Insane

We were talking about bad words and why we aren't supposed to say them, at dinner tonight. Jared said, "Yeah. It is called taking the Lord's name insane!"

Ellis Do Know

This morning I had ABBA's Fernando stuck in my head. When Ellis was nearby I sang out "Ellisnando!" to the tune of the song. He immediately retorted, "I DO know!"

Down and Out

Jared and Mia need to take showers each school morning. Jared is almost always awake when it's time for showers. Mia hardly ever is. She's very sluggish in the morning and likes her sleep. Fortunately, Jared is often willing to take the first shower. However, when he doesn't want to, in fairness, we force Mia out of bed.

This morning Jared declined the first shower, so I started poking and prodding Mia to get down from the bunk bed where she sleeps. She was just coming down the ladder when Jared changed his mind and announced he would take the first shower.

Mia, unwilling to waste even the slightest bit of energy beyond that which is required, decided to make herself comfortable and rest on the spot--in the middle of the ladder.

Famous

On the way home from Grandma Laura's house today, we were talking about different qualities the kids had.

When we got home, Mia said, "I am really good at bossing people around and tattling."

I said, "Tattling is kind of wearing on a mom..."

Jared said, "Tattling is what most first and second graders are famous for!"

Crazy Mom

Our family likes to watch America's Funniest Videos on Sunday evening. On Sunday we were watching and there was a commercial for a Sitcom or something. In the commercial, the mom didn't like the way the son's girlfriend was treating her son so she jumped across the table and started fighting with the girlfriend.

Seth asked Jared if he thought his mom would do that if he kept driving her crazy. Jared was giggling about it.

A few seconds later, Gordon said, "Don't do that to me, OK Mom?" He kept saying it until I assured him that I wouldn't climb across the table and start a fight with him.

Surprise!

Our kids have their first (friend) birthday party when they turn 5. Seth and I were planning activities for Gordon's party (which will be in just a few short weeks!) and I asked Gordon who he would like to invite.

Gordon said, "It is a secret."

I said, "A Secret?"

Gordon said, "Yes. I want to have a surprise party."

Grown-Up Talk

Today at the dinner table I recited some of the words to Tim McGraw's Angry All the Time to the kids at a rapid and monotonous pace, for no particular reason except that it was on my mind and I like to do strange things. At the completion of this poetic rambling most of the kids simply stared at me with a deer-in-the-headlights look, but Jared (thinking he had it figured out) asked, "Daddy, was that grown-up talk?"