Cute Things

#70 If I Were a Girl

2011-11-16T14:35:00.003-07:00

My nephew, Jordan spent a couple of hours at our house. He is seven. His toy of choice? The princess mirror that, when pressed, says "You're as pretty as a princess!" After pressing the button once more, and after laughing again, at the mirror's words he said:

"If I were a girl, I would think this is sooooo dumb."

I am to conclude, then, that because he is not a girl, and because he spent more than an hour pressing the button and laughing, that he finds the mirror "not dumb." Good thing he's a boy, or we'd have nothing for him to play with at our house. :)

#69 Noel

2011-11-16T13:36:00.003-07:00

We've started Christmas early in our home. We are already listening to "Here Comes Santa Clause" and "Jingle Bells." Sometimes we even go around singing the songs ourselves. This is Brecken's version of "The First Noel:"

"Oh well. Oh well. Oh well. Oh well. Where is the King of Israel? Oh well. Oh well. Oh well. Oh well..."

I'm not sure how she interprets the lyrics she is singing. Not that singing "Noel" would clear things up for her.

#68 ¡Vámonos!

2011-10-29T22:57:00.003-06:00

My nephew is pretty cute; I think I've mentioned him before. His dad speaks spanish and one day he was showing off, just a bit (Jackson, not his dad). I would ask him what a spanish word means, he would tell me. Now, he's not fluent; he's like me. His vocabulary is slightly bigger than what they teach you on Dora the Explorer. Here is an excerpt from our conversation:

Me: Ok, Jackson. What does... "azul" mean?

Jackson: (confidently) blue.

Me: Ok, let's see, how about "gracias"?

Jackson: Thank you.

Me: Ok, what does (trying to stump him).... "vámonos" mean?

Jackson: It means "¡Get in the car!"

Yep. I don't think that one was lost in translation. I'm pretty sure that is exactly what his dad meant. :) I couldn't stop laughing.

#67 Ch

2011-10-18T10:42:00.002-06:00

This is an ongoing, recurring "cute thing". It's actually ceased to be cute for the present. Hopefully in years to come when I read this it will be cute again. It is a Harrington rule (as I'm sure it is with most families) to buckle up upon getting in the car. As with all rules the "buckle up" rule is met with opposition. But Brecken's methods have switched from protesting to this.

Me: (settling into the driver's seat) Ok. Buckle up.
Brecken: Ch. (yes she really says "ch")
Me: (sweetly) Come on, Breck. Buckle up.
Brecken: I did. Didn't you hear it?

Me: (a little less sweetly) Honey, you need to buckle up.

Brecken: (in mock defeat) Fine..... Ch.

Me: (not very sweetly at all) Brecken, I know that sound isn't buckling up. Please, buckle up now.

Brecken: (now in amazement) How do you know?!

The same dialogue has occurred dozens of times, with few variations. She continues to think her buckle mimicking is superb enough to fool me. I continue to see right through it. She continues to be amazed at my power of discernment. I continue to enforce the "buckle up" rule. I would love to see into her mind "Maybe this time. This time."

#66 Lying Never Gets You Anywhere

2011-10-02T23:55:00.002-06:00

As it often happens, I was in the bathroom getting ready, leaving the girls unattended. Dangerous? Yes. But also inevitable. I wasn't too concerned, Hallie was sleeping, Brecken was occupied in her bedroom, and I could hear Taylor happily humming and singing in the kitchen.

As I was wrapping things up Taylor meandered into the bathroom...

Me: Hey, Taylor! How are you doing?
Taylor: Goooooooood.
Me: What were you playing?
Taylor: (long pause) Ummmm.... With the dollhouse.
Me: (totally fooled) Do you like playing with the doll house?
Taylor: Uh huh. (another long pause)... I don't like playing with marshmallows though.

Ah, kid. You should have stopped while you were ahead. I'm pretty sure I burst out laughing right then and there. And, yes, after a slight investigation I found the empty bag of marshmallows. How can you get mad at cuteness such as this?

#65 Trip to the Doctor

2011-05-03T13:49:00.003-06:00

Taylor recently went through a traumatic experience. Her finger was shut and stuck in the door for about two minutes. Her finger looking mangled, I assumed it was broken, and so took her to the doctor's office. Through all of it Taylor screamed. Hysterically. Through the waiting room: screaming. Through the x-rays: more screaming. Through the doctor pushing and squeezing: hysterical screaming. Through the nurse bandaging up her finger: (you get the idea). She would pause for ten seconds at a time only to say "eet willy hotes" (it really hurts) and then resume her screaming. For more than an hour everyone in the doctor's office knew there was a child in pain (or at least fear). Needless to say, I was heart broken for her. As we began walking to the car her sobbing and screaming began to subside. As I opened the car door she gasped her last sob. As I buckled her in her car seat she grew still, looked at me and said in a sing song voice:

"Dat wuth fun."

And she has since asked to go to the doctor's office. Only Taylor. I love that girl.

(for those wondering, her finger was miraculously unbroken)

#64 Blind Leading the Blind

2011-05-03T13:32:00.002-06:00

Every child has that word that they just can't say right. Our two year old has several. In fact, I would dare say it would be easier to count the words she can say correctly. But one which she cannot is lemonade. She calls it Memonade. Apparently this was bothering our six year old, because she felt it her duty to correct her.

Taylor: Can I have some Memonade.

Brecken: No, Taylor, that's not how you say it.

Taylor: (in a defiant tone) MmmmHmmm.

Brecken: No. Say Le

Taylor: Ye

Brecken: (ignoring this speech impediment) Say mmmm

Taylor: Mmmmm

Brecken: (really breaking it down sound for sound) say uh

Taylor: uh

Brecken: Lade.

Taylor: yade.

Brecken: (this time not ignoring the impediment) No. Llllllade. Le-mo-lade.

Apparently this is one of those words for both of our girls.

#63 Favorite Jewel

2011-04-15T12:53:00.006-06:00

I recently bought some play jewels at the store for the girls. It turned out to be a big hit. There were two kinds, ruby like hearts, and clear diamonds. Brecken had repeatedly expressed her partiality to the heart gems telling me that they were her "most favorite in the world." She then asked (unaware that I was partial to the diamonds myself) which my favorites were. If you remember post #12 (which you probably don't) you will recall that she thrives on having her favorites coincide with my favorites. Or, more accurately, my favorites yield to her favorites. So the conversation went as follows:

Brecken: (dramatically) I just love these beautiful jewels! I just looooove the hearts.

