Photography

I have been taking an on-line photography class (The Photographer's Workshop, by Karen Russell) and so the family has gotten fairly used to me snapping pictures continuously.  Kyla has been one of my most willing subjects and especially enjoys seeing the pictures on the LCD screen.  Tonight I just snapped a couple pics and she asked to see them.  After a quick glance, "Good ones, Mom.  You are getting really good with your turfography class." 

Why?

Maxx is getting to the "why?" stage.  Here is today's conversation when I picked him up from school and was getting him in the car.

Maxx: It not rainy.  Why?
Me: It's just not.
Maxx: But it wet out.  But d'ere not any rain.
Me: You're right.
Maxx: Why?
Me: Well, it was raining earlier, but it stopped.
Maxx: (pointing at a bird) Why the birds can fly but they not get wet?
Me: They have a special oil on their wings that helps the water slide right off.
Maxx: Why?
Me: So they don't get wet.
Maxx: Why we can walk but we no can fly?
Me: Because we don't have wings.
Maxx: Why?

At this point, he was all strapped in, so I shut his door and walked around to my side of car.  And that was the end of that conversation.

 

Protect Your Noggin

We've gotten a bit lax on the helmet issue around our house.  I'm torn.  In many ways, I think society's gotten a tad bit overprotective.  We also live on a "street" with only one other house.  Therefore it is pretty quiet; we don't get many cars and it's just a small "hill."  I see the pros, though, especially when riding near cars, or down big hills.  Kyla is kind of fearless, too.  Fortunately, she is pretty agile and very coordinated.  However, that doesn't stop her from having her occasional spills. 

Recently, I have been getting on her about wearing her helmet all the time.  Trying to instill that habit, so it's not forgotten when she's riding near traffic or so she doesn't start thinking it's not ever necessary.  I told her how we need to protect our brain and of course she had a lot of questions about the brain and what it does and why it is so important. 

So, today she was going to go ride her scooter.  I always remind her of mom's rules: no going on the walking path, stay in our driveway/yard or Jackie's (the neighbor boy) and come inside if any cars drive up.  I told her if she was going to ride her scooter, she needed to wear her helmet.

Kyla: I know.  Because if we get a crack all the way around our head (drawing a circle in the air around her face), our brains will fall out.
Me: Well, I guess that might happen.
Kyla: (giving me a playful smile and shaking her finger) Yah, 'cause everybody knows that!

Modern Families

Snow Day(s)!  Which means Jedd worked from home and the kids were home from school (all week).  Which means I had two overly energetic kids who had to be quiet so Daddy could work and make phone calls.  We survived, somehow.

Anyhow, today at lunch, Jedd turned on a recently DVR-ed episode of Modern Family.  The kids don't normally watch this show with us because it is on after they are in bed.  So we're all sitting there, eating lunch and watching the episode where Lily keeps saying the f-word (inappropriate? oops).  The swearing and all related jokes went way over their heads.  However, after about 7 minutes of watching Lily, Cam and Mitchell interacting in their home, Maxx says, "Why her got two daddies?"

To which I calmly responded (while at the same time, being completely floored by the question) that there a lot of different kinds of families.  Some are big and some are small, some have two mommies and some don't have any kids and some have lots of cousins, etc. and so forth.  A good learning/teaching moment.

Kids don't miss a thing, true.  But he's not even three years old yet; not for another 3 months.  I am amazed that he even picked up on that.

Maxx Perry, Mr. Observant.

Dreams

Just went in to Kyla's room to let her know that quiet time was over.  I found her sitting on the edge of her rocking chair, rocking a little bit.

Kyla:  You know what, Mama?  I can actually dream while I am not sleeping.
Me:  Really, how do you do that?
Kyla:  Well, it just imagines in my brain and it is like I am dreaming, but I am not asleep.
Me:  That is wonderful!

Washer

After every meal, I wash Maxx off with a washcloth.  He likes to get out of his chair and walk over to the sink now.  I always tell him, "don't touch anything, don't touch anything!"  He has gotten so used to it he'll come over and tell me, "I not touch any- thing."

Last night, as I was wiping off his face, he said, "you a good washer, mommy." 

Me: I'm a good washer?  Thanks, Maxx.
Maxx: Yah.  You a good cooker, too.
Me: Aww...  Thank you!  Jedd, did you hear that?!?!

Freckles

Kyla saw a picture of a little boy with freckles the other day.  She asked what he had on his face and I explained about freckles and birth marks (which she knows about already, because she has one on her hand), and age spots, etc.  I showed her the freckles that I have on my nose (remnants of summer) and waited for her response.  "Oh, yah.  I like your sprinkles."