The Time Levi Swallowed a Penny and Some Other Short Stories

The Time Levi Swallowed a Penny and Some Other Short Stories

• 7.29.2015

^^Brotherly love.  They antagonize each other all day long, but they're actually best friends.^^

1.  I was in town on Friday evening running errands with both boys when Levi found a penny in the parking lot.  "Put it in your pocket," I instructed.  We had gone over the rule that we never ever stick money in our mouth at least a hundred times.  I didn't think I needed to repeat myself again.  Apparently I should have!

We loaded up into the car and went on our merry way.  Then as I was sitting in the suicide lane trying to turn left on the busiest street in town, Jed started yelling, "Levi ate the coin!  Levi ate the coin!"

I began to panic.  "What?  What do you mean he ate the coin?  He put it in his mouth?" I yelled back.  Could he breathe?  I strained my neck to see Levi in the rear view mirror.  He spoke.  "Yeah, the coin is in my tummy."  Phew.  He was still alive.

I pulled into the parking lot and immediately hopped out to open Levi's door.  "Levi, did you swallow the penny?" I asked sternly.  Levi looked down with the saddest eyes and pouty red lips.  "I sorry, Mom.  I swallow the coin in my tummy."

At that moment I had to turn away so he wouldn't see me laugh out loud.  His pathetic face and sorry demeanor killed me on the spot.  The scenario was so awful that it was funny!  Thank goodness Levi was okay.  

Then guess what happened Sunday night?  It came out the other end.  Levi was so proud.  He burst into the bedroom where Jed laid sleeping and exclaimed, "I poop the coin out, Jed!  And it was dirty!"

Yup.  That about sums it up. 


2.  While Bron went shopping at Sportsman's Tuesday evening, the kids and I sat on the edge of the canyon and watched as four base jumpers dove 500 feet off the Perrine Bridge.  The boys were impressed.  They both said they wanted to do it with me one day!  Hahahaha.  No.  I don't think so.

Anyway, as we sat there, Levi turned to me and matter of factly stated, "Mom, if you go over the edge," he said pointing to the canyon rim, "that's called DEATH."  Yes.  Yes it is, my clever son.  I'm glad my warning on our trip to Horseshoe Bend was traumatizing enough that you remember it.  *Face palm* 

And as we walked away hand in hand, Jed told me exactly what was rolling through his mind at the moment... all about jumping naked off the bridge and peeing at the same time!  Ohh, boy.  All boy.


3.  We grabbed a quick dinner at Chick-fil-a after watching the base jumpers.  As Bron and I sat eating and chatting while the boys played on the toys, we noticed Jed holding a sanitizing wipe to his chin; he was hurt but obviously too busy to stop playing.  We ushered him out of the playground to take a look at the damage.  He was bleeding from a cut on his chin!  "What happened?" we asked.  In his little five year old voice he stumbled out, "I trip on the stairs and hurt my chin.  Then I looked down and felt the bad news, so I opened up the wipe and cleaned it up all by myself."  Bron and I were quite impressed and congratulated Jed on acting so smart and resilient.  When he left to go play again, we couldn't help but laugh and laugh.  That Purel wipe was made of 60% alcohol!  That had to HURT!  What a tough kid.


4.  On our road trip to Grandma and Grandpa Nelson's home, we passed the Idaho Falls Temple.
"That's where mommy and daddy got married," I pointed.
"I was in your tummy?" Jed asked.
"No, you were in heaven," I explained.
Then Levi chimed in, "Yeah, we were in heaven.  And I was shooting a bear!"

That, folks, is a peek into our everyday lives.  And I love it.