Me: They are really pretty.

Brecken: Which one is your favorite? (excitedly) The hearts (in a somewhat flat, uninterested tone) or the diamonds?

Me: Actually, I like-

Brecken: (seeing the direction I was headed she cut me off short) And the hearts mean that you love everyone, and you love people, and you love to love. The diamonds mean that all you care about is yourself, and diamonds, and that you don't love other people. You just love yourself. Which one do you like?

Me: (with such condemnation pronounced if I admit my true partiality, I really have no choice but to concede... smiling of course) Well, I love people. So I like the hearts.

Brecken: (all enthusiasm) Just like me! I love you mama!!

Awe, the little sweetheart. The persuasive, borderline manipulative, cute little five year old.

#62 Cowboys

2011-03-13T23:05:00.003-06:00

Now, it's true that most posts are a result of kids saying the darndest things. But, occasionally, it happens that adults say things that... cause a little chuckle as well.

So, you have to know my mother-in-law's husband to truly appreciate this. He is a cowboy. From Wyoming. Lovell, Wyoming. If you are picturing cowboy boots, cowboy hat, tight jeans, and a mustache, then you've pretty much got him pegged.

Russ and I were at their house when a Bull Riding contest happened to be on TV. Of course it was fascinating to watch lunatics mount angry bulls, make them angrier, and hang on for all they were worth, all the while knowing the end result is the same: they will be bucked off of the bull.

But that's beside the point. What got me chuckling was the conversation that took place between Debbie (my mother-in-law) and Rusty (her husband) who had all the while been sharing his rodeo-know-how expertise with us. Now, as you read this, you may be tempted to think Rusty is joking. But that's why I say, you have to know Rusty. He's not joking.

Debbie: So Rusty, if the rider is left handed, does he hang on the rope with his left hand and put his right hand in the air, or does he hang on the rope with his right hand?

Rusty. (not quite getting the real core of the question) No. One hand has to always be in the air.

Debbie: I know that. I'm just asking if he's left handed, does he hold onto the rope with his right hand, or his left hand?

Rusty: (still not quite getting it) So long as one hand is in the air.

Debbie: But if he is left handed, which hand does he use to hold the rope?

Rusty: (now just distracted by the wording of the question) It isn't called a rope. It's called a.... (and then whatever technical term he used instead of rope... strap? Bull rope? cut me some slack for forgotten cowboy lingo)

Debbie: (determined he will not thwart her in her objective to find an answer) Ok, so what hand does he use to hold onto it?

Rusty: It doesn't matter. So long as one hand is in the air, he can use whatever he wants. It depends on if he's right handed or left handed. (yes. that was really his answer. it was as though he was taunting her)

Debbie: (decides to go a new route... the current game plan isn't working) Ok, Rusty. I know that you're right handed. If you were riding the bull, would you use your left hand or your right hand to hold on?

Rusty: (shocked at her insensitivity) I don't ride bulls! (we had already been over this... it was "bucking bronco's" back in the day for him... not bull riding)

Did it end there? Oh no, despite surmounting odds she was determined to have her question answered. And it was. A few more back and forths and it finally clicked. And for those of you in suspense of what hand is used: I was laughing too hard remember which. But one hand stays in the air.

#61 Mispronunciations

2011-01-29T01:39:00.006-07:00

Taylor is now officially making it to cute things. Oh, she has always been cute, but now that she is talking (I'm using that term loosely)... She'll probably be taking over cute things soon. Now, this is probably only cute to me, because I can still hear her two-year-old, speech-impedimented little voice.

Taylor and I were in the toy room. As I was leaving, Taylor asked me if I could leave the light on... only it sounded like this:

Taylor: Wee wa wight on. K?

Me: (just encouraging correct pronunciation) Wee wa wight on?

Taylor: (thinking "slower" will solve the communication barrier) No. Wee. Wa. Wight. On.

Me: Wee wa wight on? (at this point, I was just having a little fun)

Taylor:(decides to go with the old repeat after me) No. Thay (say) Weeeeee.

Me: (mimicking her exact tone) Weeeeee.

Taylor: (long, thoughtful, seven second pause) Turn da wight on. K?

Oh, the cute, poor little girl. She realized something that day. She could not say leave the light on. Mom's probably too big a tease. I couldn't resist. But she's resilient. And just so she didn't feel like a total failure I added "Oh! did you say leave the light on?!" which was answered with peels of laughter. And, yes, I weft wa wight on.

#60 How Much Do You Love Me?

2011-01-29T01:38:00.004-07:00

This actually took place about two years ago, and whenever I think of it, I get a little chuckle, and since I don't want to forget it... I'll jot it down here.

After I had reprimanded Brecken for something (two years is too long to remember any particulars), I wanted to be sure that she knew I still loved her. The following conversation took place in her bedroom:

Me: Brecken, you know that I love you, right?

Brecken: Yeah.

Me: Do you know how much I love you?

Brecken: Huh uh.

Me: I love you more than anything.

Brecken: (seeming unimpressed stayed silent)

Me: (realizing she's not grasping the concept of anything) I love you more than chocolate.

Brecken: (now enthused and amazed) You do?! I love you too!!! (big hug. now eager to return the compliment) I love you more than.... (looks around her room at all of her earthly possessions) more than... (still looking... aha, I can see she has settled on something) I love you more than strangers!

Wow. It was almost as though I could see her making mental notes: Let's see, more than my doll house? No. More than my stroller? No. Umm... More than my stuffed animals? No. More than my books?.... Maybe... No. Hey! I know what I love her more than! People I don't know and have never met, and therefore have no feelings for! That's a good one!

Haha, it was actually too funny to get my feelings hurt over. And she has since told me that she loves me more than movies. And that's big. So I'm good.

#59 The Smartest Girl

2011-01-29T00:52:00.003-07:00

Knowing Brecken's vanity issues, I sometimes still make the mistake of saying "Brecken, you are just the smartest girl." Ok, it's probably a good thing to compliment your children. But sometimes it produces conversations like the following (this is between Brecken and her 5 year old cousin, Jackson):

Brecken: Jackson, guess what. I am the smartest girl in the whole world.

Jackson: Huh uh.

Brecken: Yuh huh.

Jackson: Huh uh (you have to love 5 year old comebacks).

Brecken: Yuh huh, my mom said so.

Jackson: Huh uh. Do you even know what 1 million plus 100 million is?

Brecken: (drops her jaw) No way! Do you know what it is?

Jackson: It's 2 thousand 16 hundred 3 million thousand.

