Going to the grocery store with Seth, or any store for that matter, is an adventure and a challenge. I find myself having to repeat the word “no” over and over again and trying to stay strong against a very persistent 12-year old. 

No matter where we go he can always find something he “needs.” My wife is much better about resisting his asking. I eventually cave and give in to his requests. Which is why whenever I say I need to go to a store for anything he jumps at the chance to come with me.

Most evenings after dinner he convinces me to take him to Walmart for supplies for his latest idea. I end up following him around Walmart listening to his running commentary about why he really needs this and that. It has become a joke in our family and if he does not ask me, my other two kids will chime in and ask me for him. I always tell him he is going to make a great salesman.

He knew exactly what he wanted to make his mom for Mother’s Day – The Ultimate Gigantic Cheeseburger. We left the store with a giant tube of ground beef and other supplies for the cheeseburger. He made and cooked a small hamburger and then covered it with a lot more meat and made a giant hamburger. He put the huge cheeseburger between two small buns and presented to his mom. He was very proud of it, and she thought it was sweet of him to make it. 

​He has big plans for other meals he is going to make and I am sure he will insist I run him to the store for supplies.

While Seth was at Primary Children’s Hospital due to his concussion, he was completely out for several hours (read cover story for more details). When the pain medicine would kick in, he would perk up a little. The doctor came in at one point when he was quite out of it, and asked “Seth how are you?” Seth replied with his typical response of “What up.” He does not remember anything of that now.

The doctor also asked him “Where did you come from?” He was evidently trying to gauge Seth’s memory to see if he could remember where he lived. Seth quietly responded, by saying “LDS Hospital.” The doctor was confused and looked at me and my wife. We told the doctor he was born at LDS Hospital so he must think that is what was asked. 

The second night while he was at the hospital a good friend of mine who Seth thinks is one of the funniest people ever, stopped for a visit. He brought Seth a super-size Red Bull and candy bar. He also asked Seth if the nurses were cute or not.

​Seth’s fall and accident scared us all, but he will recover and be back to his old self soon enough. The hardest part of the recovery for Seth (and us) will be keeping two feet on the ground for two months.

We have been able to spend a fair amount of time this winter skiing. Seth loves to ski fast and try new tricks. He can get quite competitive with his older brother. One of the problems I have encountered this year is that I am getting old and I can’t keep up with Seth. He never stops and always wants to be the first one down the hill.

Seth being very observant one day directed me to look at the tram lift because he did spot a guy on the very top where the tram attaches to the line. Of course, he asked me if he could do the same thing. I said probably not but to ask his Mom which he did, and she said not a chance.

​Later that same day skiing I lost him and was a little worried as he does not have a cell phone and I had no way to find him. As I started getting nervous about where he might be, my first thought was to look at the top of the tram line. Thankfully five minutes later I found him waiting for me at the bottom of the hill.