I like going to school, I don't wanna stop.

Alex (whining): Claire's taking like -- she's taking like forty minutes to get off the potty.

Alex (whining): I like going to school, because I wanna help Miss Worthington. I like going to school, I don't wanna stop.

Alex: You know why I wanna go to school?
Daddy: Why?
Alex: It’s because I wanna get another sticker.

This is the day where we didn't eat donuts…

Alex: Can I wake up Claire by myself?


(Alex wakes up Claire by himself, and helps her to get ready.)

Alex: I'm not scared, Claire. You can stay with me. I'm a brave boy.

Alex: I can't talk now. I'm really covered in pee.

Daddy (poking his head into the bathroom): Is everything okay in here?
Alex: I'm just brushing my teeth, I went potty, and... then I got pee all over my hands.

Alex: You're good at this, Claire. I am not that good at all. You're gooder than me!!

Alex: We’re gonna put on our underwear and our pants, then you can practice putting on your shirt, too.

Claire: Yeah but today, when I'm three, I wear a diaper during bedtime, right?
Alex: Yeah.

Alex: When I was a little boy? I wore pull-ups. I wore bigger pull-ups, Clifford pull-ups.

Claire: When I was still a little girl, I used to wear those pink ones.
Alex: But you're still a little girl.

Claire: Now, I need to make sure the tag is in the back of my underwear. But Alex, does my underwear have a tag?

Claire: It’s on the side, can you help me put it in the back?

Alex: But I don't know what to do about it. Sorry.

Claire: You need to put your pants on over your underwear.

Alex: The underwear is so you don't pee into something. I—it’s to make sure your pants... don't get up to your shirt, right?

Alex: Claire, you can't. Do you know how to put on your shirt?
Claire: No.
Alex: Well, it’s a lesson. Lesson is when you try to swim, and lesson is when you try to do something.
(Silence.)
Alex: Hurry up and put it on, Claire.

Alex: Daddy?
Daddy: Yeah?
Alex: I'm teachin’ Claire a lesson!
Daddy: Good for you!
Alex: For her shirt, ‘cause she doesn’t know how to do it yet.

Claire: It’s because my hair is in the way.
Alex: Sorry, Claire. I can't fix that, then.

Alex: This shirt is not easy.
Claire: I put my arm in!
Alex: Other arm.

(Now Alex puts on his own shirt.)
Alex: I pulled my eye, for real.

Claire: Then pull it down and put your arms in.

(Alex and Claire close the bedroom door, and whisper to each other for about two minutes. Daddy waits in the hall, in case he’s needed.)

Alex: Daddy!
Claire: Daddy!
Daddy: What is it, guys?
Alex (jumping out into the hallway): Surprise!
Claire (jumping out into the hallway): Surprise!

(Alex and Claire are in the bathroom.)
Alex: Toothpaste!
Claire: Toothpaste!
(Daddy puts toothpaste on the kids’ toothbrushes, then goes back into the hall and shuts the door.)
(It’s quiet in bathroom for a long time.)
Daddy: What are you guys doing?
Alex: We’re combing our hair first.

Alex: You know what else we’re doing that's good?
Daddy: What?
Alex: We’re not also complaining for more and more and more toys.

Claire: Um -- Alex teached me how to put on my shirt.
Daddy: Oh!
Alex: The way I do it!
Claire: And then, I put it on by myself.
Daddy: Good girl! You're such a big girl!



Alex (to Mommy): I showed Claire how to put on her shirt. And she did it by herself.

Alex: I laid it out for her and she listened.

Claire: Mommy? See, Alex teached me how to put on my shirt.


(Claire sits down to breakfast.)
Claire: I hope I am gonna eat this yummy waffle!

(A couple of minutes later, Claire has taken a few bites of waffle.)
Claire (getting up in Daddy’s face, grinning): I did tell you, that I wanted to eat this yummy waffle!!



(Alex and Claire watch a long show.)
Alex: That was a long one.
Daddy: Yeah.
Claire: Hey Daddy, why did the people make long shows?
Daddy: That's just how they wanted to tell their story.
Alex: So they could keep watching the same thing every day. Even if they -- if, if they haven't watched it before.

