Kid Quotes

You know I love to catch my kids' quotes.  Here are some recent favorites from over the summer.

A Brave Plan
After hearing horror stories from a scoutmaster about the obstacle course "of death," Dallin turned to his friend Broc and said,
"Okay, let's just try to run the best that we can and try not to get hurt, or die or anything."

Epic
Brandt turned to me while playing Angry Birds and said,
"Mom!  I just did something so epic."
"You did?" I replied.
"Yeah. You should have seen it.  It was really epic."

Like a Boss
Caleb:
"One time I was catching grapes [with my mouth] and it was so boss..."

Lofty
After searching it out on the globe together Dallin looked at me and, as if revealing a great secret, said,
"Mom, did you know when I'm grown up I am going to climb to the top of Mount Everest?"

Like I Didn't Know
Brandt, in exasperation:
"Mom, didn't you know I know everything?

A Disturbing Pattern
Adam asked,
"Why does everyone try to trick Mom?"

Drawbacks
Caleb told Dallin,
"I'm so glad I'm not a cowboy when all they ate was bacon and beans."

Trump
During a minor argument with Adam, Brandt stated smugly,
"I'm cuter than all of you guys."

Mom's Cookies
Dallin told me,
"Mom, just so you know, it's impossible to get tired of your cookies."

Brandt's Quotes

I wanted to share a few of my favorite quotes from Brandt this week.

"Mom, do you know what?" Brandt asked from his car seat.
"What?" I asked.
"I'm glad we're in this beautiful Earth" he said.
"Yeah" I replied, smiling. "Me too."

* * * 

From his position riding piggy-back up the stairs, Brandt said,
"Mom, your head is so beautiful and hairy."

This made me stop on the stairs and belly laugh!  Then Brandt started laughing, and when I finally made it upstairs we tumbled onto his bed giggling.

* * * 

While coloring quietly at the table with me, 
"Mom, it's so cuddly at home."

This one made me feel like a good mom, which was nice because even though I know I'm a good mom, sometimes I don't feel like enough.

Brandt is at such a fun age.  I love the original way he expresses himself, which sometimes makes me shake my hairy head in delight at a peek at the world from his perspective.  

Cardboard Boxes and the Magic of Being 3

A couple of weeks ago after a trip to Costco I unloaded my groceries from this box.  I paused, ready to toss it in the recycle bin, then noticed how great a box it was.  Thick, sturdy, and it looked just like a car.  I thought Brandt might agree.

He did.  This box did indeed become a car.  Then a boat.  Then, with a comfy pillow and his sippy cup inside, the perfect place from which to watch cartoons.  I didn't have to paint it, fashion faux-wheels, steering wheel or anchor.  That all happened in Brandt's head.  Because childhood is magical.

Or maybe it's that the world seems magical to a child.

That same day at Costco Brandt saw the front of this box.

Pointing to the image he said, "That makes you disappear?"
If I had said yes, he would have believed it.

On the topic of disappearance, Dallin asked Brandt last night why he said "excuse me" when he burped.
Brandt replied that, "'Excuse me' makes your burp go away."

See?  Magic again.
If you can see past my references to digestive health and bodily functions, I'm sure you will agree.

And if I would allow my older boys to ride down the stairs in the Costco box, they might agree too.

Predictable Endings

I was putting things away in the kitchen when Dallin, who is eight years old, paused at the counter.

"Mom, how come you always know how books and movies are going to end?" he asked.

"What do you  mean, Dallin?" I asked.

"Like you always know that the good guy will win."  He talked about the protagonist in the book I'm reading aloud to him at bedtime, and how he had known all along he would overcome his obstacles. "It's always like that," he said.

"Are you saying that because you know that in real life, things don't always work out like we think?" I asked.

"Yeah," he said.  "I wish there were more books and movies like that."

We talked about how most people like to have happy endings, but that there are some books and movies without happy endings (which he plans to read/watch).

"Besides," I said.  "In the great story of humankind, we do know the ending already.  When all of this is over, we know that good will win over evil."

"I know," he said, and then he ran off to play.

Just Chips

At lunch yesterday Brandt declared,

"I don't want a fruit or vegetable.  I just want chips."

I had the feeling the other boys secretly agreed with him, though they wisely ate their meal, fruits and veggies included.  Which is why I decided not to fret about the remark. Brandt will come around in time. I hope. And he actually did eat a few carrots eventually.  

I know that being an example of a good eater is important.  And I do my best.  But the truth is, once in awhile I just want chips.  Or, more often, chocolate.  

Moon Companion

We were on our way to soccer practice a few evenings ago and as I turned out of our neighborhood I noticed the moon: bright, round, and nearly full.  Brandt noticed too.

"Mom! The moon is moving!"
I could hear the smile in his voice as he watched the moon, which appeared to be keeping pace with us as we flashed by trees, streets, and homes.

A few seconds later he added, delightedly, "The moon is going with us to the park!"

And you know, it did!

Copying is Weird

Dallin: Do you know what's weird that friends do sometimes?
Me: What?
Dallin: They copy each other.
Me: Mmmhmm
Dallin: Like one person says, "I like pears."  And the other person says, "I don't."  And the first person says, "Oh, actually I don't either."
Me: Did that happen today at school, Dallin?
Dallin: Yeah.  At school my friend said, "I like bacon."  And I said, "I don't."  And then he said, "Oh, actually I don't like bacon."  Then some other friends said, "What?  Bacon?  We love bacon!"
Me: What did your friend say then?
Dallin: He said, "I don't." but he actually does.

Recent Quotes

Caleb
Disappointed, we piled back into the van after discovering the tennis courts were already in use.  Caleb said, "We just came here for nothing."
Mitch said, "It's not like you guys were doing anything.  You were watching TV. "
Caleb replied, "We were wasting our time in a better way."

Dallin
A girl passed by on the sidewalk outside the van.  Dallin gasped.  "It's a girl!"
He knocked on the window and the girl turned at the sound.
"She likes me," Dallin said.

Adam
"Ooo, Christmas trees for sale!" I said as we passed a brightly-lit lot on the corner.
"Outstanding!" Adam declared.  "We can get one of those for Christmas!"

Brandt
"I... [insert the word 'love' here]... cookie!"

Big Thoughts

Adam: When I'm eighteen I'll be big.
Me: Yes you will.
Adam: ...I'll be bigger than a whale!
Me: (to myself) I hope not.

Quote of the Day

We were listening to music and Adam was singing along.  Annoyed, Dallin called out, "Stop singing!  It sounds better when only they're singing."