An Invitation

Today's quote is provided by Ben's teacher...

So, today after Ben shared his show and tell, a girl raised her hand and asked Ben if he would be her best friend. He was genuinely confused by the question and said "What do you mean? We are all best friends in our class!"

Self Image

Benjamin: Mommy, I don't like my body.

Me: Why Ben?

Benjamin: Because I can't see my head.

A Threat to Humanity or Our Next American Idol

Two stories about Ben and Aftercare

One.
So, Ben had gotten all of the boys in aftercare at one table to sing together. Aftercare ranges from Kindergarteners to Fifth Graders. All the girls in aftercare thought this was hilarious. That would be because they were singing Taylor Swift.

Two.
Every day I come to daycare I talk to their teacher Jackie, usually to hear about what trouble they (particularly Ben) have been up to. Today Jackie told Josh that Ben said that if they stop telling me what he's done wrong, he'll sing for them.

Up for a Challenge

Paxton has a math assesment at school tomorrow which his school has been emailing us about. Discussing this in the car...

Mommy: Paxton are you ready for the test tomorrow?

Paxton: Yep. I hope it's hard. I like challenges. My 2 favorite challenges are math and video games.

Proud moment slightly marred by video games reference...I'll take it.

Ben and His Girlfriend

I actually have 2 stories I have to share...

STORY 1

Me: Ben, who do want to invite to your birthday party?

Ben: Well, Dana cuz she's my girlfriend. I want to invite Aiden and Josh too but Dana doesn't like them. Can I invite them and hide them in the other room?

STORY 2

Ben: Mommy, Dana said her mommy said we could come visit their sukkah. And she said that if the baby bites you and you don't fight back you get a toy! That's even counts for guests mommy! I know. I asked her twice.

Josh expects Ben to cover himself in peanut butter to try to get the baby to bite him.

For today's homily, we will reflect on the Book of Grimm

Lyndee and Cubby are visiting this week and last night Joshua told the kids the story of Jack and the Beanstalk for bedtime.  Cubby got a little scared of the giant but he eventually went to sleep no problem.  The next morning:

Cubby:  There's giant in the sky Uncle Josh.

Joshua:  That's right Cubby!

Cubby:  The giants are in castle.

Joshua:  That's exactly right, buddy.  You have a great memory.

Cubby:  The giant want to eat people.  The giant in the sky lives in castle.  In the sky is castle, giant, and Jesus.

The Butterfly Effect

After school yesterday we cam home and I let the boys choose what they were having for lunch. Ben chose a PB&J and Paxton chose apples and peanut butter. While having lunch the following conversation happened.

Paxton: Mommy do you ever wish you could go back in time?

Mommy: Sure that would be cool.

Paxton: What would you do?

Mommy: I'd go back to when you were born so I could see you as a baby again. What would you do?

Paxton: I'd want to go back and change a mistake.

Mommy: A mistake? What mistake would you want to go back and change?

Paxton: I wish I'd asked for a peanut butter and jelly.

Rightie or Leftie

Me: Ben are you right-handed or left-handed?

Benjamin: I'm a rightie, because my Hebrew name means "Son of the Right Hand"

Persuasion

Lately Paxton has been working on persuasive writing at school. Josh tried getting both kids to use it a little more in everyday life.

Josh: Paxton we can eat at On the Border or Carrabba's tonight. But you and Ben have to agree.

Paxton: I want On the Border.

Ben: I want Carrabba's.

Surprise! Arguing ensues...

Josh: Boys, you have to agree otherwise we'll get neither restaurant.  You have to use persuasion.  Tell the other one something about your restaurant that they will like so they decide to change their mind.

Paxton: Ben, we should eat at On the Border because we can have queso and eat sopapillas for dessert and you love sopapillas!

Josh: Very good, Paxton. Ben?

Ben: Paxton, we should eat at Carrabba's because they give us pizza dough to play with. And then after, Daddy can take us to Toys R Us and buy us a toy!

Genetics

Paxton: I get a lot of my parts from Daddy and Ben gets a lot of his parts from Mommy.

Daddy: Actually Paxton you look a lot like Mommy and Ben looks a lot like me.

Mommy: Yeah, Paxton. You and I look like Grandad.

Paxton: What? I'm not old!

Superhero Training

Paxton: First thing you learn when becoming a superhero is how to hold going to the bathroom when you're fighting.

Eating Habits

So one night a week we make something Paxton will actually eat. (i.e., mac n cheese, pizza, quesadillas, etc.) Tonight is one of those nights and we are making chicken nuggets and french fries.

Ben: I don't want french fries.

Daddy: That's okay Ben I'll eat your french fries.

Ben: I don't really want to eat anything.

Daddy: That's okay Ben.

Ben: (Consolingly) At least it's crap.

The Next Spielberg

Ben: Mommy, I'm going to be a moviemaker. I'm going to make Scooby Doo meets Ninja Turtles.

Sustenance

Epic tantrum from Ben tonight. Imagine this conversation with frequent intakes of breath and pouting on his part and a lot of trying not to smirk on my part...

Ben: I wish I could live by myself!

Mommy: How would you eat? Who would feed you?

Ben: I would eat smores.

Mommy: Where would you get smores?

Ben: I would take all of your marshmallows and graham crackers with me.

Mommy: I don't have graham crackers.

Ben: Then I would steal your money jar and buy graham crackers.

Well, at least he has a plan...