The Compliment

With Christmas fast approaching, Danny was a bit more congenial.  Overcome by the holiday spirit, he decided to give James a compliment instead his usual affront.  Putting his arm around him, Danny said to James,  " Your butt isn't as smelly as it usually is." Ahh, the season of joy.  (12/10)

The Wonder Pets Flaw

Katie, home sick with a fever, was laying on the couch most of the day. When I heard The Wonder Pets on TV, a show she despises, I knew she must've fallen asleep. As I enter the room, I hear the trademark lyrics "the phone, the phone is ringing..." to where I find James sitting on the couch with a look on his face. He turns to me and says, "No wonder Katie doesn't like this show. It's not even a phone! It's a cheap tin can!" (11/23/11)

How to Pick a Pumpkin

Danny's advice to James before going pumpkin picking:  "The dude doesn't pick the pumpkin; the pumpkin picks the dude." (10/3/10)

No Refunds

Over the summer, Katie held a "garage sale" where she sold some of her belongings to family members and was happy with her profits.   This morning, while in our bedroom, she came across a paperweight with her photo in it that she had made in school.   She asked Tom, "Hey! What are you doing with this?  This is mine!"   Tom, having bought it at her  garage sale, replied, "You sold it to me, remember?"  While examining it in her hand, she said, "Well, I'm taking it.  I need it for my book."   Defeated, Tom said, "Then can I  have my money back?"  Already running out of the room, she yelled, "Sorry! No refunds!" as she slammed her bedroom door.   (10/1/11)

The Tweeter

I have a human twitter account. The name is Katie and she tweets everything we do from an open window in the living room or from the curb of our sidewalk. If you want my status update, just pass by my house and you can have all the info you need.  Her latest tweet from the living room window was to our neighbor: "Hi! I'm coming outside right after my mom gets dressed.  She just got out of the shower!"  (9/4/11)

Circumventing the Rule

After the constant bickering escalated to name calling, I shouted, "Alright, now everyone stop it! There will be no more name calling in this house."  Danny immediately turned to his sister and said, "Katie, I need you to come outside with me a minute.  I have something to tell you." 
(8/2/11)

The Prayer Explanation

Katie asked me, after hearing the words of the Our Father prayer, "What does 'deliver us from evil' mean?".  Trying to come up with an answer that she could understand, I said, "It means that we are asking God to protect us from bad things that can hurt us."  She inched her face close to mine, looked at me, nose to nose, and whispered with all seriousness, "You mean like alligators?" (8/6/11)