(Claire keeps claiming that we ate donuts yesterday. Alex is trying to explain to her that it was two days ago.)
Alex: We didn't eat donuts yesterday.
Claire: We did!
Alex: Well, after that day. Going backwards.
(Alex holds his hands in front of him.)
Alex: This is the day where we didn't eat donuts…
(Alex moves his hands farther away from him.)
Alex: ... and this is the day where we did eat donuts.


Alex: I'm a big kid now. A really big kid. Because I’m in 4-K. 4-K is for big kids.


Alex: But big and small, Claire, they're not just big and small. There's another one, that looks kinda small, but it's actually… medium.



Alex: When I'm a daddy, will I look like Daddy?

Alex: I want a sandwich with cheese and ketchup in it.

I keep my eyes closed until my eyes are still closed and I'm asleep with my eyes closed but my eyes are already closed.

(Daddy is helping Claire get dressed.)
Claire: Daddy, you need to put my underwear on first, then you put my pants on over my underwear.




(Alex and Claire are watching Busytown Mysteries for the first time in months.)
Alex: It's, uh, it's… nevermind, just watch the show.
(Alex laughs at his own joke.)


(Alex and Claire are playing babies.)
Claire (to Alex): Okay, but -- I'm having a birthday party here.
Alex: You always have birthday parties when we play babies.



(Alex has trouble pooping.)
Daddy: We can try again later.
Alex: How 'bout after we sleep.
Daddy: Yeah, we can try again in the morning.
Alex: I mean "tomorrow"; Claire says "after we sleep".
(Daddy laughs.)
Alex: She's silly.

Alex: I like football. I like falling down. I like pretend falling down.
Daddy: And that's why you like football?
Alex: Yeah. Actually I like pretending to fall down.

Alex: I just love writing my name.

Alex: The reason why I like my name is because it has a "A" in it.

Daddy: Sometimes you have Mr. Blanton in your class?
Alex: Yeah. It's because we have so many kids and none of them are listening except for me.
Alex: I think Miss Worthington likes having me in her class.

Alex: Well sometimes Jaap doesn't listen, but I still like him.

Alex: I wish all my friends listened. I don't like hearing her repeat herself. She has to repeat herself a lot.


(Bed time. Alex explains how he goes to sleep.)
Alex: I keep my eyes closed until my eyes are still closed and I'm asleep with my eyes closed but my eyes are already closed.

How does Santa know when the kids are sleeping?

Alex: How does Santa know when the kids are sleeping?

I like squishy waffles.

Claire: Daddy, one day when it's dark, we can go outside around a campfire, and sing songs around a campfire.
Daddy: Yeah.


Claire: I like squishy waffles.

Alex: I like Sunday when we don't have to be late.


(Claire and Alex are coloring.)
Alex: Got a surprise for you, Daddy.
Daddy: I wanna see the surprise.
Alex: You'll have to wait just a minute.
Daddy: All right, what's your surprise, let me see.
Alex: It's the garden, with Mommy, Claire and Alex! And the sun with flowers.
Daddy: Oh! Show me which one is Mommy!
Alex: Mommy… Alex… Claire… flowers… water going in… and the flower… and water going in it… and then, a sun!
Daddy: That's great, I love it! Can I take a picture of it?
Alex: Yeah and here are some clouds.
Daddy: Clouds too?
Alex: Yeah, and a rainbow.
Daddy: And a rainbow. Claire, what are you drawing now?
Claire: I'm drawing something, I --
Alex: Look, that looks like a plant!
Claire: Yeah, everybody -- um, Oakley's mommy's, gardening the plant, and Oakley's daddy's, gardening too.
Daddy: They're gardening?
Claire: No it's, they're, um, getting water out and… um… um…
Daddy: Oh!
Alex: That looks like a plant!
Claire: Yeah.
Alex: Is that a plant?
Claire: Um it's that -- no, that… um, Oakley's mommy, Oakley's mommy.
Alex: No. Is that a plant.
Claire: Yeah that's a plant.
Alex: Yeah it looks like it.
Alex: Claire -- Mommy! Mommy, look, Claire drew a plant!
Mommy: Neat.
Alex: All by herself! She knew how to draw it!
Alex: Good job, Claire!
Claire: Thank you.
Alex: Claire, look! I drew a garden!
Claire: Oh.

