Yard Boy

Leaving our house yesterday, John and I had this discussion:

SJ: Remember we raked the yard yesterday John? The wind blew more leaves and you can't tell now.

J: Mommy needs a bag. (He helps me stand up the tall yard waste bags when we rake.)

SJ: Mommy needs a yard boy.

J: I a yard boy!

John is drinking from a cup without a lid, and we've talked about how careful he must be. Yesterday at breakfast:

J: Where's my milk? (a la Al Bundy)

SJ: John, that's not how you ask for milk.

J: Where's my milk please Mommy?

SJ: Here you go.

J: Be careful, Mommy. Be big careful!

And his favorite phrase these days after he's done something that's not funny at all--"That funny!?" and everything is silly.

SJ: John, be gentle with your brother.

J: Ha! That funny, Mommy?

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At the table...

J: Silly chip in my milk! How'd that chip get in there?

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While playing basketball...

J: Silly basketball go in the basket! That funny!

Drawing and Talking

Young John is always up to something. We keep scissors, pens, paper, utensils, cups of water, and anything else that can spill or end up on the floor or walls out of his reach since he knows how to use a lot of things, just not always on the right mediums. Often, he'll find a piece of paper (usually my grocery list) and a pen close by and ask, "John color?" I let him, since I'm usually in the middle of something and it won't harm.

Well, earlier this week, we saw a large crane travel down our small street and our curiosity was piqued. Turns out, a neighbor needed a tree removed and they had little space to get it down, so the tree company brought in a crane to help with the job. We watched a harnessed man dangle from the crane armed with a chain saw cut branches that were lowered down, chopped up and place in a dump truck or the chipper. It was quite a site.

We came home and John and I were in the kitchen and he's at the counter. I notice he's "coloring". I told him it was ok and a few minutes later he brings me this.

"Look, Mommy. I draw the crane and the tree. See it? See it right there?"

People, my kid can draw! Ignore my (anemic) meal plan and you'll see a stalky tree on the right complete with grass at the bottom. And those diagonal parallel lines to the left? That's the crane.