Hey, I guess he figured if she didn't know... He could say whatever he wanted. Might as well make it sound good.

#58 Her Word

2011-01-29T00:43:00.004-07:00

Brecken: Mom, can I please watch a movie?

Me: No, we already watched one today.

Brecken: Mom please, I'll be a good girl.

Me: I'm glad you'll be good, but the answer is still no.

Brecken: (solemnly) You have my word.

Me: (never hearing that from her before I can't help but chuckle out loud) I have your word that what?

Brecken: (a little frustrated) Mom. You know. You have my word.

Me: What do you think that means?

Brecken: It means, you heard my words saying that I want to watch a movie, and now you have them, so you want to do them. So now you'll let me watch a movie.

Me: (continued audible chuckling... I couldn't help it)

Boy, was that a misinterpretation! I wish we could force our will on others with only four easy words.

#57 Strange Words

2011-01-29T00:30:00.005-07:00

While playing with a stuffed animal Brecken said to me "Mom, this is weird. One of the eyes is smooth, and the other eye is lither." She said it so matter of factly that I almost believed she knew a word I wasn't yet privy to. So I had to ask, "Smooth and what?"

"Smooth and lither." She obviously saw my confusion because she continued "You know, bumpy and... unsmooth."

Welp. She had me there. Normally, I have a pretty good idea what the original vocabulary word is that she's revamping. When she comes running, screaming "Taylor is playing with the poop plusher!" I can connect the dots... ah! she means plunger. The gross thing we don't play with because it gets poop on it.

But lither... I'm stumped. But I think it's cute she thinks it's a word (well she did until I told her it wasn't).

#56 Bigger Than the World

2011-01-11T15:51:00.002-07:00

While having a discussion about outer space, the stars, etc. (don't ask why)...

Brecken: (in absolute amazement) Is it bigger than the world??

Me: MmmmHmmmm.

Brecken: (in disbelief) Is it bigger than... SAINT GEORGE???!!!

Ok... maybe I was getting ahead of myself trying to teach about outer space. I think I need to get back to the basics. We'll start with our house, our street, St. George, and the world. :)

#55 States and Teachers

2011-01-11T15:43:00.002-07:00

While putting together a puzzle of the Unites States, I would say the name of the state, Brecken would find the puzzle piece, and we would put it in together.

Me: Ok, Brecken... let's find... Mississippi.

Brecken: What?! The teacher?

Me: The teacher?

Brecken: (very matter-of-factly) Yeah, Mrs. Sippi is a teacher.

Me: You know a teacher named Mrs. Sippi?

Brecken: No, but her name is Mrs... She has to be a teacher.

5 year old logic. I don't think that thought ever crossed my head. But, yep, it makes sense to me :)

#54 The Correct Pronunciation of Teeth

2011-01-11T15:26:00.004-07:00

This one I am borrowing from my nephew who was spending the afternoon at our house. You know those kids who could probably sell their voices because they are so adorable with all of their cute little speech impediments? He's one of them.

Jackson: Aunt Wen (trying to call me Aunt Ren here) wanna thee my tooth that I lof-th-t?

Me: (examining the new hole in his smile) Wow, Jackson! That's pretty cool. You know, Brecken hasn't ever lost any teeth.

Jackson: (in a condescending tone that would suggest "you poor, unintelligent adult") You mean... toof-ths?

Oh, what was I thinking? Did I say teeth? How could I make such a blunder?! I forgot I was conversing with a four year old.

#53 Spiders with Huge Legs

2011-01-11T15:10:00.002-07:00

Brecken: (dramatically) ... And then, this spider with huge legs started crawling on her shoulder and we all started screaming!

Me: (a bit overboard on the dramatization myself) Oh no! was it... a daddy long leg?!

Brecken: (raises one eyebrow, obviously disgusted with my choice of wording) No mom. It was a daddy huge legs.

#52 Catched

2010-04-09T21:59:00.003-06:00

Of course all kids make errors in grammar. It's expected. And of course all dutiful parents try to teach and correct. On one such occasion after throwing something to Breck...

Brecken: Ha! I catched-ed it!!

Me and Russ: (Silent chuckle)

Russ: (step in dutiful parent) Brecken, the correct way to say that is catched, not catched-ed.

Oh, that cute guy of mine! I think I may start a Cute Things Russ blog :) Maybe it went over your heads, but most people (adults anyway) use the correct term: caught :) Love you babe!

#51 Sooo Smart

2010-03-31T13:24:00.002-06:00

If there is anything Brecken lacks, it is NOT confidence. At least every day I hear "I am so smart." (probably because at least every day I say it) But her reasoning for being so smart is what makes me laugh some times....

Brecken: Mom. I told Taylor yes means yes. And no means no. And maybe means maybe.

Me: Ok. Thank you (I couldn't come up with any other response).

Brecken: Wait! Do those things mean what I said they mean??

Me: You mean, like (yes I said like), yes means yes?

Brecken: Yeah. Do they?

Me: Yes.

Brecken: Haha! How did I know that?? I am soooo smart.

Haha, I would love to read a dictionary compiled this way...

Monoamine: (noun) Means monoamine. (wow. I'm so smart.)

#50 Little Sayings

2010-03-31T12:59:00.002-06:00

Little Miss Smarty Pants this morning walked to the fridge after breakfast and stated "I'm gonna check on the pamerika." Yes, you read that right, and yes I heard it right, and yes I was as much in the dark as you. Of course I asked her to repeat herself and she so matter of factly said "The pamerika. I'm going to check on the pamerika and see how it's doing."

Ok. It clicked. Her and Russ had made tapioca the night before and left in the fridge to cool... this is what she called "pamerika" I had to laugh, and it brought to mind a few other quirks in her vocabulary...

With Brecken, it isn't a heart-beat, it's a heart-beep.

Anything with "ul" turns into "li" for example

Ambulance=Amblience

Fabulous=Fablious

Turbulence=Turblience

No matter how often we go over it, she doesn't need anything, she meeds things.

When feeling especially grateful she will thank me in spanish... sort of... with a very gringa "Glacias!"

And her quirky way of asking questions. It's never "What does (fill in the blank) mean?" It's always "What means (fill in the blank)?"

I know there are a dozen others, but this is what comes to mind. The little cutie.

#49 Smile Dad!

2010-03-02T16:03:00.002-07:00

I am sure Russ wouldn't mind me sharing this. Especially since he's the one who told me (through a little laughter I might add).

