Watch Out!

"Dad, you'll never believe what Skyler [boy on the bus] said. He said, watch out! All the girls like you."

Gave Wayne and I a giggle. :)

A lesson on the Amish

Yesterday, Tyler and Wayne were watching a show about Alaskan bush pilots, Flying Wild: Alaska. (Grandpa Norm might want to check this one out).

Anyway, while watching some of the harsh conditions that a village faces in the winter, Wayne asked if Tyler would want to live in a place that was so cold so much of the year.

Tyler said, "No way. Especially if I was Amish."

Wayne replied, "Yeah, because they couldn't drive in heated cars to get around..."

Tyler quickly chimed in, "And their feet with be so cold with NO SHOES!"

So we had a little lesson on what the Amish do without (and the fact that they do, in fact, wear shoes). :)

weirdos

Tonight on our way home, I asked Tyler whether he'd like to drive around and look at Christmas lights. He said he would like to. Then asked if we were going to buy Christmas lights. I said that we were just going to drive around and look at lights.

After a few minutes he said, "won't it be weird if we just drive around and don't buy anything?"
I told him I didn't think so.

A few minutes later he said, "won't other people think we're weirdos if they see us just driving around looking at lights?"

How'd she know?

The bank teller gave Tyler a green balloon and as we drove away, I asked,

"How did she know that green is your favorite color?"

Tyler (with sincere excitement): "Yeah! And how did she know last time that yellow is my third favorite color?!"

Tom & Jerry

Tyler: "If we have any more kids, let's name it Jerry."

Wayne: "Why?"

Tyler: "Because if we have Tom, we don't want him to be like Tom Riddle."

Wayne: "Who's Tom Riddle?"

Tyler (in a matter of fact tone): "Voldemort."

Well of course. Wouldn't you consider a cat, mouse and wizard in deciding appropriate baby names? :)

the truth

Me: "How does watermelon sound tonight?"
Tyler: "Good. I loooove watermelon. But I can't eat a black seed because a watermelon will grow in my stomach if I do."
Me: "Watermelons don't grow in your stomach if you eat seeds. Who told you that?"
Tyler: "My friends. Why did they tell me that if it's not true?"
Me: "Well, maybe someone told them that and they believed it and told you. Sometimes adults tell kids things like that, just for fun. But, you can eat the seeds and nothing will happen."
Tyler: "What other things like that do adults tell kids?"
Me: "Well, my Grandma used to tell me to be careful if I crossed my eyes, because they might stay that way. Isn't that silly?"
Tyler: (Laughing) "Yes! What other silly things do adults tell kids?"
Me: (With Tyler's prompts for MORE after being told each one) "Hmmm, well, if you swallow gum it'll stay in your body for seven years. ...or if you drink the foam off of a root beer float it'll make you stronger, ...or if you drink caffeine it'll stunt your growth."
Tyler: (Looong pause, thinking for awhile, then laughing) "Oh, I bewieved that foam diiiid make you stronger."

Just wanted to let you family and friends know that the gig is up. I spilled the beans. :)

disaster?

While the boys were out of town, I spent a little too long watching HGTV one day. I watched with increasing anxiety, realizing that there were far too many home improvement projects that I just had to tackle immediately. I became completely exhausted at the mere idea of all the things I'd like to do. So, I did what any reasonable person would do. I changed the channel.

However, I decided that there is one inexpensive project that I'd like to tackle. I, perhaps ridiculously, decided to paint all of our worn and dated trim a bright white. Now, as I intend to carry on with the daily duties of life as I tackle this project, it may take weeks...months...hopefully not years.

Today, Tyler helped me to apply the first coat of primer in a bathroom. He was a diligent little helper, and took his job very seriously. This evening, he inspected our work and asked me what I thought about it. I (of course taking into account that it was only the first coat of primer) said that I thought it looked good. I asked what he thought.

He said thoughtfully, "I think it looks like a big disaster."

Oh dear. We'll see what he thinks in the morning when he can inspect the two coats of paint that I applied while he slept.

This might be great...or a big disaster. ;)

Remember

Last night while we were eating dessert:

Tyler: "A man's gotta remember what a man's gotta remember."

Me: "Oh yeah? What does a man have to remember?"

Tyler: (Paused to think, then held up his fingers to indicate each number)
"Number one, never chew with your mouth open.
Number two, be nice to your wife.
Number three, take care of your kids."

Not sure whether this is in order of priority, but they all sound good to me. :)

34 years

"I can't believe you and Daddy survived for 34 years. Do you think you'll stay alive for another year?"

:)

Soooo pretty

This week, Tyler was watching TV, and there was a kiddie music video on by Miranda Cosgrove.

He was watching and exclaimed, "she is so pretty, Mommy. She is even prettier than you. She is just so pretty. She wins the Guinness World Record for being pretty."

