Things My Kids Say

What a Duckzaster!!

2011-12-19T20:48:00.000-08:00

It appeared she had all her ducks in a row....

...until I discovered the Duckzaster at ground zero.

"Come Here, Dumbo!"

2011-12-04T11:50:00.000-08:00

So, my four year old daughter likes to pretend she's "Dumbo the Kangaroo." (I have no idea where this came from). This morning at church she said, "Mom, tell me, 'Come here Dumbo!'" Then she said, "Say, 'Put your coat on, Dumbo.'" I'm just waiting for someone in some public place to pull me aside and read me the riot act over what a bad parent I must be. Why couldn't she pick something like "Sweetums," "Cutie," or even "Sally," the Kangaroo?! Sheesh.

When "Work" Makes a Mother-Teacher Smile

2011-11-06T17:55:00.000-08:00

At lunch today my 7-year-old overheard a conversation about pushing and pulling and interjected, "Mom, don't scientists call that 'work'?"

"It's Like I'm Having Surgery!"

2011-04-01T12:00:00.000-07:00

Apparently our third son (who is presently 5) has a flair for the dramatic. This morning while I was cutting his fingernails, he exclaimed, "It's like I'm having surgery!" I cannot help but roll my eyes. Oh my.

Those are MY ducks!

2010-12-02T19:55:00.000-08:00

That our daughter has a "thing" for ducks is an understatement. An unnamed parent in our house did a fabulous job of buying...but was not very discreet about hiding certain Christmas presents. There is presently a very disgruntled chorus of "those are my ducks! I wanna see my ducks!!!" ....being cried in the background.

"Is that the poop singing?"

2010-07-30T19:53:00.000-07:00

My three-year-old daughter hears music in everything. Not too long ago, we were driving around and had a hitch in the back of the truck and it made a loud "clank". She joyfully exclaimed, "it's making MUSIC!" Earlier today, she pooted, and then asked, "Is that the poop singing?" I wonder what's next?

I am married to a Greek God

2010-07-05T16:28:00.000-07:00

"I don't like that yucky face!"

2010-06-01T23:34:00.000-07:00

We all went to Red Robin for Ms. Dimples' birthday dinner. We'd been sitting in our booth for a few minutes when she noticed the photo of Einstein on the wall, got a bit whiney, and then completely avoided looking at the photo. Next thing we heard was, "I don't like that yucky face!" Can you blame her? Glad she enjoyed dinner anyway!

Best Behavior

2010-05-22T18:21:00.000-07:00

Today we spent a few hours with friends at their house. Before we left, we reminded the kids we wanted them to be on their best behavior. We had a really nice visit. As we loaded up to go home, the boys were talking about how much fun they'd had, and how much they enjoyed it. And our 4 1/2-year-old chimed in enthusiastically, "Now THAT's what I call BEST behavior." Too funny.

Happy Mother's Day

2010-05-09T13:49:00.000-07:00

I was putting away some laundry today when my 8 year old mentioned he still had a full hamper. I asked him, "It's Mother's Day, aren't you going to do your own laundry today?" He answered, "I don't know how to turn on the washing machine...I'm not even sure Dad knows."

"How did it get in there in the first place?"

2010-04-06T09:40:00.000-07:00

This morning I was reading through some blogs that I follow. This post by my favorite author just made my morning. It also helped me appreciate my own recent "deer-in-the-headlights" experience in a whole new way.

About a month ago, all three boys had asked to look at their baby books (that is not uncommon). While they were browsing through the pages, my seven-year-old looked up from the ultrasound photos and asked, "But how did the baby get IN there in the first place?"

Until today, I hadn't thought to appreciate the fact that we were at home when the question popped-up, AND that no other adults were present to witness my uh, "phenomenal handling" of the inquiry.

Next question, please!

You Missed Your Kiss

2010-02-01T12:17:00.000-08:00

This morning when I woke up, Mr. Sleep-Deprived had already left. My four-year-old felt the need to inform me, "You missed your kiss." He did leave me with the consolation that I could get my kiss later tonight when Daddy gets home.

