Shoes and Feet

Jonathan (2 years, 7 months)

Today the boys went with Daddy and Grandpa to the recycling center to drop off our cans and bottles. (They get to keep the $ for their piggy banks.) When they got there they realized that Jonathan didn't have any shoes on (he's our absentminded one!) and because there was broken glass on the ground it wasn't safe to walk barefoot. So Daniel said, "Boozie, Daddy has to carry you because you don't have any shoes." and Jonathan replied, "Yeah, I don't have any shoes, I only have feet."

It makes me just want to squeeze him!

Waiting and Waiting and Waiting

Aden (4 years, 1 month)

Yesterday Daniel went to "Great Grandma's" house to mow her lawn. Aden normally goes along and helps out (which is one of the highlights of his week!) but yesterday he had to stay home because he was recovering from strep throat. Daniel had been gone for a couple of hours when Aden said, "I'm just waiting and waiting and waiting for Daddy to get home. When he gets home I'm going to give him a hug and a kiss and tell him that I missed him."

It was sweet! He sure loves his Daddy!

And then tonight Aden, Jonathan and Daniel were out on the back porch "looking at the dark" with their new flashlights. Out of nowhere Aden said, "Daddy, I'm just waiting and waiting to go to Disneyland, Grandma and Grandpa Jesse's house, and my old house."

He really does miss California! He's been asking to "go to 'Conifornia'" since about week 2 of living here...back in July!

"Smatches"

Jonathan (2 years, 7 months)

Jonathan is big into comparing things these days. He likes to point out similarities between things by telling me that the two things "smatch" (match). His green shirt "smatches" the grass, his dump truck sticker "smatches" the picture of the dump truck in his favorite book, the bow in Sissy's hair "smatches" the bow in her doll's hair, etc. Yesterday while watching me give Elizabeth a bath he excitedly announced that her walrus bath toy "smatched" his new monster truck. And then he ran off to get it. When he returned he said, "Dis one has 'teef' (pointing to the walrus' tusks) and dis one has teef (pointing to El Toro Loco's horns)." Teeth, tusks, horns...they're all the same, right?! Anyway, I just love how he says "smatches"! It is so cute I don't plan on ever correcting him! =)

Straight Juice

Aden (3 years, 10 months)

Aden: "Mommy, may I have some apple juice? And I don't want any water in it this time."

Mommy: "Oh, you want straight juice?"

Aden: "No Mommy! I want APPLE juice!"

Ha! So cute!

Well, I guess the days of secretly diluting their juice are over. They're on to me!

I'm So Lucky!

Jonathan (2 years, 5 months)

The neighbors have a Chihuahua named Lucky.

A couple of months ago we were sitting at the dinner table and Jonathan was being his cute, lovable self. He was saying "Thank you Mommy for my dinner!" over and over again in the sweetest, most sincere voice and it made me realize how blessed I am to be his Mommy...he is so precious and I get to spend this time with him, loving on him, caring for him, and watching him grow and learn. I get to, day in and day out, experience the joy he brings to our family, etc....so I said, "Jonathan, I am so lucky!" to which he promptly responded, "And I am so kitty!'

We were all momentarily confused by his comment and then all at once my mom and I burst out laughing. His line of thinking: "Well, Lucky is a doggy. If silly Mommy wants to say she's a doggy then I'll be silly too and say that I am a kitty!"

It may be one of those "you had to be there" moments but it was hilarious! We laughed so hard we cried!

Guitars

Aden (3 years, 10 months)

Aden was looking at all of the Christmas photo cards that we had received this year and most of them were from friends in California. He saw the cards from the Dempseys and the Bates and started commenting on the instruments that Rick and Brenden played in the Cornerstone Worship band. He knew Rick played the keyboard but he pointed to Brenden and said, "What kind of 'katar' did he play, the bass 'katar' or the...the..." and I said, "Acoustic guitar. He played the acoustic guitar."

Later that day I overheard him say to Jonathan as they looked at the pictures, "And this is Uncle Bwrenden. He pways the "pooh stick" guitar.

So cute!

Bye Bye Dinosaur!

Jonathan (2 years, 2 months)

Great Grandma (Mary Jane) was leaving our house one afternoon and she said, "See ya later alligator!" The boys had never heard that expression before and certainly didn't know to respond with, "In a while crocodile!" So, Great Grandma explained it to them and then again said, "See ya later alligator!" Aden understood that it was just a fun way to say "goodbye" and promptly replied, "In a while crocodile!" Jonathan, who clearly did not "get it", shouted, "Bye Bye dinosaur!"

We all got a kick out of Jonathan's choice of creature given that Great Grandma is 85! Grandma was a good sport though and responded with something cute like, "Well, isn't that the truth!"

He's My Friend

Aden (4 years, 1 month)

Today Aden woke up from his nap before Jonathan did. He came out and sat quietly on the family room floor with a couple of books. After a while he turned to me and said, "Mommy, I want Jonathan to wake up frwom his nap. He's my frwend. I want to pway wif him."

They really are each other's best friend and constant companion. I'm so thankful for the bond they share.

So Literal!

Jonathan (2 years, 6 months)

We're in the process of potty training Jonathan and the other day Aden said, "Mommy, Jonathan went poo poo in his pants!" I let out a sigh and said, "Jonathan, did you go poo poo in your pants?" He said, "No Mommy, I didn't go poo poo in my pants!" (at which time I breathed a sigh of relief), and then he said, "I went poo poo in my UNDERpants!"

Kids are so literal!

F-F-Phonics

Aden (4 years, 1 month) and Jonathan (2 years, 6 months)

Today we focused on the letter "T" in our phonics lessons. I'd hold up an object or show a picture and the boys would say, "t-t-tape, t-t-tiger, t-t-toe, etc." but when I showed them a picture of a truck (which happened to be a dump truck) they both said, "t-t-dump truck" and then when I showed them a picture of a train they both said, "t-t-choo choo train". Clearly, we have some work to do!

Sweet Spirit

Jonathan Asher (2 years, 6 months)

The other night at dinner Jonathan was being his pleasant, joyful self and Daniel said, "Boozie, you have such a sweet spirit!" and I said, "Daddy's right, you do have a sweet spirit Boozie!" to which he replied, "Yeah, (pause) and I have monster trucks."

Spoken like a true car/truck fanatic!

Bird Song

Aden Thomas (4 years, 1 month)

Yesterday I sent Aden downstairs to pick up the mess of toys that he left scattered about the yard and a few minutes later I heard, "Mommy, Mommy, Mommy!" in a frantic voice. I thought surely he'd come across a centipede or something so I rushed down the stairs ready to grab the shovel (to kill the centipede with.) But when I got down there he led me to a dead bird that he found (the work of the neighbor's naughty cat, no doubt.) I grabbed the shovel, scooped up the bird and tossed it into the vacant field next to our house. Aden looked at me with tears in his eyes and said,

"It's just so sad that that birdie died. It's so sad because we'll never get to hear its song again."

His words were spoken with such sweet sincerity that I nearly cried with him!