{Vocabulary}

I attended a training once in which we learned that the children in households where adults have college degrees have a broader vocabulary.  Most of the time (I mean there are always exceptions, right?), these families, in addition to being more educated, also have very different lifestyles than families of parents who are not educated and are maybe, say, on welfare.  Kids in these educated households were exposed to more language.  And I don't mean that the parents sit down and said "ok today we are going to learn what 'juxtaposition' means."  But in everyday conversation, the educated parents were using more words and bigger words.  The example I remember was that this "educated family" might have a conversation such as:
"So what do you want to do for dinner?"
"Oh I don't know.  Let's go out somewhere."
"Ok, I'll call Mariachi's and make reservations."

The presenter basically told us "Kids on welfare don't make reservations so they wouldn't really be exposed to that word."  It made a lot of sense to me.

My kids teachers and my other co-workers tell me all the time "Mason talks so well."  And while I know Brandon and I probably have something to do with it, Mason also has the best little language teacher around in Ellie.  But Mason is also a sponge.  SPONGE.  He picks up everything.  He picks up things in ways that Ellie did not.

He learns things from tv.  I told ya'll the story of all the things he is learning on tv, right?  He can see a show or movie once and then recognize the characters anywhere.  (Ellie is not that way.  We are currently struggling to get a birthday list from her.  She is evidently not influenced by pop culture???)

And lately I have noticed more and more things that I know he is picking up somewhere.  A lot of it, I hear from his teachers.  He'll say things like "Oopsy daisy!" or "OH sorry Mom (yeah MOM, where did that come from???) That's my fault!" if he drops something.  It all just cracks me up.

But his most interesting mimic came while he was staying with my parents a few weeks ago.  Now I KNOW without any doubt that he did NOT learn it at my parents house.  Not that they are saints or anything, but I just know they don't talk this way.  This new little phrase, which I will not type here, is a three word phrase that ends with an emphatic IT.  I have been privy to hearing it pass his little lips twice now- once in the bathtub and once this very morning in my closet while trying to get his shoes on.

Mason is that kid who you say "Mason, you need to sit down in the chair."   and he will push you until you go to him and sit him down.  And he is still likely to stand back up just to spite you.  And glare.  And dare you to try to get him to sit down again.  So I feel like any punishment or reaction when that darling phrase escapes his little lips will only serve to reinforce the reaction he is seeking.  (Yeah I have learned a lot working in Early Childhood Education!) My mom came up with the idea to just simply say "Oh let's don't say that!  Say: 'Hallelujah, Praise the LORD!'"  (Which is actually another phrase he loves saying.  And no we don't go to a church where they dance in the aisles.)

When he said "the phrase that will not be mentioned" this morning, I resisted, HARD as it was, from popping his sassy little mouth.  I gained my composure and did as Nana instructed with as little reaction as I could muster.  He repeated "Howyalooyuh!  Praise dee Lord!" and we went about our business.  So when you hear him singing the Lord's praises, you know what he really means.

And let's talk about where he learned that other little phrase...Shall we?  I asked him.  He first told me he heard it from a teacher.  Which I actually believe, though I have never heard it from her myself.  Then...THEN he told me that "Daddy says that!"  And really, what little boy doesn't want to be just like Daddy?  And yes, I can attest to the fact that while Brandon and his Purdue education have taught our kids words like "reservations", he has also shared not so nice words with them.  Words that I say "You better watch it!  They are going to pick this stuff up!"

(Now I will give the disclaimer that I taught Mason "shit".  We were moving, I walked to one door and it was locked, I said "shit" and Mason repeated "shit shit shit shit shit".  But he hasn't ever said it again.)

Hopefully from here on out, we can work on words like  propinquity, maritorious, inevitable and possibly coprolalia.

{Sweet Summer}

Yes, I know it's been a long time.  All I can say is SORRY!!!  Wait, what?  This is the first time you've checked the blog in a few weeks.  Ah well, then I see we are on the same schedule.

We are off to a fabulous summer.  We've been spending lots of time at the pool.  (My aunt and uncle have a pool and they like my kids a lot so they let me come along with the kids)  We have had a babysitter a grand total of THREE times and Brandon and I have gone to adult get togethers.  And everyone survived.  Even though the kids are still talking about it like it was total torture to watch Toy Story on a "palace" (pallet) and eat popscicles in the living room which is totally against the rules.  But really what fun is a babysitter if you don't break the rules?  Not fun according to Ellie. More on that later.

This week Ellie is at my parents for Vacation Bible School at their church.  She is having a BALL.  As per usual she is having another first at Nana's...A play date!  No, we have never had other kids, besides family, to our house.  Are you judging me?  Quit!  The thing is that I don't have any close friends with kids her age that she knows well.  But, she was lucky enough to be in VBS with my parent's back door neighbor and Ellie and their little girl have hit it off so Jennifer (cute name, huh?) is coming over to play this afternoon.  I hope this will be the beginning of many play dates.  I am really hoping that she will make some playdateable friends in Kindergarten.

Brandon is also out of town so Mason and I have been hanging out the past two days and I am really enjoying it.   It occurred to me on Sunday afternoon after we left Ellie at my parents that Mason and I get very very little one on one time.  I know it is surprising, but Ellie monopolizes the conversation and in general gets her way in most all situations.  I mean I DO have rule and she does mind me, but We are both missing his sister and Brandon very much, but we are both also really enjoying our time together.  In general, Mason is a super chill kiddo and he makes me laugh so much.  


And did I mention that my kids are GROWN?  Well, they are.  It is both awesome and horrible at the same time.  Gone are the days of naps being on time or having to be sure we had something they would eat or staying close to a potty or carrying a bag with us all the time.  My kids are potty trained and eat pretty much usual kid fare.  They do better with naps, but it is not the end of the world if they don't get one.  And they do not need my constant supervision.  This has enabled to to spend so much time at the pool.  It has enabled me to do more around the house.  When I'm not at the pool.  Why is it horrible?  Well, Mason is just still barely small enough for me to pick up over my head without throwing out my back.  And Ellie, well, I can barely lift her.  No one really needs to be rocked.  Mason called me Jennifer for a few hours the other day.  (I told him we are not on a first name basis) And they are just SO BIG.

The only reason the whole growing up thing really bothers me is this:  What if they turn out to be punks???  I mean obviously I love my mom and spend oodles of time with her.  I respect her opinions and I still need her. But what if they don't???  And with every day that they become more independent, we inch closer to the day one of them is going to drive off in a car with a boy or ask a girl on a date (obviously you know which is which).  I mean, first it's Kindergarten and what next??? Do not answer!
Ok, panic attack over.

On other news: we had a nice visit with Brandon's mom a couple of weeks ago.  She came down from IN for the afternoon and entertained the kids while I did laundry and sat on the couch.  Amazing.
I am volunteering for VBS at our church in a couple of weeks.  My assignment?  CRAFTS.  Seriously?  I don't consider myself particularly crafty.  I mean I am crafty in some ways, but I am not creative per se.  However, it seems they have the activities all set, they give you the supplies and you just have to help the kids put it all together.  I think I can handle that.  BUT, last night at the organization meeting they told us they are expecting 150-180 kids.  HELLO!  That's a lotta crafting.

I am taking a staycation the week after the July 4 holiday.  I haven't made all the plans yet but I hope to get the house all neat and clean, get some easy meals prepped, eat out some, relax and enjoy my family.  We weren't planning on a big vacation this summer because we were going to do a beach trip during Fall Break.  I am SO hoping BP will come through and get things cleaned up before then!  I haven't been to the beach in two years and I am having withdrawals!!!