the rock

We tried explaining to Ty the difference between the two presidential candidates the other night - telling him a few fundamental differences as well as showing him a picture of both. We asked him who he wanted to vote for and why. Ty said "I want the Rock Obama to win because I like his name and his cheeks are smaller than John McCain's." I agree, there is a subtle ring to the name of Barak Obama, and yes, his cheeks are smaller than John's.

Barak really wants my vote I tell you. I've had 2 phone calls, a set of Obama girls come to my door, and twice a set of Bama guys trying to sway my vote. I don't think I've even seen a sign posted for McCain here in B-town. Today they finally marked me off their list because I said I was leaning towards Obama. I don't know if I told them I was leaning towards Obama because I wanted them to stop coming over to my house, or if I was impressed that they were doing so much to get the word out and voters on their side, OR if I really like him more than McCain. Honestly, my following of the campaign has been primarily from SNL. I really do care about stuff, but I just feel so skeptical about any information given, especially information trashing the other opponent. And so for now, I too am left with judging sizes of cheeks and the resonating sound of names. I guess the question is, are smaller cheeks more presidential?

disease

**I know, another playground post, but with 80 degree weather in October, it's all that's happenin' here.**

We met a new kid at the playground last week, Zeek. Our conversation while walking home from the park:

Ty: I like disease. That's such a cool name.

Me: What?

Ty: Disease. The boy.

Me: Who?

Ty: The boy Da Zeez. Ya know, like two Z's?

Me: Who?

Ty: Zeez!

Me: Oh, Zeek?

Ty: Yeah, Zeez.

pussy cat, pussy cat

Pussycat, pussycat, where have you been?
I've been up to London to visit the Queen.
Pussycat, pussycat, what did you dare?
I frightened a little mouse under her chair.
MEOW!

The origins of the nursery rhyme:
The origins of this rhyme goes back to the history of 16th century Tudor England. One of the staff of Queen Elizabeth had an old cat which tended to roam throughout one of her castles. On one occasion the cat went underneath the throne and the cat's tail brushed against the Queen's foot, startling her. But 'Good Queen Bess' had a sense of humour and declared that the cat may wander through the throne room on condition it kept it free of mice!

Why is this poem still around? Seriously!?? Why does my little boy and his friends think it is fun to say the first half of the phrase: pussy? Of course when they say it, they are meaning cat. I wish they had a better word to throw around... why this word? My friend's philosophy is that they just like the way the word sounds and thus like to say it. Her son saw a Tom & Jerry episode that they rented from the library in which one of the characters called another, "Pussy Cat!" So her son started saying the abbreviated version. Now the word has rubbed off on Ty. Another friend from their little gang started screaming it while they were out playing on the neighborhood street, also just saying it in innocence. His mom finally had to explain to him that he can say pussy cat, but not pussy. These are 4 year olds my friends. I hate that I have to explain this to Ty, first because Ty will want to know why he can't say it and what it means . . . not going there yet, second because it and he are so innocent, and if we were living 60 years back in the day it probably wouldn't be an issue. But I can't have him saying the word in front of other people, right? On some level this is funny, just hard to really say which level that is?

It's a good thing half of Beckham's vocabulary is in Spanish. He's sticking with gato.

insults

I got a double whammy today - both from the same kid - right in a row.

"Ow! The skin on your leg is sharp."

and

"You have a baby in your tummy!"

If it came from anyone else, I wouldn't have laughed.

And just to clarify: No, I do not have a baby in my tummy.

the question

Today Ty noticed a picture of a pregnant lady on a yogurt container during lunch and asked me, "Mom, how does the baby get out?" I knew this question would come some day, and I was really happy that it wasn't the other question: how do babies get in there? I just ignored the question at first hoping it would go away because I didn't know what to say. He asked 2 more times getting frustrated with me by the third time, "Mo-om, how does the baby get out of the tummy?" I delayed a little longer, trying to think of something to say that was truthful without having to really say it.... Then he said, "Does it pop out?" I laughed and said, "Yeah, well, kind of..." It's funny to me when your kids say something and you know what is going on in their heads, like how he formulated that a baby could pop out.... Then he asked, "Does it come out of the belly button?" I knew I had to give him an answer, so I simply told him that the baby comes out of the mommy's private. He said "Oh," and finished his lunch. And that was it. Phew! I seriously don't know what I'll say when I get asked the other question. Any suggestions?

tyty sweetie-pie

This is the first picture that Ty has drawn of a person (well, people) - unprompted. It may be hard to tell what it is, but it is a picture of his dad's and Beck's face. The look on his face, the sound in his voice and the anticipation waiting around for my reaction showed how proud of himself he was. I hope I didn't ruin his moment of glory when I asked him where I was... he simply stated that I wasn't on it, then walked away. Hmmmph.

But to make up for it, I am quite sure, about every day for the last couple of weeks Ty has been telling me, "Mom, you are the bestest grill in the world." I'd love to know what brought about this cuteness in him! He just melts my heart! I love him to pieces.

After dinner tonight he pulled a chair up to the sink to rinse his hands off. I noticed after a couple of minutes the water was still running, so I went to take a look see... he had a scrub brush and was washing the dishes... taking a dish, dipping it in the soapy water, scrubbing it and setting it in the other side of the sink. Can you believe it? This made me silently laugh, smile and my heart goo all at the same time! You know I could talk up any of my boys for hrs, but I'll save the other two (hubs and becks) for later. Ty is truly a gem and I just can't get enough of the kid!