Thursday, December 31, 2009

Bye-bye Ah-mo. Bye-bye Go-wah.


Alex: Is Mommy still falling asleep on the sofa?


Alex: The poo-poo’s in my tummy. The goss is in my tummy. And so did the pee-pee.


Alex: May you pick me up?


Alex: This is a lot. Is this too heavy, Daddy?


Claire (pointing at her shirt): Daddy! Fish!
Daddy: Oh, you have a fish on your shirt!
Daddy: Alex, let’s see what’s on your shirt. Looks like there’s a roaring lion on this one.
Alex: Roooooooooooaaaarrrrr! Roooooooooooaaaarrrrr! Roooooooooooaaaarrrrr!
Claire: Fish!
Daddy: Yeah, fish!
Claire (to Mommy): Uh Daddy.
Mommy: Did you tell Daddy?
Alex: Rooooooooooooaaaaaaarrrrrr! Rooooooooooooaaaaaaarrrrrr!


Claire (to Mommy): Uh pants.
Mommy: You like those pants? They’re soft, aren’t they?
Claire (hurrying over to Daddy, pointing at her pants): Uh soft!


(playing in the playroom)

Alex: Here you go, Daddy. Hold these puzzles. I can’t carry heavy puzzles.

Alex: Look at me, putting the puzzle pieces on the mat.
Daddy: I see you putting the puzzle pieces on the mat.
Alex: There’s a lot of puzzle pieces.
Claire: Ah-wah! Ah-wah!
Alex: I’m doing this Claire. I’m not talking to you right now.
(Mommy enters the room, putting on her sweatshirt.)
Claire: Shirt! Shirt!
Mommy: Yeah, it’s my sweatshirt.
Claire: Sha-shee.
Mommy: It’s cold up here.
Claire: Cold.

Alex: Eat this cheese, foot.
Mommy’s foot: I don’t have a mouth.
Alex: Okay, I’ll put you in the water. I put you in the water.
Mommy: Okay.
Alex: Hey! Look at Claire!
Mommy: You silly girl.

Alex: Look at this puzzle, Daddy. See?
Daddy: Yeah.
Alex: Look at me, I’m doing it by myself.
Daddy: Good!
Alex: Claire gave me a little piece of the tractor thing.

Claire: Truck.
Alex: Let’s see. No, that’s… part of the train.
Alex: Daddy, where’s the wheel?

Alex: Let’s open this cat puzzle. Because I ate all my blueberries, I don’t need any more.

Mommy: Is somebody poopy?
Alex: No one!
Claire: Uh poop.


(Daddy is reading Elmo Says.)
Daddy (reading): Elmo says wave bye-bye.
Claire: Bye-bye Ah-mo. Bye-bye Go-wah.
Daddy: Bye-bye.
Claire (pointing at Grover’s eyes): Eyes.
Claire (pointing at Elmo’s mouth): Mouth.
Claire (closing the book): Ah end.


Claire (wanting Daddy to put her baby in her bed): Baby. Bed.


Alex (to Mommy): Are you gonna go get something to get rid of the green light?

Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Claire's Vocabulary (151)



again
Alex
all done
animal
apple
applesauce
Ashleigh
away
baby
back
bag
ball
balloon
banana
basket
bath
beans
bear
Bert
bib
blanket
blueberries
Bobo
Bone
boo-boo
book
box
broke
brush
bubble
bug
bump
bye-bye
cake
car
carry
cat
chair
cheese
choo-choo
clip
clock
close
cold
cookie
cough
cow
crayon
cream
crying
cup
Daddy
dance
dinosaur
dog
down
drops
dry
duck
dump
Elly
Elmo
eye
fall
fast
fish
floor
flower
food
foot
frog
gate
giraffe
go
Grandma
Grover
hand
hat
help
hi
hippo
hot
ice
in
jacket
Juju
lap
Mallory
Mama
man
me
milk
monkey
moon
moose
more
mouth
Nana
napkin
night-night
no
oh
on
outside
owl
paint
pants
pee-pee
pillow
plate
play
playroom
please
Pop
quack
rock
room
rug
run
sack
see
sheep
shirt
shoe
shot
sit
snack
sock
spoon
stool
stroller
that
this
throw
thumb
toast
track
train
trash
tray
truck
turn
turtle
uh-oh
up
waffle
walk
wall
want
water
wet
wow

Uh whoa.


Alex: Daddy, I ate meatballs at school. Meatballs.
Daddy: You ate meatballs?
Alex: Yeah. Miss ah - Miss Tahlia had meatballs.
Daddy: Oh!


Alex: Last time, I said stupid car, if I say it again, will I get a timeout?


Alex: When I was a bear, I couldn't - I can't drink cocoa, I can drink apple juice and milk and water.


Alex: Tell me to eat the whole one, Daddy.
Daddy: Um, eat the whole one, Alex.
Alex: No.
Alex: Tell me again.
Daddy: Eat the whole one, Alex.
(Alex starts to eat it.)
Mommy (whispering): Eat it. Eat it.


Alex: Claire, come in here! Claire!


Alex (reading The Little Engine That Could): So she was a little engine, and she puffed and puffed, and pulled and pulled. And then here comes a engine.


Claire: Uh stairs! Uh stairs!
Mommy: Claire came down the stairs.
Daddy: On her tummy?
Mommy: Yeah!
Daddy: Ah! Good job!


Alex: Daddy, we’re doing sanitizer.


Alex: I want to not get in my chair.
Daddy: Oh, you don’t wanna have any dinner?
Alex: No, I wanna have dinner.
Daddy: Okay, then get in your chair.
Alex: Okay, I’ll get this tissue first.


Claire: Chuh.
Mommy: Mac and cheese, oranges, and peas.
Alex: I want dinosaur pasta.
Alex: I want dinosaur pasta please.
Daddy: You better count your blessings.
Alex: No. No, I don’t want to.
Mommy: Well you can go to your room and get ready for bed. Or you can get in your chair and eat dinner. It’s up to you.
Alex: I can’t get ready for bed by myself.
Mommy: Well, I’ll go help you, if you wanna eat.
Alex: No. Don’t help me.
(Alex gets in his chair.)


(Alex is eating Claire’s leftovers.)
Alex: Good sharing, Claire. Thank you. Thank you for sharing.


Alex: Don’t say a stupid blanket.
Alex: I told Claire don’t say a stupid blanket, Daddy.
Daddy: Okay, don’t say it either.
Alex: You don’t say it either, Daddy. You don’t say it.


Alex: I was tryin’ to slip a little bit.


Alex: There's a dinosaur in my pants, but why is there a dinosaur in my pants?


(Daddy plays rough with Claire.)
Daddy: Whoa!
(Daddy stops.)
Claire: Uh whoa.
(Daddy does it again.)
Claire: Uh whoa.
(Daddy does it again.)
Claire: Uh whoa.

Tuesday, December 29, 2009

And I will help, but I not strong enough. But okay, I will help. I’m going to, I’m helping. But – up up up! I did it! There we go! Yay! The end.


Alex (pointing at the furnace): Science Kid went in there, where it gets warm in the house!


Alex: This is the after – the after – the after-nap Elly.


Alex: I don’t want two Ellies in my bed. And two Bobos. I don’t want two things.


Alex: Daddy, this telephone is hot because the sun’s up.
Daddy: Oh, it is hot.
Alex: You have to make it not hot anymore. And then you – you make it cold, Daddy, so I can talk on it. It’s hot right now.
Daddy: Okay.
Alex: It’s really hot. I want it cold, Daddy. Can you – can you, get it cold?
Daddy: Yes.
Alex: Okay.


(nap time, heard over the monitor)

(Alex is reading The Little Engine That Could.)
Alex: … And he puffed away.
Alex: They had to ask a different train. Here comes another train, he looks tired. But then, another train, another train comes. He puffed away. So then another train comes. There was a blue train coming puffing. And she stopped. The clown waved his flag. His flag. And he said, if you don’t help us the boys and girls won’t have any (mumble) or toys, or good food to eat unless you help us. And I will help, but I not strong enough. But okay, I will help. I’m going to, I’m helping. But – up up up! I did it! There we go! Yay! The end.
Alex: I’m your best friend, guys.
Alex: What else should I read?

