Fun with kids

A few things I don't want to forget...

Hannah (cuddling with Daddy): Daddy, I laaaaah you. Daddy, you're my Bear. You're my Misha. You're my Shabbashoes. You're my baby! (all objects very dear to her, so it is high praise indeed.)

Naomi (coloring with Ez on Sunday afternoon): Ezwa, why do you always know what you're making--and why do I not know what I'm making? (It's so sweet the way she naturally looks to him as to an oracle, despite his bullying ways...)

Ezra (poring over camping book): I hope we can go camping real soon. That's the reason why I like having barbecues... and eating marshmallows. It's 'cause I'm getting ready to go camping!

Ezra (running to me): Mom, guess what! I have to tell you something! Naomi found a little boy!!! Watch this. (screaming) Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhh!!!! (echo of unknown, unseen child heard from beyond the trees, saying Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhh!!) See? I told you. (They do it a few more times.)

Naomi (shouting): Where are you? What's your name? 

Ezra: Mom, if I decided to be an astronaut, would I have to stay in space forever?

Ezra: Mom, can you get me my own computer? Shem Tov has his own computer. Ohhhhh..... and I really want an iPod. 

Mom: Do you even know what an iPod is?

Ezra: Yeah! It's this teeeeny computer, and it has earphones, and it plays music.

Mom: Do you know what a Walkman is?

Ezra: No. Ohh, ohh, but Mom! For my birthday, can I pleeeeeez have a cell phone or a computer. One of those two. 

Daddy: How about a patsh? That's free! (very funny...)

We had a fun Sunday. We made pancakes shaped like circus animals--a seal with a ball on its nose (the ball kept breaking off, and getting "tasted"), an elephant, a lion. I tried a new recipe and discovered that beating the eggs to death before adding everything else makes light, airy, fancy-brunch-cafe-worthy pancakes. The kids stayed outside most of the day, and Ezra busied himself hammering to bits a decrepit old barstool--yes, hammering, since we don't own any proper implements--so it could fit in our garbage bin. It took a while, but he did it. I don't claim to understand it, but there's something about violent destruction (lawful in this case) that fills a boy with glee, and inspires him to work up a real sweat. Next, he attended to the needs of his and Naomi's pet worm, Jackie, who lives in a giant upturned storage bin and gets routinely fed and watered (after he's finally found; he's very good at hiding). 

Clark and Agua (the crazy nonsensical and not-quite-clever names of Saul and Jacob, respec-tively) got to ride ride-on cars outside, chew handlebars and each other, and soak up some much-needed Vitamin D. And Hannah and Naomi dressed, undressed, accessorized, were variously shod, and so on, with no one to rush them anywhere.  And that's about it.