Overheard, Part IX

We try to write down some of the things the boys say so someday when they are older we can look back and "hear" our little boys' voices and remember these days when they can be such a kick in the pants. We realize that some of these are funny while others are not; however, they are the conversations from our daily life that give us a good picture of who each of our boys is and what each one is doing or learning at the time.

April

Looney Dooney is a regular monthly feature in the preschool. This month’s visit from Looney Dooney was advertised as a “Big Surprise,” and Caleb was looking forward to it. He kept wondering what it was and made guesses as to what was so “big” about it. When he got home after school, I asked him what the big surprise was. In a disgusted tone, Caleb answered, “He was painted like the Cat in the Hat, and he just read books to us. He said he was going to read four books, but he ONLY read two.”  When asked if it was a good surprise, he let us know through his body language, his eye rolls and the tone of his voice that it was a great letdown. Poor kid!

When the boys found out I was hosting bunco this month, one of them excitedly did  a fist pump and said, “YES! We get to sit in the back room and watch movies!”  Obviously, we don’t make our boys stay in the back bedroom often enough since it is such a novelty!

Having dinner at Cenote Grill right after Paul and I tore apart two fused tortilla chips:

Caleb: It’s the breaking of Jesus!

The boys were having a conversation in the living room when Isaac said to Paul:

Isaac:  Dad, Caleb doesn’t know who Satan is!

Caleb: Yeah, I don’t know. Does he go to your school, Isaac?

March

Isaac: Do you like sandwiches?

Caleb:  Yes.

Isaac: Here, then have a knuckle sandwich [making a fist at him]

February

You know your child is tired when he sobs uncontrollably when you tell him he can’t listen to John Tesh as he falls asleep.

You know your children go to a Christian school when the names of their action heroes and Lego guys are “Noah,” “Abraham,” “Elijah” and “Elisha” during role playing games.

 After I rubbed his back before bed and as I left his room:

Caleb:  Mom, who taught you to rub backs?

Overheard, Part VIII

In order to be able to document the fun things the boys say and remember them much later when they are all grown, I started a document on our computer to which I add little tidbits as they say them. As a result of this fine-tuned system, I have forgotten to periodically post them here.  Since it has been a while since our last overheard entry, be prepared for a wide variety especially since some of these are from over half a year ago.

January, 2013:

Caleb (while eating his salad at dinner): Mom, did they have lettuce when you were little?
{Nothing like making me feel old...Paul thought it was really funny!}

November, 2013:
Caleb telling us what he said when he was the listener of the day at preschool (the person who solves problems so the teachers don't have to hear everyone tattling on each other during recess):
Caleb: One kid was blocking the slide so I said, "Here's the deal..." (and proceeded to solve the problem)

July, 2012:

On the boat with Gma N. when Caleb honked the horn:

Isaac: Caleb, you’d better not do that when the birds are flying over us or they might poop on us. [little pause…] But they could poop on Grandma’s head because her hair is already white.

Playing Angry Birds on our trip across country:

Isaac: Oh, I beat this world!

Caleb: Isaac, that is good because I was really struggling with that one.

May, 2012:

Isaac (at the zoo looking at the fossils): Look, there’s a bone. I’m a boner.

April, 2012:

Caleb: I’m having some issues with Angry Birds. Could you play it?

Using the bath paints in the bathtub with Caleb

Isaac: Look, my nipples are purple!

While playing baseball on the Wii:

Caleb: I got a hoom run!

The Dentist

Caleb had his first official dental appointment in April right after spring break. He was a bit nervous so he chose to go after Isaac's appointment. When it was his turn, he decided he did not want to take a turn. Argh! Thankfully, we had told him he could go to Red Robin for dinner if he had a good appointment. When I told him that we would only be taking Isaac and he would have to stay home if he did not let the dentist check him, he climbed into the chair. Phew!

Just a little afraid before he started

Other than his crazy gag reflex (which he has had since he was a baby and starting to eat solids...just ask his grandmas about that one) that caused him to gag every time the hygienist or dentist put an instrument in his mouth, he did really well and listened carefully as the hygienist showed him how all the tools worked. His favorite was shooting water from the spray gun into "Mr. Thirsty's" mouth (the little sucker instrument they stick into your mouth to suck up all the saliva). Unfortunately, it did hook onto his tongue at one point which gave him quite a scare and caused him to jump in his seat.

He loved being done and getting to hunt in the treasure box for his prize afterwards!

Showing his prize and new toothbrush

And here was our conversation the day after his appointment:

Me: See, going to the dentist wasn’t so bad was it?
C: No.
Me: And it didn’t even hurt…
C {in very disgusted voice}: Yes it did. Remember?!? Mr. Thirsty got my tongue!

Haircut

Isaac got a haircut a couple weeks ago. After his bath, he was looking at his newly-cut, combed hair in the mirror and said, "I look so adorable."