Is it okay to say Mom's got an "extra-large" anything?!?

2010-01-09T23:46:00.000-08:00

I was getting ready a few weeks ago and overheard this from the dining room:

7-year-old (to the 5-year-old): "Yours would be medium, mine would be large, and Mom's would be EXTRA-large"

(at which point I yelled from the other room...)
Me: "Hey! You don't say your mom has an "extra-large" ANYTHING!

7-year-old: "MOM!!!! We're talking about BRAINS!!!"

(I'm starting to think maybe an extra-large mouth is my problem).

Telling Time

2010-01-09T23:40:00.000-08:00

I overheard this conversation between the boys recently. I am rarely awake before they are, but it was after 8 am.

4-year-old: (to his brothers) "Can we wake up?"
7-year-old: (to 5-year-old) "Can you go check the time?"
5-year-old: "No." (To 4-year-old) "You go do it."
4-year-old: "But I don't know how to tell the time."
7-year-old: (to 4-year-old) "Just go look and come back and tell us the numbers."
(long pause as 4-year-old comes out to check the clock)
4-year-old: "OH MY GOSH...there's an 8 on the end of it.....MOM! Can we wake up?!"

Sweet Song

2009-11-13T11:12:00.000-08:00

Overheard as our four-year-old sang softly to his 2 1/2 year-old sister (he had his arm around her shoulder and she was drinking it up)

"God is the best, but you are great too. And your eyes are turning blue-green. You'll stay with us..." It was a much longer song, but I couldn't understand all the words - they were so quiet and sweet.

Little Miss Sleep-Deprived

2009-09-02T17:19:00.000-07:00

One of the drawbacks to a toddler bed is accessibility. I knew Ms. Dimples had been doing some playing and falling asleep on the floor during naptime (you can see the evidence below). She never complains about naptime, and is pretty quiet about her playing (unless there is a loud toy available). However, I think she took playing to a new level today. The photo at the bottom is how I found her when I went in to the room this evening - and the room didn't look like that when she went IN to nap.

"Daddy has an extra face"

2009-06-26T18:38:00.001-07:00

Our comedian struck again. As soon as his dad picked him up, he squeezed his face close and said, "Daddy has an extra face!" I guess he already realizes how much he resembles his dad.

I'm CREEPY!

2009-06-24T22:11:00.001-07:00

Our little comedian was at it again. All I heard was a strange voice coming from my 3 1/2-year-old saying "I'm CREEPY....I'm CREEPY." He was referring to his creative use of the googly eye stickers.

Knock-Knock Joke of the Day

2009-05-21T15:11:00.000-07:00

On the way to a doctor's appointment for Ms. Dimples, the boys were having fun telling knock-knock jokes to each other. They still don't get it - but anyway....after a stretch of silence this came along:

5YO- "Mom, say 'knock-knock' to me"
Me - "Knock-knock"
5YO- "Who's there?"
Me - "The problem is I don't have a knock-knock joke"
5YO- "The problem is I don't have a knock-knock joke, who?"
Me - (hysterical laughing in the van)....

...then again, maybe they DO get it.

It Could Be Worse

2009-05-16T22:24:00.001-07:00

Thank goodness this didn't happen here or here.

You Can Lead an Elephant to Water, But You Can't Make it Drink

2009-05-04T14:39:00.000-07:00

I heard some banging in the kitchen and when I went to investigate, this is what I found. Ms. Dimples first pointed to the elephant and said, "Dis a fant," and then pointed to the water and said, "dis a wato," and "dis a wato an a fant."

Made in China

2009-05-03T16:24:00.000-07:00

As a child I don't remember having any awareness of where my toys came from, as far as country of origin. So it struck me as particularly funny today when our 5 year old (#2 boy) said, "Mom, I think most of our toys were made in China!" and he then proceeded to bring out example, after example that proved his point.

