "Maren. I want school to start. But I wish we could make this week never end because I don't want to say goodbye to you. I would rather never go to school if I could see you everyday." Awww. Melt. My. Heart why dontcha?

This kid hasn't been to the club a whole lot this summer, but was in my age group last summer. He was talking about how he was going to come back to the club full-time next summer and one of my kids said, "Maren's not coming back next summer"...the kid responded, "then I'm not either. Wouldn't even be worth it."

Gosh. If only people in real life loved me that much!

So Long Sweet Summer

So today I spent my hour long break from work doing school stuff. Yeah, school doesn't start for 3 weeks, but there is plenty to be done. As I went through emails and started getting a few things done, I realized there is a lot I should have already done and there is plenty more to be done in the next couple weeks. Ugh. Law school fail. I answered some emails, deleted emails that I missed deadlines for (oops), took a gander at my book list, re-read instructions for law review, researched topics for law review, stressed over my fall schedule, emailed academic advisers about my fall schedule, looked over my fall schedule, worried, and made NO final decisions. Productive? A bit. Satisfying and relieving? Not at all.

The past year has gone by so fast. Last year at this time I was getting ready to start my law school journey. I had no idea what I was in for. I was scared, but excited. Nervous, but ready. (to read what I felt the week before school started, click HERE...I laugh at that post now because those things became so routine to me and it really wasn't all that bad). As frightened as I was, I surprised myself with how well I adjusted and how well I did in school. I was really happy with my entire year and I accomplished things that I never imagined I would. I even LIKED school here and there (crazy, I know). It's hard work, but it was somewhat rewarding.

I'm not scared this time around. However, I am still a tad stressed about starting school again. This fall is going to be hard work. Probably the hardest semester yet. I wish I felt ready to conquer the challenge, but I find myself feeling nervous and inadequate once again. I know once I get back into the swing of things I'll feel better and it will just feel like regular old school again...but until then, I might freak out a bit. I was telling an old teammate about how I felt and she said, "but isn't that what you're good at?...freaking out?!". And I guess she's right. I put a lot of pressure on myself and freak/stress out a lot...but I do it because it motivates me I guess. I like pressure. Sooo as nervous as I am, I'm glad I have a challenge ahead. (Stay tuned).

Looking back on the past year, it is a blur. It really did fly by faster than any year of my life up to this point. It's one of those years that you look back on and wonder if it even happened. My fear is that my 2L and 3L years will go just as fast. I am going to be spit into the real working world too soon. I sure hope I like my job too...because starting a career at 26...that's a longggg life of the same old same old. Let's just hope time slows down and allows for me to grow up a little bit. I wonder when I'm supposed to FEEL older and grown-up? I'm still waiting. Maybe at 25. I'll let you know. For now, I'm going to try my best to enjoy the last little bit of summer without stressing out. K...ready...GO!

Have I ever mentioned that I LOVE my family? Cuz I do. Absolutely love them.

4th of July weekend:

SO good to see the Colorado cousins. We hadn't seen their whole family in such a long time! They came for the weekend and we were able to chat and eat and party a bit. Sadly, they weren't able to attend the classic Melba Fireworks with us, but we enjoyed the time we had with them.

Harry Potter 7 Part 2:

Now...this was a BIG deal. We have been planning on seeing the last HP movie together since we all saw the 5th movie premier together several years ago. My cousins from Mesa came up, as well as cousins from Utah and my Uncle Quin (who isn't even a HP fan, but came for the fun). We made Deathly Hallows shirts and took up 14 seats in the theater. I can't believe the magic of HP is all over. What a sad time in our lives! I'm glad we got to do it all together though.

Gabe's 100th Bday Bash:

Our beloved dog, Gabe, has recently turned 100 dog years old. The event had to be celebrated. We wore party hats (so did Gabe), played Gabe Bingo, and partied pretty hard. We ended the night watching My Dog Skip. If you haven't seen it, you need to. I feel the party was quite a success and we're hoping we can celebrate 150 years before he leaves us.

