O., N. and L. speak

 An overdue account of some moments I've been jotting down for the last few months.

 Hunting Bears

At bedtime, L. often chooses “We’re Going on a Bear Hunt” for us to read.  When we get to the part ‘We can’t go over it, we can’t go under it, we’ve got to go through it," he has some opinions to share about that:

“Yes, they can go over it! Jet Pack, duh!” he says. “You can so go frew it!  Just dig. You can go under water.  Put your goggles and swimming fings on.”

“We’re not scared!”  I read.

“Yes, they are scared.  Because it’s bears, you know,” he says.

 “We’re not going on a bear hunt again,” I conclude. 

“Yes, they will. Because we’ll read it tomorrow again, right?"

Over It

One weekend in the fall we were planning a trip to Kings Island and I mentioned that they were hosting a Halloween festival event in one portion of the park.  O. had some thoughts about that. “Well, we’re not going to go over there.  Because it will just be tables with crafts and stuff.  So, like there will be pumpkins and some glitter or something.  Meanwhile, there’s the best theme park in the world, with awesome rides!  Geez.”

Cemeteries

Driving to Tae Kwon Do, we pass an old cemetery.  O. must have noticed this each time and had some thoughts about it.

O. "Isn't it weird to think about people being buried in the ground?  I mean, what if you died with your mouth open, and then it got filled up with dirt.  Then if you were just, say, planting flowers in the graveyard, you could actually be digging into someone's throat!"

Me:  "Well, you know they don't just put the person in the ground.  They bury them in a box."

N:  "Yeah, you know.  Like that big pretty one that Great Grandma was in at her funeral."  It's made of like metal. And sometimes really important people get that whole house thing at a cemetery for them."

O:  "Yeah, I bet that for rich people and famous people and stuff, they get boxes made of gold and stuff.  But if you're a robber or something, you don't get anything.  Maybe just wood.  And that guy that killed Abraham Lincoln?  I bet he didn't get anything."

Interesting 

O.:  "I don't think I like people who don’t have kids."

Me:  "Oh really?  Why not?"

O. "Well, for one thing, I wouldn't want to hang around them, because they wouldn't have anybody for me to play with.  But also, if they don't have kids, well, that's the end of their family.  For all these years, that family has been going on and on.  And then they don't have kids.  Boom.  That family is done."

A Little Young to be Realizing This 

Liam:  Is this maple syrup on these pancakes?

Me:  Oh, no, I forgot to get the maple syrup out of the fridge for you.  That’s just regular syrup.  I’m sorry, buddy.

Liam:  That’s otay.  Stuff happens.

The Expert

Me:  How do you know that?

Liam:  I read it in a book.

We're Always Pretending Something

Me:  Oh no, Batman!  That lion is attacking!

L:  It’s otay.  I have a gun!  I will shoot him.

Me:  And our truck is all broken up because he has attacked it.

L:  I will simply fix it.  I am good at fixing things.

Every Other Second, It Seems 

L: Do you want to pay yegos with me?

Model Student 

L:  "I am the only one at stool that pays attention.  Everyone else cannot sit still on the carpet  They are always laying down, but I am always listening.  Just saying."

Awww 

L:  "I love Nora.  Nora calls me Squirt.  You can’t call me Squirt."

Bedtime Farewell 

Me: You’re the best. (I say it to them all.  Promise)

L:  You’re the best mom.  (He's the only one that replies.)

It's Always Snacktime

L:  I’m hungry.

Me:  Ok, what would you like?

L:  Just anyting.

Me:  Well, I want to pick something you’re going to eat.

L:  Just pick whatever you fink. 

Me:  Okay, here’s a box of raisins.

L:  Not so much.

The Conversation Jar

We have a jar full of questions/conversation starters that I printed out.  The kids (usually N.) always remember to bring it to the table and take turns pulling topics out.

Who in your family do you act most like?

O:  Dad.  Because I fart all the time.  And I laugh at myself because I think I'm funny.

Name someone you would like to go back in time to meet.

N:  Mom, I would like to go back and meet your grandpa.  Because I never knew him.  And I know you and Great Grandma loved him and I didn't get to know him.  I'd also like to meet your great grandma.

Me:  Oh, sweetheart, my grandpa would have loved you so much.  He liked little girls so much.  He would let you sit on his lap and mess up his hair and call you brown eyes.  And O., he would call you and L. rough necks.  And my great grandma that I knew?  She was such a sweet lady.  She loved nature and animals and was really good at arranging flowers. And she always had candy at her house."

O.:  Well, then I would like to meet her, because she liked nature.  But I'd also like to meet the guy that invented bacon.  Because who looked at a pig's butt and said 'I gotta have some of that!'"

L:  I would like to meet myself.  Because I like me the best.