I love overhearing my boys encouraging themselves! It was so sweet to hear him genuinely admiring his new look.

Overheard, Part VII

Here are some of the things that have been floating around our house the last month and a half.  Prepare yourself for a lot of quotes from the boys! 

February:

After getting out of the bathtub and wrapping up in the small towel:

Isaac: I’m getting so tall. Pretty soon this towel won’t cover my nuts.

Not recognizing an “old-fashioned” phone on an ISpy game (you know, the kind with a cord and a rotary dial from the last century):

Gma B: Oh, that was the type of phone we used a long time ago.

Caleb: Like for Abraham Lincoln?

Asking what they were having with their chicken nuggets:

Caleb: Are we having those turtle nuts?

Me: What?!?

Caleb: You know, those turtle nuts that you dip in the ketchup! {Demonstrating dipping motions with his hands and bobbing his head}

Me and Gma B and Paul: What are you talking about?

Caleb: You know those turter tots and ketchup! You know! 

{And we finally figured out that he was talking about tator tots!}

Describing the phlegm-wad he sneezed onto his pants:

Caleb: It was just a little sneeze drop.

While doing homework:

Isaac: I need to fix that “s.” It looks like something a four year-old would write.

March:

Caleb: Is it an odd or even day today?

Me: Odd.

C: I knowed that.

Paul: Then why’d you ask?

C: Because sometimes I’m wrong.

Isaac:  When we were playing basketball yesterday, Caleb and I said we should throw a basketball high enough to get to Heaven so Jesus can play basketball with James and Peter. 

Isaac {singing}: Sweet Home Alabama…wait, no. It should be Sweet home California, duh-duh-duh-duh-duh-duh.

Discussing bed sizes that might be in our hotel rooms and Isaac's processing what to call his twin-size bed to fit the pattern of names for beds:

Me: We’ll either have one king size bed or two queen size beds.

Isaac: Is my bed a Joker size bed then?

Overheard, Part VI

Just a little listen into our lives the last few weeks:

Noticing the game Caleb was playing on one of our Wii games with random games on it:

Paul: Why is Caleb playing beer pong?

When the kids are dismissed for children’s worship during our worship service, Caleb likes to be the first one in line. Since we sit in the front of church, the only way to do that is to run like mad. Paul told him this week that he can’t run. Watching him leave, he walked about five feet and then took off running, dodging around other kids (thankfully not taking out anyone else's child along the way). Our conversation in the van on the way home from church:

Me: So, Caleb, who was at the front of the line today?

Caleb: Me! I was there before everyone!

Me: But how did you do that?

Caleb (loudly and proudly): I was FAST! I runned really fast and beat them all!

On our parenting to-do list: 

1. Continue working on not running in church 

2. Talk to Caleb about not being overly proud

Isaac running into the house (holding himself) after playing soccer with Caleb:

“Caleb kicked the ball, and I blocked it with my nuts. That really hurt!”

And my favorite is part of the conversation with my mom regarding the cost of funerals:

Mom: Funerals are expensive…when I die, my plan is to have a plot in [my hometown area]. I asked Brian if he plans to load up my body in the back of his pickup to get me there. But you can’t cross state lines.

Me: I think your body would need to be transported through the funeral home.

Mom: But that would cost an arm and a leg.

Paul: Well, you won’t need yours anymore. Just trying to lighten the mood here.

Overheard, part V

Isaac will often talk to "himself" in our presence (in a mumbling voice just loud enough for us to hear). These conversations always center around something he wants or wants to do. Here is today's conversation within earshot of Paul:
Isaac: I really want to play the iPad. I don't know if I should ask if I can play the iPad. I'd really like to play a game on it... {and this continues for a while before one of us quits ignoring him and responds}
Paul: You are not going to play on the iPad.
Isaac: I probably should ask Mom since the iPad is hers. {I was tickled to hear the end of this exchange.}

On the way home from school:
Me: What did you do in PE today?
I: We played three games.
C: I knew that.
I: How did you know?
C: Jesus told me.
I: Jesus really told you?!?
C: Yeah, he told me on my tongue.

The following bathroom conversations are a bit more on the embarrassing side but still funny so we will share. Feel free to skip if you are the squeamish type.

Caleb is at the age where is asking a lot of questions about male/female anatomy:

C: Why don't girls stand up to pee? {He had seen his girl cousin going to the bathroom.}

Me: Boys have a penis and girls have a vagina. {Yep, we use the actual terms in this house.}

C:  Vagina?!? Ohhhhh, is that Spanish for penis? {Can you see the light bulb going on over his head?}

Another interesting conversation after Isaac got out of the bathtub and was complaining that it was hard to pull the legs of his PJ's on because his legs were "sticky" (slightly wet):

Me: Make sure you dry all the nooks and crannies.

Isaac: What's a cranny? {pause while I helped him dry his nether-regions} Another name for your penis? 