During the nightly teeth-brushing routine (daddy happened to be doing the brushing)...

Brecken: Dad, look in the mirror

Russ: (stops what he is doing and looks in the mirror)

Brecken: Smile.

Russ: (thinking perhaps she may have seen food in his teeth, begins examining)

Brecken: You look like a beaver. Your front two teeth are big.

Awe, don't kids just say the darndest things? Gotta love their brutal honesty (unless it's with strangers... then it's just plain old embarrassing). But with Russ as good looking as he is, I'm sure there will be no complex whatsoever.

#48 Sorry for the Mess

2010-03-01T17:17:00.002-07:00

One night we had some of Brecken's friends over, and by the end of the night every toy that we own was strewn through the house. Regardless, we went to bed knowing full well we would wake to a mess. In the morning Brecken and I were sitting amidst the toys and Brecken, very sympathetically, said...

"Mom, I sure am sorry about this mess!"

Sweet, right? But before I could say anything she continued even more sympathetically than before...

"I am so sorry it's so big that I am not going to clean it up." And then she gave me a look filled with pity and patted me.

Oh... and she did clean it up. Sweet girl. And she didn't even complain.

#47 Almost My Birthday

2010-03-01T17:16:00.001-07:00

I love mornings. I love it because Brecken always comes in jabbering, and I get to see what random thought is floating in her head when she wakes up. This particular morning it was her birthday.

Brecken: (all smiles) Guess what mommy!!! It's almost my birthday!!

Me: I know! It's coming up.

Brecken: How many more days?

Me: Ummm... it's about sixty.

Brecken: (smiles gone, frown set in and in dismay) What?? SIXTY?? That's not almost my birthday!!! I CAN'T EVEN COUNT TO SIXTY!!!!

I think I ruined her morning. But no worries. Now she asks in weeks. She can count those.

#46 Counting Problems

2010-03-01T17:15:00.001-07:00

Brecken: Momma, how old do I have to be to drive?

Me: Sixteen.

Now whenever I tell Brecken a number, she has to gauge how far away it is by counting to it... of course she's no pro at counting and her defect is she always skips... 16 and 17.

Brecken: Sixteen?

Me: Yep

Brecken: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 18, 19, 20 (continues in perfect sequence)... 37, 38, 39... HOW old do I have to be?

Me: Sixteen.

Brecken: (takes deep breath) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 18, 19, 20 (continues once again in perfect sequence to 39, and then stops) Wow! I have to be really old to drive!!

Of course I helped her really count to sixteen... It's just cute to see her try :)

#45 Can You Sing?

2010-02-01T16:23:00.002-07:00

Brecken: Momma, can you sing?

Me: MmmmHmmm

Brecken: Let me hear you.

Me: (begin humming some little tune)

Brecken: No. Can you sing pretty??

Me: (ok, so my little tune wasn't cutting it.... belting out now like Aurora from Sleeping Beauty) AAAAHHH AAAHHHH AHHHHH AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!

Brecken: (cuts me off just as I'm getting going) No. I mean can you sing pretty. Like me.

Ok, world. I failed as a singer. Apparently I don't hold a candle to my four year old. My cute, little, vain four year old.

#44 Heavenly Clothes

2010-02-01T14:09:00.002-07:00

Brecken: I love my outfit.

Me: It's pretty cute.

Brecken: Did Heavenly Father create it?

Me: Well, he didn't make the clothes, but he created what the clothes were made out of.

Brecken: (in total shock) What?? Heavenly Father didn't create clothes?? Who makes clothes????!!!!???

Apparently Brecken thought that the clothing industry had direct connections with Heaven. Who else could create such fashions as polka-dotted skirts, striped shirts, and neon colored leggings?

#43 Knock Knock

2010-01-26T16:10:00.003-07:00

Ok, this one actually happened a few months ago, I just keep forgetting to put it up. And this may be one where the phrase "you woulda had to been there" may apply. Mainly because it was a conversation between Brecken and her little cousin, Jackson, whose voice alone is so cute you could record it and sell it (but you can't quite capture it just through writing).

Brecken: Jackson do you wanna hear a joke.

Jackson: MmmHmmm.

Brecken: Knock Knock.

Jackson: Whooth der?

Brecken: Microwave.

Jackson: Microwave who?

Brecken: Microwave Fridge.

Both: BAHAHAHAHAA!!!!!! HAHAHA!!!!!HAHAHA!!!

Jackson: (through much laughter) Now YATS a YOKE!!!

#42 Baby in Two Days

2010-01-26T15:59:00.003-07:00

Brecken: I am so excited for the baby in your tummy to come!!

Me: Yep, but it's gonna take a while.

Brecken: How long?

Me: Well, six more months.

Brecken: (excitedly) That's not long at all!!

Me: Well, one month is thirty days...

Brecken: (concerned now) How long is six months??

Me: Well, six months is about 180 days.

Brecken: That's a long time!!!

Me: Well it takes a long time for the baby to grow big enough (cut off)

Brecken: (very urgently) Can I say a prayer???

Me: (when would I ever say no to that, really) Sure.

Brecken: Dear Heavenly Father, thankful for this day. Please bless the baby to grow fast. Please help it to grow big enough in two days. (and then she closed her prayer)

Aren't you so excited?? The baby is going to be here in two days!!!!!!

You know, that last few weeks of pregnancy I really wish it worked like that... but for now... I'm glad it's not up to the whim of a four year old.

#41 Big Belly

2010-01-26T15:49:00.003-07:00

Me: Brecken, guess what! Mommy and daddy are gonna have another baby. There's a baby in my tummy.

(now you have to realize... this is day one of finding out... you know, when you look exactly the same as you did before there was any baby news)

Brecken: (stares at my tummy) No you're not. (continues staring) Oh wait. Yes you are. I can see the big bump in your tummy.

Nope. That's just the stuff that always hangs over the jeans a bit... ah, thanks Breck.

Oh and then one week later

Brecken: (again staring at my stomache) Wow, mommy. The baby in your tummy is getting really big!

Nope again. That was just the sausage, eggs, pancakes, fruit, drink etc. etc. I had for breakfast. Yep it was good.

#40 Beautiful Clothes

2009-11-13T12:43:00.003-07:00

Brecken picked out my birthday present all by herself this year. A necklace. Very sweet. So yesterday I thought I'd put it on to show her how much I love it (i've worn it several times I promise)

Brecken: Oh mom, your necklace is so lovely!

Me: Thank you hon!

Brecken: (looks me up and down) Ummm.... do you think you could put on some beautiful clothes to wear with it?