As you can see, my summer has been going GREAT! I can't believe in 5 short weeks I will be back in school. AHH! Every time I think about it I get overwhelmed. This fall is going to be a nightmare. Even so, I am kind of ready to be back to my structured schedule/life. I probably won't feel that way once classes start, but for now I think that's what I feel. haha.

I love my summer job and I am a little sad that it is coming to a close very soon. My kids make me laugh every day. I wish I could take them all to school with me because they are so supportive and encouraging (well...most of the time...i've had 2 days this summer that i've wanted to hurt them, but other than that, I have loved every second :) ohhh kids).

Oh summer. You have been good to me.

SYTYCD

Abby and I should not be allowed to watch So You Think You Can Dance. We get too many killer ideas for our dance crew. Choreo queens in the house! (I am laughing pretty hard right now...I kill myself sometimes).

Kids Say The Darndest Things

I try to remember every funny thing that the kids say to me everyday. If it's worthy, I come home and write it down. I look back at my list of funny things sometimes and it cheers me right up. I shall share some:

A 1st/2nd grader says to me:
"You are just a kid. Why don't you act like you're 24?" Well, dear, acting 24 is boring and way lame.

One of my 5th/6th graders shouts to my group after grabbing my arm to get my attention:
"Hey, you've got some flab. Everyone! Look at Maren's flabby arms!" (then he continues to poke at my arms) If that isn't incentive to lift some weights, I don't know what is. Well, it wasn't enough incentive I guess.

A 1st/2nd grader tells me so matter-of-factly:
"You are so tall. Not as tall as my grandma though. She's 8 foot." Of course she is. Now wouldn't that be cool if her gma really WAS 8 ft tall and I'm the crazy one for not believing her...

One of my 5th/6th grade girls:
"What ethnicity are you?"...(i tell her I'm just white/caucasian)..."That's it?...Are you SURE? You should make sure." Okay...I'll go home and check the family history again. Just to make sure.

One of my 5th/6th graders from my first summer at the club was telling her friend about the staff...while I'm sitting right next to them, mind you (she was just visiting and she is now going into 8th grade):
"Yeah, Maren's awesome most of the day, but she gets grumpy towards the end." Oh they know me so well. Usually grumpy Maren just needs a snack and a break from hearing "Maren Maren Maren Maren". Who ever thought you'd get so sick of hearing your name? Sometimes I get home from work and I hear my name and I instantly am like, "WHATTT?!" oops...

A 3rd/4th grader announces while I'm playing lightning with a group of boys:
"Maren counts as a boy and a girl...cuz she's cool like a boy, but she's still a girl." I'mmm not sure how that works, but I'll take it.

Our first dress-up day at the club was pajama day. Cami and I are standing there in our PJs and a 1st/2nd grader looks at us for a minute and then says:
"And you guys GET PAID FOR THIS?!" hahaha. Not well...but isn't it AWESOME?!

Two of my 5th/6th grade boys:
"Maren, you're single, right?"...other kid, "It's about time you get a boyfriend"...other kid, "yeah, his name is Derek and he's a professional biker" Oh good. Just what I need...10 yr old match-makers.

I don't remember what I did to deserve this, but I was talking to a few 1st/2nd graders:
First girl to me, "You're WEIRD!"...other girl defending me, "No, she's just different"...first girl, "No, she's pretty mental!" The girls and I laughed about that for awhile after. She's def a good judge of character.

More Drama: from an 11 yr old's journal entries...

Well...remember that identical journal entry I said I probably had? I found one. It's not identical, but it's pretty dang similar. Now, seeing as Father's Day is tomorrow, please know that all feelings expressed in this entry are not real/lasting. I don't want anyone to think that I still hate my dad...I probs only hated him for a night (well...probably several nights throughout my pre-teen/teenage years, but you understand). Every parent gets to hear "I hate you" their fair share, right?! Anyways, here's a peek into my 11 yr old life:

July 3, 1998
Write now I have to sit on my bed, my dad made me just cause I said I don't want to wash. Now I can't sleep in the tent with everyone else. I hate my family sometimes. I had to pick a number between 1 and 20 and we were fighting over drying dishes, I got the closest to the number and my dad made me wash - when I got the closest! He told Elsina to pick 1-2-3-4 or 5 and she picked 5 and so she didn't have to wash - He favored Elsina. I'm so mat at my dad - he acts like he doesn't like me and he likes Elsina better.