(Alex is reading The Kitty Cat Alphabet Book.)
Alex: A is for Alex. So, B. A. C. B. And T. And E. And G. And F. And H. And I. And J. And I. And a L. And a K. And a K. And a M. And a N. And a N. And a P, and a T, and a D. And a – and a B. And a R. (mumble) V. X. Y. Z. The end.

(Alex is reading The Potty Book for Girls.)
Alex: … Is it my potty, is it a fishbowl, is it a bed for teddy? Maybe a boat to cross the sea. Mommy said it’s my own potty. It’s my own potty. It’s mine. Oops, I had a accident. She pee-peed on the floor. I can read a book, or sing (mumble). I had a accident. (Pause.) And she went to bed. And she had… a… I said Mommy Daddy! I pooped (mumble), now I have to go play! Bye-bye poop, bye-bye pee! It’s time to go! Do you know who’s gonna pick that special pair? Do you? I’m play and havin’ fun, and I don’t want to get in my way. Do you wanna (mumble) wet? You can do it too! Just like me and bear and teddy do. And we do it all together. And we sit, (mumble) off to the potty.

Alex: I gonna play trains, and not read any more books.


(Snack time. Alex has one cookie left. Claire is eating cookies at her own pace.)
Alex: Eat your cookies. Eat your cookies.
Alex: Eat the whole cookie.
Alex: No – there’s one cookies right there. In your hand. No – I mean in your hand. Right there!
Alex: No, that’s not a hand. There’s a hand where the cookie is. Eat it.
Alex: Claire, eat that – eat that cookie. Eat that.
Alex: Eat the whole cookie. Eat all of it.
Alex: Eat it, Claire.
Alex: Claire, eat the cookie. Please?
(Claire shakes her head, smiling.)
Alex: Claire’s not, Mommy.
Mommy: What did Mommy say? You can’t control Claire, right?
Alex: Yes.
Mommy: So you just need to worry about your own food.
Alex: Can you eat it? Eat it.
Daddy: Why don’t you have blueberries while you’re waiting.

(Later, Claire finishes her last cookie.)
Alex: Claire ate it!
Mommy: Okay. Now we can all breathe a sigh of relief.


Alex: Can we rip it?
Daddy: You wanna whip it? Whip it real good?
Alex: No, rip it.
Daddy: Whip it?
Alex: Oh, I don’t know that word.


Claire: Cat! Mama! Cat!
Mommy: Yeah I see it! Cool!
Claire: Cool. Cool.


(Daddy is explaining something to Alex.)
Alex: Oh! I know what you’re saying.


Alex: Look at my new track, Daddy!
Daddy: Oh! I like it! What a good job you guys did!
Alex: Now to keep running.


(dinner time)

Alex: Science Kid’s sitting on the table!

Alex: I want more – I want toast. I don’t want any bread today because it gives me hiccups.

Monday, December 28, 2009

This is a cozy blanket.


Daddy: Alex, can you pick out a pull-up?
Daddy: Do you want to pick out a pull-up or do you want me to pick one out?
Alex: No, I’m gonna tell you what Claire got me. At the mall, Claire got me another cold.


Alex: No, Claire, those are my sweaters!


(snack time)
Alex: There’s no more cheese, there’s no more cake, and after this, there’s no more blueberries.


Alex: Oops, Science Kid ran in that other house! The neighbor’s house.
Daddy: Oh, Science Kid!


Alex: At school, Cake said put that Elly away, and I didn’t.
Daddy: You didn’t?
Alex: Yeah. But Troy got Elly back for me. He said, “Cake don’t say that to Alex.”


Alex: Daddy, I’m having some trouble pooping.
Daddy: Okay. What can I do?
Alex: You have to fix my pants, and then I can poop.
Alex: And, that wheel, those two wheels are broke from the truck.


Alex: Daddy?
Daddy: Yes, Alex?
Alex: We have a hanger on the door for Science Kid to look at.
Alex: It’s not Christmas yet, but we can still look at it if it’s not Christmas.


Alex: Daddy! Daddy, fix my pants so I can poop.
Alex: Can you fix my pants?
Daddy: Um, I’ll try.

Alex: Daddy’s gonna fix my pants so I can poop, Claire.


(nap time)

(Daddy is singing Twinkle, Twinkle.)
Alex (interrupting): This is a cozy blanket.

Daddy (leaving Alex’s room): Have a good nap.
Alex (calling after Daddy): Have a good nap. Have a good nap, daddy!


(Claire and Alex are pushing strollers. Claire starts crying; Daddy goes to rescue her.)
Daddy: What happened?
Alex: Claire fell down.
Daddy: What happened? Why did she fall down?
Alex: Because she went faster and faster and she fell down.
Daddy: Did she bump into something?
Alex: No, she just went faster and faster. I didn’t do it.


Alex: I don’t have some trouble pooping, Daddy.
Daddy: Okay good. Are you pooping now?
Alex: Yeah.


Alex: Daddy, you see what’s on it? There’s dragons!
Daddy: Oh!
Alex: And it says… Science Kid looks better by… and having a good nap.
Daddy: Okay.


Claire: Ball. Ball. Daddy?! Ball!


Alex: Daddy?
Daddy: Yes, Alex?
Alex: No one’s on the phone. It’s not working.
Alex: I have to – I have to get the camera, and get some people in it. I have to go get the camera, and be right back.
(Alex runs into the other room.)
Alex (calling out): Camera? Where are you? There you are! Camera!
(Alex starts taking pictures.)


Alex: Daddy, take pictures, riiiight now! One, two… one! All right, you’re getting a time out.
Alex: Daddy, I’m taking you to time out.
Daddy: Okay. Why am I getting a timeout?
Alex: Because you didn’t take pictures.


Alex : A magazine, Daddy! Grandma sent me a magazine!


Alex (to Claire): Go make Thanksgiving dinner! Go make Thanksgiving dinner over there, I’m reading a magazine!
Alex (to Claire): No, over there! Over there, towards the wall! That’s my kitchen.


Alex: Would someone like a tomato?


Alex: I wanna play with the stroller!
Mommy: Do you wanna play with the stroller or do you just want Claire to not play with the stroller?
Alex: I want Claire to not play with the stroller.
Mommy (laughing): At least you’re honest!

Sunday, December 27, 2009

And if the boy doesn’t have any feet, or legs, he will just walk with feet, and he will just be a head.


Alex (pooping): I – I not having any trouble.


Alex: I can’t put it in here – it’s too hard to do.
Daddy: You want Daddy to help?
Alex: Yeah, I need help.


Claire: Aw Daddy.
Alex: Daddy went in the kitchen. With Mommy. We’re doing it by yourself!

Alex: So Daddy went in the kitchen to make his breakfast.
Claire: Aw Daddy!
Alex: And the penguin and the dog were (mumble). And Claire was making dinner and Alex was getting some more water for dinner.


(Alex is cooking an egg.)
Alex: And then it will turn white, and then it will turn yellow, and green, and then it will turn red!

Alex (handing Daddy a toy watermelon slice): Daddy? Here’s some watermelon. Here’s some watermelon.
Daddy: Oh, thank you!
Alex: You’re welcome.

Claire: Mama?
Mommy: Yes?
Claire (handing Mommy a toy potato chip): Chip!
Mommy: Chip! Thank you.


(Alex plays with his new toy camera.)

Alex: Oh! I gonna take pictures first! Sorry, I forgot to take pictures.

Alex: I’m taking Grommie’s pictures, and Claire’s pictures right there. And now I’m taking Grommie’s pictures. You see? I’m taking Grommie’s pictures, Daddy.
Mommy: I see that.
Daddy: Yeah!

Alex: All right, I’m done with pictures! All done!
Daddy: Okay.
Alex: I was doing pictures. It was a little bit. Sorry. I didn’t do too much.

