A New Kind of 'Top 10'...

This summer has been mad fun.  I've had a lot of opportunity to spend quality time with my girls, which means plenty of time to observe them in their 'natural environment'...

WHICH brings me to the best part of my summer observations...the things my kids have said.  I present to you the 'Top 10' quotes of the season:

#10 (as said by Youngest, when Mommy said she wasn't wearing the right shoes to run in, and didn't want to fall down) "You're not clumsy!  You look beautiful when you run!"

#9 (Youngest) "What is this game called...nut throw?" (Don't ask...)

#8 (Youngest, post sneeze) "You have a smell, Mommy.  It's called 'beautiful'.  But do we have the same snot?"

#7 (Youngest) "When we walk up to the store, can we play army, Mommy?  I can be your minion".

#6 (Youngest) "I think I'm allergic to air, and stinky stuff".

#5 (Me, to my Oldest, after she came walking in from the backyard where the sprinkler was running), "What is your sister doing?" 
(Oldest's answer), "I don't know...she's catching water with a net". (I had to excuse myself and walk out of the room to laugh...)

#4 (Youngest, in response to Oldest saying something about the game she was playing), "Oh, you want me to be dumb?  Ok. I can be dumb...duh duh duh, duh duh duh...NOW I'm dumb".

#3 (Youngest) "What's that dinosaur called again?  Oh yeah. Hypothesis".

#2 (Youngest) "I got a bug bite here...and here...and here, which is bleeding...and this.  It's a freckle!"

And my favorite, which I will more accurately set the stage for...

Walking back from the pool the other day, with Number 1 Daughter leading the way, Number 2 Daughter and I are bringing up the rear, walking hand-in-hand, enjoying the moment.  Then, the following conversation ensues:

Youngest: "Mommy, was there grass 'back then'?"
Me: "Back 'when', love?"
Youngest: "Was there grass, or was it all dirt 'back then'?"
Me: "Back 'WHEN', dolly?"
Youngest: "Were there trees even?"
Me: "Honey...I don't know 'when' you mean."
Youngest: "You know, Mommy.  1988."
Me: "Um, 1988...Mommy was in high school then.  So it really wasn't that long ago..."
Youngest: "Ok then.  Back in the EIGHTIES, Mommy.  Was there grass anywhere, or was it all dirt?"

Um...yeah...there was grass, babe.  I'm pretty sure.

What's In A Name

It's been 'sweet mixed with chaos' this past week, having some genuine quality time with my girls.  Since they are off from school for spring break (which takes on a whole new meaning in about 12-15 years ;)) and my work schedule is relatively flexible, I have been home with them sporadically.  As this results in equal parts 'good, bad and ugly', it's been interesting.  I spend a good deal of my time in their presence observing from a safe distance.  And perhaps from a combination of refereeing and fielding copious hugs, this girl is definitely getting punchy.

Case in point:  while driving in the car a few days ago, the girls begin a discussion in the backseat about names.  My 8 year old comments that the name 'Justin' is kind of funny because it also sounds like 'just in'...like 'just in time', 'just in case'.  "Right, Mom?", I hear repeatedly from my seat at the wheel.  Once we get off this kick, my 4 year old chimes in, "like Justin Beaver, right Mommy?".

While the oldest tries in vain to get the youngest to say the Pop Prince's name correctly, my 15-year-old-male-sense-of-humor starts to tick off the combo...'just in beaver'...'just in beaver'...

Neither girl understood why Mommy was laughing silently with tears rolling down her cheeks.  That's in another 12-15 years too, I hope.

My Reality

My husband and I have really quirky senses of humor.  Fortunately for both of us, they are similar enough that we appreciate, rather than become annoyed by, the silliness that runs rampant most days in our house.  And whether it's 'nature versus nuture', or 'leading by example', our kids each have a pretty solid sense of humor as well.  This, however, can sometimes backfire.

The youngest in my house is what you might call 'a character'.  Very different than her older sister, who tends to be a bit more laidback, the youngest is very adept at speaking her mind, often times causing us to have to stifle laughing because, as the 'parents', we're supposed to.  As I am the personality type that works better with an illustrating example, I present the following scenario:

Several months ago, I was getting ready for work in the bathroom.  Having just gotten out of the shower, and as it was my husband's turn to take our youngest to pre-K, she was sent upstairs to give kisses and say 'see ya later's.  Note that I tend to get ready in my house as if I live alone, so I am not modest by any stretch.  Having kids tends to eliminate your sense of modesty, and having two girls affords me this luxury...I have friends with sons who, much like my husband has to in our house, constantly duck for cover when exiting the shower for just a shred of privacy. 

I bend to hug my child, when she, as only a 4 year old can, asks me what 'those' are (pointing to my chest).  In my best 'don't make a big deal out of it and use technical terms' voice, I tell her.  She says, 'no, Mommy...the red things'.  I think some more, and then launch into a brief description of nipples and that all mammals have them, and that they serve a purpose, blah blah blah...science.  Disinterested, she just smiles and kisses me on the cheek.  At this point, my husband is upstairs to collect our kid and get her to school.  As she turns to head downstairs, with her back to me, merrily bopping on her way and without missing a beat, she says 'see ya later, Red Boobs'.  As my husband steps into the hallway to cover his uncontrollable silent laughter, I unsuccessfully gather enough 'Mom' to announce, 'that's really fresh and not how young ladies talk to each other', hear her reply of 'sorry, Mommy', and then close the bathroom door and quietly crack up.

Yeah...it's like that.  I think we are in for a hell of a ride...