7 Feb
Ava: Are we done now? Can we go back home?
Mom: Almost, one more stop.
Ava: Ugh, where?
Mom: The liquor store…
Ava: Can we get candy there!?!
Mom: No.
Ava: Why?!
Mom: Because.
Ava: Because is not a reason.
Mom: Because they don’t sell candy.
Ava: Of course they do! They sell LICORICE.
Mom: What?
Ava: It’s a LICORICE STORE.
10 Jan
Bryan: Now where am I supposed to put this?
Bec: IN THE GARBAGE.
Bry: But it’s perfectly good fake puke!
23 Dec
Ava: Is Mrs. Claus real?
Bec: What do you think?
Ava: I don’t know…
Bry: Of course she is. Do you think Santa is organized enough to pull off something as big as Christmas all by himself? He needs a woman’s help.
18 Nov
Bryan, upon fixing the broken dishwasher: Yeah! Why don’t you blog that shit?!
14 Oct
Ava is still very camera shy these days–she bolts the moment I bring her into focus, and I’m left with a blurry shot of her running away. Still, though, she keeps us entertained…
Ava: Mom, do you know why I have a new laugh?
Mom: I noticed that! Why?
Ava: Because I forgot my old one.
4 Oct
Mom: Ava, you need to pick up all your other toys before we get out the Play-Doh.
Ava: This the WORST thing I have ever had to do IN MY ENTIRE LIFE. I am really frustrated. REALLY FRUSTRATED.
16 Sep
I made chili for dinner tonight and served it with sour cream, cheese and avocados. NOT ONE PERSON groused about it. Everyone sat down and NO ONE WHINED. Here’s what transpired when I commented on this monumental accomplishment:
Ava: Yeah, Mom, I even like this.
Bry: Well, Livie’s only eating the sour cream, so…
I knew it was too good to be true!
3 Sep
Ava, lecturing her parents: “I need to have a talk with you two. You are not keeping the earth healthy. I just went upstairs, and I found the bathroom light on, and your bedroom light was on too.”
It’s hard to criticize her tone when she’s so right. I just hope she doesn’t learn about CO2 emissions any time soon.
30 Aug
Parents need to have pretty thick skin–EVERYONE has an opinion about how you are raising your children.
I was reminded of this early today when we brought the potty chair out of storage for Olivia. She has been telling us when she needs to have her diaper changed, and she’s even been giving us a bit of warning in some cases. We thought she might be interested in this option, but our efforts haven’t been supported by all.
“You’re potty training Olivia?” The voice dripped with incredulous skepticism. “She’s not even two yet.”
The critic here?
My four year old.
13 Aug
Lately, I have been looking for main dish recipes that don’t involve a lot of starches, and I thought this one for Balsamic and Tomato Roast Chicken was particularly pretty. Plus, it made use of the eggplant Bryan picked up from a co-worker, and—of course—basil.
Ava and Bryan, though, were not pleased. Bryan picked through it, asking me three times if eggplants were really supposed to be so seedy, and Ava was quite concerned about the capers. I thought it was great, though I agree eggplant is far better breaded and baked Liana-style.
The next night, I made a tuna, avocado and green bean salad. When Ava saw me crack the can of tuna, she said, “EW! I am NOT eating cat food!” I assured her that it was not cat food, but as we said down to the table she squawked, “MOM! I AM BEGGING YOU, PLEASE DO NOT EAT THE CAT’S FOOD!”
I finally talked her into trying it. Her response? “Yuck. That means ‘I don’t like that’ in Spanish.”
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