Grandpa Talks with Mimi on the Phone

Grandpa was talking with four year old Mimi on the phone. He was in Arizona and she in Minnesota so he asked her, "What's the temperature outside?" Mimi responds incredulously, "Grandpa, I don't know. I'm inside."

Non-sensical Three Year Old

Renee Horsman - Anja is punctuating everything she does today with "Fire in the hole!". In almost no cases does it make any sense.

One Year Old Manipulates Parents

How is it that a 16 month old knows to go get "stuck" under the dining room table anytime Rachel gets on the phone. "Help please. Help please." and screaming comes from the dining room as Rachel tries to talk. At no other time does she ever get stuck under that table. In fact, she's also not stuck at that time.

Even Facebook Updates are Welcome

Ann Gustafson Flood is reprimanding my 3 year old not to pee in a tupperware container in my bedroom.

Seven Year Old Knows How to Take Advantage of His Uncle's Generosity

Bentley was turning seven and his uncle Luke sent him a card with ten dollars in it. He wanted to teach Bentley the importance of saving so he said if Bentley spent five and saved five he'd give Bentley five more dollars when he saw him next.

Bentley ended up schooling his uncle Luke in this case though. Bentley talked to Luke and said that instead of spending five and saving five he was going to save all ten so the next time they get together, "you owe me twenty".

Big Island Updates or Maybe Just Pictures

Hawaii 2009

Even Five Year Olds Are Good at Twisting the Truth of God's Nature

Claire is in a phase of being scared of everything. Specific stuff, general stuff, whatever. Mostly scared of being by herself, the dark, monsters and the like. But she's ALSO really into the concept of "God being with her all the time". I think they've been talking about it at school a lot lately.

Two days ago, the three of us are sitting at the breakfast table, and have this conversation.

Me: Claire, go up to your room and get some socks out of your drawer and bring them down.
Claire: But I don't want to go up aloooone!
Me: There's nothing scary up there, and it's not dark - you can do it!
Claire: No, but I need you to come with me! I'm scared!
Me: Claire, God is always with you. When you go upstairs, God will go up with you, and you don't have to be afraid.
Claire: But I just need you! I don't want to go myself!
Me: Well I need to stay here with Anja.
Claire: (pauses) Well, maybe GOD could stay with Anja!

Then today, I was watching my friend's three kids. They were all playing together, and Claire apparently wanted Anja out of the room. I'm sitting in the office, and I hear:

Claire: Anja. God is always with you. Right?
Anja: Right!
Claire: OK. Have a good time out here with God! (slams the door to her room, leaving Anja in the hall)

I go out to the hall and find Anja just standing there, looking at the door. We had a nice long chat about that.