Alex: Daddy! Be careful! You take pictures of Alex, after I get dinner ready for you guys. Don’t take pictures yet.
Daddy: Okay.
Alex: I will take pictures of you first.
Daddy: Okay.
(Alex takes pictures of Daddy.)
Alex: That’s it!
Daddy: Okay.

(Claire is holding a sifter to her face.)
Alex: You can use it if it’s a pretend camera. Uh, can you pretend it’s a camera? And this is for me. This is my camera.

Alex; You can’t touch my camera, Claire, it’s dirty. I – usually Daddy and Alex do it, Mommy and Claire and Grommie can’t do it. Mommy and Claire and Grommie can’t do it. Just Alex and Daddy. Alex and Daddy can do it. If it needs more pictures.


(Alex and Claire come through the kitchen pushing strollers.)
Alex: I’m bigger, Daddy! I’m bigger!
Daddy: You’re bigger!
Claire: Um baba!


Alex: Feets don’t walk, boys walk with feet.
Daddy: That’s right.
Alex: And if the boy doesn’t have any feet, or legs, he will just walk with feet, and he will just be a head.
Daddy: Oh.
Alex: If you take all the boy’s things, he won’t be a boy anymore.
Daddy: Yeah.
Alex: And he will miss his Mommy and his Daddy.
Daddy: Yeah.
Alex: And his dog and his Claire.


Mommy: Claire. What’s your name?
Claire: Ah-wah.


Mommy: Who do you love better, Mommy or Daddy?
Claire: Daddy.
(Mommy is sad.)
Mommy: Who do you love better, Daddy or Mommy?
Claire: Daddy.


Claire: Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!
Claire: Daddy?
Daddy: Yes, Claire?
Claire: Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!


(snack time)
Alex (to Claire): Eat that cookie.
Alex: Eat that cookie.
(Claire takes a small bit of her cookie.)
Alex: Eat it again.
(Claire takes a small bite.)
Alex: Eat the other one.
(Claire looks at the cookie in her other hand.)
Alex: That’s it.
Alex: Now put it in your mouth.
(Claire takes a small bite of the first cookie.)
Alex: Eat that.
Alex: Claire, eat the big piece right in your hand.
(Claire stares at Alex.)
Alex: She’s not eating it.
Alex: Eat it.
Alex: I wait.


Alex: Daddy, Mommy took the cake one away, and Christmas is over, Daddy.
Daddy: Oh. What’s the cake one?
Mommy: The mouse. Advent.
Alex: And now Mommy take it away.


Alex: That chicken doesn’t have any new peanuts in it.
Daddy: Oh good.
Alex: We can eat it.


Alex: Daddy, Mommy’s takin’ pictures of you right now. Smile! I’m tryin’ to make dinner. I can’t do pictures right now.


Alex (on the toy phone, talking to Grandpa): Look at my new bike. Look at it.
Claire: Bike!
Alex: Claire, I’m showing Grandpa right now.


(Alex is riding his new tricycle for the first time!)
Alex (going back and forth a little bit): I’m doing it!!


Alex: I have a cold again, Mommy. Claire got it. I think she got it at the mall yesterday.


Alex: What should we do, Claire? Should we run around or should we shush to my house?


Alex: The baby needs a bottle. Because it’s nap time. She needs to sleep in the car.


Alex: The telephone’s turning up in a minute. It’s almost turning up.


Alex: This is my blanket. And this one’s my Elly.


Alex: Look at my hand holding the blanket. And the part of the blanket on the floor. That’s the way you do it. You see?


(dinner time)

Alex: I like this stuff. I like all this stuff.
Mommy: Good!
Alex: I like chinuggets, honey mustard, applesauce, and toast!

Claire: I wah moh toast.
Daddy: You want more toast?
(Claire nods.)
Alex: Did she say “juice”?
Daddy: Um, it sounded like “juice”, but she said “toast”.
Alex (to Claire): Oh, you said “toast”?
(Claire laughs.)
Alex: Claire laughed at me.
Daddy: Okay.
Alex: I said, “You want toast, Claire?”, and Claire laughed.
Daddy: Okay.
Claire (holding out her water cup): Aw more. Aw more.
Alex: She wants more water too.
Alex (to Claire): You want more water?
Alex (laughing): Aaaahhhh. No.
Claire: Aw more. Aw more.


(After giving Claire her bed time hug and kiss, Alex is leaving Claire’s room.)
Alex: I miss you, Mommy.

Saturday, December 26, 2009

Santa brought me a telephone too!


Alex: Claire’s takin’ a bath after night time.
Daddy: Yeah!
Alex: I’ll show you.

Claire: Daddy?
Daddy: Yes, Claire?
Claire (pointing at a monkey on TV): Monk.
Daddy: Yeah!
Claire (pointing at a hand on TV): Hand.
Mommy: Hand? Yeah!

Alex: I like this butter but I don’t like the butter at Nana’s house.

Mommy: The snow’s gone.
Alex: The snow’s gone, and the grass is back!

Alex: I’m all done, Daddy, I’m just – I was – I was eating a lot so I’m full now.

Alex: Sorry I was crying before breakfast and I needed that truck. Be nice, Daddy. Be nice.
(Alex gives the truck to Claire.)
Alex: I gave Claire her truck.

Claire (showing Daddy the broken Lego truck): Daddy? Uh truck.
Daddy: Yeah. Do you want me to fix it for you?
Claire: Uh fix it.


(Alex plays with his new toy phone.)

Alex: Santa brought me a telephone too!
Daddy: Wow! Who’s on the phone?
Alex: Um… It’s Daddy. There’s two daddies.
Daddy: Oh. What’s he saying?
Alex: Oh, that’s my mother. He’s saying, “You’re being good, Alex.”
Alex (running off): Claire, you see, I got a telephone! Yeah it’s my phone.

Alex (on the phone, wandering around the kitchen and dining room as he talks): Uh, Nana, we’re being good. I was trying to get this ready but I can’t. But we leave this at my store, (mumble), but I’m going to Grandma’s house, and we’re, we’re almost there, and I’m poopy, so we have to get shoes on, and we have to go, so we have to get (mumble) to go to Grandma’s house, and that (mumble) how far it was. (Inaudible)

Alex: It’s ringing again.
Daddy: It’s ringing again? Who is it?
Alex: It’s Grandma.
Daddy: It’s Grandma?
Alex (talking on the phone): Grandma, (mumble) coming, so, it’s okay.
Alex: Where’s Grommie? Where’s Grommie, Daddy? Do you know where Grommie is?
Mommy: Grommie is in here.
Alex: Oh! In there!
Alex: Grommie? Grommie? Where’s my special telephone?
Alex (on the phone, wandering around the kitchen and dining room as he talks): Grandma, we’re almost coming, so, we have to get ready to get at her house, it’s okay if we get there, but we can’t, because, have to get there, so, we have to get the hakudeh, and I was getting telephone, and I didn’t know, what’s that? (Inaudible) so I was gonna get the (mumble) with the (mumble), and I was – oh, Grandma, I was gonna get (mumble) to you. What do you have? Do you know? Okay. I (mumble) the bike. I know if you have some people. Or chair. (Gibberish) house. (Gibberish) bananas. No bananas at your house. I will get pears.

Alex: The telephone’s not ringing any more!

Alex: It’s Grandpa now. Everybody’s on the phone.


Alex: Grommie, here’s your tennis special ball what Santa got for you. Grommie! Grommie! Grommie! Grommie! Grommie’s not taking it.

Alex: Mommy, I told Daddy I would not have any feet, and any legs, and any shirt, and I would just have a head and bump my head on the ceiling, Mommy!
Mommy: Silly.

Alex: I will just put the telephone back. If it rings I will talk.

Alex: The penguin’s name is T-Bone.


(Claire is holding the toy phone to her ear.)
Daddy: Who are you talking to?
Claire: Nana.

Daddy (to Claire): You wanna talk to a monkey on the phone?
Claire (talking on the phone): Hi! Monk.

Claire: Eh Nana.
Daddy: You talking to Nana again?
Claire: Uh Pop.