Me: Well, I thought my clothes were pretty.

Brecken: (gives me a polite, but disapproving half smile) Well... your shirt is ok... but your pants are not beautiful. Come into your closet. I'll pick something out for you.

Something is wrong with this picture. Since when do four year olds feel the need to advise their mothers on their wardrobe?? Shouldn't it be the other way around?

#39 Comfy Bottom

2009-11-13T12:33:00.003-07:00

I walked in upon one of the sweetest scenes for a mom to behold. Brecken and Taylor were both laying down on my bed. Brecken on my pillow, and Taylor using Brecken's stomach for a pillow. Upon seeing me Taylor sat up and Brecken rolled on to her stomach.

Brecken: Taylor, I want you to lay down on me!

Me: Sweety you rolled over, I don't think she'd want to lay on your back.

Brecken: Not my back. She can lay on my comfy bottom.

Hahaha! Who told her she has a comfy bottom?? Well at least she took it as a compliment. And if she concluded it on her own... At least she's proud of a little junk in the trunk :)

#38 Grandma Good

2009-11-13T12:20:00.006-07:00

For my birthday this year my family consorted behind my back to surprise me with a visit. To ensure that I (and my house) would at least be presentable when they arrived, Russ told me that his mom would be stopping by some time that evening.

Brecken was also made aware and was excitedly awaiting Grandma Good. Much to all of our surprise it was not Grandma Good but Grandma Allen. Squeals form Brecken erupted. After about twenty minutes the excitement had somewhat dulled and Brecken started looking around...

Brecken: Wait. When's Grandma Good coming over?

Russ: Honey, she's not. Grandma Allen came instead.

Brecken: (shoulders slump) But I thought Grandma Good was coming!

Ah, little children. I have a feeling that if we told Brecken we were going swimming and we ended up in Disneyland, she'd look around and say "But where's the pool?"

#37 His Bare Hands

2009-11-03T11:58:00.003-07:00

While Brecken and I were watching Mountain of the Lord one of the lines was "...with his bare hands..." to which Brecken excitedly says:

"His bear hands?? He has bear hands!?! Did you hear him mom? That guy has bear hands! Just like bears! Bears have bear hands too!!!"

#36 Sally

2009-11-03T11:29:00.002-07:00

This is not an announcement. I am not expecting a baby. Regardless of this, Brecken feels an obligation to discuss names with me.

"Mom" she says. "I hope that the next time you have a baby it's a girl." Since Russ (I thought) had convinced her to lobby for a boy (not that it really makes a difference) I was a little surprised. "Why do you want a girl?" I asked her. "Because if we have a girl, I want to name her Sally."

Ok, that's cute and all, but I am not going to be naming my baby Sally, so I didn't want to get any hopes up here. So this is how I proceed (very sweetly I might add):

"Oh, that's cute, Breck. But we probably aren't going to name our girl Sally." Brecken, almost crying: "But I like Sally. I want it to be Sally!" And then a ten minute discussion proceeds, I tell her she can name her baby doll Sally, yada yada yada. And I thought it was resolved.

A month later Brecken has been working on her sales pitch. Have I mentioned Russ is in Sales? Well Brecken gets her ~~manipulative~~ sales skills from him.

Brecken: (holding a baby doll) Look at my pretty baby. I named her Sally.
Me: Oooh, what a pretty baby.
Brecken: Her name is Sally.
Me: Oh, how cute.
Brecken: Cute?
Me: Yes. It's very cute.
Brecken: So you like my baby doll's name?
Me: (Like I'm gonna say no) Yes. She's cute.
Brecken: You like the name Sally!
Me: Well- (Brecken cuts me off)
Brecken: So now, when you have a baby girl, we can name her Sally because you like the name Sally! hahahahahaha!!!! YES!

Ah. What the hay. I'll cross that bridge when I come to it. Let's just hope for a boy :)

#35 Punishments

2009-10-27T12:18:00.003-06:00

This one needs no narrative. I'm sure anyone can guess under which circumstances the following statement took place:

"When I grow up. And I get married. And I'm a mommy. And I have a daughter. I will never give her punishments!"

I'll be checking back in twenty years :)

#34 Turning a New Leaf

2009-10-27T12:05:00.003-06:00

It's a well known fact in the Harrington Household that little miss four year old does not like orange juice. So you can imagine my surprise when she asked for (and drank) a glass. I asked her about her newfound like for orange juice to which Russ said "Brecken, tell mommy that you're turning a new leaf." So of course Brecken, still being in the phase in which you say whatever someone tells you to say (you have to love this phase), obeyed... as best she could :)

"Mommy. I'm gonna turn you into a leaf!"

Hahahaha! I have to say though, I'm with Brecken. That makes about as much sense to me as turning a new leaf does :)

#33 Stronger and Smarter :)

2009-10-27T03:02:00.002-06:00

On a regular basis Brecken says to me "Mom, I'm stronger than you." Now, most of the time I let it slide. But if she catches me when I'm feelin' a little prideful (stronger than a four year old is almost all I can claim these days) She gets a rebuttal. Which she did... And of course, with all such claims, I had to back it up.

How? Simple. We made a line. Each of us stood facing each other on either side of the line. We gripped hands. And on Brecken's cue, we pulled. If she crossed the line, I won. If I crossed the line, she won. muahahahaha.... stronger than me... right.

Not liking the out come of the first three rounds Brecken then made up her own rules...

Brecken: Ok mom. Now we hold hands, and when I say pull, we pull (makes sense so far). If I pull you over, I win. And if you pull me over, you lose. k?
Me: Wait, If I pull you over I lose?
Brecken: Yep. Ready?
Me: Wait. How do I win?
Brecken: Hmmmmm..... if you can (looks around the room. spots the couch ten feet behind her) get to the couch before one of us is pulled over... then you win.
Me: (gee that sounds fair) Ok, ready.
Brecken: Go!

Still feeling a LITTLE competitive I make a futile attempt at getting to the couch first. But as soon as my foot hit the ground crossing the line Brecken yelled:

"Ha! I pulled you over! I won! I'm stronger than you!!"

Oh, I laughed. And I don't worry. I told her she was stronger than me. I let her live it up (however rigged it was) But does the phrase "heads I win, tails you lose" come to mind here? :)

#32 Baby in my Tummy

2009-10-27T02:23:00.001-06:00

I went into Brecken's room this morning while Brecken was sleeping and the following occured:

Brecken: (opening her eyes) Is it Sunday?
Me: Nope
Brecken: Why are you waking me up?
Me: We're just gonna clean your room this morning.
Brecken: I have a baby in my tummy.
Me: Oh you do huh?
Brecken: No, no, no, no. Not a real baby just pretend.
Me: Oooooh! A pretend baby.
Brecken then pulls back the covers and climbs out of bed...

