Hugs

I just got a big hug from Maxx. 

Me: Maxx, I love your hugs.  Will you always give me nice, big hugs?
Maxx: Uh huh.
Me: Even when you're a big kid?
Maxx: Yes.
Me: Even when you're a grown up, like Daddy?
Maxx: (as he's walking away) Yes.  ...if you are still alive when I am growed up.

My Way

Hearing this more and more and can no longer ignore that "it" has begun.  My opinion and influence are beginning their decline.

Kyla: Ughhhhh!  Mom, I just want to do it my own way!

Recent Stuff

Maxx gave me a card he decorated with stickers.
Me: Which one is your favorite sticker?
Maxx points to an apple sticker.
Me: The apple, not Lightning McQueen?
Maxx: I like apples.  Apples are good to eat.  Um, can I maybe have an apple?
Me: I don't think we have any apples right now.  Nope, no apples.  Sorry.
Maxx: Oh.  Okay, then, I will have some water.


Maxx:  Mom, I want you to play Legos with me.
Me:  I thought Daddy was playing with you.
Maxx:  Well, Daddy is going to weed whack the yard and Kyla is going outside to play.
Me:  If Daddy wasn't going to weed whack, would you still want me to play?
Maxx:  No, I would want Daddy.


Recently, Kyla has been playing in make believe that things get "Electrocated."  I haven't corrected her yet.  


Coming back from the park, Kyla yells, "I'm gonna run until I fall down!" and takes off on a dead sprint, falling down laughing. "Oh, that was sooo great!" 

Love the gift of seeing life through the eyes of my children. Especially since I was not exactly a carefree child when I was young.  And obviously, at that time, I didn't know how to appreciate the innocence in such absolute abandon, as I can now.


And lastly, here is the current list of "When I grow up, I want to be:"
Maxx: A policeman and a ninja
Kyla: A paleontologist

Survive

A different story of survival.  Today Maxx and I talked about bloody noses, because a classmate had one in school.

Maxx: And den dere will be blood?  And den we will die.
Me: No, you probably won't die.
Maxx: Yah, 'cause we need to survive.
Me: Yes, we want to survive.
Maxx: And da baby bird.
Me: Just like the baby bird. (?)
Maxx: Unless dey get shooted.

And that's where we conclude many conversations these days - shooting, death, destruction, etc.

Survival of the Fittest

Kyla loves learning.  Every time the class gets to pick books from the library at school, there is at least one encyclopedia-type book, if not all.  This afternoon, she was looking through a book about water creatures. 

Kyla: Whoa, the puffer fish can get so big and pointy!
Me: Yah, ouch!
Kyla: Oh, that would certainly be a big surprise for any creditors! (predators)
Me: Yes, it certainly would.

The creditors had better really watch themselves out in the wild.  Kyla is constantly telling me about how various animals protect themselves against the creditors by trickery, poison, or other crafty ways.

I haven't brought myself to correct her yet.  I find a humorous sense of justice in comparing preying creditors to wild animals attacking the seemingly less capable.

Super Power

While watching a little TV this morning, the subject of super powers came up.  I asked the kids what are their super powers.

Kyla: Caring and helping.  (so sweet)
Maxx: Fire and punching.  And smooshing things.  I just smoosh the ones dat are wittle.  (he is his Daddy's son)

Maxx:  But Ky-ya, what is yours weal super power...  to fight da bad guys?

Kyla (after scoffing and ignoring Maxx's question for a moment):  Mom my other super power is throwing things.  Like if there was a competition and it was throwing pies; I would throw them at the bad guys.
Maxx: OH!  Ky-ya, dat is a GWEAT super power!  Cause den dey can't see.  And den I will punch dem!!!

A Few Random Things

Some random things the kids say that I love:

Maxx says becept, instead of except.
Kyla calls Snoopy, Snoopy Doo. 
Maxx still calls guns bew-bews and talks about how they bew people. (a lot)

Also today, Maxx said a couple of really funny things.

Getting a pizza from Papa Murphy's with Grandma Kay in the car:
Me:  I'll just run in and get it, since I called and ordered ahead.
Maxx:  What?!?!!!  A HEAD?!?!

Technically, I did say I ordered a head... 

And later that night, opening some early b-day gifts, since Gma Kay and Papa will be out of town:
Maxx, opening his card:  Hey, no money?

In his defense, he did just last week receive Valentine cards in the mail, from both sets of grandparents, with money in each of them.  So really, they set up the expectation. 

Foreign Languages

Yesterday, I was playing cars with Maxx.  Cars is basically like playing house or dolls, only you play pretend with cars, not dolls or Barbies.  I asked Maxx where the mother was.  He said, "Oh, here.   You can be her."

Me: No, you can be her.  She's the mom to your cars.
Maxx: Um, no.
Me: But she's your cars' mom.
Maxx: But, mo-om.  I can't talk that gwurl language!
Me: You just pretend to talk like a mom.
Maxx: But, I can't say that gwurl talk cause I don't wear dresses.

 

Jokes on You

Kyla and Maxx were being silly tonight.

Kyla: Maxx, you know what never closes?
Maxx: What?
Kyla: Your mouth...  At least not when I'm around.

Excuse you!

The last two nights we've two fairly funny "potty" incidents.

While reading stories, someone passed gas. 
Me: Who tooted?
Kyla: Not me.
Maxx: It wasn't me.
Me: Really?  No one?

Both kids were adament it was not either of them.

Me: Well, it's stinky.  Someone should say, "excuse me."
Kyla:  Excuse me.

GUILTY!


Then last night the kids were taking a bath together.  Maxx said he was ready to get out, but I let him stay in and play a bit longer.  I noticed he was sitting very still and looked a little 'odd.' I almost asked him if he needed to poop, but thought, "he'll let me know if he does." Minutes later...

Kyla: Mom, I think I see poop!
Me: What?!?! Maxx did you poop?
Maxx: No.
Kyla: Well, I didn't do it!
Me: (as I'm scooping the poop out with a bath toy) Maxx did you poop in here?
Maxx: (indignantly) No!  I pooped on the other side. (pointing to the other end of the bath tub)

Showers all around.

Obviously my kids have not perfected the art of lying (and follow-through).

How You Like Them Apples?

It's all in the details and presentation is everything.

Kyla has been going through finicky eating patterns recently. Things that she didn't like, she will say she now likes, but seemingly just for the day.  Food that she has always liked, suddenly, she declares she doesn't care for, anymore.

Yesterday, in an effort to get Kyla to eat some apples, I told her I bought some special apples just for her (which I did), and the really cool part was that they are called Pink Lady apples (which they are).  She immediately wanted some!

Later when I checked on the kids, I asked Maxx why he wasn't eating his apples (one of his favorite foods).  He said he didn't like them.  I finally figured out it was because of the name (and the big deal I made out of it.  Previous to that day, I don't think I've ever told them what kind of apple they were eating.).  So I took them away and returned a few minutes later with his "new" Red Ninja apples!  He loved them.

And they are both eating apples again.