Kid Conversation, It's all about perspective

 The end of the day.  Feeling desperate to get the 4-year old in pajamas, I opened the drawer and my innards crumpled in preparation for what was coming.  The only ones left were the new firetruck pajamas Toad refuses to even try on.  My will for an evening of peace and quiet overcomes me and I pull out the dreaded pjs, trying to distract him with conversation while I sneak them over his head.  He notices.

Toad: Mom! Not these ones!

me: Why not? You haven't even tried them on yet!  And, they're the only ones left!

Toad: I DON'T LIKE firetrucks!

me: How can you not like firetrucks?  They're basically like water-shooting, robot dragons!

Toad: (rolling his eyes) No they aren't, they can't even FLY!

The Frog: Earth dragons can't fly either.

me: Good point!  Land-roving, water-shooting, robot dragon pjs! Yeah!

Toad: [considering this] ... ok fine...

yesssssss

Rose's First Kid Conversation!

Jay, feeling quite frustrated, trying to get the kids to quiet down so we could say our nightly family prayer.  Our kids all seem to want to have the last word in any conversation and it can be really hard to get them to pause a conversation.  Jay, finally decides he has to pull out the big guns:

Jay:  Ok!  The next people to talk before we say the prayer will earn a chore until everyone is quiet!
[everyone quiets immediately until...]
Rose: (with gusto)  Ahhhhhhhhhh

Kid conversation, bath fun

Toad: mom, do you know why I like taking baths so much?
Me: why?
Toad: because I get to do (starts counting with his fingers) cannon ball, ultra bomb cannon ball, and mega laser cannon ball.

And now I also know why the walls are dripping and the floor is totally soaked every time he takes a bath… 

Kid Conversation, breast feeding

Toad is so sweet with his baby sister, Rose, and loves to hold her (though not for very long).  He especially loves holding her when she’s crying because then he gets to say, “shhhhh” in her ear.  :)

Toad: mom, can I hold the baby?
Me: no, honey, I need to feed her.
Toad: I can feed her! See? (Lifting up his shirt) I have those too!
Me: Oh, honey, that is so sweet you want to help you’re baby sister!  What a nice big brother you are!  Unfortunately, you can’t feed her because you don’t have any milk for her.  You only have milk in your body if you have a baby.
Toad: Well, I do have a baby!! Look!! She’s right there!!

Kid Conversation, bedtime prayers

Every night before the kids go to bed, we have family bedtime prayer.  Since we now have 7 people in our family, we have one person for each day of the week!  Each day before our prayer, everyone gets to take their turn saying what they are grateful for and one thing they love about the family member whose turn it is.  When it’s my day, the kids usually say I’m good at cooking or they like that I made baby Rose. Toad usually has the most things he is grateful for, one of them being that he knows everything. One day, Toad started switching it up...

Jay: and what are you grateful for, Toad?
Toad: I’m grateful for...  that I know everything... about The Frog... that’s creepy.

Kid conversation

Me: [to the kids at breakfast after a particularly contentious morning] “I want to live in a house where everyone is kind all the time and I think if you guys gave it a shot, you’d all like it too.”
Toad: “I hate shots!”

Kid Conversation

I was cleaning out my bookshelf yesterday and found this written in an abandoned spiral notepad intended for writing my "personal history" (that I clearly never did....)  But here was my first entry from October 15, 2013.  (The Frog was just barely 5)

I love having kids that can now narrate their thoughts.  They often have the most interesting perspective.

I can't remember now what exactly was going on, but I think I was probably quizzing Jack on some simple addition.  He still used his fingers to solve these problems and had miscounted.  I probably indicated in some vague way, that he should maybe count again.  He was dead certain of his answer and so I showed him with my fingers the correct answer.  His reply was a moan, "Why are you always right?  I can't wait until I'm 6 and I know everything!"

Kid Conversation- Toad's first!

Toad had his first kid conversation a couple weeks ago!  He doesn't say much, yet, and will very distinctly say something and then never say it again (like he pointed right at some cheese and said, "cheese" very clearly, one time) but this one is a regular and it is so cute!

So, Toad really likes shoes.  He likes to have me put his on.  He likes to put on mine.  The other day, he slipped on a pair of mine, while already wearing his own!!

When Toad wants to go outside (which is more often than I do), he brings me my boots.  On this particular occasion, though, he not only brought them to me but said,

"Boop"

doesn't that just make you want to squish him?!  love. that. boy.

Planting Antelopes

Hazel is getting old enough that she doesn't usually misspeak but today was so cute, I had to write it down.  She is often stealing seeds from fruits to save for planting in the spring and today I was cutting up a cantaloupe to have with lunch.  She comes by later with a mason jar containing about 5 seeds and says to me, "Look mom!  I'm saving these so we can plant some antelopes!"

Kid Conversation

Peach: (to me) Mom, can I use your banjo?
Me: what?! Do you mean my ukulele?
Peach: NO! Your BAN-JO!
Me: I don't have a banjo!
Peach: Well then what is Hazel wearing?