Oh! I couldn't stop laughing. I'm still chuckling! She must have slept in that all night... How uncomfortable!!! But funny :)

#31 Ring a Bell?

2009-10-27T02:22:00.001-06:00

I was in the Living Room while Brecken and Russ were in the kitchen and I overheard the following conversation :
After trying to jog Brecken's memory of who somebody was...
Russ: Does that ring a bell?
Brecken: Who's Ringabell?
Russ: No, ring a bell isn't a person, it's a saying.
Brecken: But who is Ringabell?
Russ: No, it means to remember. When I say "Does that ring a bell?" that means "Do you remember?"
Brecken: I don't remember Ringabell.
Russ: No, honey, ring a bell isn't a person. It means to remember.
Brecken: Oooooooh! I get it! Ringabell isn't a person. She's just pretend!

I'm pretty sure she didn't get it, but in her defense: Annabell, Isabell, Ringabell... I see her logic :)

#30 Three Year Olds + Stories = Misunderstandings

2009-10-27T02:17:00.001-06:00

It is a ritual in the Harrington Household to have the traditional "Bedtime Story". Traditional is a relative term... It's not Goldilocks, or Red Riding Hood that puts her to sleep; but rather stories from when Russ and I were little. We take turns telling her tales from our childhood.

This one particular night was Russ's turn. He was recounting the time when he was a toe headed little tot getting a baseball signed by Mark McGwire (true story) I'll share an excerpt:

Russ: Have you ever seen Popeye?
Brecken: (enthralled, but clueless) No.
Russ: Well, he was like Popeye. His forearms were HUGE!
Brecken: (silent, wide-eyed amazement)

A few weeks later Brecken decided to recount to me dad's amazing story:

Brecken: One time, when daddy was a little boy, he saw a baseball player that had TEN ARMS!!!!!!
Me: Ten Arms? (I knew that wasn't part of the story)

After mulling it over while trying to think what could have mislead her... it hit me. Russ had said "his forearms were huge!" what Brecken heard: "his Four Arms were huge!".... And then of course she exaggerated (ten did sound cooler than four). Oh! The laughter. I couldn't help myself. It was too cute.

I tried to explain it to her, but I think she's convinced that there's some ten armed freak out there playing baseball... Ah, three year olds. Never a dull moment.

#29 Even Four Year Olds

2009-10-27T02:14:00.001-06:00

If only we could slow time down. Relive favorite memories. Save time in a bottle. None of us are immune to an occasional pining over lost time. Apparently not even four year olds...

As Brecken must have been contemplating these very thoughts (maybe not in so many words) she had her chin on her hands at the counter and a far off look in her eyes as she stared into space...

"I am getting so big..." (her fourth birthday must have hit her pretty hard) She let out a long, heavy sigh and continued in a melancholy voice "If only I could be two years old again." another long heavy sigh...

Ah yes... Two years old. Life was good then... Happier. Easier. Less complicated.

I had to chuckle to myself thinking of how she wished to be two... if only she knew how good, and care free four is.

#28 Root Beer Floats

2009-10-27T01:48:00.001-06:00

Just before one of our Grantsville trips Brecken says to me "Oh! I am so excited to see Uncle Daniel!!!!!" followed by much squealing.

For those of you who know Brecken and know Daniel... this is big. Really big. She then continues "I used to not like Daniel very much. But then one day, he bought me a root beer float. And now it's all changed."

Yes. She's shallow. And I'm sorry Dan. Hopefully moving up to "favorite" status can make up for all the ill treatment. But smooth move on the root beer float.

#27 Still Believes in Magic

2009-10-27T01:46:00.001-06:00

So we have this little bag of treats on the counter. And I'm sure you can imagine that it's a constant temptation to little miss four year old here (I know. put it up already). Every once in a while when she asks... I say yes. The following occurred on one such occasion...

Brecken: Haha!! Yes?? (reaches for the bag of candy but stops mid-candy-gettage) Wait Mom. Don't look at me.
Me: (right. like I'm going to follow such instructions) Why don't you want me to look at you?
Brecken: Just don't.
Me: (continued stare at Brecken)
Brecken: (nervous laughter) umm... Abra-Cadabra! (reaches, instead of into the bag, but into her pocket) Look mom! I'm magic! I made the candy go from the counter into my pocket!
Me: (poor little four year old... still believes in magic) Brecken. Did you get into the candy earlier and put one in your pocket?
Brecken: Huh-uh, I'm magic.
Me: Brecken, honey, you need to tell me the truth.
Brecken: I did. I'm magic.
Me: (a bit sternly at this point) Brecken, I'm going to give you one more chance to tell me the truth. Did you get into the candy and put one in your pocket?
Brecken: No. Didn't you hear me say abra-cadabra? I'm magic.
Me: Brecken. I know you are telling me a lie, and I'm very disappointed.
Brecken: (in complete astonishment) haha! You knew I was lying?? HOW? Are you magic??

I learned something that day: Apparently I am a little too convincing when I make the quarter disappear. It leaves one in no doubt that magic is real.

#26 Disneyland and Prayers

2009-10-27T01:44:00.004-06:00

This was Brecken's dinner prayer one night...

"Dear Heavenly Father. I've never been to Disneyland. Could you tell my mom and dad that I would really like to go. I would love to see the princesses there. Could you please tell them to take me there?..."

And then she closed her prayer. No blessing on the food of course :) Ah the cutie.

#25 Invisible Prayer

2009-10-27T01:44:00.003-06:00

One night after family prayer...

Brecken: Now it's time for my invisible prayer.
Russ: Your what prayer?
Brecken: My invisible prayer.

(going for individual here)

And a few weeks later...
Brecken: Now it's time for my invujial... my invadijal... my indijival... What kind of prayer is it?

We've since resorted to calling it Personal Prayer. :)

#24 There was an Old Lady...

2009-10-27T01:41:00.001-06:00

For three or four nights Brecken had asked me to sing her the Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly song (it's a big hit around here). Then one night she said "I know how. I want to sing it"
This was her version:

I know and old lady who swallowed a fly. I don't know why she swallowed a fly. I think she'll die.

I know and old lady who swallowed a spider. It wiggled and jiggled and tickled inside her.