Alex (to Daddy): Can you take a movie of me?
Daddy: Well, what are you gonna do?
Alex: And, and I'm gonna run away, and then, and then you say, "I'm in the movie, I'm in the (unintelligible)!", and then you be silly, okay?
Daddy: Wait -- what do you want me to do?
Alex: I want you to be silly when I'm gone.
Daddy: Okay, you're gonna run away, and then I'm gonna be silly, and then what happens?
Alex: And then we'll stop the movie and I'll watch it!
Daddy: Okay.

I would be happy to help anybody do anything.

Daddy: You guys are good swingers!
Alex: We are so grown up.
Daddy: Yeah.
Alex: It’s almost my birthday.
Daddy: Yeah.
Alex: I can think harder.


Alex: Daddy, I actually wanna eat more broccoli, some more broccoli, but I’m too excited. Can I eat more at dinner time?

Alex: I would be happy to help anybody do anything. But, I can’t do some stuff.

Alex: I can’t do sharp stuff. Like, when Mommy is trying to cut something, I can’t do it, right?
Daddy: Right.
Alex: I’m not big enough.



(Claire finishes watching her favorite Berenstain Bears episode: The Chipmunk.)
Claire: I love that one, I wanna watch it again.


(Claire is carrying around the special box from the craft store today.)
Claire: Hey Daddy, I like this box.


Alex: Hey Daddy, I set the table!
Daddy: You did? Good for you!
Alex: I did it just like Nana does it; do you wanna see?
Daddy: Yeah!

Alex: I set the table by myself!

See Daddy? See the pieces of her head falling?

Alex: I kinda wanna do something fun in the fall. I wanna rake leaves.


(Claire doesn’t want to wash hands before lunch.)
Claire: Maybe we could do… hannitizer.


(lunch)

Alex: Thank you for my cheese sandwich.
Claire: Thank you for my cheese sandwich.
Mommy: You’re welcome.


(Claire and Alex are watching the same Berenstain Bears episode for the second time in a row.)
Claire: Daddy, maybe we could always watch this one, ‘cause I always like it!


(Claire shows Daddy the page on which she’s been practicing writing the letter C.)
Claire: That’s a C, and that’s a A, and that’s a C, and that’s a C, and that’s a C, and that’s a C, and that’s a C, and that’s a C, and that’s a C, and that’s a C, and that’s a C, and that’s a C, and that’s a C, and that’s a C, and that’s a C, and that’s a C, and that’s a C, and that’s a C, and that’s a C, and that’s a C, and that’s a C, and that’s a C, and that’s a C, and that’s a C, and that’s a C, and that’s a C, and that’s a C, and that’s a C, and that’s a C, and that’s a C, and that’s a C, and that’s a C, and that’s a C, and that’s a C, and that’s a C, and that’s a C, and that’s a C, and that’s a C, and that’s a C, and that’s a C, and that’s a C, and that’s a C, and that’s a C, and that’s a C, and that’s a C, and that’s a C, and that’s a C, and that’s a C.
Daddy: Good!

(Claire shows Daddy the picture she drew of several people.)
Claire (pointing to each person): Hey Daddy, that’s when I was big, and that’s when Alex was big, and that’s when I was bigger, and that’s when I was a baby again, that’s when I was so little, I didn’t have any hands.

(Alex is coloring too.)
Alex: It’s a roller coaster! Look what I made, a roller coaster!
Daddy: Yeah!
Alex: And there’s another one that’s way – uh, that’s behind!
Daddy: I like it.
Alex: Uh, there’s two starting lines.

Alex: One of them is too big, but it’s okay.

Alex: One of them – some of them are going up the hill.

Alex: Well one of them is going down the hill.
Daddy: Yeah.
Alex: Well one of them is for grown-ups. It’s because, it’s a really really steep hill.
Alex: Did you know it’s a really really steep hill?
Daddy: I know it now.
Alex: But one of them’s for kids.

Alex: Look at all the persons!
Daddy: Yeah.
Alex: And then there’s another roller coaster.