I look over at Hazel who had stolen my fuzzy sweater poncho.

Me: That's a poncho
Peach: A banjo?
Me: NO, a PON-CHO
Peach: A pon-jo?
Me: PON-CHO
Peach: Well can I wear your Bancho now? I'm cold.

Kid Conversation

The other day Peach had the realization that if we are all children of God, then I (her mom) would be her sister.

Peach: (to Hazel) Guess what!  Mom is my sister!  Because Heavenly Father is both of our fathers!

Hazel: Yeah, that's Jesus!

Jay: No, Jesus is our brother too, because he is the son of God.

Hazel: (with great surprise and a bit of disgust) WHAT?!  My brother?! But he has a beard!!

Libby Conversation

Jay likes to sleep with his feet out.  I don't.  He always untucks the bottom of the sheet.  I usually don't mind, as long as the bottom of the sheet doesn't hang down past the end of the comforter.  Yesterday it did.  I tucked it in.

Jay: [laying down in bed, sarcastically] There seems to be something strange about our bed tonight.  Did you do something to it?
Me: Sorry, I couldn't stand it.  I had to tuck it in.  It looked like we were living in the house of a homeless person.

wait a second...

Kid Conversation

I often read a chapter of something-or-other to the girls before bed, and tonight we started reading "The Secret Garden" (which I'm embarrassed to say, I have never actually read before, even though I have seen the movie many times and I was even in the play in 4th grade!).  **spoiler alert** In the first chapter, Mary's parents (and many of their servants) die of cholera, and my girls were asking about what that was.  I was telling them about contaminated drinking water and how there are still some poor countries in the world that still don't have indoor plumbing and battle with water contamination.

Hazel:  They just need to get a sink!  Then they'd have clean water!

Kid Conversations on Vacation

Prepping for a red eye flight home

We just got back from a Utah/Yellowstone/Sun Valley family trip- spurred by Jay's cousin getting married in Sun Valley (Thanks Lauren!).

We flew into the Salt Lake City airport (cheaper! and to visit friends and family) and rented a car there.  Needless to say, we spent a LOT of time in the car.  I thought it would be generous to allow each child to pick out a "road trip treat" at Trader Joe's for everyone to enjoy and snack on together, during the long drives.

At our favorite burger joint in Provo

The Frog: [with great frustration and annoyance in his voice] The reason I don't like living in this family is because all we do is share!

He almost left his jelly beans behind so that he wouldn't have to share them.  We could not seem to convince him that some jelly beans were better than none.  (I still can't believe I was trying to convince my son to let me buy him some candy!!) Once he found out he would get to be the jelly bean manager, he decided it might be worth it after all.  (me thinks the sleep deprivation may have been talking all along...)

Toad's first In-n-Out

The next day after about hour 4 or 5 in the car Hazel was getting really fed up.
Hazel: The only things I want to do are eat cookies or GO. HOME!

Pretty soon we saw our first buffalo, and boy did that create some excitement!  We pulled over and everyone got out of the car so we could point to the one, tiny buffalo off in the distance.  Everyone got back into the car, more enthusiastic, and then we rounded the corner and there were seemingly hundreds of buffalo, EVERYWHERE, including crossing the road right in front of us.

Wedding welcome dinner w/ cousin P

When we got to our cabin that night, The Frog got the roll away bed and we didn't set it up properly, so if he didn't balance perfectly in the middle, it would fall over or close up on him.  We had a good laugh imagining him trying to sleep there all night.  Jay to the rescue- fixed it :)

Cousin A meeting Toad

We had fun convincing the kids there was a dragon living in "dragon's breath cave" at Yellowstone.  We enjoyed the general scenery, paint pots and bubbling mud pits, more buffalo, elk, a pronghorn and even spotted a coyote.  The burgers we had were actually good and reasonably priced- a very pleasant surprise after our overpriced, subpar meal at the hotel where we stayed.  The scenery was beautiful and it only felt crowded when we approached "Old Faithful".  Turns out their predicted times are not quite as "faithful" and even though we were there 45 min early to get a good seat, we ended up watching it shoot up into the air from the car as we were on our way to the parking lot.  After seeing the gigantic parking lot and how completely packed it was, we opted not to get out and deal with the post-eruption traffic that would soon emerge.

Treats at "The Chocolate"

We drove back through the Tetons, the next day, on our way to Sun Valley for a delightful 48 hours of outdoor wedding celebrations with kids everywhere and delicious food.  Bonus: our airbnb condo rental had a community pool, hot tub, and sauna.

Back to Salt Lake City to visit grandma, cousins, and friends.

Krispy Kreme!

After all this driving, you can imagine our surprise when The Frog suddenly exclaims: Hey! They have McDonald's in Utah!  I thought it was only in Massachusetts!

Jay and I got a good laugh out of that.