(at Grandma and Grandpa’s house)

(Claire points to a picture of Ray Ray.)
Claire: Cat!

Alex (to Meg): I wanna play trains with you.

Alex: Oh! My candy fell down.

Alex: I put my cups in the tree!

Meg: Alex! Where's Alex?
Alex: I’m upstairs, Meg!
Claire: Alex!
Alex: I'm coming!

Alex: You tired? Oh.
Claire: I’m tire!
(Claire buries her face in Mommy’s lap.)
(Claire sits up and laughs.)

Friday, December 25, 2009

Yes! He leave toys for us! Toys! Toys! Toys!


Alex: Yes! He leave toys for us! Toys! Toys! Toys!


Alex: A snowman!


Claire: Uh – bottle!


Alex: Your turn, Claire-tahgo!


Alex: Daddy! Your lunch is ready! It’s a orange!

Alex: Does no one need chicken?

Alex: This hot dog is tryin’ to rinse for a minute.


Claire: Elmo!


Alex: Wowww!!!


Alex: This truck has wheels, but I don’t know how to put ‘em on.

Alex: Will someone help how we put the – uh wheels on?
Mommy: Yeah, I’ll help you.
Alex: Oh. Okay.

Alex: Look at the truck! It’s not falling apart!


Claire: A chip! A chip!
Alex: Did you shut, is that what you said?
(Claire opens the washing machine and takes out a toy potato chip.)
Claire: A chip.


(Alex crawls under the train table.)
Alex: The truck went in a dark tunnel.
Mommy: Yeah, I saw that.
Alex: I was pretending the under the train table was a tunnel.
Mommy: You made Mommy laugh.


Alex: After this show, can we open your presents?


Claire: Daddy?
Daddy (looks at Claire and smiles): Hi.
(Claire laughs. Daddy looks away.)
Claire: Daddy?
Daddy (looks at Claire and smiles): Hi.
(Claire laughs. Daddy looks away.)
Claire: Daddy?
Daddy (looks at Claire and smiles): Hi.
(Claire laughs.)

Claire: Daddy? Aw more. Daddy? Aw more.
Daddy: Claire, you have more, you have waffles on your plate.
Claire (picking up waffle): Aw more.
Claire: Aw more.
Daddy: Claire, you eat the waffle you have.
(Claire fusses, then eats the waffle.)

(Claire pulls her sleeve down over her thumb.)
Claire: Oh thumb. Daddy?
(Daddy looks.)
Claire: Oh thumb.
Daddy: Where’s your thumb?
(Claire excitedly shows her thumb and smiles.)
(Claire hides her thumb again.)
Claire: Uh thumb. Daddy? Ah-wah. Ahh-wah.

(Claire hides her thumb again.)
Claire: Uh thumb. Ah-wah. Thumb!
Claire: Ah-wah.

(Claire hides her thumb again.)
Claire: Daddy? Uh thumb.
Daddy: Where’s your thumb?
(Claire excitedly shows her thumb and smiles.)


Alex (pointing to a train): That one’s Peter. His name is Peter.
Daddy: That’s Peter?
Alex: Yeah. His name is Peter Elmo. That’s Peter.


Alex: Oh, Grommie has two balls from Santa! Grommie has two balls!
Daddy: Yeah!


Mommy: I think there’s more presents by the Christmas tree.
Alex (running to the tree): Oh -- more presents!! Look at this big present!! Look at all these presents!! Look at this, guys!!


Daddy: Hey Alex, there’s an Elly on your head.
Alex: I just put it, so I can go to Nana’s house, and she can see my Elly on my head.


Alex: Can I wear my PJs, um to Nana’s?


(Alex and Claire are screaming.)
Alex: We’re monkeys. We’re loud monkeys.


Alex: I’m tryin’ to dance! And spin!


Claire: Jump jump! Jump jump!


Alex: I’m playing with Claire, Daddy!


(Claire shows Alex her sticker.)
Alex: I’m busy, Claire. I don’t want you to show me. I’m busy.


Alex: I’m waiting, Mommy.


(Claire and Daddy are looking out the window, watching Mommy and Alex drive away to Nana’s.)
Daddy: Let’s wave bye bye to Mommy.
Claire: Bye-bye Ah-wah, Mama, Ah-wah, Daddy, Ah-wah.

Thursday, December 24, 2009

Um, let’s go see a snowman what has a lotta heads.


(Both kids are still in bed.)
Claire: Mama! Mama!
Alex (to himself): She’s calling “Mama, Mama”.


(at breakfast)
Alex: (mumble) my tongue!
Daddy: What’s the matter?
Alex: My tongue.
Daddy: You bit your tongue?
Alex: No, I hurt my tongue, and I bit my tongue.


Claire (to Mommy): Aw run. Fast.


Alex: It’s your turn, Claire. You wanna play with it?
Claire: Aw pah-wi-it.

Alex: It’s your lunch cucumber, Daddy.


Alex: Grommie, you have to stay here. Santa’s not gonna talk to you today.


Alex: Are you gonna go to the store?
Mommy: Yeah.
Alex: I don’t want you to go to the store.
Mommy: Why?
Alex: Because you have to stay home.


(Mommy and Alex are making cookies for Santa.)
Daddy: Alex, are you gonna eat a cookie?
Alex: ‘Kay.
Daddy: What are you not gonna eat?
Alex: Uh… I don’t know.
Daddy: What do you think you’re not gonna eat, Alex?
Alex: I don’t know what I’m gonna not eat.
Daddy: Alex, are you gonna eat a ball of globby dough?
Alex: No. I’m gonna eat a cookie, Daddy.


Alex: I’m trying to fix this cabinet for Claire, but I can’t and Claire can’t play in my new cabinet because the cookies are pocked, and so I’m pulling the pakula, and cherding the (mumble) away.


Alex: Cookies! Cookies! Cookies!
Alex: I wanna be that one’s mine and that one’s Claire’s and that one’s Daddy’s, and that one’s Mommy’s. Can we eat our new cookies what I said?
Mommy: In just a minute.
Alex: I wanna eat that cookie. I wanna eat that one. That one’s mine.

Alex: I’m waiting, Mommy.


Alex (lying on his back on the floor, with his feet in the air): My feet are up on the ceiling upside-down.

Alex: Can you make me go on the ceiling? Can you make me go on the ceiling all the way up there? Can you make me go on the ceiling?


Alex: I’m not washing hands!
Mommy: You already did, who wants a cookie?
Alex: ME!

Alex: I want more cookies!
Mommy: You do? How do you get more?
Alex: Pleeease?
Mommy: May I have another cookie, please?
Alex: May I have another cookie, please?


(Claire, Alex, Mommy, and Daddy are driving around the neighborhood, looking at Christmas lights.)

Alex: What Christmas is this nap?

Alex: Where are the Christmas lights, Mommy? I don't see them.
Alex (singsong): I'm looking around.

Alex: Is this on the way home?

Alex: Why do we have shoes and socks on?

Alex: Look at that camel over there!
Mommy: Camel.
Alex: It’s going up, up, up.

Claire: I see.

Alex: There’s a big snowman and a little snowman over there.

Alex: Is this on the way home?

Alex: What thing? What thing is that?

Claire: See.

Alex: Um, let’s go see a snowman what has a lotta heads.

Claire: Hat. Daddy? Daddy? Hat.

Alex: Look at that funny Santa.

Alex: Is it - Santa coming to my house now? Is he?

Claire: Oh. Tree.

Claire (as the car drives down the street): House. Lights. House. Trees. Trees. Tree. House.

Claire: Tree.

Claire: Tree. Tree.

Claire: House.

Claire Aw Juju. Aw Juju. Aw Juju. Daddy?

Alex: I see - I see Pig Pig.

Alex: I wanna go back that way, to see all those lights.

Alex: I see Pooh Bear and Tigger and Pig Pig.

Alex: Pooh, Tigger – I didn’t see Pig Pig or I saw Pig Pig. They had Pig pig.
Mommy: Yeah.
Alex: Who is Tigger and Pooh, the pink pig?
Mommy: Piglet.
Alex: Piglet. Or it was Piglet.

