Him: (Puts hands on hips) Mommy, this is your wrist. Me: No, your waist. This is your wrist. Him: Oh! It bends your hands? Me: Kind of. And this is your elbow. It bends your arm. Just like your knee bends your leg. Him: And your ankle bends your foot. Me: Okay, that’s pretty close. Him: Mommy, did you know that nipples don’t do anything? Me: Umm…well, they do some things, like… Him: No, they don’t do nothing (stands in a frozen pose, like a statue). They just stand there

Him: (Sigh) “Growing up takes long.” Me: “I don’t want you to grow up too quick. Then I will be an old grandma.” Him: “Why?” Me: Because we get old at the same time. So if you grow up, I will get old.” Him: “Mommy, listen. Even when I grow up and you are old, you can still be my mom. You have to grow up, even if you don’t want to. Okay?” Okay. #lessons

Daddy taught the boys to take turns based on the clock today. He said, “When this number turns to 9, it’s his turn. So they stood in front of the microwave waiting for the 9. Then, it finally changed, and my four year old yells, “It’s here! It turned to 9! Now it’s your turn!” He handed his brother the car. “Now let’s wait until the nine comes again so it can be my turn.” And that is how they “played” with the car--standing at the microwave, waiting for the time to chang

12:00 midnight: The three year old sneaks down and gets into our bed. In an effort to postpone sleep, he begins telling me the story about Jesus. "Jesus isn’t dead no more. Jesus is alive and he lives in my heart." Sometimes when he tells this story he gets heart mixed with belly, which is adorable. Me: “You are right and that is really wonderful, but now you have to go to sleep.” Him (still stalling): “I can’t. I need a glass of water.” Me: “You’ve got Jesus—He will quench y

We witnessed a bird fly into the window this morning. The boys then found the dead bird outside the window. This prompted a very long, very confusing discussion about death. Here are the highlights: “Can we get the bird and bring him inside?” “Did he hurt his little brain and get dead?” “Maybe we can put a Band-Aid on his wing and he will fly away.” “If he is dead, we better check on him every day to make sure he is still dead.” “Did he go to heaven to be with Jesus?” “Jes

Things I tell my old professional colleagues when they ask what I do now: “I’m a domestic engineer.” “I’m doing anthropological research on the effects of living with wild animals.” “I actually haven’t officially stopped working the last two years, but with four kids someone always has strep, or stomach flu, or pinkeye, and I’m almost out of sick days…” “You know how they say it takes a village to raise a child? Well, as a twist, I decided to stay home myself and raise a tri