Overheard, part IV

These are all things we have overheard Caleb saying in the last couple of months. He is quite the character so there are many more things that could be included if we could also show you his little head tilt and shoulder shrugging he likes to do when he makes a suggestion or asks for something.  Anyway, here are some of Caleb's finest:

The homemaker's version of "Pharaoh, Pharaoh": "Pharaoh, pharaoh, let my people sew." (Thanks, Tami, for teaching him the original version of this song)

He refers to his little MI friend named "Josiah" as "Messiah."

In children's worship at church when asked what someone should pack when going on a trip: "A computer or a phone so you can play Angry Birds." (Thanks for sharing this with us, Jenny) 

In classic four-year old fashion, his favorite punchline to any joke he creates is either "poop" or "butt."

While updating me on the final score of the Packers-Giants game this week: "Mom, the Packers won by a field gold!"

And, finally, an embarrassing one when he was referring to directions for a game: "Here are the erections. We could keep them up if we want."

Overheard, part III

Although they are getting older, the boys still say funny things. They both enjoy the game "Angry Birds" on the computer. Caleb is waiting for the day when we get "Angry Birds Rio" (since Grandpa has it on his iPad, he thinks we should have it, too) and asks us each morning if we got it on the computer while he was sleeping. A few days ago when he realized it still was not on the computer, he shrugged his shoulders and casually said, "Well, maybe I should just get my own phone and put Angry Birds Rio on it."

HELLO! He is only four years old. I can't believe he has already asked for a phone!

Preschool Wisdom

Caleb is in a stage where he is picking his nose a lot. I know it is gross, but we are thankful that he usually finds a tissue in which to put the booger. Last week when I told him to stop picking his nose, Isaac very calmly added his two cents and said, "Caleb, we pick roses, not noses." He told me that Mrs. Michelle says that a lot (at school).

Also, last week I hung out with Caleb at the preschool for a bit before I took Isaac home. I got to see the Pre-K teachers dancing with the kids which was wonderful because it explained Isaac's funky dance moves that I have been seeing lately at home. His teachers have taught the kids how to not only do the hokey-pokey but also the macarena. Their fancy dance moves include the lawnmower and sprinkler as well as a little bit of the time swimming. I was laughing so hard watching four through six year-olds dance like we did in college. Thanks, Mrs. Michelle and Mrs. Jessica, for opening the world to our kids!

Overheard Again...

Here are some of the random things heard around our house in the last few weeks:

First of all they think anything to do with the bathroom is hilarious. We are trying to cut back on their potty talk and reserve it for the bathroom. A couple of the books we have read recently just tickle their fancy because of this. An example is when the book has a character that is a "party pooper."

One of their favorite books/series is the Walter the Farting Dog books. If you are unfamiliar with it, the main character is a dog that has serious gas issues. Throughout the book it is a serious problem, but each book ends with Walter saving the day because of his flatulence. Caleb is our little farter, and after one such slip he said, "Oops, I'm Walter." (One kid from my youth group teased me about reading these books to our kids and said, "What parent reads farting books to their kids?!?) Caleb has also become our polite farter (if there is such a thing) and tries to run to the bathroom to do his deed informing us when he returns, "I just farted in the bathroom." (Now, Paul is trying to get him to stay in the bathroom for a few seconds so the smell stays there...)

Caleb's favorite line: "Are you seer-yus?!?"

Caleb to my sister when watching his new cousin nursing for the first time (with big eyes and in a really loud voice): "She's eating you!"

We play the slug-bug-no-returns game (thanks to their oldest cousin for introducing this game!) and love to keep track of who gets the most. When we get quite a few we say that person is on fire. Or if you are Caleb, you would say, "I'm IN fire" or to congratulate Paul, "Dad's on ice!"

And finally, Isaac's sense of humor is growing. The other day when I said I was going to "run to church," he said to me, "Really? That could take you a while."

Anatomy conversation with Caleb and Isaac:
C: "Babies don't have a penis."
Me: "Um, baby girls don't, but baby boys do."
C: "Uh-uh. Babies don't have penises."
I: "Caleb, boys have penises. Girls have lines."

(Most of the babies we know are little girls so I am not sure that Caleb has ever helped change a baby boy's diaper. Anybody with a baby boy willing to let us change his diaper so Caleb can be set straight on this little mix-up?!?)

Overheard

As we were driving past a dairy yesterday:

Isaac: How do cows jump over the fence?
Caleb (in his new know-it-all voice): Isaac, cows jump over the moon!

Overheard

Conversation with Isaac this afternoon:

Me: So, what do you think Jesus liked to do when he was a boy?
Isaac: Probably color, draw pictures and play Wii.
Me: Those are good ideas, but I am pretty sure he did not play Wii because they did not have tv then.
Isaac: Really?!? How did he watch the news and stuff?
Me: They did not watch the news on tv but probably had to tell each other.
Isaac: Were you there?!?

Had to share since he makes me smile with the things he is processing each day!