Alex: Claire, you wanna see the roller coaster?

Alex (to Claire): And I made a little – little roller coaster far away, and those are persons – it’s just little, ‘cause they’re far away, and those are persons. They’re just little.

Daddy: Alex, this is really good. Can we save it?
Alex: Yeah. I made Busch Gardens. And there are some really little people right here, they’re on a roller coaster so they think they’re little.

Alex: Uh, Daddy, it’s just – theres’s a lotta people, it’s just – there’s everybody that wants to go on the roller coaster. So there’s nobody in this seat.

Alex (shouting up the stairs): Mommy! There’s a really good picture I drew!

Daddy: What are you drawing, Claire?
(Claire holds out her picture to Daddy. It’s a person.)
Daddy: What is it?
(Claire holds it out closer to Daddy.)
Daddy: Tell me about it.
Claire: He is walking where the other guys is, but he’s lost in the forest.
Daddy: Oh! I like it!

Claire (showing Daddy her picture): Look Daddy.
Daddy: I like that! What are they doing?
Claire: Um… You… is the daddy. We’re playing Daddy and Mommy, but – Alex is the daddy, and you’re the daddy, and I’m the mommy.
Daddy: Oh!

Claire (to Mommy): C’mere, I wanna show you more of my pictures.

(Mommy is preparing for a yard sale.)
Mommy: Claire, how much would you pay for this toy?
Claire: What?
Mommy: How much would you pay for this toy?
Claire: I don’t wanna pay that toy away.
Mommy: Claire how much would you pay for this toy? If you had to buy it?
Claire: Three.
Mommy: Three?
Claire: Mm-hm.
Mommy: Uh, I was gonna say two.

Alex: I’m making the goodest roller coaster ever! I’m making the goodest roller coaster ever.

(Alex is showing his latest roller coaster picture to Daddy.)
Alex: This one?
Daddy: Yeah?
Alex (gravely): It crashed right into the roller coaster. It went puh! It went straight into the ground.
Daddy: Wow.
Alex (gravely): It was going really fast and it went puh!
Daddy: Wow.
Alex (gravely): And the person broke his leg.
Daddy: Wow.
Alex (gravely): He was right up here, and he went right down here.
Daddy: Wow. That must have hurt.
Alex (gravely): He broke his leg. He had to go to the hospital. That must be bad.

(Alex continues to draw, or enhance, his roller coaster pictures throughout this extended conversation.)

Alex: But Mommy, I’m making a roller coaster, but on it, there’s something bad that happened on it.
Mommy: What?
Alex: It’s just pretend, but…
(Alex explains about the horrific roller coaster accident.)

Alex: And… too bad.

Alex: Daddy?
Daddy: Yes?
Alex: Here I’ll show you. Uh…
Alex: I’m gonna show you. Just a minute.
Alex: Okay.
Alex: This! Is the roller coaster. Look. Its wheels fell off.
Daddy: Oh no.
Alex: See its wheels fell off?
Daddy: Yeah.
Alex: That’s when he fell.
Daddy: Oh no.
Alex: I’m gonna show Mommy.

Alex: And now the boy – he fell on – her coach, and now her head, broke, open.
Daddy: Oh no.
(Alex draws some more on his picture.)
Alex: See Daddy? See the pieces of her head falling? And the – and the wheels falling? And that one – and that seat falling? And that’s part of her head, see that? That was a dangerous thing.

Alex: Uh-oh!
Alex: Oh no! At the accident, Daddy.
Daddy: Yeah?
Alex: There’s something – look, this – this coach is coming to crash into him! That – that’s when the accident – almost happened. And it crashed and then – it fell down.
Daddy: Wow.
Alex: There’s a lot of coaches about to fall down.
Daddy: Wow.
Alex: And that’s the same person that – that might be on the roller coaster.
(Alex colors some more.)
Alex: And – he – there’s another person! Crashing – gonna crash into him! Look – he’s gonna crash into the – person – he’s gonna go over the cliff! He’s – going – he’s gonna bump into the cliff and – fly over the cliff! But he’s gonna bump into his head and – break open his head!
Daddy: Oh no!

Alex: Look at all the coach – and broke open heads falling! Look! Look at all that falling from the cliff!
Daddy: Oh no!

