mussel beach

"I made a cake."

collaborations

Here are Evan and Sage sharing a Coke at the Steamboat Springs Rodeo:

Evan had the pen because he was working on his newest comic strip, "Porcupine Get Out of My House" (concept/title suggested by Sage):

another shopworn simile

Evan: "My pinky toe sort of lies on its side."

Eric: "Mine too."

Evan: "It's like the bad boy in the band photo, turning its back on the other members."

etymology

When you violate the laws of this land, Evan points out, you sicken the American eagle. Thus: ill-eagle.

silly party

Yesterday, Evan and I enjoyed a game of rock-paper-scissors-spider-gun-steamroller-professional wrestler-clam-shark-sniper. I think we both lost.

the difference between kid #1 and kid #2

Evan (age 4): "Daddy, is this a waterproof band-aid?"

Eric: "I have no idea, Evan. I'm sure it'll be all right in the pool. But I can check on the box and see."

***

Sage: "Daddy, is this a waterproof band-aid?"

Eric: "Yes."

watching "the karate kid"

Sage: "I need to work out."

many hands make light work

Sonja: "Evan, finish picking up your room!"

Evan: "I'm finished!"

Sonja: "No you're not, Evan. I need you to pick up all the little stuff on the floor so I can vacuum."

Evan: "The vacuum will suck up that stuff."

Sonja: "It won't suck up rocks!"

Evan: "Well Sage isn't helping at all."

Sonja: "Why don't you give her some direction?"

Evan: "Sage, here's your direction: clean the room."

Sonja: "You both need to get busy cleaning."

Evan: "I wish I were an octopus."

Sage (singing enthusiastically): "I'm an octopus who doesn't like to clean, doesn't like to clean, doesn't like to clean!"

the tooth will out

Sage: "Do you know where my sweet tooth is?"

Eric: "No."

Sage (points to left front tooth): "It's right here."

stage fright

I type this during an intermission (or perhaps an armistice) in the most violent play I've ever seen. It's being staged by Evan, Sage and Evan's friend Gaby. I have no idea what it's called or what it's about -- there's been very little dialogue, just lots and lots of stabbing. Along with the knife, there's a magic wand, but it's being used exclusively to hit people, and also something called "the explodinator."

rain men

Evan: "One time when we were in Oregon and it was raining really hard, my cousin Aidan and I went outside in our underwear and played soccer."

Gaby: "Ew. Gross."

Evan: "I think it's more crazy than gross."

say three cheeses

nice

Sage: "Daaadddy! Evan told me I was a meanie!"

Evan: "Well she isn't giving me..."

Eric: "Listen, listen, you guys need to be nice to each other and share and stop arguing about little things that don't matter."

Evan: "Well Sage isn't being nice to me!"

Eric: "Well you can take the first step."

Evan: "Okay, I'll be the nice one and Sage will be the mean one."

Eric: "Saying it that way is not taking the first step."

Sage: "No, I'm going to take the first step."

Evan: "No I am."

Sage: "No I am!"

the living is easy

Evan enjoying his cherry freeze:

Sage enjoying her retirement:

precious

Evan: "Here's Golem being nice: 'You rocks.'"

just asking

Sage: "Daddy, what if I helped you with the laundry?"

Eric: "Oh sweetie, I can handle the laundry. You can go play. But that's very nice of you to offer to help."

Sage: "I wasn't offering to help."


*This is my 500th post, by the way.