well that's a relief!

The First, from the backseat of the van: "YUCK! What is that SMELL? That smells like PEE!"
The Maker, front seat: "Oh, that's just my chapstick."

captain...butterfly?

During a family discussion on what superhero we'd like to be:

Dad: I'd want to be able to fly.
Maker: I'd be a butterfly.

better remember that for when you need it

January 2004, age 3

You have created a new word again: "betchy"

Mom: What is "betchy"?
Maker: It's when you're outside digging a hole with a stick and you throw some of the dirt on a hyena.

your favorite (pc) treat

"Reeses-cycle Cups"

because big people seem to prefer it

Today we went for a walk. I told you to go put on your shoes and you said, "No, I'll go barefoot and you can go shoefoot."

of course it does

"You know what 'fox-o-fox' means? It means when somebody is not at home."

who named it to start with, anyway?

You and your brothers were flipping a penny and playing Heads or Tails. But you fixed the obvious problem: you could see the "head," and after inspecting the flip side of the penny, you decided it was not a "tail," but a "fence." So you all played Heads or Fences.

because it needs to be done

28 March 2004, age 3

This morning was our first public worship service for the church plant. You were up and ready in plenty of time, and since it was so beautiful and warm out you went to play outside while everyone else got ready. At some point I heard, from inside the house, the sound of one of the outside water spigots running. I ran out to find out what you were doing. You had dragged the hose all the way down to the creek and were very busy "putting more water in the creek!"

thus history is made

28 March 2004, age 3

Last night we couldn't find any bops. So for the first time you went to bed without one. I think your Dad was more upset than you were! But you seem fine.

update

31 March, 2004, age 3

Still not too concerned about your Bop. Sleeping fine.

but never wilbur

April 2004, age 3

Mom: Hey, if you had a pet pig, what would you name it?
Maker: (without a pause) Flashlight! Or Professor.

but you should see the other guy

You are growing so fast that you can't figure out where your body is or how to control it. You fell against the table and split your lower lip in McDonald's on Monday, and Tuesday you banged your eye hard enough to give yourself a purple crescent under it. Today is Wednesday, and this morning you banged your other eye against the kitchen counter. So now you have a big crusty split lip and two black eyes! I am looking forward to the end of this phase.

after measuring his height on Dad, where he comes up to Dad's waist

"I'm almost as tall as you!"

I'll take "useful items under $2, alex"

Yesterday you made yourself a Halindor, which is a rolled up piece of paper covered with tape. It is apparently some kind of magic wand which you saw or heard about via a Harry Potter book or movie, and you use it by pointing it and exclaiming, "Halindor!"

You made me one, too.

tell me another

June 2004, age 3

Mom and the Maker are talking about medicine...

Maker: Is that kind only for big people?
Mom: Yes, it says you have to be at least twelve years old to take it.
Maker: Are you twelve?
Mom: No, I'm 39.
Maker: (after several gasps, a dropped jaw, and other espressions of astonishment) Wow! That's a good one!

high in healthy fish oils

The Maker: My favorite foods are salmon and marshmallows.
Mom: Hm. I wonder if you would like salmon-flavored marshmallows...
The Maker: YEAH!

trees are friendly

"A leaf waved at me."

what the Maker says to monsters that come in his room from the woods:

1. If you're hungry, go eat in the 'fridgerator. Take something out and eat it all. Don't waste the food.

2. Sleep in a different room or in a different house which is not ours.

just two guys passin the time

Maker: Dad, do you know about everything?
Dad: Yeah, pretty much.

always keep the receipts

Today you asked me what the two white pencils were that Daddy bought. "They're styptic pencils," I said, "for when you cut yourself shaving."

"Hm," you said, "I'm gonna shave."

I nodded and you got out your shaver (with no blade) and Daddy's shaving cream. A few minutes later you reported to me in the kitchen, smelling fresh.

