Da'yy Tah!

All three of our boys have started speaking "daddy" with a silent double D at the end. "Tah" is toddlespeak for "car." Our 22 month old says "mo'yy tah" for "mommy's car" also. It won't be long before he majors in English.

Lizard Crew

Our seven year old found a lizard in the usual place. We have "keystone" concrete blocks stacked up as the barrier for the tan bark in the play area in the back yard. They hide there underneath the blocks. Later, he put it into the sand box, and all three boys were huddled around looking at its new temporary habitat. Junior scientists.

New Neighbors

Somebody is living in the house across the street. We think. It was a foreclosure, then bought by somebody rumored to have known another neighbor at some time in the past. Work was done on it by a number of people, and some of those people stayed there while working on it. Now a woman who has been around calling the shots appears to be there. She wears scrubs. Is she in medical? Maybe someday we'll introduce ourselves.

Cotton Candy Man

At the baseball game today our seven year old said:

"Dad, I don't feel well. My stomach hurts and I feel like I'm going to get sick." Just then, the cotton candy vendor walked by. "Oh, dad, can I get some cotton candy?" "No, if your stomach is bothering you, cotton candy will probably make it worse." "Actually, I feel better now."

Chopsticks

Mrs. Scott made Chinese food for dinner, and gave me a pair of chopsticks. Our two oldest wanted a pair, too. Our seven year old wanted to try to use them despite my most convincing protest against the idea. But, he turned the tables and learned to use them decently within ten minutes. Never trust anybody under thirty.

I'll Wait Until After I Burp

Our seven year old in the middle of eating a cheeseburger: "That's all I'm going to eat right now. I'll wait until I burp. Then I'll come back to eat some more."

From The Back Porch

Okay, looking out the other door...

We're watching some friends' children right now for a few hours as well as our own. Lotsa fighting and name-calling. Fortunately, I put all the power tools and sharp hand tools away when it rained.

Rubber Arm

Mr. Anthony was over this evening, and all the boys took turns hitting his pitching in the back yard after dinner. It was getting dark, so seeing was difficult. Even foam baseballs can tire a man's arm to the point of calling the bullpen. Mr. Scott in relief.

Klaus The Tourist

Overlooking the city streets of downtown San Francisco on a Sunday morning, I left our fifth floor hotel room to get us coffees from the Starbucks located downstairs at street level. Waiting for my order, I noticed a man and woman sitting at a window bar with a view of the sidewalk. The man had a terracotta leather jacket draped over his chair. It was a European style coat, with white racing stripes stretching down the sleeves. "Tourist" I thought to myself.

The telltale sign was that each had a coffee with the name "Klaus" written on the side of the cup. His female companion had distinct Germanic features. They were tourists. I'm not sure how chivalrous European culture is, or what their relationship was, but Klaus was the one who bought.

European tourists sitting at a Starbucks in San Francisco soaking in the culture from the window. How parallel is this to American tourists sitting at a cafe in Venice overlooking the cobblestone streets? I should go there and ask.

Chips 'N' Sauce

Our four year old doesn't use the term "chips 'n' salsa." Rather, he refers to the snack as "chips 'n' sauce."

I'm Almost A Nerd

Our seven year old: "Mom, can I get a hat with skulls on it?"
Mrs. Scott: "No, I don't think we should do that."
Seven year old: "Aww, mom. I never get to wear anything cool. I'm almost a nerd."

Now, a 7 year old worrying about being a nerd? This didn't happen to me until 7th grade.

Essential

Our seven year old: "I have to go pee. Pee is essential."

Yes, Parents!

Mr. and Mrs. Scott together: "Don't play with that."
Our four year old: "Yes, parents."

No Likey

Our 21 month old is learning to speak. When he doesn't want or like something he starts by saying, "No likey." The following is an interpretation guide:

"No likey mooie" - I don't want to watch this movie.
"No likey deh" - I don't want you to change my diaper.
"No likey tikkie" - I don't want turkey for lunch.

When Is Daddy Going To Get A New Job?

Our seven year old, in a hushed tone: "Mom, when is daddy going to get a new job?"
Mrs. Scott: "I don't know, sweetie. Why do you ask?"
7 yr old: "Because I want to play computer games."