Alex: Is this on the way home?

Claire: Aw Juju.
Daddy: Claire, you have Juju.
Claire: Juju. Daddy, Juju.
Daddy: Yeah.

Claire: Tree!
Claire: Wawooooh.
Claire: Mamaaa.
Claire: Hawa.
Claire: Wawo.
Claire: Mama.
Claire: Hawahi!
Alex: What is Claire saying?
Claire: Wowo.
(Claire laughs.)

Claire: I see. Hooss.
Alex: What – what was that?
Mommy: I’m running over snow.
Claire: I see. Hooss.

Alex: Santa and more snowmans!

Alex: What's this song?
Daddy: It’s a Christmas song.
Alex: What Christmas song?
Daddy: Um... ... I don't know what it’s called.
Alex: “Don’t You Fly Away.”
(Alex is correct.)

Claire: Mama. Dada.

Mommy: All right, let's go down one more street and then we’ll go home.
Alex: I don’t wanna go home yet.

Alex: Look at all those candy things!

Claire: I see.
Claire: Aw see.
Claire: Aw see.
Mommy: Well we’re gonna look around a little more, Claire.
Claire: I see. I see.

Alex: What song is this, Daddy?
Daddy: Um... Um... “O Little Town of Bethlehem”.
Alex: Are you talking about the song?
Daddy: Yeah.
Alex: What is it?
Daddy: “O Little Town of Bethlehem”.
Alex: Oh.

Claire: Whoa. Whoa. Whoa. Ah oh. Red.
Claire: Whoa. Whoa. Whoaaaaa!

Claire: Mama?
Mommy: Yes, Claire?
Claire : Aaagh!
Claire: Daddy?
Daddy: Yes, Claire?
Claire: Aaagh!
Mommy: Aaagh!
Claire: Pfft. Pfft. Pfft.

Alex: I don't wanna go home!


(back at home, tracking Santa via NORAD)

Alex: No I wanna see where Santa’s going to India today. Where Neer went.

Alex: I wanna see where Santa goes to India. Like Neer goes.


Claire: Mine. Book.


Alex: Can you go with me to see where Santa’s going, Daddy?
Daddy: Um, yeah.
Alex: Thank you.


Alex: I got a lid out.
Mommy: Okay, you can play with that lid.
Alex: Daddy, Mommy said I could play with this lid!

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Claire’s tryin’ to play but everyone’s tryin’ to rest and one girl’s tryin’ to cook dinner.


Alex: Mommytahbo! Mommytahbo! Mommytahbo! Mommytahbo!
Alex: Daddytahbo!
Daddy: Alextahbo!


Alex: I don't need a blanket, Daddy. No thank you.


(Mommy, Daddy, and Alex are riding in the car on the way to lunch and bowling.)

Mommy: Claire’s gonna hang out with Grandma and Grandpa.
Alex: What are we gonna hang out... with?

Alex: And Daddy was at school, he was far away and I ran to him... and he gave me a hug.

Alex: Those are Oakley’s holes. Those are Oakley’s holes.
Alex (loudly): Thoooose aaaaare Oooooakley’s hoooooles.
Mommy: Yeah, that’s right.
Alex: And Grommie’s holes.

Alex: Snow fell - falled from the bush!

Alex: Is there where we go shoveling?


(eating lunch at Buffalo Wild Wings)

Alex: I see football and I see a commercial, on the big TV and on the little TV.

Alex: You roll the ball, and knock down all the pins, and the machine comes and puts – and sets all the pins up.

Alex: I like that piece of chicken in my mouth. I like that piece of chicken.

Alex: I wanna go bowling.
Daddy: You wanna go bowling?
Alex: Yeah. I didn't say “shoveling”. I didn’t say “shoveling”. I said “bowling”.

Alex: I can't put my coat on by myself, will you help me ‘cause the people are finished.

Mommy: Do you know how cute you are?
Alex: Yeah.


(At the bowling alley, Alex gets tired out.)

Alex: I'm havin’ a hard turn.
Daddy: You’re having a hard turn?
Alex: Yeah.
Daddy: Why are you having a hard turn?
Alex: But I'm uh - I'm havin’ a hard day.
Daddy: You’re having a hard day?
Alex: Yeah.
Daddy: Why are you having a hard day?
Alex: Because I haven't been home the hard day.
Daddy: You haven’t been home the whole day?
Alex: I haven’t been home the hard day.

Alex: I wanna go home.
Mommy: You wanna go home?
Alex: And not nap.


(back home)

Alex: May you run?
Grandpa: What did I win?
Alex: I want you to run.

Grandpa: Alex, do you know how to bowl?
Alex: I – you roll the ball, and knock all the pins down, and then the machine comes, and --
Grandpa: And puts them back.
Alex: Yeah, it puts them back.

(Grandpa and Alex are talking about Santa.)
Alex: He’s gonna bring Christmas things.
Grandpa: He’s gonna bring Christmas things?
Alex: Yeah.
Grandpa: What is he gonna bring you for Christmas?
Alex: I don’t know what he’s gonna bring.


Alex (to Daddy): Will you come run with me? It’s okay if you run. May you run? Please run. May you run? Run. Run, please. Run! Run! Please may you run? May you run?
Daddy: Okay, I’ll run.


Alex: Next time, Troy dumped my water –- water all over the place and I was sad.


Alex: I need more cake.
Daddy: I’m not the cake person.

Alex: I drinked all my water, and I need more water, Daddy. Are you the water person?

Claire: Aw more wawa.


Alex: Where’s the red ‘boggan?


Claire (pointing at her boots): Daddy?! Daddy?! Boots!


(Claire and Alex put on their new winter jackets.)

Claire: Ah jack!
Daddy: Yeah!
Alex: I have a new coat!
Claire: Coat! Coat.
Mommy: Yeah, isn’t it nice?
Claire: Nice.

Alex: Look at my new jacket, Daddy!
Daddy: I like it! It looks warm!
Claire: Ow-side!
Mommy: You ready to go outside?


(A horn honks in the distance.)
Claire: Truck!

(Claire is playing, Alex and Daddy are lying on the chair bed, and Mommy is cooking dinner.)
Alex: Claire’s tryin’ to play but everyone’s tryin’ to rest and one girl’s tryin’ to cook dinner.


(As Alex and Claire finish their dinner, Mommy helps them to write a letter to Santa.)

Mommy: What do you wanna ask him? You wanna ask for a present?
Alex: I want you to ask him for a lot of things for me.
Mommy: You want a lot of things? I don’t think we should be greedy. Do you know what that means? Wanting more and more and more?
Alex: Why can’t we have all the toys?
(Mommy explains why we can’t have all the toys.)
Alex: I want more toys. I want a boat! How ‘bout a boat? And a train. And how ‘bout some people.

Alex: I would like a boat, a train, and some people.
Mommy: What do you think Claire wants? What do you want, Claire?
Alex: I want Claire to have… uh… a big car, and… I want her to have… leaves.
Mommy: Leaves?
Alex: Yeah.
Claire: All done. All done. All done.
(Claire eats a green bean.)
Claire: All done.
Mommy: You’re all done?
Claire: All done.
Mommy: Well you need to draw a picture for Santa, so you need to stay in your chair. Do you want to draw a picture for Santa?
Alex: Okay.
Mommy: Okay. Alex are you all done, do you wanna draw a picture for Santa?
Alex: Yeah.
Mommy: Do you need to wipe off your hands first? Hold on.
Alex: I don’t need to wipe off my hands.
Mommy: Okay.

Letter to Santa


Dear Santa Claus,

I’ve been a very good boy this year and my sister Claire has been a good girl. We hope you and Mrs. Claus are doing well.

I would like a boat, a train, and some people. I want Claire to have a big car and leaves.

I didn’t want to sit on your lap because I’m scared, so I’m writing you instead.

Thank you for working hard and bringing us toys.

Love,
Alex and Claire


Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Uh Mama.


(overheard over the monitor)
Alex: Mommy and Daddy have a night light and it makes a shadow and I don’t like the shadow when I go potty.


