Ruben Superman

Lately when I call Ruben by his name (something I've done his whole life), he says, quite indignantly, "Mom! You forgot to call me Ruben SUPERMAN!" When Edgar calls him Ruben, he says, "My name's Ruben Superman, but you can call me Ruben if you want to." I am not granted that privilege. It's difficult to believe that Ruben Superman will turn 5 on Friday. We survived his birthday party, thanks to a lot of help from Aunts Marianne and Jennifer and Cousins Deseret and Liberty.

Here we are at the party: Ruben's cousin, Luke, me (in my polyester "grumpy shirt" I bought for $1 at the thrift store in Wells my Junior year in high school). It was supposed to be a Thomas the Train cake.

Ruben with his cake.
Our birthday boy is also sporting a new look. Lately I had noticed that Ruben Superman was squinting and running into things often. Edgar thought we just had a clumsy kid on our hands, but last week the pediatric ophthalmologist confirmed that the superhero needs glasses. The glasses came today:

Can you imagine a cuter superhero? You can see why 4 eyes are better than none!

Lili's pretty sure she needs glasses too. She told me she was having some trouble seeing. Everything "looks a little yellow." I think the appropriate color may be green--as in with envy.

Last night I let the children stay up too late. Edgar was working all night and my brother Tabor called. We talked for a few hours which is very easy for Tabor and Anyone to do. I finally got the children to bed. Then Ruben needed a drink. As I tucked him in again, and said, "Goodnight, Ruben." He gave me his usual response about forgetting to call him "Ruben Superman."

I said, "You forgot to call me Mom Superwoman!" He assured me that I am not "Mom Superwoman," that I'm just "Mom."

I went back to my bed only to have the little superhero show up again. I said, a little impatiently, "What is it this time?" He burst into tears and said, "I just wanted to tell you that I guess you can be 'Mom Superwoman' if you want to." I gathered my little hero into my arms and bed and told him it's enough for me just to be Ruben Superman's mom.

Another new Background--So Soon?

Jennifer told me my blog had lost its background. I was hopping mad, of course, and decided to get to the bottom of the problem. I wasn't sure I would still be endorsing Hot Bliggity Blog, but as you can see, I am. They had a little section on their website to find out why my background was no longer showing and apologized appropriately. It was also easy to remedy the problem.

Here are a few pictures to catch up:


The boys' costumes are hand-me-downs (thanks, Thelma!). Each of my kids has worn this cute little clown costume. Part of my obsessive-compulsive disorder is that I do things like that. Every Thanksgiving I wear the same sweater that I first wore my Junior year in High School. On my mission I wore my brown corduroy dress to every district or zone meeting. Some Elders would say that Sister Dahl was "brown-bagging" it again. Do you think they were making fun of me? I left that dress in Poland for Elder Lukengay (who wanted it) when I left. I told him he could make a pair of pants out of it. His response: "Oh, Sister Dahl, I could make two pair of pants out of it."

The best thing about Lili being a witch was that we didn't have to struggle over brushing her hair.

Marcos loves the rocking horse. Lili and Hyrum love assisting him on it. Hyrum asked his mom for a baby for his birthday. Today Lili told me that she's been praying Marianne would have another baby. Watch out, Marianne. Beware the faith of a child.

Poor Marcos had his first haircut yesterday. Ruben and Lili were getting into the Christmas spirit and putting gift bows on everything. Ruben stuck one on Marcos's head using masking tape. Poor Marcos tried to get it out, and got it even more stuck in his hair. I couldn't remove it without hurting him, so I cut the tape out. He looks a little different without that bit of hair that always stuck straight up.


Here they are, all ready for the Primary Program, which was last Sunday. This is, as Ruben says, "the best we can do" at looking nice. Marianne told me there is no future for Lili as a cosmotologist with me as her mother. I can only say I come by my lack of hair skills honestly.