The real sad part...the entry ended with this:

That'll show him...crossed him out as if he's not my dad. Brutal. I guess that's what ya get if you like Elsina better. haha. Oh dear. How dramatic was I?!

Don't worry...there's more. When my family moved from Layton, UT to Kuna, ID, I was not happy. You can't move a dramatic 11 year old to another state right before the 6th grade. This will be the result:


And finally...one last little thing that I was CRACKING UP about the other day. There are a series of entries that I wrote while mad at my family:

Aug. 21, 1998
We're in our new house. I hate it. It craps. Why did we have to come here? Tonight I'm sleeping in the bathroom tub. Tonight me and Elsina got in a fight, now everybody is against me everybody hates me.

Aug. 22, 1998
I've locked myself in my bedroom and I'm not getting out. I hate my life. I never ended up sleeping in the tub.

(later on Aug. 22)
Dad got mad and said "alright just write in your stupid journal". Then I heard him talking to mom, he said, "well, if I didn't let her she would be balling all night". My dad always says he never says anything bad about me but I guess he lies. Today a tractor on the other street caught on fire. It was exciting. Well, dad just asked Elsina a mean question about me!
Bye
Maren (the hated)

My favorite parts: "it craps"...what the heck? What does that even mean? haha. "I never ended up sleeping in the tub"...this makes me laugh because I legitimately remember getting our red quilt and my pillow and setting up camp in the bathroom. I wonder what went wrong. "My dad always says he never says anything bad about me but I guess he lies"...oh dramatic little Maren, bless your heart. And finally, "today a tractor caught on fire. It was exciting"...WTHeck? So random.
So, there you have it...Abby wasn't the only one that thought she was hated and unloved. And for the record...my dad is the awesomest dad ever. Seriously. Happy Father's Day, Pa! I'm terribly sorry about the 11 year old me.

I was a teenage monster...

So the other night, my little sister and I laughed for quite some time over one of her journal entries from 2003. That means I was 16 yrs old and Abby was 11 3/4 (she specified in a journal entry that she was 11 3/4...not 11, or 12, or even 11 1/2). I guess we laughed about more than one entry...but I will just share the funniest/saddest. I think our relationship at the time was a problem because I was a teenage monster (which I, to this day, will admit) and Abby was a dramatic pre-teen. So we get the following:

June 23, 2003
Why Does Dad and Maren hate me? Maren treats me like a baby and pushes me around. She thinks I can't do nothing! Dad is always on her side so when we fight, I always am the one getting in trouble. Tonight we were planting sod and she kept saying I wasn't working hard enough. I got mad and I had to go to bed, right away! All I was doing was trying to be extra good and work really hard, but Maren found a way to get me in trouble, she always does! Why does Maren hate me? She always points out the smallest flaws, just to get me in trouble!
If that's the way she wants to play, then watch out Maren, I'm coming back to get ya!
Bye,
Abby the Hated, Picked on, etc.

hahaha. "I'm coming back to get ya!"...? Coming back from where?! Oh Abby...

Another entry ended with this:

I know what you're thinking...and yes, this does make me kinda sad and makes me feel kinda bad. Buuuutttt...only kinda. BECAUSE that's life when it comes to sisters. And I have many identical journal entries from my own journal at that age. Everyone was always against me, everyone hated me, I was always the one getting in trouble when it was really a sister's fault, my parents favored my sisters, I was alone and unloved, etc etc. Any one who has ever been 10-16 yrs old with 3 sisters will understand.

The best part of these entries: how hard we laugh about them now. Now that we're older, we often pull out our old, embarrassing journals/diaries and share different things with each other. I have been so near to peeing my pants from laughter SO many times when it comes to reading through these. We can look back on it now and just laugh. I love it. See?...hating each other turned out to be a great thing! Right?!