Cutting Room Floor

2009-04-10T23:05:00.000-07:00

I've finally gotten around to working on my scrapbooks after a long hiatus. Tonight, I ran across this photo. I'm not sure how it avoided the blog - but I think it deserves at least an honorable mention - albeit a year after the fact. This is Ms. Dimples in April 2008 - either showing off?!? or expressing her displeasure at being left inside.

Volume Control

2009-04-05T08:42:00.000-07:00

This morning our 3 1/2 year old asked to play his brother's Game Boy. This is not something that has happened often. I decided to let him play it, with the condition, "if you're going to play it, you need to turn the sound all the way down." To which he responded, "but then I can't hear it."

Acceptable Road Kill

2009-03-30T15:44:00.000-07:00

Last night on the way home from dinner we had an animal encounter. There was a cat sauntering across the road in front of us. Our sons, concerned for the safety of the cat asked their dad if he had run it over. He told the boys "we try not to run over animals" to which our 6 year old replied, "except maybe cockroaches!"

"It's like a hospital overwhelmed with wounded!"

2009-02-18T18:50:00.000-08:00

Our six-year-old's commentary about the current state of their hamper.

Applying Reverse Psychology

2009-01-26T22:20:00.000-08:00

...there just aren't words...

2009-01-08T12:48:00.000-08:00

(obviously this isn't the first time)

This girl can sleep ANYWHERE!

2009-01-05T22:22:00.000-08:00

Houston, we have a problem...

2008-12-13T21:01:00.000-08:00

(she was up higher than this when Mr. Sleep-Deprived pointed it out - but the camera was in the other room). Need I repeat, "I didn't expect this from the girl..."

Can't a Girl Get Some Sleep Around Here? (Take 35)

2008-12-10T11:27:00.001-08:00

From all these posts of Ms. Dimples falling asleep around the house you might get the wrong impression that I am a push-over and don't require naps. That is NOT the case. However, Ms. Dimples sometimes naps during her nap times, and sometimes she plays in her crib, and there's not a lot I can do when that happens. She surprised me yesterday because I thought she had napped more than she apparently did, and by 7:00 pm she was wiped out!

Sleep Rocking

2008-12-06T13:37:00.001-08:00

The strange sleeping arrangements continue.

Trick Rider

2008-11-07T22:30:00.001-08:00

Yes, she is actually rocking on the horse. I imagine it is only a matter of time before she tries this on Molly.

New Headache Remedy

2008-10-27T19:19:00.000-07:00

I mentioned that I had a headache while I was making dinner. My three-year-old made the following diagnosis:

3YO: "Where in your head is it?"
Me: (I point to my temples and the top of my head)
3YO: "Maybe you could just reach in with your hand and pull it out."

The Moral of the Story (with a twist)

2008-10-17T14:46:00.000-07:00

Our three-year-old really likes a book called Soft Child. It is a Native American Folk Story about how the Rattlesnake got it's fangs. The moral of the story is "If you don't bother him, he won't bother you."

After a week of walking around reminding us of the moral of the story, we over heard him say to his older brother (in a very John-Wayne sounding voice), "You boddered me, so now I'm gonna bodder you."

Maybe you had to hear it to appreciate it, but Mr. Sleep-Deprived and myself had to restrain ourselves from laughing out loud.

Puppy Love

2008-09-22T13:45:00.000-07:00

Water Girl

2008-09-13T23:34:00.000-07:00

This child is going to keep me on my toes!

Can't a Girl Get Some Sleep Around Here? (Take 2)

2008-08-30T12:22:00.000-07:00

Apparently like the rest of us, she's still tired.

The Sucky Store

2008-08-25T16:05:00.000-07:00

I was out with our almost 3-year-old for his "special day" (a day that I only go with one child). After throwing pennies in the fountain, eating lunch, playing in the play area, and buying a sucker at the candy shop, we walked to the coffee shop (for me). On the way, my son enjoyed his sucker. In the elevator, he showed it to another person and proudly announced, "I got a sucker!" Playing along, she said, "oh, I'd like a sucker, where did you get it?" To which he replied, "at the sucky store."