(Alex is looking out of his bedroom window.)
Alex: They have a new car! A green car, a new car! That's a old car. They hafta move it away from the old car. They have a new car!
Alex: Yay!


(in the car on the way to school)
Alex: If that one gets old they must get another one, and if the other one gets old, they must be gonna get another one.


(running around downstairs)

Alex: Daddy, will you run? We’re going to houses.

Alex: Daddy, let’s run to Cat in the Hat’s party. You wanna go to Cat in the Hat’s party today?
Daddy: Yeah.
Alex (running): I can’t see Cat in the Hat’s party. It’s far away!


(snack time)

Alex: Daddy, Mommy’s making juice!
Daddy: Oh!
Mommy: Special treat.
Alex: Special treat. For Alex and Claire.

Claire (holding up her juice cup): Uh treat.

Claire: Um Mama. Uh Mama. Daddy? Daddy?
Daddy: Yes, Claire?
Claire: Um Mama.
Alex: Mommy went to run errands, Claire.

Alex: Lick my foot! Lick my foot!
Alex: Grommie’s not licking my foot.
Daddy: Oh.
Alex: Tell him.
Daddy: Grommie, lick Alex’s foot.


(Alex and Claire are pushing cars around downstairs.)
Alex: All right, let's drive.
Claire: Drive!


Claire (gesturing for Daddy to sit on the couch while Claire and Alex play trains): Daddy! Uh sit. Uh sit.


(Alex and Claire are doing jigsaw puzzles.)

Alex: Claire’s helping me, Daddy.

(Claire’s putting the Curious George puzzle away.)
Alex: Claire, good job.

(Claire puts all of the Curious George puzzle pieces in the box. She applauds her achievement.)
Claire: Away.
Daddy: Oh, good job, Claire!
Claire: Away.
Claire: Away.
Daddy: Okay, you can put it away, Claire.
Claire: Away.
Alex: I don't want to put it away.


(Claire and Alex are running around pushing cars again.)

Alex: Daddy? I hurt my foot.
Daddy: Oh, what happened?
Alex: I hurt it on the floor.
(Daddy kisses Alex’s foot.)
Alex (pointing to a different spot): Right there.
Daddy: Oh, you hurt it there too?
(Daddy kisses the other spot on Alex’s foot.)
(Pause.)
Claire (pointing to her foot): Uh foot. Uh foot.

(Alex is forming a triangle with his fingers, and holding it in front of his eyes.)
Alex: My house is changing, Daddy.
Daddy: What?
Alex: My house is changing.
Daddy: How is it changing?
Alex: Um because my eyes are making it change.
Daddy: Oh.
Alex: Now it’s not changing anymore.


(dinner time)

Claire (gesturing to the Life cereal): Ah chah-wo. Ah chah-wo.
Alex: I like this pasta, Daddy. I like this pasta with sauce on it.
Claire (whispering): Uh pasta.

Alex: That was my fork shadow. It was on your pants, Daddy. There was a fork shadow on your pants.
Daddy: Oh.

(Mommy can be heard entering the house.)
Alex: I think that’s Mama!
Claire: Mama.
Alex: I think that’s Mama!
Claire: Uh down! Uh down!
Alex: Ma – Mamamama! I hear Mama! It’s Mommy!
Claire: Uh down. Uh down.
Mommy: Hi!
Claire: Uh down.
Mommy: Are you all done? Eat your dinner.
Claire: Uh down. Uh down. Uh down. Uh down. Uh down. Uh down.
Mommy: No, eat your dinner.
(Claire wails.)
Mommy: Claire, I’m gonna come sit with you.
(Claire continues to bawl.)
Claire: Uh Mama.
Mommy: Aw, Claire Bear! I want you to eat your dinner, honey.
Claire (still crying): Uh Mama.
(Claire continues to cry.)
Mommy: What’s the matter?
(Claire continues to cry.)
Alex: No no. (Gibberish.) Stop. That. Fussing, Mommy wah.
(Alex laughs.)


(Mommy and Alex are running around downstairs.)

Alex: My hands are sticky, I can’t run.

Alex: Now we’re going to Cat in the Hat’s party, and we’re going to Christmas at Thomas’s house.
Mommy: Okay.

Mommy: Cat in the Hat! Where are you?
Alex: I think he’s at the store today.
Mommy: Oh.
Alex: Let’s go get him at the store and tell him it’s – um – you’re aaaallll the way all done.

Alex: Watch out!!
Mommy: Watch out!!
Alex: Watch out!!
Mommy: Watch out!!
Alex: Let’s say it louder the Cat in the Hat together.
Mommy: Okay.
Alex: (extremely loud): Watch out!!!
Mommy (loud): Watch out!!!


Alex: Look at me, I'm wearing Mommy’s's watch.
Daddy: You're wearing Mommy’s’s watch?
Alex: Beep beep. My watched beeped!

Monday, December 21, 2009

Mommy, you’re the best friend, I say.


(snack time)

Alex (whimpering): I don’t want this paper towel.
Mommy: Well then you can just leave it on the counter.
Alex (whimpering): I don’t want to leave it. I wanna hide it.

(Claire is looking at the little Christmas tree.)
Claire: Tree. Tree.
Claire: Daddy?! Daddy?!
Daddy: Yes, Claire.
Claire (pointing to the little Christmas tree): Tree.
(Claire looks toward the big Christmas tree in the other room.)
Claire: Tree. Tree.
(Claire looks at the little Christmas tree again.)
Claire: Tree. Tree.
Alex: You just said that tree.
Claire: Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh.
Claire: Oh! Oh. Oh.
Claire: Daddy? Oh.
Daddy: Are you saying “oh”?
Claire: Tree!
Daddy: Yes Claire?
Claire (pointing at an ornament): Diss.
Daddy: Star.
Claire: Daddy?
Claire (pointing at another ornament): This.
Daddy: Angel.
Claire (looking at a book): Book. Book. Book.


(Alex is sad and whiny.)
Mommy: What’s wrong?
Alex: I wanna go.
Mommy: You wanna go. Go where?
Alex: With you to the doctor.
Mommy: What’s wrong Alex, why are you so whiny today?
Alex: I wanna go with you to the doctor.
Mommy: Really? Isn’t it boring?
Mommy: Mommy doesn’t like it when you go to the doctor and run around.
Alex: I wanna go then I not gonna run around.
Mommy: I thought you were gonna eat that yogurt. You told me you weren’t gonna waste it.
Alex: I wanna get down and go to the doctor and not run.


(Daddy is making Flying Scotsman fly.)
Daddy: He went straight up into the air!
Alex: He puffs, Daddy.
Daddy: He puffed straight up into the air!
Alex: No! He puffs on the ground!


(The sound of a wheel spinning in the snow is heard in the distance.)
Alex: What was that?
Daddy: Someone's stuck.
Alex: Why? Why are they stuck?
Daddy: They got stuck in the snow.
Alex: Someone needs to dig it out. Their wheel.


Alex: Daddy I can’t get up here because I have a different pants on.


Alex: That's all about the song, that's the end!


(dinner time)

Alex: Uh – I’m really messy, Daddy. I need a napkin.
(Daddy hands his own napkin to Alex.)
Alex: Thank you.
Alex: You can have your napkin back, Daddy.
(Alex returns Daddy’s napkin, all balled up and thoroughly coated in pasta sauce.)
Daddy: Thank you, Alex.

Claire: I see. I see.
Claire: A hat!
Alex (in his silly voice): We don’t wear hats in boxes.

Alex: May you take that bagel, Mommy?
Mommy: What?
Alex: Take that bagel.
Mommy: Basil? You want me to take the basil away?
Alex: Yeah.

Alex: I like sauce on the pasta. I like it when it has sauce on it.
Daddy: Oh yeah?
Alex: That has sauce on it.
Daddy: Oh good.
Alex: There’s sauce on that napkin.

(Claire coughs.)
Claire: Uh coughed.
Daddy: That’s right, you coughed!
(Claire coughs.)
Claire: Uh cough.