"I didn't cut myself," you said, "so we don't need those styptic pencils."

yellow duck shaped Peep cake with singing candle

July 24, 2004

Meme writes: Today we made your birthday cake. It was a "Peeps" cake. We went shopping for Peeps for the cake but none were to be found... but we did find a Peeps maker and the refills at Target! We made 17 Peeps, stars, Easter eggs, teddy bears, etc. for your cake. We made a yellow duck cake. You were the only one who stuck with me throughout the whole process. You gave me very specific directions on how to ice your cake. The duck had a white head and neck, yellow body and wing, and orange feet and bill. It had white on the sides and a blue eye. Then you put all the Peeps we made on the duck then put your pink singing birthday candle and three other pink candles on the cake. You couldn't wait until after dinner, so we had your birthday party right then! I'm so glad Papa and I could be here for your fourth birthday. We had so much fun.

up and down, too

"Trees aren't right or left. They can go on either side."

current favorite foods, in order

August 2004, age 4

1. salmon
2. blueberries
3. sushi (California rolls)

not in our house

The Maker: Do bad guys say cuss words?
The Mom: Yes.
The Maker: Like...butt, and butthead, and stupid?
The Mom: Yes.
The Maker: They shouldn't say that.

curtain call

After a very long performance of "Our Town"

The Maker: I liked that play a lot.
The Mom: (astonished) Really? What part did you like?
The Maker: The bowing part.

joyboy

September 2004, age 4

You have five stitches on the bottom of your chin. Doesn't seem to slow you down much.

but unrelated to each other, right?

The Maker: You know, a dinosaur is a dinosaur.
The Mom: Yeah.
The Maker: And Gram is Gram.

but unrelated to supper

The Mom: Dad wants us to plan some supper. You have any ideas?
The Maker: Yeah. Let's put balloons up everywhere! That's a good idea.

which stands for "excellent"

On really noticing M&M's for the first time:

A brown: "Hey! It's chocolate on the outside and the inside. And look -- it has a little 'E' on it!"

lock up the good shirts

November 2004, age 4

You love to tie. At any given time you have on at least one scrap fabric cape, plus miscellaneous ropes and strips of material tied all around your body. Typically you have a stick sword in your "sash."

rises singing

If, like the Native Americans, I were to give you a new name for this part of your life, it would be "Rises Singing." It is the bane of your oldest brother's existence; every morning as soon as your eyes open, you begin to sing. And if you aren't singing, you keep up a constant stream of happy chatter to yourself. You are assuredly a morning person.

but not deeper

Meme and Dad took you to the community pool today. You got in at the 2.5 foot deep end of the therapy pool with Meme, then walked over with her to the opposite end, which was 4 feet deep. "I want to see if the water is taller than me," you told her. It was.

project du jour

This one got started as a ball and cup game. You attached a paper cup to a stick, and began throwing a wad of paper into the air, then catching it in the cup. You called it a "flo-bo," which I suppose is as good a name as any.

That same day someone came back from a movie and brought home some leftover popcorn in a giant tub. You saw the tub, and Flo-Bo 2.0 materialized in your brain. Bigger cup, better chances.

more less salt

June 2005, age 4

This is what you told Papa about his grilled chicken, which got a little too salty. "It needs more less salt," you said, and the next time he grilled, you reminded him again. "Use more less salt."

Now we all say it.

and a cow or two

October, 2005, age 5

The Maker: I think I'll be a hunter when I grow up.
The Mom: Hm. What will you hunt?
The Maker: Chickens. Maybe a few pigs.

in the making

Fall 2005, age 5

You are such an engineer. We still keep you well supplied with all kinds of tape, rope, string, twine, and other materials. You hunt up sticks and straws and cloth and paper in order to construct any number of amazing items. You confidently use saws, pitchforks, pocket knives, nail clippers, shovels, Tupperware, and other implements.

the maker

June 9, 2006, age 5

"When I grow up, I'm gonna be a making teacher, you know? Like a make teacher?"

-- after an afternoon helping your friend Sam make crafts