Alex: He, made the crash. But it was a accident, because somebody – somebody – well, the roller coaster – actually it wasn’t like that, it was going
(Alex says the following with many hand gestures and sound effects.)
Alex: Rrrrrr… puh, puh, puh, puh…
Alex: And onto the ground. He was going:
Alex (more sound effects and gestures): Rrrr… puh…
Alex: He made it to the ground. He made his wheel, he had a flat tire, but it went out, and – actually made a hole, and – it was a bump, bump bump, big bump, and – and then he was falling upside down over – over, his head and – and landed up on the ground. He landed like this.
Daddy: Oh.
Alex: But it’s good that his head didn’t break. He was falling like this.
(Alex does more gestures and sound effects.)
Alex: So he musta been hurt, he has to go to the hospital.

(Alex continues to describe the gruesome wreckage.)
Daddy: I don’t know why anybody would ride this roller coaster.
Alex: Well – they didn’t know if it would break, but – they couldn’t stop it, Daddy! It was because everybody, was – was –
(Alex continues.)
Alex: There was something wrong with the roller coaster up there. There was something in the way. So, all the persons who worked there, had to go get it. But they passed it on the way, so, they had to jump up there. They were going going going going and then!
(Alex does some gestures and sound effects.)
Alex: Down to the floor like that.

Alex: It’s gonna break somebody’s head!

Alex: Guess what – how? They’re falling like this, Daddy. They’re up here and then they go – but wheels and see, wheels and see, but – it goes – but – that, it goes, all the way down here, but – it goes through – and – it cracked her head! And it’s falling.

Alex: Ahhh!

Alex: Finished. Look at all the falling people! They’re falling everywhere!
Daddy: Yeah!

Alex: And – look at all the people falling and falling and falling. And broken heads, and broken heads – and seats and seats and seats. And stuff like that.

(Please note that the above is just a sampling. Alex drew, and described, tragic roller coaster accidents for a good 90 minutes straight.)

My hair looks good, and I look really pretty, Daddy.

Alex: Sorry. It's my brain's fault. It was takin' me everywhere, at bedtime. A lotta times it does that.


Claire: Daddy, it's raining, so our... lettuce can grow!


(Daddy drops Alex off at his class.)
Alex: Play in the backyard, play in the playroom -- no –
(Alex smiles sheepishly.)
Alex: Now go to sleep -- no --
Alex: Um... Um... Um...
Alex: Give me a high five. Wave out the window a lot, blow kisses a lot, say bye a lot.
Daddy: Okay.



(dinner)

Alex (to Mommy): I appreciate what you do for me.


Claire (after bath, looking in the mirror): My hair looks good, and I look really pretty, Daddy.


(Bed time. Alex isn't saying his words; instead he's just scraping his foot against the wall.)
Daddy: All right, good night buddy.
Alex: No, I need to write my name with my toe.
Daddy: Okay.
Alex: I just love writing my name.

When my brain gets bigger, I’ll be able to think harder.

Alex: One day can Mommy take me to her work. Again?
Daddy: Yeah.
Claire: One day can you take me to your work?
Daddy: Yeah, I can do that.


(Alex tells Daddy a secret.)
Alex (whispering): Do you think we could make something for Mommy?
Daddy: Yeah, what do you wanna make?
Alex: I think she would like a new computer. I think, she would be happy. I'm trying to make her something, to show her how much I love her.



(Getting ready for bed. Daddy needs Alex to open his mouth so Daddy can brush Alex’s teeth.)
Alex: Say “abre”.
Daddy: Abre.
Alex: Say “abre, por favor.”
Daddy: Abre, por favor.
(Alex opens his mouth. Daddy brushes Alex’s teeth.)
Daddy: Gracias.
Alex: De nada.

(Alex can’t remember which side of his underwear is the front and which is the back.)
Alex: I always don’t remember. I’m sorry, Daddy. When my brain gets bigger, I’ll be able to think harder.

Claire: Always when we do stories, after we do stories, Mommy comes up.

Alex: I hear – I can hear my heart bleeding.

My brain isn't very good at thinking.