I didn't expect this from the GIRL ...

2008-08-20T21:20:00.001-07:00

...and to top it off, she's thrilled about it.

Welcome Miss Molly

2008-08-19T10:40:00.000-07:00

Not only did our oldest ride Molly everyday last week, he also cleaned and oiled his saddle, swept the hay out of Grandma's truck, and cleaned out Molly's pen each evening. By the end of the week, he was also able to mount and dismount unassisted, and ride well solo at the walk and trot.

More photos coming soon - a few special ones of each of the kids on Molly, and one suprise.

Is Jupiter Moving?

2008-07-28T09:57:00.000-07:00

In another act of extraordinary spontaneity, we took the kids (at the suggestion of Mr. Sleep-Deprived) to the Devil's Punchbowl, to view the Aquarid Meteor Shower. The park is very scenic (note the family photo), with a nice short nature trail for little ones, a wonderful small recreation room with live (caged) snakes, a real beehive, scorpion, velvet ant, and ironclad beetle. Outside there are also three live owls (two great-horned owls, one barn owl).

The meteor shower started around 9 pm. We were able to see Jupiter (gas clouds clearly visible) and three of its moons through an 11 inch telescope set up for viewing.

After seeing the first two meteors, our 6-year-old noticed that Jupiter's position was different and asked, "is Jupiter moving?" I responded that we were actually moving (because of the earth's rotation) and that was what was making it seem like Jupiter was moving across the sky. He responded with a very sincere and convincing, "OH, I GET IT!" Both Mr. Sleep-Deprived and I were quite impressed with his "a-ha" moment, until we saw him running from one spot to another noticing how its position was changing. I guess that would be a lesson in perspective.

It was a fun evening, and for being out so late past bedtime, it was well worth it. Kudos to Mr. Sleep-Deprived for scouting out the location and event.

Good Golly, Miss Molly's Comin' to California!

2008-07-12T22:58:00.000-07:00

It's a good thing the kids have been brushing up on their riding skills, because we finally found a pony and her name is Molly. I'm SURE there will be photos once she arrives!

Family Photo

2008-06-22T21:20:00.000-07:00

In an act of extraordinary spontaneity on my part, we all headed to a picnic site in the Angeles National Forest for an early dinner at the suggestion of Mr. Sleep-Deprived (who also gets credit for packing all the stuff for the outing). It's not a perfect picture, but not bad for a camera on a tripod. I still haven't figured out how to get a one-year-old to smile at a tripod and flashing camera light. Of course even if Ms. Dimples had cooperated, our 4-year-old seems bent on goofing around (note the horse shoes), and our 2 1/2-year-old has his usual "canned-smile" that really isn't a good look for him. But hey, we're all there and accounted for - and I don't look particularly sleep-deprived!!!

The Gift That Keeps On Giving

2008-06-21T11:42:00.001-07:00

One of the fringe-benefits of having four children is a gratifying sense that toys really earn their keep. In this instance, it is a gift from Grammy and Papa that has worn so well. The funny thing is that 3 out 4 of our kids (right about age one) have used it as a seat, when it is actually a table/busy box. Only our third-born (noticeably absent from all these photos) didn't sit in the table, but it may have been the chaos of our home addition that distracted him from the opportunity.

Where's Spucci?

2008-06-17T23:12:00.000-07:00

At dinner tonight I was talking with the boys about the discovery of the New World and introducing them to Christopher Columbus and Amerigo Vespucci. A little later our 2 1/2-year old was doing some exploring of his own around the house asking "Where's Spucci?" (aka Vespucci).

Little Drummer Boy ... and Boy and Boy and Girl

2008-06-08T22:03:00.001-07:00

A "Three Bunk Bed"

2008-05-26T22:35:00.001-07:00

Maybe this is why our four-year-old (the bottom of the pile) has been asking when he gets to be in the top bunk.