Alex: Why is Claire down? From Mommy’s lap?
Daddy: Um, I think she was being… a bother.
Alex: So I’m not bothering Mommy or Daddy or Grommie. Or Claire.
Daddy: Good.
Alex: I’m just being nice.

(Grommie wanders off.)
Alex: Where’s that dog going? Where’s that dog going?
Daddy: Does that dog have a name?
Alex: He has a name, name Grommie. His name is Grommie.
Daddy: Oh, okay.
Alex: Where, where’s that – where’s Grommie going?

Claire: Aw Mama.
Claire: Aw Mama.
Claire: Aw Mama.
Claire: Daddy?!
(Daddy looks at Claire.)
Claire: Aw Mama.


(Claire falls and bumps her hand, and cries.)
Claire: Uh ice. Uh ice.


Mommy: Okay, we’re gonna do bathroom stuff.
Claire: Uh brush.
Mommy: Yeah, we’re gonna brush.
Alex: Me!
Daddy: Me!
Claire: Me! Me! Me me me!


Alex: Mommy, you’re the best friend, I say.
Alex: Daddy, you’re the best friend, is, dee dee go go.


Alex: Daddy! Daddy! There's a dinosaur in my pants and there's a dinosaur in my shirt.


Alex: After school, will you pick me up?
Daddy: Yeah.
Alex: You picked me up yesterday.
Daddy: Yeah, but is it okay if Mommy picks you up?
Alex: I like Daddy to pick me up all the time.
Daddy: You like a change of pace.
Alex: I'm the all-the-time boy but you're the first boy.
(Alex laughs.)

Sunday, December 20, 2009

It’s not Christmas time yet, but it’s snow time.


Claire: Dog!
Daddy: Yeah, the Grinch has a dog.
Alex: Yeah, but he’s scary.
Daddy: Who’s scary? Is the dog scary?
Alex: No, the Grinch is scary.


Alex (leaving the front room): The - the sun is getting in my eyes so I gonna go away.
Daddy: Okay.
(Time passes.)
Alex: I'm back.
Claire: Uh back.


Alex: Daddy, I need to go in the snow now. I just played trains for a long time. I'm gonna let them crash for one minute, and then I'm gonna go in the snow, okay?


Alex: We need to go in the snow now. Will you hold me in the snow?


(The following remarks were made while Daddy carried Alex around the neighborhood in the snow.)

Alex: It’s not Christmas time yet, but it’s snow time.

Alex: I don't want you to go home, because then I won't have anyone. To play with.

Alex: Like my mommy and daddy shoveled my house.

Alex: Like we made a snowman.


(lunch time)

Alex: If I eat different pasta while Claire’s eating different pasta, I can’t eat it with her.
Daddy: Okay. That’s interesting.

Alex: What are we gonna do before Santa comes, Daddy?
Daddy: What are we gonna do? Hm. You tell me.
Alex: Tell me.

Alex: May I have more fruit please, Daddy?
Daddy: What do you want more of?
Alex: I want more fruit. I want more mixed fruit.

(Alex has been eating food from Daddy’s plate.)
Alex: Is that everything off your plate?
Daddy: Yeah, that’s everything off my plate.
Alex: May I see it?
(Daddy shows Alex his empty plate.)
Alex: I ate your lunch.


(Claire is looking at the snowman that Daddy and Alex built.)
Claire: Man!

Claire: Shirt!
Daddy: Yeah, he has a shirt.
Claire: Hat.
Daddy: And he has a hat.
Claire: Hat. Hat.
Daddy: That's right.
Claire: Dee. Boo. Boo.
Claire: Daddy?
Daddy: Yes?
Claire: Hat.
Daddy: That’s right, hat.


Daddy: Do you wanna throw a snowball?
Alex: No. I wanna find a turtle.
Daddy: You wanna find a turtle?
Alex: Yeah. A real turtle.
Daddy: Okay, let's do that.


(Daddy tickles Alex.)
Alex: No, don't tickle me. We’re not doing that.
Daddy: Okay.
Alex: That's not a game today.


Alex: Talk about what the trains did and crushed.


(dinner time)
Daddy: Thank you for my salad.
Mommy: You’re welcome.
Alex: Thank you for my green beans and pasta.
Mommy: You’re welcome.


(Alex is serving toy food to Mommy and Daddy, with occasional assistance from Claire.)

Alex: Would you like a donut, Daddy?
Daddy: Yes, thank you.
Alex: How ‘bout a carrot?
Daddy: Okay, thank you.
Alex (handing lettuce): Sellus for you Mommy. You like some sellus?
Mommy: Okay, thank you.
Alex: How ‘bout you eat a banana, Daddy? Eat a banana.
Daddy: Okay.
Alex: How ‘bout you eat some chicken? Chicken’s your favorite, Daddy. Eat some chicken.
Daddy: Thank you.
Alex; All right, Daddy, you want some French fry and a hot dog? Here you go. One, two.
Daddy: Okay.
Alex: I got a orange for you, and another orange. You want to eat two oranges?
Daddy: Thank you.
Alex: Cut them up. I will get a knife for you. Where’s my knife? Where’s my knife, Mommy and Daddy?
Mommy: I don’t know.
Alex: Okay, here’s a knife. Cut the knife with your oranges, Daddy. Cut them. Cut them.
Daddy: Okay.
Alex: I got some corn for you, Mommy.
Mommy: Thank you.
Alex: I got this – what’s this, Daddy?
Daddy: It’s a peach.
Alex: You want a peach?
Daddy: Yeah, thank you.
Alex: You cut that too. You cut the peach, and eat it.
Daddy: Okay.

Daddy: Who’s ready to go upstairs?
Alex: We’re still getting food for my friends. Here’s a potato and another potato.
Daddy: Okay, thank you.
Alex: Daddy. Here’s a hot dog and another hot dog. Put them on your plate. Take them.
Daddy: Okay, thank you.
Alex: How ‘bout a carrot for you, Mommy. You can put it on your plate. Right there.
Mommy: Thank you.
Alex: How bout who, whoa – what’s this, Daddy?
Daddy: Watermelon.
Alex: Whoa-melon.
Alex: Some grapes for you, Mommy. Some grapes for you.
Mommy: Thank you.
Alex: I’m gonna eat Thanksgiving dinner in a minute. Here’s some chip and a French fry and hot dog for you, Daddy.
Daddy: Thank you.

Alex: It’s almost gone, guys. Here’s one more apple for you, Daddy.
Daddy: Thank you.
Alex: Here’s um a French fry and a hot dog for you, Mommy.
Mommy: Thank you.
Alex: You want chocolate? You want chocolate, Daddy?
Daddy: Yes I do, thank you.
Alex: Here you go.
Alex: You want a French fry and a hot dog, Daddy?
Daddy: Yes, please. Thank you.
Alex: Here’s more.
Daddy: Thank you.
Alex: We’re getting all the food for you guys.
Mommy: Thank you.
Alex: Here’s some, more for you.
Mommy: Thank you.

Alex: Here you go, Mommy. Mommy, you want more French fries?
Mommy: Thank you.
Alex: After this, um, after I get you food, may we all eat? Together?
Daddy: Yes, that would be delightful.
Alex: Okay, that’s all the food. But, now I have more food to get you. Claire got some more food for you guys.
Alex: And what’s this, Mommy? Do you know what this is?
Mommy: Um… can I – can I see it? Can I touch it? Um… I think it might be some kind of onion?
Alex: Oh, it’s a onion, Mommy. It’s a onion, and a chip for you.
Mommy: Thank you.

Alex: So that’s all my food. May I sit on your lap and eat this food with you? Mommy?
Alex: We’re having Thanksgiving dinner. Do you know Thanksgiving dinner, Mommy?
Claire: Aw up. Aw up!

Saturday, December 19, 2009

It's everywhere on my house!


(Alex looks out the window and sees the snow.)
Alex: It’s out there!


Alex: I have a runny nose on my hand.


(Alex is looking out at the snow again.)
Alex: And there’s – on my playground, and on my yard, and on the deck, again!
Daddy: Yeah!
Alex: And on my tree!

