Build a Better Burger

Recently, while dining on turkey burgers, Ruby had her own idea for a delicious combination of taste sensations.

Her brilliant addition?

Toothpaste.

We looked up after hearing Cici gasp loudly to see Ruby squeezing a sizable amount of toothpaste across the top of her turkey burger. We scraped it off, covered it with ketchup, and were good to go.

But Which Goblin Was Richard Dreyfuss?

Two pop-culture references in the same night!

Dadam [reading The Rainbow Goblins]: "Once there was a land that lived in fear of seven goblins. They were called the Rainbow Goblins and each had his own color. . . . Yellow, being the craftiest, was their chief."

Cici: What does 'craftiest' mean?

Dadam: It means he was the smartest. Do you know what 'chief' means?

Cici: What?

Dadam: It means he was the boss.

Cici: Oh . . . yeah, like Chief Brody!

An unexpected tribute to the late Roy Scheider. I think as of today my children are now officially more movie-savvy than I am. . . .

Wrong Movie, Rubes.

Dadam [reading aloud from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs]: "'Love's first kiss - ha!' the Queen cackled. 'No fear of that. The dwarfs will think she's dead! She'll be - [scary voice] BURIED ALIVE!'"

Cici [scarier voice]: BURIED ALIVE!

Ruby [scariest voice]: I DRINK YOUR MILKSHAKE!!!!!

Should We Be Worried?

As a reward for Ruby's pooping success, we took the girls to the Mall to ride some rides. Here they are on a little train, about to take off. Doesn't it look like they're plotting against their parents?

God Bless You, Cici.

Ruby: Hi, I'm Hannah Montana! Hi, I'm Hannah Montana!

Dadam: Ruby, where did you learn that?

Ruby: At daycare.

Cici: What is she saying?

Dadam: She said, 'Hi, I'm Hannah Montana.'

Cici: Who's Hannah Montana?

As a Matter of Fact . . .

Cici, listening to Carmen on the radio today: Are they singing in French or what?

Dance Report.

Cici's elementary school had its all-school dance last night, and unfortunately Momlissa and I both had previous commitments and weren't able to go. Happily, Auntie Landi and Auntie Sarah were able to come and take the girls, and everyone had a great time, from the sound of it. We'll post some pictures by early next week, but we wanted to share this report from Auntie Landi (note the description of Ruby in the second paragraph):

Sarah, me and the girlies had a great time last night! Inside of 60 seconds Cici was off playing a marathon game of tag with a dozen of her friends, and then Ruby was upset because she wanted to play with Cici. The girls really got to run around and stretch their legs!

We were kept busy because Ruby did not want to be around us. She preferred being around the other kids. A few times she went up to a group of "big" kids and just stood there hoping they would notice her. It was very funny!

Another Protest Letter.

Last night Cici was overtired and pouty at bedtime, and ultimately I told her that if she didn't want to cooperate with me she could just put herself to bed. I went downstairs, and it was only a few moments later when a note was delivered into my hands; it read:

Dad - I am thersty and I am tiyrt uv this.

You Said a Mouthful, Kid.

Dadam: What kind of cereal do you want, Ruby, Cheerios or Raisin Brain?

Ruby: Um, Cheerios.

Dadam: Okay.

Ruby: Yeah, I don't want Raisin Brain, because I'm going crazy.

Family Matters.

As we mentioned in a previous post, Ruby had been showing interest in potty training again, and after another frustrating false start she really seems to be getting it now (knock wood).

She's now gotten in the fun habit of nicknaming what she sees after she's finished on the toilet as the "Daddy Poop" and "Baby Poop," based, naturally, on the size of the items in question.

Well, last night she was sitting on the toilet for a while, when she took a peek beneath her and gasped.

"What is it, Ruby?" I asked.

"A family!"

"Richard asked if he could be my boyfriend!"

First of all, no, Cici does not have a boyfriend.

But she apparently could have at least one, if she wanted. Yesterday when she came home from school she had something very funny to share with the family, and she could barely get through telling us without snorting with laughter.

“Richard asked if he could be my boyfriend!” [snort]

Well, what did you tell him?

[Louder snort, as if the very question is ludicrous.] “No!”

Why not?

“Because I’m just a kid! Kids don’t have boyfriends.”

Oh, really?

“You can’t have a boyfriend until you’re fifteen.”

Not sure where she got that idea, but if it’s OK with her it’s OK with me. But what about Atty, whom she had previously said she was going to marry?

“Nah, Atty’s just my friend.”

Oh, not your boyfriend?

[snort!] “No!”

Enjoy these days while they last, right?

More Vocab.

[Dadam is showing Cici flashcards with letter sounds on them, and asking if she can think of any words that start with them. The letter is 'c,' but specifically a 'c' that makes an 's' sound; the example on the card was 'city.']

Dadam: Okay, Cici, do you know any words that start with 'c' but make an 's' sound?

Cici [grinning]: 'Cici.'

Dadam: Yep, that's right. Can you think of any others?

Cici: 'Cecilia'!

Dadam: Well, of course. Anything else?

Cici: Um . . . 'singing'?

Dadam: No, 'singing' starts with an 's.'

Cici: 'Sounds'?

Dadam: No, that's also with an 's.'

Cici [after a long pause]: Hm . . . oh, I think I know, but - it's a naughty word.

Dadam: It is? What is it?

Cici: No, I can't tell you.

Dadam: Well, just whisper it to me.

Cici [whispering]: Is it 'shit'?

Is this a terrifying image or what?

Pizza Party

The other night we had over Auntie Landi and Bill and ordered pizza for dinner. The next morning Ruby discovered there was leftover pizza, and thought it would make for a delicious breakfast. Here she is, having recently arisen, wearing her bathrobe and eating pizza. That's our Ruby girl...

(Not to worry, I'm sure she ate vegetables at some point that day.)

Another Book by Cici.

This one she describes as a "poem." ("You can even sing it!")

I love my mom and dad, I love Cutie head

I am happy, soso happy i am Kylee and Shainy best frend [picture of car]

I am happy that you are my mom and dad

Hi Grandma, Grandpa, be happy

Soso happy all day

Hi mom and dad, I love you.

Haircut

Ruby got her first haircut last week, at 2 years and 9 months. We went to a local Great Clips where she sat quietly and patiently in the chair like a very good girl. When it was all over we made sure to grab a few locks for her baby book, but otherwise it was a very quick and easy experience.