"I Like Doing the Dirty Work"

2008-05-19T19:22:00.000-07:00

...said our 4-year-old in the midst of shoveling...

And I believe him. I think it runs in the family.

See No Evil?

2008-05-03T00:46:00.001-07:00

"If I were just a LITTLE taller"

2008-04-22T11:08:00.000-07:00

3 out 4 Kids Are Sprouting New Teeth

2008-04-09T11:14:00.000-07:00

It was no surprise that our 10 month old was teething... her lower incisors are coming in (she sprouted her four top front teeth all at the same time).

A couple weeks ago our almost 6 year old was complaining about his tooth while eating an apple. I took a closer look and noticed that his permanent tooth has already poked through the skin, and the baby tooth is a loose.

This morning brushing teeth I noticed that our 2 1/2 year old has his second set of molars poking through.

Considering all these eruptions, I'm surprised there hasn't been MORE whining going on around here.

How Time Flies

2008-04-06T23:44:00.000-07:00

Amazing how quickly time flies. The top photo was taken five years ago (when our oldest son was our only child) when the poppies were in full bloom at my parents' house. The bottom photo was taken this year - my oldest (pictured in the first photo) is almost 6 years old, and our youngest is just 6 weeks shy of a year.

It Reads Like a Headline...

2008-03-23T22:22:00.001-07:00

Our son was having some fun with the magnet letters when he came up with this little ditty.

For the record, Said dog is guilty as charged.

Only In The Car....

2008-03-21T09:43:00.000-07:00

Why is it that the only time everyone naps at the same time is in the car, when Mom can't lay down and take a nap too? When we pulled into the garage and I started unloading the van following our Zoo-outing, I saw this sight. Oh to be able to join them for a few minutes of snooze-time...

Look at all those EYES!!!

2008-03-19T22:37:00.000-07:00

Another zoo-observation from our four-year-old.

Look, He's Smiling

2008-03-18T21:46:00.000-07:00

...or so thought our four-year-old.

Perspectives of a Homeschooled Child

2008-03-15T21:41:00.000-07:00

Tonight my husband tried to show our 5 1/2-year-old the constellation Leo on National Geographic's Star Planetarium. Things did not go as he expected.

Dad: "You see, it's called 'Leo' because it looks like a lion."
Son: "No it doesn't, it looks like a trapezoid."

Follow the link and you might agree.

Safety First

2008-03-09T21:10:00.000-07:00

What happened next?

2008-02-24T22:45:00.000-08:00

There's not a picture of it, but APPARENTLY that mud was VERY slippery, and on the next shovel, our four-year-old went into the water head-first. I was reassured by his Uncle that our son had put his swimming lessons to good use. (Don't worry, Grandma, Uncle and Auntie were all there with them, and he was quickly rescued from the cold water). Why the large clothes? I was still up at the house getting a little extra sleep after a rough night and none of Grandma, Daddy, Uncle or Auntie knew where the kids' jackets were, so they improvised with some of Grandma's clothes.

By the way,that is the waterdog Taz himself taking a dip, no suprise there.

Remembering Grampa

2008-02-19T21:38:00.001-08:00

In Loving Memory of Grampa

2008-02-17T21:14:00.000-08:00

We all received very sad news two weeks ago Sunday; my dad passed away unexpectedly. This photo was the last photo taken of my dad. I was packing our van the week after Christmas and our two-year-old brought a book to him and said, "you read this book to me?" Then he climbed on his lap without waiting for an answer. Shortly thereafter the other boys climbed up too. I am so grateful my mom took this photo. That he will be missed doesn't even begin to describe it.

4-year-old sense of humor

2008-01-30T23:41:00.000-08:00

4YO: "Mom, do you remember when we got a flat tire and you called triple-A?"

Me: (hmm let me think - full load of stuff from Target plus four kids ages five and under -all hungry for dinner) "yes, I remember."

4YO: "You thought triple-A was going to come to change your tire, but double-A came instead." (snickers heard in the background)

Can I get that in writing?