Alex: And the ball – where the balls go, and it’s on the red thing too!

Alex: It’s everywhere on my house!
Daddy: Yeah.
Alex: Next time I will tell my friend it was snowing yesterday.
Daddy: Okay.
(Pause.)
Alex: But next time I told Irmarion, I have a Charlie Brown Thanksgiving show, and he said, I have a Thanksgiving, I have a Charlie Brown show at my house. But, he didn’t have one. And that’s what he said.
Daddy: Oh.
Alex: He had different shows.
Daddy: What shows did he have?
Alex: Mmm. I don’t know shows. His house is far away.


Alex: I wanna go out with too much snow, is that okay if we go out with too much snow?
Daddy: Yeah.
Alex: Grommie doesn’t like to go out because he falls down in too much snow, because there’s too much snow, Daddy.


Alex: The TV’s blue now. The TV’s blue now.


(lunch time)

Alex: I want a rocking chair from Santa.
Daddy: You want a rocking chair from Santa?
Alex: Yeah. And I want a backyard for the people.

Alex: I think Sally’s staying here.
Daddy: Sally?
Alex: Yeah. I think, she’s staying here for two days.
Daddy: Okay.
Alex; And then, on three days, she’s going home.


(during nap time, heard over the monitor)
Alex: Can you play Jingle Bells?
(Alex hums.)
Alex: Can you play Jingle Bells?
(Alex hums.)
Alex: No no no. (Mumble mumble) all of that stuff. No, no. Ho ho, and – no, no. Ho ho, and, Christmas the (mumble).
Alex: That’s it!


Alex: I coughed.
Alex: I coughed.
Alex: I coughed.
Alex: I coughed.
Daddy: Okay, Alex.
Alex: I need to do mask.


Claire: Daddy? Daddy?
(Claire hands Daddy his book.)


Alex: Why is the snowman sitting out there? What happened to the snowman? No eyes for him!


Alex: After I wash my hands can I pick one outta the bowl what I want?
Daddy: Okay, you can pick one piece.
Alex: Not two or all the pieces?
Daddy: Right.
Alex: Just one?
Daddy: That’s right.


(dinner time)

Alex: Mommy, will you go look on the computer?
Mommy: You want me to look on the computer?
Alex: Yes, I do.

Mommy: Next time I’ll buy some different barbecue sauce that you like better.
Alex: Okay, you go to a different grocery store, what has more barbecue sauce, what I like.

Alex: After you talk about what’s on Claire, and then you talk about what’s on the house.
Alex: You’re the best daddy, Daddy!

Daddy: You’re just lovin’ that honey mustard.
Alex: Just loving honey mustard, Daddy.

Friday, December 18, 2009

It's gonna snow in a minute, Daddy.


Alex: Oh there was a girl with coh-ry hair too.


Alex: I’m talking to Claire, because I don’t know what she said. I told her that’s not funny.
Daddy: Okay.
Alex: She needs to stop saying that.


Alex: If I need some more water I can drink some more water, Daddy.
Daddy: That’s right.
Claire: Uh dri!


(Daddy opens the door to go outside.)
Claire: Cold.
(Pause.)
Claire: Ob-doo.
(Claire laughs.)


Alex: We’re gonna go to my school again and eat cookies and sing songs!


(Alex is playing with his cheese at snack time.)
Alex: Thomas is puffing on his track.
Claire: Uh track. Uh track.


Alex: It’s gonna snow in a minute, Daddy.
Daddy: It’s gonna snow? How do you know?
Alex: It’s gonna snow before Santa. It’s gonna snow before Christmas.


Alex: When we get home can you talk about what we’re gonna do before Christmas next time?


Alex: I need the lights on, please.


Claire: Daddy? Daddy!
(Claire hands her baby to Daddy.)
Claire: Ah sit. Ah sit.


Mommy (to Claire): I thought we were gonna make a new track.
Alex (squealing in excitement): A new track!! We’re gonna make a new track, Daddy!!


Alex (looking out the window): There’s snow out here!

Mommy: Is it pretty?
Alex: Yeah! You wanna come see it? Look at all the snow (mumble)! Look at it!
Mommy: Wow! Look at that snow!
Alex: You wanna go outside and see it?

Alex: There’s too much snow, Mama, I can’t even – there’s too much snow.

Alex: Do we slip out there? I – I will slip out there.
Mommy: Slip?
Alex: Yeah, it’s slippery. We need ice skates on.
Alex: Um, we watched, um, Rocket make tracks at school before this nap.
Mommy: You watched TV again today?
Alex: Yeah.
Mommy: My goodness! Do you watch TV every day at school?
Alex: Yes, I do.

Alex: Is the – is the snow stopping yet?
Daddy: No.

(Alex is in time out, and is screaming furiously at the top of his lungs.)
Alex: AAAAAHHHHHH!!!!
Alex: AAAAAHHHHHH!!!!
Alex: Pffffffffffffff!
Alex (to himself): I don’t how to say it louder.

Alex (still in timeout): Daddy has a timeout! Claire has a timeout! Grommie has a timeout!

(dinner time)

Claire: Hi.
Mommy: Hi.
Claire: Hi.
Mommy: Hi.
Claire: Hi.
Mommy: Hi.
Claire: Daddy?
Daddy: Hi.
Claire: Hi.

Alex: Dogs don’t fix cookies or milk for Santa.

Alex: I don’t like the Grinch.
Daddy: You don’t like the Grinch?
Alex: Is the Grinch gonna come to my house?
Daddy: No, the Grinch isn’t gonna come to our house. He’s on TV.
Alex: I like the Grinch.

Claire: Daddy… Mama… Ah-wah…
Alex: She’s saying “Daddy, Mama, Ah-wah”. Can you say “Claire”?
Claire: Clah.
Alex: Good job!

Alex: I wanna build a little snowman.
Daddy: Okay.
Alex: I wanna bui – I wanna I wanna I wanna – I wanna build a big snowman, then a little snowman.
Daddy: Okay.
Alex: And can we make a table outta the snow?
Daddy: Yeah.
Alex: Okay.

Alex: What trains do they –- wha -- what are the trains’ name at the toy store?
Daddy: I don’t know the trains’ names at the toy store. We’ll have to go and find out.

Alex: And we’re gonna feed the reindeers.

Alex: What are we gonna do in Santa’s sleigh?
Daddy: Are we gonna go to Santa’s sleigh?
Alex: Yeah. I doh – Do the reindeers bite us? Do they bite?
Daddy: No, they don’t.
Alex: What do they bite?
Daddy: Um, they bite carrots. They don’t bite people.

Alex: What else are we gonna do before Xmas?

Alex: Is there Spencer and Kevin and Victor at the toy store?
Daddy: What?
Alex: Um can you um – (whispers too quiet to be heard)
Daddy: I didn’t hear you, you were whispering.
Alex: Um is there Hiro and Spencer and Victor and Kevin at the book store? Oh, ah, at the toy store?
Daddy: I don’t know, we’ll have to find out.

Alex: May I have more grapes please?
Daddy: Yes you may, what a nice way to ask!
Alex: They’re over there in the package.

(The news is on.)
Alex: I don’t want to watch the commercial. And the football. I don’t wanna watch those things. Will you turn the TV off, Daddy?
Mommy: I’ll turn the TV off.

Alex: That’s a little grape. A little grape.
Daddy: That’s a little grape.
(Alex eats the grape, and picks up another one.)
Alex: Big one.
Daddy: Yeah.
(Alex eats the grape, and picks up another one.)
Alex: Another big one.
Daddy: That’s right.
(Alex eats the grape, and picks up another one.)
Alex: Big one.


(potty time)
Alex: We'll see if we're outta pee-pee.
Daddy: Okay.
Alex: We’re not outta pee-pee. We have more pee-pee.


(bed time)
Daddy: Night night. I love you.
Alex: I love you, Daddy.
Daddy: Thank you, buddy!
Alex: You go to sleep, Daddy.
Daddy: Okay.