The Biggest Word You Ever Heard

So my family is in the process of selecting songs to record when we get together this summer and in the future. One of the CDs we're creating will be all Disney songs. Thinking about all this fun music, I walked downstairs, singing Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious: "Because I was afraid to speak when I was just a lad, me father gave me nose a tweak and told me I was bad. But then one day I learned a word to save me achin' nose - the biggest word you ever heard and this is how it goes! Oh..."

Then I pointed to Cameron. He looked at me and said, "Antidisestablishmentarianism?"

The rules to Abigail's game

Abigail asked me to play "Go Fish" with her, and then she sat me down to explain the rules. Here they are, in case your children would like to duplicate this quality parent/child time. :)

The rules:
1. Play a card face up.
2. Don't play a card until Abigail tells you to.
3. Don't start until Abigail tells you to.
4. Follow directions.
5. This is a fish game.
6. Don't play a card unless Abigail tells you it's the right one.
7. If it's the right card, play it down.
8. If it's the right card, Abigail will tell you to play it down.

Can you say "micromanager"?

Fill your mind like Abigail

Last weekend we visited my mom and step-dad and spent a night at their cabin. My step-dad and his sons are avid hunters, and there are a number of "trophies" mounted on the walls. Abigail was understandably wary about the large animal heads, and she asked my step-dad about it. He kindly took her around and told her about how the animals weren't alive any more, and that what she was seeing was just the animals' skins with marbles for eyes. He told her a little about a taxidermist and the different kinds of animals she saw - elk, antelope, badger, deer, pheasant - and then reassured her again that what she saw was just the animals' skins. A few minutes later she came to me and said,

"Mom! The animals are just their skins, and - and - (she tried to gather her thoughts for a minute) and - my mind is really full - but the animals are just their skins!"

Abigail, almost 4

This summer Abigail has been creating dances. She performs them and then teaches them to me, to her friends, and to her dolls. One afternoon I complimented her on her most recent creation, and she replied, "Yep! That's what I like to do - make up dances."

Abigail's favorite person

Cameron says to Abigail: So, Abigail, who do you like better - me or Henry?
Abigail replies: Me.

Cameron, age 7

Some of you may know that Cameron was recently diagnosed with Henoch-Schonlein-Purpura, an illness which causes extensive bruising on the inside and outside of the body, with joint pain and edema as well. Cameron has been really good-natured through it all (though he did NOT like being at the hospital!), as I've helped him with routine tasks that have suddenly become difficult - getting dressed, walking, etc. Tonight as I was helping him into bed, he said, "Mom, thanks for all the help you've been giving me. It's been a big help." (Gotta document the rare times you hear this kind of thing from your children!)

Cameron, 1st grade

While driving around the other day, Cameron asked me how far away Grandma's house was. I pointed south, and said, "about 360 miles that direction".
"Oh," he replied, "so if we drove 120 miles per hour, we'd get there in 3 hours."
"Good figuring!" I replied. "How did you determine that?"
He innocently responded, "100 + 100 + 100 + 20 + 20 + 20. Or, 10 + 10 + 10 + 2 + 2 + 2 times 10."
Great math for a first grader!