Pretend

Edee and Chicken have been sick lately, so I've pulled out some toys that they haven't played with in awhile to help pass the time.  My kids are not big into playing with toys, and sometimes it takes a lot of direction from me to help warm them up.  I have used the word "pretend" a lot while doing so, apparently.  They finally caught the fire and started playing strong together for close to two hours without my intervention (which is amaaaazing).

The funny thing is that before every statement they make while playing, they have to clarify it's "pretend".  So I hear things like this for the entire duration of their imaginative play:

Chicken:  Pah-ten da dragon goin' BLOW da fire ALL over da place.
Edee:  Pah-ten da fairies use dere magic wands to stop da fire!
Chicken:  Pah-ten da kids need some-ting to ride on to get away.
Edee:  Pah-ten the pegasus flies over da hill!
Chicken:  Pah-ten da dragon STOPS dem!!!
Edee:  Pah-ten dey still get away by doin' dis!
Chicken: Pah-ten da dragon stops dem a-gain!
Edee:  Pah-ten dey all go over here.  Pah-tend da mom marries da knight!  She'd been dreaming about him.                                                                 (this one was my favorite).

And so on...and on....vocalizing every action while they are doing it.  I'm just glad they have somewhat figured out the art of pretending.  Progress.  Happy, entertained kids, happy, content mom.

Literally

Chicken has been taking things I say a little too literally lately.

Me:  Okay.  I think I'll just run to the store then.  Daddy will stay home with you guys.
Chicken:  Run?  How can you run to da shtore?
Me:  I'm going to the store.
Chicken:  Why not drive in da car? Why are you runnin'?
Me:  ....Oh, I am taking the car....run...it's a figure of speech...I'm not really running!

Less than 20 minutes late  (although we have had this same conversation more than once).

Me:  I'm going to jump in the shower then so I can get going.
Chicken:  JUMP!?  Don't jump in da shower!
Me:  It just means I'm going to hurry, Chicken.  It's not safe to jump up and down in the shower....

It's funny how often you don't really think much about what you're saying until your three-year-old comments on it.

Blueberries and Peels

We were outside by the grapevine-covered trellis in our backyard.

Chicken:  Mom, when are the blueberries going to grow on our grapevine?
Me:  Blueberries?
Chicken: Yeah.
Me:  Blueberries, Chicken? On the grapevine?
Chicken:  Yeah, when are dey going to grow?
Me: Chicken, is this a grapevine?
Chicken:  Yeah Mom, I know dat,   When are the blueberries coming on it?

Then today.

Me:  What do you want for breakfast Chicken?  Toast with honey?
Chicken:  Yeah toast and honey but wit NO peel.
Me:  You mean crust?
Chicken: Yeah...but I like to call it a peel.  No peel, please.
Me:  Alright silly boy....  (He's never called it a peel before).

Silly boy he is.  Love him!

Know Everything

Edee, Chicken, and I are gathered around the counter cutting up fruit for lunch.  We just came inside after finishing up our last day of Joy School for the year.  The windows are open and it's a beautiful, warm, slightly breezy day.  I feel content and happy chatting with these sweet little children of mine, and I'm contemplating all the things I should teach them over the summer.

Edee:  Mom, James doesn't like to hurt nature, but food is nature!
Me:  Mmm hmmm.
Edee:  Food is nature, right?
Me:  Food comes from nature, right.  For the most part.....
Edee:  Yeah like da fruit is from plants, and meat is animals.
Me:  Right.
Edee:  Yeah.  James doesn't know everything.
Me:  No he doesn't.  You don't know everything either.  No one does, except for--
Edee:  Except for Sci Show.  Sci Show knows everything.
Me: ....No.... Sci Show teaches a lot about science, but it doesn't know everything.
Edee:  But science IS everything.

I was going to say "except for God", before I was interrupted.  It appears I don't have a born believer on my hands.....

Me:  Science is not everything, my dear--
Chicken:  We are not deers, Mommy!!  We are not deers.
Me:  (ignoring him)
Chicken:  MOM!  We are not deers!!
Me: (ignoring him still)
Chicken: MOOOMMMM!  WE. ARE. NOT. DEERS.
Me:  Okay Chicken.  Okay.

Interrupted (again) to be corrected by their extensive understanding of things.  My little dream of teaching them all these wonderful things this summer just got squashed a little.  I guess I need to teach them some humility first.