Me: They have McDonald's all over the world!
Jay: They have it in Paris!
Me: They have them in Hungary and Japan!
Peach:  [matter-of-factly, in a very know-it-all tone of voice] Of course they have it in Hungary, 'cause it's hungry!

These are all just cell phone shots.  I still haven't uploaded any camera pics.  Don't hold your breath.  It's been awhile since I've uploaded any photos, yeah?

Kid Conversation

We had friends from church over to play one morning last week.  M. (a girl) is Peach's age and E. (a boy) is Hazel's age.

Hazel has mentioned E. often, such as one time when we bought her new church shoes and once the purchase was finalized she exclaimed, "I can't wait to show them to E.!".  E. often has gifts for Hazel, every time they get together whether it be at church or at one of our homes- usually random things he's made out of paper- my favorite being a piece of paper with scribbles on it, folded in half and clearly cut with scissors, which was supposed to be a sleeping bag for her Lala Loopsie toy.  It's very sweet.

Well, this particular time, E. and Hazel ran off together and I barely noticed them while I chatted with their mom for over an hour.  After our friends left, I questioned Hazel:

Me: Wow, I didn't really see you and E. at all.  What were you two doing together?
Hazel: Oh, we were just talking about how great it is to be a McCarthy and a Hillam (his last name).  Right now I'm a McCarthy, but one day, when I'm older, I'll be a Hillam.
Me: **raised eyebrows** Oh really?  How are you going to do that?
Hazel: Well, when I'm 5 3/4, I'll just move my carseat into his car.

Kid Conversation

Hazel: Mommy, daddy is a dinosaur, do you wanna know why?
Me: Sure.
Hazel: Because he eats meat!
Me: You mean to say, he's a carnivore?
Hazel: Yeah, and Toad is a milkavore!

Parenting Win!

The Frog came home from a birthday party recently...

Me: How was the party? Was it fun?
The Frog: Good. Yeah.
Me: Did they have food?
The Frog: Yes, I ate the pizza but I didn't eat any birthday cake.
Me: Really?!!  Why not?
The Frog:  It was store bought...

yesssssssssssss

Kid Conversation

We were trying to get into the spirit of St. Patrick's Day and had green pancakes and The Frog left some evidences of leprechauns in the basement.  (some green and gold beans in a lazy pile)  I wish I had videoed Hazel's wide-eyed reaction.  "Let me see!!!"

On the way to school, we had this conversation:

Me: Do you know what reminds me of leprechauns?  Rumpelstiltskin.
Peach: Do you know what reminds me of leprechauns?  Jesus leprechauns.
Me: What?!
Peach: [in an, this is so obvious tone of voice] Yeah, you know... Jesus Leprechauns!
Me:  No, really, I don't.  What "Jesus Leprechauns"?
Peach: You know... Jesus healed the 10 leprechauns...

"Daddy, fix it!"

This year for Christmas, we decided to go minimal in the "stuff" and try to give everyone experiences instead.  I confess, they did each get pajamas and one activity (The Frog got a game, Peach a make-your-own lotions/soaps/chapstick kit, and Hazel got some cute pots and pans for her kitchen- mostly so she'd stop stealing mine) and an experience.  Really, the experiences were intended to be for the whole family.  Hazel got to pick a movie for everyone to go to together, Peach's was for everyone to go to Fun World- a local arcade-ish kind of place where you get tickets (We NEVER let them do those kinds of things.  I loath the junk "prizes" they can earn...) and The Frog got a family trip to The Great Wolf Lodge.

We were so busy having fun, this is one of the only pictures we took while we were there- the kids are warming up on the heater, in their swim suits, while we read scriptures that morning before going swimming :) (edit!  I found more pictures on my camera!!  I'm adding them below! :D)

The kids got to sleep in their own log-cabin-looking room with 3 beds and a (oh wow!) TV!

Now, my kids have no experience with TV because we have never had normal TV since we've been married.  We do own a TV, but only for playing video games and watching movies.  The kids watch shows using our Amazon Prime membership on their iPads, so having a TV with a remote!! was super exciting for them.  They chose the Disney channel.

After about 30 minutes of watching TV Peach comes over to Jay and I.

Me: "Are you done watching TV already?  I would have thought you'd be happy doing that all day!"
Peach: [whining] "It's so annoying! They keep showing these things that have nothing to do with the story!"
Jay & I start laughing
Jay: "Those are advertisements.  That's one of the reasons why we don't watch TV at our house."
Peach: "Daddy, fix it!!"

Obscuse Me

I was reading a book to Hazel a couple weeks ago (it's basically understood that that is what we do together while I'm nursing Toad) and after reading the word "pure" she interrupted me to correct my pronunciation.

Hazel: "Mom, didn't you mean to say 'pyour'?  It's 'pyour' not 'pyer'."

I took every ounce of my being not to point out to her that she says, "obshausted", "obsperiment", "obspecially" and "obscuse me" instead of "exhausted", "experiment", "especially" and "excuse me" in retaliation.  But then I remembered how cute it is and decided it was for the best.

How long do you think I can get her to keep it up?