I know and old lady who swallowed a bird how.... (pause)... (looking to me for the nod of approval) absurd... to swallow a bird. (clearly it this didn't make sense to her)

I know an old lady who swallowed a cat. Imagine that! to swallow a cat!

I know an old lady who swallowed a dog. How... (pause)... absog to swallow a dog.

I know an old lady who swallowed a... human... How.... absuman to swallow a human...

I know an old lady who swallowed a cow. How absow to swallow a cow.

I know an old lady who swallowed a horse. She died of course.

So she forgot a few words and improvised... I was pretty impressed... but mostly humored :)

***post edit***

Just to clear up any confusion: I do not sing that the old lady swallowed a human. That was strictly Brecken's version. That song would probably not have been a big hit with me had the old lady been a cannibal. Not that swallowing cats and dogs is much better... but still.

#23 What Four Year Olds Dream

2009-10-27T01:40:00.001-06:00

After asking Brecken what woke her up in the middle of the night she said (on the verge of crying)

"I had a bad dream! I had a dream that I was at a campfire and some mean witches came, and they made us golden diamonds, well that wasn't bad, that was good, and they had band-aids on their backs, and they tried to pull them off, and then they flew away on their brooms, and then some ghosts came, and they only liked kids, and we were kids so they like us, but then we grew up and we weren't kids, so they didn't like us, and then they tried to kill us, so I woke up!"

I wish I could say I was the loving, sympathetic mother who hugged and comforted... But before I could do that I had to laugh. I couldn't help myself. And then of course the hugging and the comforting etc.

#22 Thringin' Things :)

2009-10-27T01:39:00.001-06:00

The other day I had asked Brecken to put something on a shelf. She threw it up and it landed perfectly. With a little pride she said "I am such a good thringer!" Of course I had to question her. So I asked "A good what?" To which she replied so matter-of-factly "Thringer. You know. Throw. Things. I throw things. I'm a good thringer."

And of course all I could do was laugh. Her logic... I guess if we can combine words like is and not and get isn't, then why not throw and thing and get thring? Makes sense to me :)

#21 Pig Latin

2009-10-27T01:38:00.001-06:00

While Russ, Brecken, and I sat on the couch I was trying to hint to Russ that I had a treat for Brecken. Trying being the key word- I made the mistake of using pig latin.

Me: You know... ife-lay aver-say
Russ: (blank, confused stare)
Me: Ife-lay aver-say
Russ: (still confused) What?
Brecken: You know, dad. The hard, round candies that have a hole in the middle.

I guess I can always bust out pig latin when I want to tell Brecken something I don't want Russ to know :).... oh well.

#19 Forty Friends

2009-10-27T01:36:00.005-06:00

Back on her birthday Uncle Derek called Brecken. This is an excerpt from their conversation:

Derek: What are you doing for your birthday?
Brecken: I'm having a party.
Derek: A party? Cool. Who is coming over?
Brecken: My friends. There's forty of them.
Derek: Forty??
Brecken: Wait. Is forty a lot?
Derek: Yeah forty is a ton.
Brecken: Then there are forty. I have a ton of friends.

#20 What Makes Real Girls

2009-10-27T01:36:00.004-06:00

Brecken: (to Taylor) You're such a funny boy!
Me: Brecken Taylor is a girl. You know that.
Brecken: Well, she will be a girl. Right now she's just pretending because she's really a boy.
Me: What? No, she is a girl.
Brecken: Well, she has boy hair. When she's older her hair will be longer and she can be a real girl.

No, I did not explain the real difference. Besides, when a stubborn four year old has made up her mind... there's no point in arguing.

#18 Tons of Money

2009-10-27T01:35:00.001-06:00

Brecken has had a list of things she wants to do... swim lessons, ballet lessons, preschool (etc.) One day I was talking to her and said she probably couldn't do all of them. Of course she needed an explanation. So I told her that they all cost money and we couldn't do everything. After this she was quiet. Apparently she had been mulling it over all day because the first thing she said to Russ when he came home was:

"Dad, do you have tons of money?" Having no idea where this had come from he said "Tons of money?" To which she replied "Yeah. Tons of money. 'Cause I want to do everything. Ballet. Preschool. So do you have tons of money?"

Oh, funny girl.

#17 What Lay Grapenuts?

2009-10-27T01:34:00.001-06:00

Today Brecken was eating grapenuts for breakfast and the following occured:

Brecken: Mom what lay grapenuts?
Me: What what grapenuts?
Brecken: No, what lain grapenuts? Lain
Me: What grapenuts?
Brecken: No, layed. What layed grapenuts?
Me: Do you mean: Who made grapenuts?
Brecken: No. What lay grapenuts?? LAY! What animal? Like chickens lay eggs. What animal lay grapenuts?
Me: (through lots of laughter) OH!!!!!! LAY!!!!!

And then of course I had some explaining to do. :) The mind of four year olds... too funny.

#16 Mustard

2009-10-27T01:33:00.001-06:00

One night I absentmindedly put mustard on Brecken's plate with her corndog. She does not like mustard. She continued to whine and groan and play the end-of-the-world-card (you know three year olds) so I tried to reason with her...
Me: Brecken, why are you acting this way?
Brecken: (in a very whiny voice) Because I don't like mustard!
Me: Do you have to dip your corndog in the mustard?
Brecken: (hesitates) Well, no.
Me: (thinking I've made my point) Well then is it bothering you?
Brecken: Yes.
Me: How is it bothering you?
Brecken: It's... (glares at the mustard on her plate)... teasing me.

#15 Mr. Green Eyes

2009-10-27T01:32:00.001-06:00

Brecken has been having a recurring nightmare about a "Mr. Green-eyes" as she calls him. Trying to get to the source of it all...

Me: Brecken where did Mr. Green-eyes come from?
Brecken: Meanland
Russ: (bursts into laughter)
Brecken: (giving him a cold stare) I'm serious dad. I'm not making this up.

**post edit** we've since watched the movie Bolt with Brecken and now realize where the green eyed man comes from... and it's not Meanland :)

#14 Eyelashes and Wishes

2009-10-27T01:31:00.001-06:00

Me: Brecken, look! An eyelash on my finger! Do you want to make a wish and blow it off? (you've all heard of this right?)
Brecken: (as if reciting poetry) I wish that my heart would fly on the wind with the stars and go into the big blue ocean.
Me: (um.... ok....)
Brecken: (blows... waits ten seconds... gasps) My wish just came true!!