2008-01-19T13:21:00.001-08:00

On the way home from swim last week our 5 1/2-year-old said from the backseat, "Mom, I'm not going to drive until I'm 30."

My response after laughing for several minutes, "Can I get that in writing?"

(I may actually ask him to write it out for me and date it, just so I can kid him about it when he's getting close to 16).

Mr. Sleep-Deprived

2008-01-13T23:13:00.000-08:00

Can you see the family resemblance?

Anyone for a pony ride?

2008-01-05T22:07:00.000-08:00

And I thought three was a crowd.

Who wants to be a shoe?

2008-01-03T09:31:00.000-08:00

A playful conversation between our almost 4-year-old and our 2-year-old:

4YO: "Who wants to be a shoe?!"
2YO: "Not me!"
4YO: "But you can step on people and make them flat!"

Ms. Dimples' First Christmas

2008-01-01T12:56:00.000-08:00

Here's Ms. Dimples, now 7 months old on her very first Christmas morning. With her is Dolly, made by Grandma - wearing Ms. Dimples' own "coming home outfit."

Can a girl get some sleep around here?

2007-12-21T00:12:00.000-08:00

News Flash: Junk Food Is Yummy!

2007-12-19T13:20:00.000-08:00

Today while making lunch I had this conversation with our two-year-old:

2YO: "Is pear good for you?"
Me: "Yes, pear is good for you."
2YO: "Is chocolate good for you?"
Me: "No, chocolate is junk food."
2YO: "Junk food is yummy."

Favorite Attraction at the San Diego Zoo

2007-12-17T10:00:00.000-08:00

I might have expected his answer from the adults in the group, but I was very surprised when our 5 1/2-year-old recalled the foot massager as his favorite thing at the World Famous San Diego Zoo.

Have Pillow Will Sleep - Part II

2007-12-15T16:39:00.000-08:00

This kid can apparently sleep anywhere!!!!

For further evidence, see here.

Tool Time Flashback

2007-12-14T10:45:00.001-08:00

Do you remember the 90s TV show Home Improvement? I had a big flashback to the well-intentioned, yet accident-prone Tim the Toolman Taylor as our 3-year-old recently made his way around the house "fixing things". Look closely at his toolbelt and tell me that OSHA isn't already on it's way to shut down this worksite.

Strange looking camels

2007-12-12T16:35:00.000-08:00

After a couple hours walking around the San Diego Zoo, I let the boys know we were getting close to the camels. As we approached, our five-year-old said, "well those are sure strange looking camels..."

I was looking at the camels, and didn't quite understand what he was talking about until I realized he was looking at these in the adjacent enclosure.

Where does your strength come from?

2007-12-11T16:56:00.000-08:00

We were at a restaurant having dinner when our oldest complained he was getting tired. I rather facetiously suggested that he should forego playing his Gameboy the following day (during his brothers' naps) and instead take a nap. His response: "My Gameboy gives me strength."

"You're a BOOK!"

2007-12-10T11:04:00.000-08:00

The boys were watching Milo and Otis. During a scene with Milo, Otis and a snake our two-year-old announced, "I'm a cat!"

Asked about his 5-year-old brother, he said,"you're a DOG!"
About his almost 4-year-old brother, "you're a NAKE (snake)!"
Then his dad said, "what am I?" He thought for a moment and proudly announced, "you're a BOOK!"
Finally, "what about mom?" Again he thought, and with a grin announced, "you're a VAN!"

Pretty descriptive, considering how often he sees his dad reading, and me driving everyone around!

"Bad Guy Finder"

2007-12-07T19:21:00.000-08:00

We just got home from a last-minute family vacation to San Diego. One of the first things we did was tour the USS Midway (conveniently located across from our hotel). While on the flight deck we passed a telescope (clearly placed for tourist purposes to view the surroundings), and our five-year-old asked his dad, "Did the good guys used to use that to find the bad guys?"