(dinner)

Alex (very sad): I wasn't good today.
Daddy: Oh, yes you were! What did you do wrong?
Alex (very sad): I wouldn't stop playing with the cart, and, I was whining at home.

Alex: Oh no. I was trying to rub my nose and I got a crusty on my arm again.

Alex: I ate a carrot that didn't taste very good.
Claire: Oh.
Alex: It was yucky.
Claire: That's a potty word, that's not okay to say that.
Alex: It isn't.
Claire: It is a potty word!
Alex (to Daddy): Claire's -- is saying it's a potty word.
Claire: I said it's a potty word.
Claire: I said it's a potty word. First.


Alex (putting on his PJ pants): There's gotta be a better way!


(Alex is making his little toy man fly through outer space.)
Alex (to Daddy): What happens in outer space if you don't have a space suit?
Daddy: You can't breathe.
Alex (speaking for his toy): I -- can't breathe!


(Daddy is frustrated with Alex for taking a long time to pick a bedtime story.)
Alex: Sorry Daddy, I just… My brain isn't very good at thinking.

I like flowers, I like Grommie, and I like purple.

Claire: I like flowers, I like Grommie, and I like purple.

Claire: I like all those stuff.

Claire (at breakfast): Fish fish fish fish fish fish fish fish.


(Alex is putting on his shoes.)
Alex (robot voice): Sock moving into a shoe. Sock doesn't want to live in foot anymore.
Claire (robot voice): Sock doesn't want to live in foot anymore. Sock wants to live in shoe.



Claire: One day can we make a chocolate cookie, with honey on top of it?
Daddy: Yes.
Claire: Okay.

(Mommy is having problems with a software update.)
Alex: I'm sorry you are having problems. Just… figure it out.


Alex (to Daddy): What can I do for you, to help? I would be glad to help you.


Mommy (to Alex): You're cute.
Alex (to Mommy): You're cute.
Mommy: You're cuter. You're the cutest!
Alex: I like your smile.
Mommy: Awwww! You're nice.
Alex: I am very nice. Yes. I am.

I like all the seasons. I don’t care.

Claire: Hey Daddy, I’m gonna go feed Allegra with Mommy!
Daddy: Oh, you love Allegra, don’t you?
Claire: She’s a cat. She’s nice.


Alex: It’s not fair.
Claire: It’s not fair.
Alex: I’m not playing!
Claire: I’m not playing!


Claire: Alex, what are you doing?
Alex: I’m a daddy, reading a magazine.


Alex: I’m doing like big kids do in school.
Mommy: Oh yeah? What do big kids do?
Alex: They do – they do math books… they write in their journals… well I writed in my notebooks, they take their notebooks there?
Mommy: Mm-hm?
Alex: But they haven’t writed in their journals yet.


(Alex and Claire look at their summer 2011 photo album.)

Claire: It’s Nana! I’m bigger!

Claire: Ah! Woooowwww…

Alex: Busch Gardens?
Claire: Busch Gardens!

Claire: Wowwww….

Claire: Wowwwww…! Oh, look!
Alex: Look – Busch Gardens.
Claire: Look! Look! Look at this!

Claire: Oh! The beach house….

Claire: The pool!

Alex: Look! Look!
Claire: Look! Look look look! Us!

Claire: The beach! What’s that?
Alex: It’s me sitting, on the sand, when the water came up and got me.

Claire: Wow! Look at it there! Look! Look, Alex!

Alex: We had a fun vacation!


Alex: Let’s go swing, Claire, okay?
Claire: ‘Kay.
Alex: That’ll be fun.
Claire: Yeah.

Alex: We made a mess.
Claire: Yeah, we made a mess.


(Alex is excited that Mommy and Claire are going to join Alex and Daddy for Alex’s soccer game.)
Alex: Hey Daddy, everyone’s s’posed to be cheerin’ for me!


(Daddy is drinking Gatorade.)
Claire: When I grow up to be a mommy, can I have that?
Daddy: Yes.
Alex: Um… um… I don’t think I have anything to say.

Alex: I like all of them. I like all the seasons. I don’t care.

Daddy, my legs are tired kicking the ball.

Alex: When do we go to the zoo? I wanna go to the zoo today.


