she admits it

Eric: "So who's going?"

Sonja: "I can't go. I've got too much work to do."

Sage: "I can't go, because I'm not able to drive."

found in Evan's backpack

We've discovered someone almost as fond of Evan as we are.

you'd better disappear

Evan asked me not to sing him a lullaby tonight, because he wanted "to keep 'Beat It' stuck in my head."

the chef

I don't know how he got the bubbles to assume or stay in that shape, but they did for quite some time.

a truth universally acknowledged

If children have a religion, it is "underwear." That word's sublimity is the one thing all children agree on:

"Sundown, you better take care, / if I find you've been sleepin' in my underwear."

Howls of laughter.

look out

A Yahoo! News headline: "'Fearless' 3-Year-Olds Might Be Tomorrow's Criminals"


Uh-oh.

highlights from the kids' Christmas lists

Evan:
"spy kit with briefcase"
"ninja costume"
"police kit"
"Eyeclops night-vision binoculars"

Sage:
"Whoopsie Doo" (Evan explains: "It's a robotic doll that poops and you change its diaper.")
"a brown and black horsey with a working nose on it"
"My Little Pony"
"a tiger with alligator teeth"

miss pronunciation

Of all of Sage's endearing mispronunciations, the one I'm going to miss the most when she grows out of it is "Care me" (for "Carry me"). Runner up: "gorilla bar" (for "granola bar").

waiting in the car for Mommy

Yes, he's still wearing that SWAT costume pretty much every day:

some pig

Other possible titles for this post: hog wild; ham on the lam. I think this may be the prequel to "The big pig hid."

that's my boy

Evan was drawing in three dimensions before he started kindergarten. I have yet to draw in three dimensions.

thanks, mostly

When I picked Evan up from school he gave me a huge hug and said, "Today my desk made this weird squeak that kind of reminded me of your laugh, and that made me really miss you."

give or take

Eric: "Your teacher had her baby?"

Sage: "Yes!"

Eric: "What's the baby's name?"

Sage: "Estella Marie!"

Eric: "Wow! What a great name! Is Estella a little baby or a big baby?"

Sage: "A big baby!"

Eric: "Wow. Do you know how much she weighed?"

Sage: "Yes! Fifty-nine pounds!"

face time

spooky and classified

Today we had a conference with Evan's teachers. They told us to be sure to check out the student writing on the wall outside the classroom as we left. Although the pieces were anonymous, they said, we wouldn't have any trouble spotting Evan's:

Could this be it? Nah.


Aha!

["I am spooky and classified. I like secret agents, FBI, and CIA. I like Swat teams, police, and speshell forces. I like law and investigating crime seens. I like forensics and taking fingerprints. I do not like bullies, getting hurt or princesis. my favorite color is pink. When I grow up I am going to be a forensic sintist. I might be on the swat team or a police officer."]

fall, front yard

keeping the neighborhood safe


still life

Gage Park II

And here are a few for Andrew and Duncan:




The paint was a little fresher in '77, but she's still a mighty fine vessel:

just saying

My daughter is happily dozing in a zipper-front sweatshirt I spent half an hour insisting was "not pajamas." If it's a battle of wills, the smart money is always on Sage.

sounds like a plan

Evan: "Hey, Sage. How about we're famous actors, and you're the cutest one and I'm the awesomest one, and we have to wear disguises wherever we go, and..." [moves, sadly, out of earshot]

Sage advice

things you should avoid in the woods:

1. poison ivy
2. a moose


things you need not avoid:

1. a nice moose