"I'm going to the hospital"

2007-11-19T09:02:00.001-08:00

Our two-year-old just walked by me this morning and said, "I'm going to the hospital." When I asked why, he said, "I'm going to the hospital for a baby." I asked if he was going for a boy or girl, and he said girl. He then resolutely walked to our bedroom, picked up an imaginary baby and proudly carried it back to his own room saying, "I got a baby girl!"

Oh, if only it were that easy!

"I'm not a DUDE!"

2007-11-09T10:12:00.000-08:00

Conversation overheard between our 2-year-old and 3 1/2-year old sons:

2YO (driving chubby cars across the couch) "Hey Dude"
3YO "I'm not a DUDE!"
2YO "Move Dude"
3YO "I'm not a DUDE...I'm your friend!"

My Pillow Popped!!!

2007-10-25T23:25:00.000-07:00

Our two-year-old was very concerned when he saw me holding his freshly laundered pillowcase. He whined, "my pillow popped...my pillow popped!" He was so relieved when I replaced it on his pillow and it returned to full size.

It's a BOY...and a GIRL...and a BOY..and....

2007-10-20T23:48:00.000-07:00

We've been looking at a lot of insects lately (spiders included). Six weeks ago, my husband caught a large grasshopper in the evening. By morning, much to our surprise it laid a BUNCH of eggs. I thought it would be great for the boys to see the lifecycle, until I figured out that they weren't due to hatch until spring. Either it was a different type of grasshopper than I looked up, or the living conditions caused an early hatch, but imagine my surprise as I was washing some dishes in the kitchen and kept seeing a little green thing jumping. I thought maybe a baby cricket had found its way into the sink, but on closer inspection it was definitely a grasshopper...make that about a HUNDRED grasshoppers (no longer contained in their container!). The top photo is of the eggs right after they were laid, and before I covered them with dirt; middle is the hatch; and last is a group of the little buggers on my washcloth rack (before we escorted them outside).

Now THAT'S thinkin'

2007-10-18T22:37:00.000-07:00

We just got pneumatic chairs for the kids' table in my office so they wouldn't need to sit on their knees or use a booster. Everything is great about the chairs except our 2-year-old can't climb onto or off of the chair unassisted when it is at table height. The other day I was in the kitchen and he was asking for help getting off. I told him I couldn't get there right away, so he would have to wait a few minutes.

When I finally got over to the office to help him, I found our 5-year-old had already devised a solution to the problem. He and our 3 1/2-year-old climbed up on the chair with our 2-year-old, and their combined weight was enough to lower the chair so our youngest could get off by himself. And not only does it work, it's fun!

The whole world at their fingertips

2007-10-12T18:32:00.000-07:00

3 1/2-year-old to his brother, "Let's go to China to get more chocolate."
5-year-old responds matter-of-factly, "Actually we need to go to Mexico for that."

Where do they get this stuff? We recently bought a globe and it has added a great dimension to our conversations, for instance, how toys made in China get to our homes; about where cacao plants grow (that question arose while reading Charlie and the Chocolate Factory). It is encouraging to think that the boys accurately incorporate what they've learned into their playtime.

Should I oval it?

2007-10-11T11:09:00.000-07:00

I am accustomed to my kids taking things literally, but I've come across an instruction that is REALLY starting to annoy me. In one of our son's books, rather than writing out the instruction "circle it" it gives the instruction with a picture of an oval + "it". The first time my son read it he said, "so I oval it?" Good question. Why not be accurate and print a circle + "it". Well, the problem is that you often can't "circle" some things, you really do have to "oval" them, but we don't say "oval it" we say "circle it".

I can say that in the first three and a half decades of my life, I never noticed the difference, or had a problem "circling" something in the shape of an oval, but now every time I ask my son to "circle" something, I find my self wanting to say "well, you may have to oval it."

Snails in the house...

2007-10-08T13:30:00.000-07:00

...or so they tell me.

Rules of Engagement

2007-10-05T23:27:00.000-07:00

"You can't shoot my knees because I have bass drums on my knee-caps," said our 3-1/2-year-old to his 5-year-old brother.

