If anyone knows my mom, you will know that she is kind, funny, smart, hard working, and has ridiculous things happen to her. Occasionally it's her fault, but most of the time she just seems to have bad luck. One day from a few years ago stands out in particular.
It was the Primary Program in their ward. (A Primary Program is a presentation put on by the children in our congregation, aged 3-11. There is lots of singing, each child has a speaking part, and the theme usually revolves around families.) My dad was on the stand as the pianist, my brother Brad was on the stand for some reason or another (I can't quite remember) and my mom was a primary teacher at the time so of course she was on the stand too. As my mom got up to lead her class to the pulpit her bad luck hit like a ton of bricks and half a second later she found herself in the organ pit, playing a solo with her entire body. Brad finally leaned over and asked "Mom, what are you doing down there?"
I am pretty sure she was asking the same question.
I wish I could have been there to see the whole thing go down, but alas I only have stories. And if you hear my mom tell it, you will all end up in tears from laughing so hard.
And I could tell you 10 more stories just like that. That is just how her life is.
Well flash forward to today.
My mom's birthday.
And in a silly twist of fate, we honored her in much the same manner.
Jesse and I arrived at church a few minutes late and were waiting out in the halls until after the sacrament had been passed before entering the chapel. Our children loved the freedom the hallways provided and ran around with Jesse following behind. When the sacrament portion of the service had ended, the late-comers flooded into the chapel. Jesse and I gathered our things together but in poor twin parenting planning, did not assign each baby to an adult, and when we did a quick headcount we only counted one. One is not a good number for us.
I quickly ran through the hallway opening each classroom door and whisper-shouted Ian's name. I couldn't see him anywhere. Jesse poked his head into the cultural hall to see if he was running back behind the last row of chairs. All of a few seconds later, Jesse came flying out into the hallway and said "That's your baby up on the stand!" And that was when I heard the loud notes of the organ being played not so gently by our child. By the time I made it into the chapel, a girl from the ward (the organist, of course) had wrangled our child and was looking bewildered as to where the rag-a-muffin's parents were. I scooped him out of her arms and retreated back into the hallway because I couldn't contain the laughter.
I'm pretty sure everyone else thought it was entertaining as well.
A member of the bishopric said Ian looked like he was on a mission and knew exactly where he was going. And I'm sure he did.
That's my Ian. The crazy fast, never look back, touch anything he shouldn't, and yet win everyone over with his adorable smile, child.
So happy Birthday Grandma!!
Ian wants to be just like you.