#13 What Means Minute?

2009-10-27T01:30:00.001-06:00

Me: Ok, I'll be done in just a minute
Brecken: What means "a minute"?
Me: A minute is 60 seconds.
Brecken: What means "60"?
Me: It's a number. If you count to 60 that's how many seconds there are in a minute.
Brecken. What means "seconds"?
Me: Well... (how to explain to a three year old...yeah I don't know) I'll be done in a little bit
Brecken: What means "bit"?

hahaha... oh the questions never stop. Oh, and I know her question phrasing skills need tweaked a bit... We'll get to that later.

#12 Silver and Gold

2009-10-27T01:29:00.003-06:00

Brecken: My favorite colors are: Pink. Purple. Gold (this is not news, she says this about 10 times a day)
Me: Wow. Those are pretty colors.
Brecken: What are your favorite colors?
Me: Hmmm.... I like blue... and silver.
Brecken: (somewhat disgusted) Silver?
Me: Yep.
Brecken: (offering me redemption) Do you like silver or gold?
Me: Silver.
Brecken: No, say gold. Do you like silver or gold?
Me: Silver.

Brecken: No, say gold. Do you like silver or gold?
Me: Silver.
Brecken: Say gold. Do you like silver or gold?
Me: (realizing this really isn't going to end until I concede) Gold.
Brecken: (in total surprise) Ha! You like gold??? So do I! You're just like me!

#10 Sittin' in a Tree

2009-10-27T01:27:00.004-06:00

One night while Taylor was playing with a toy lamb...

Russ: Look how much she loves this little lamb.
Brecken. Ha ha! She loves it??
Russ: Yep. Isn't it cute?
Brecken: (to the tune of sittin in a tree... oh, come on you all know it) Taylor and the lamb sittin' in a tree. H-I-J-K-L-M-N-O-P.

Hahaha... I guess when you're in love, you practice the alphabet :)

#11 Faith

2009-10-27T01:27:00.003-06:00

Brecken: Mom, what's faith?
Me: Faith is when you believe in Jesus Christ.
Brecken: I faith. I believe in Jesus Christ.

Wow. What a precious girl!

#9 Yes. Growing Too Fast

2009-10-27T01:26:00.002-06:00

While I was making dinner one night Brecken wanted to see what I was stirring on the stove so she asked me to hold her. I told her I couldn't because I had to stir... and it was hot. She then said:

"I don't like being so small! I know. I know. I'm growing so fast. You can't believe it. But right now, I'm not big enough."

Poor little girl... She is growing too fast. And I can't believe it.

#8 Kind. Nice. Same thing.

2009-10-27T01:25:00.001-06:00

"I'm making a tea party in my room!!! It has dolls, and animals, and necklaces... All NICE of things!"

Kind... Nice... What's the difference ? :)

#7 The Spirit was Willing...

2009-10-27T01:24:00.001-06:00

One day Brecken was playing with Taylor when Taylor abruptly burst into tears. I quickly ran to Taylor, picked her up and asked Brecken what happened. She informed me that she had pinched Taylor. Needless to say I was shocked (one, that she had pinched her, and two, that she had told me she pinched her). After asking Brecken why she would do that she replied:

"Well. My body was saying I want to pinch her. My mind kept telling me that I shouldn't... but my whole body just wanted to. My mind kept saying no, but then my body just did it."

#6 Moms Know Everything. Dads... well...

2009-10-27T01:23:00.001-06:00

Brecken: Mom, do you know everything?
Me: (tempted to say yes, but... I played it safe) No, not everything.Brecken: How did you know I was in dad's office? (I had found her in there getting into stuff she wasn't supposed to)
Me: Well sometimes as you get bigger you just know more things.
Brecken: Does daddy know?
Me: Know what?Brecken: Anything?

I love it. She wonders if I know everything, and wants to know if daddy knows anything. Those are the questions I ask myself sometimes (hahahaha)

#5 Let's Call This One... Vanity

2009-10-27T01:22:00.004-06:00

Brecken: Mom, I am more beautiful than anyone.
Me: You are pretty hon, but it's not nice to say that you are prettier than other people.
Brecken: But I am.
Me: Well you are pretty, but let's not say that you are prettier than other people. Ok?
Brecken: Why?
Me: It's just not very nice. How would it make you feel if I said that I was prettier than you?
Brecken: Sad... but... I'm prettier than you.

Clearly self esteem is not going to be the problem with Brecken.

#4 I'm Big. You're Little.

2009-10-27T01:21:00.004-06:00

While I was cleaning the shower one day Taylor started crying so I asked Brecken if she could go sing to her to help her stop crying (which normally they both love). This is what I overheard:

Taylor: (crying)
Brecken: (singing) Twinkle twinkle little star...
Taylor: (still crying)
Brecken: (in a stern voice) Look. I'm Brecken. You're Taylor. I'm your big sister. You're my little sister. You have to do what I say. You have to stop crying right now. I am tired of having to sing to you. Do you understand me??
Taylor: (silent)

Ok... So it really wasn't cute... per se... but it did make me laugh. I really hope this isn't a foreshadow of their relationship growing up... sigh...

#3 Sleeping with Mommy

2009-10-27T01:21:00.003-06:00

One morning after Brecken had climbed into bed with us in the middle of the night...

Me: Brecken, what woke you up last night? Why did you come into bed with us?
Brecken: Oh. Color woke me up (Color is the name of the stuffed bear she sleeps with).
Me: Color did?
Brecken: Yeah he said (in a high pitched voice) "Brecken wake up. I want to go sleep with your mom and dad. Lets go." (and now in her own voice) So I had to come so Color wouldn't be scared.

#2 Mad at Myself

2009-10-27T01:20:00.002-06:00

Brecken had just said something pretty angrily to me and realized she was about to get in trouble...

Brecken: (nervous laughter) No, no, no.... I wasn't talking to you, mom.
Me: You weren't?
Brecken: No, I was talking to me!
Me: (silent, yet unconvinced)
Brecken: (continuing on with the facade) Oh! Brecken! You just make me so mad! (punches forehead) Stop doing that!..... See I was talking to her... me.

#1 Christmas... Guy?

2009-10-27T01:18:00.001-06:00

Brecken: (pointing to a toy cat) Mom, who gave me this cat?
Me: Santa Clause brought that for you.
Brecken: (smiling) Oh. I just love Santa. He's my best... (pause).... Christmas guy. (she must have decided friend wasn't quite the right word for Santa)

Oh, I love my Brecken!!