Double Trouble

2007-09-18T18:16:00.001-07:00

I can hardly tell where one ends and the other begins...

Need go pee

2007-09-01T20:20:00.001-07:00

I don't think our almost-two-year-old quite "gets it" yet, but he'd be ahead of the game if potty-training only involved the lifting of one's shirt!

You Wanna Kiss My Bug??

2007-09-01T20:07:00.000-07:00

I'm not really sure what was going through our almost-two-year-old's mind here. I looked over at the table and he was planting big kisses on the pictures of these bugs. Maybe it was inspired by our recent bug-observing (we've captured and watched a few ants, a stink bug, a spider and a cricket). Whatever the case - "ewwww!"

No one laughed

2007-08-05T20:19:00.000-07:00

I wish I had a photo of this one. My husband likes to make us all laugh by pulling the waistband of his shorts up as high as it will go (yes, I admit that after 12 years I still chuckle). Yesterday was no exception, when apparently he hiked them up when they were all outside playing. Last night when the boys were getting ready for bed, one of our sons hiked his pull-up as high as it would go - and then he asked his dad, "why did you pull your shorts up like that?" and Dad answered, "because it was funny." Our son responded dead-pan, "No one laughed."

Do you wanna see my BIG MOUTH?!?

2007-07-28T00:29:00.000-07:00

Dogpile on Daddy

2007-07-19T21:30:00.000-07:00

Alligators and Hippos

2007-07-04T08:13:00.000-07:00

The boys were watching a video about different kinds of animals. My husband has fun identifying the animals incorrectly and then the boys correct him. After calling a hippo an alligator, he asked our 5-year-old what the difference was between the two. Our son's answer, "well, they both like water...but they have different names."

I guess we need to work on the mammal/reptile distinction.

Cease-fire

2007-07-03T08:11:00.001-07:00

A request made by our 3 1/2-year-old to our 5-year-old while riding around in the back of the van:

"Please stop shooting me, my gun is resting."

Toys on the other side of the Earth

2007-06-22T22:14:00.000-07:00

Every night before bed, our five-year-old goes into the bathroom to take care of business. We often have to call in and ask if he's done. One night last week he was in there for a particularly long time. My husband asked him why he didn't let us know when he was done. Our son said, "I got distracted, I was thinking." Curious, my husband asked what he was thinking about. The answer: "I was thinking about toys on the other side of the earth."

Go figure.

Ms. Dimples

2007-06-20T18:56:00.000-07:00

Ms. Dimples is four weeks old today. I was so pleased to capture this picture of her smiling with her eyes open.

The Princess has arrived!

2007-06-06T23:19:00.000-07:00

On May 23rd we welcomed our newest addition to the family. Here she is being adored by her big brothers :)

A Better Translation

2007-05-22T23:27:00.000-07:00

It's been a busy few weeks preparing for the arrival of baby #4 - she's making her grand entrance tomorrow morning. One afternoon the boys were a bit more wound up than usual, and I commented about putting on a video to help them un-wind. A little later our five year old asked, "can you put on a video to help 'unwild' us?"

I think he captured the essence of the moment better than I did.

Easter Update

2007-05-04T09:27:00.000-07:00

I just realized that after all the complaining I did last Easter about getting a family photo, I should probably post this photo of everyone cooperating (with the camera on a tripod) this year. These whole-group-shots are so few and far between!

Gearing up for the baby sister

2007-05-01T20:56:00.000-07:00

A couple weekends ago a girlfriend threw my first baby shower. It's a little different having a shower for your FOURTH baby - but it was actually a lot of fun considering this is our first little girl. When I came home from the shower I was greeted by all my boys who were very interested in all the gifts. Our three-year-old asked which ones were for him :)

At first they were having fun just looking at the clothes. That quickly progressed to actually trying on the clothes. I'm sure someday these photos will be the source of great embarrassment, but for the present it was just a lot of fun.