:)

Little Ty Man

Last evening, Tyler had been trying my patience. When it was time for his shower, I told him, "Tyler, it's time for your shower. No yelling in the hallway, and I don't want to hear any lip."

I heard him making smooching sounds and then he said, "I'm going to do this all day."

What a squirt! He gave me a good laugh, which I needed.

Tyler remembers Olive

Tyler continues to talk about little Olive and occasionally cries for her. He talks about how cute she was. The night that Lynette wrote about, Tyler also talked about God bringing Jesus back to life. The next day, he told me, "I prayed that God would give Olive another life in this world."

He's also asked me lots of questions.

"Are there robbers there?" "Are there bullies?" (I think he worries whether she will be safe)
"What if Olive dies in her second life?" (And worrying whether she will suffer again)
"Is she a baby angel or is she an adult?"
"Where is heaven? Is it higher than outer space. I think it is."
"Will Aubrey die?" (When someone dies, it also reminds me of our mortality and of those around us)

I must admit, I have never even considered some of his questions, but it has made me think a lot more about heaven...and realize how little I understand or know. I don't know all the answers, and I'm not sure I'm giving him the right answers. Because, how do I really know? But, I'm glad he's asking, and thinking out loud. And making me think.

The other day, he said,

"Mommy, I'm still sad that Olive died...but I'm not as sad as I was before. Do you know why? Because I know I'll see her again some day in heaven."

They're back

The boys made it home safely on Tuesday night.

I told Tyler I had seen a picture of him holding baby Jillian.

He said, "I held her more than one time. I had lots of practice for holding my new sister."

He paused, as though it had dawned on him, "I forgot...you're pregnant!"
Silly.

He also, apparently, bonded with his Daddy on this trip. The other night, I hollered at Wayne to come upstairs.

Tyler looked at me and said, "Don't yell at Daddy. That's my Daddy. Be nice to him. He is the best Daddy in the whole United States of America." :)

They had a great time. I am thankful that they could join in this special family time! And I'm also happy to hear that Jillian (and her parents) continue to do very well.

Lovey

A few times, when putting Tyler to bed, he has said,

"Mommy, you are so precious. I love you more than any person in the whoooooole world."

A few nights ago, he suddenly looked worried, and followed up with,

"What if some day, I meet someone that I love more than you? Will you be sad?"


Stinker. I love him so much too. :)

Halloween 2009

Double click for a larger view. Tyler saw this collage. He said, pointing at the pictures of him wearing the white wig, "don't ever show those pictures to anyone, not ever." I just love his "scary" faces, though.

Tyler woke up yesterday, after weeks of anticipating Halloween, and said excitedly, "today we can be really creepy." We made "creepy food" to celebrate.

Tyler (Darth) and his friend, Oliver, (football player) enjoyed trick-or-treating together last night.

Girlfriend

Tyler, "I wish Lilly was my girlfriend."
Me, "Do you know what a girlfriend is?"
Tyler, "No."
Me, "Do you know how you get a girl to be your girlfriend?"
Tyler, "No."
Me, "So, if you don't know what a girlfriend is, or how to get one, how do you know you want her to be your girlfriend?"
Tyler, "I don't know...how?"
Me, "I think that's a good question to ask your Dad."

Yikes. Why do I ask those questions?!

The force

The other night, we were brushing Tyler's teeth. Apparently he didn't like something, because he made this motion to me. (This is a re-enactment). :)

He laughingly explained, "I'm using The Force!"

School is not about fashion

Tyler tonight:


Tyler: "School is not about fashion."

Me: "School is not about fashion?"

Tyler: "Yes, school is not about fashion. It doesn't matter what you wear. School is about learning and taking turns."

Me: "Where did you hear that? TV...school?"

Tyler: "No, I just thought about it."

************

So, later I just had to follow up...

Me: "Tyler, what is fashion?"

Tyler: "Hmmm... Let me explain it.
It's clothes that are pretty...and stylish."

Me: "Are you sure you didn't hear that somewhere?"

Tyler: "I think Ms. Juli my teacher said that...I'm not sure, it could be my imagination."


Yeah...I'm pretty sure Ms. Juli said that. :)

Conversations with Tyler

Today on the way to preschool:

"Ms. Juli is pretty bossy." (Ms. Juli is his teacher)
Wayne asked, "well, why do you think Ms. Juli is pretty bossy?
He replied, "well...she kind of acts like she's in charge of the whole school."

Ha! I just hope he doesn't tell her that. :)

*********************************************************
Tonight, out of the blue, Tyler asked,
"What is Mennonite?"

This led to a brief discussion, with many questions, of anabaptism and pacifism.

And just now, after his shower:
"What is Mennonite, and why is it Superman's only weakness?"

Ahh... :)

cookie

Today while waiting for me to pick him up for preschool, Tyler was chatting with his teacher.
She told him that he is a "smart cookie."
He responded, "I'm a walking chocolate chip."

Random! :)