it got purpler

I should add that Sage likes to dress herself.

new prototype

you should be dancing

Evan and his friend Rishi are writing a disco song:

Hello my ladies
from the eighties
dancin' on the floor,
dancin' on the floor.

Do the splits.
Touch your knee.
Eat some grits.
Then go pee!

Yes, it's a bit juvenile, but they're seven years old. You can't expect the sophistication and subtlety of disco classics like "Brick House" and "Shake Your Booty."

pose garden

Sage, on her fourth birthday, in front of the neighbors' azalea. The house is 401 Woodlawn, where Sage's great-great-great-grandmother once lived.

the wait is almost over

horsing around

and the breast is history

Sonja told me this story: Last Friday she took Evan and Sage to hear presentations by the students Topeka Collegiate is sending to the state History Day competition. One was about the history of Barbie. During the question-and-answer period, Evan leaned over to Sonja and told her that he had a comment. She suggested he raise his hand. He did, and was called on, and said, "I think American Girl dolls are better than Barbie dolls because they don't have the boob-things."

on the fence

Evan: "Doesn't that notch on our fence look like a cicada?"

Eric: "Yeah, it really does. I've mistaken it for a cicada before."

Evan: "Me too. I've named it Bill."

school of fish

Eric: "Ready to get out, Sage?"

Sage: "Just one more minute. I'm reading to my class."

the ghost of presents past

Evan: "Um, Daddy, remember that toy airport set that you bought me a few years ago, that had a little Air Force One and a Secret Service SUV and stuff?"

Eric: "Yeah."

Evan: "That was kind of a lame toy."

Eric: "Oh."

Evan (hugging me): "I don't mean to hurt your feelings, though."

Eric: "Hmm. Then why did you tell me that?"

Evan: "It's sort of been haunting me."

spring chickens

foiled again

My sweet tooth is officially notorious. Here's what I just pulled out of a bag of Easter candy:

killing time outside H&R Block

no fooling

Sage came into the kitchen this morning and announced, "Mommy said we're having a big bowl of onions for breakfast. April Trick!"