(Claire has her first-ever soccer practice today.)

Claire: I'm gonna be happy of you watching me.

Claire: I'm gonna wave to you!


(after Claire’s first soccer practice)

Claire: Daddy, my legs are tired kicking the ball.

Claire: I’m gonna tell Mommy I got a popsicle.

Claire: No Daddy, Mommy needs to close her eyes and see what I got in this hand.

Claire: Daddy, can you tell her, “Close your eyes”, okay?



(Claire shows Mommy the picture she just drew.)
Claire: Mommy, I maked you! That’s your pretty dress.

Claire: Hey Daddy?
Daddy: Yeah?
Claire: Um, I made Mommy walking with – oh I forgot to draw Alex’s head, but I’m gonna go do it right now, okay?

(Alex shows Mommy his picture.)
Alex: This is the things we like. Daddy likes doing his work, I like my dinosaur, Claire likes baby dolls, and you like dresses!

Claire: I made all of our family, Daddy!
Daddy: I wanna see!
Claire: Um, that’s you walking. And that me, and that’s Alex. And that’s Mommy!
Daddy: I love it!
Claire: But Daddy, I didn’t make Grommie, because, he wasn’t coming there.
Daddy: Okay.


(Alex is wrapping a present for Mommy.)
Alex (to Daddy, whispering): I’m gonna show Mommy how much I love her.


(Claire shows her two pictures to Daddy.)
Claire (showing a picture of a single blue dotted line): This is a road…
Daddy: Oh, it looks like a road!
Claire (showing a picture of a filled in brown circle): And this is – I colored in there, and it’s a surprise inside it. It’s a party in there.
Daddy: Oh, I like it!
Claire: But nobody can see inside it. Nobody can see the party.


Alex: I just LOVE writing my name. Did you know I LOVE writing my name?

Alex: I really, really like it because… it’s just so short!


(Alex doesn’t want to go to soccer practice.)
Claire: I did a good job, Alex, so you need to do a good job. I did a good job, so you need to do soccer. After me.


(Alex’s soccer practice)

Alex (to Daddy): I like watching the team. And I like you watching me. And I can't wait to come back.

Alex’s coach: You okay, Alex?
Alex: I'm tired.
Alex’s coach: Do you need to take a rest, or you wanna keep playing?
Alex: Play.

Alex: I am faster than anybody.

Alex: I bet you wouldn't get bored watching me go faster and faster.

Alex: I never went this fast at my other team.

Alex: I really want to go home. I've had enough of playing soccer.

Alex: I'm sweaty.

Alex: I bet I'm really tired.

I'm bored of playing. I want to help you with something so you can be proud of me.

(Alex shows Daddy the train track he built.)
Alex: I designed it!

Alex (to Daddy): I'm bored of playing. I want to help you with something so you can be proud of me.

(Alex says that he and Claire ate too much sugar at snack time with Nana.)
Alex: We just ate a muffin, special treats, and Teddy Grahams. That's a lot.
Daddy: Well, how do you know that's a lot of sugar?
Alex: Nana told me!

Claire: We did a good job. We were nice. We played together. That's all we did.

Alex: Daddy? You know what? I would be glad to help you with your work.

Alex: I really would be glad. Are you gonna let me do it?



(dinner)

Alex: I can take over my plate, Daddy.

Alex (carrying his plate to the table): I'm being a big help.

Claire: I'm having the Dora plate, you're having the Buzz plate.

Claire: I'm gonna eat all my carrots, but next time can I have some broccoli with cheese on it. Broccoli with cheese?
Daddy: Yeah.
Claire: Because yesterday I wanted to eat all my broccoli so I can be healthy. So I'm gonna eat all my broccoli next time for dinner.

Claire: Daddy, one day can we have some whistles?

Tell me which ones you do get.

Alex: Playing tag, I hope Jaap won't be able to catch me. Because I have new shoes, that are faster than my old shoes.

Claire: When my teachers see my new shoes, they're gonna be happy, 'cause I have new shoes!


Alex: I can ran as fast as I can, because I have these special shoes. You're not gonna beat me!
(Alex says this last sentence to no one in particular, and with a clenched fist.)



Alex: Daddy!
Daddy: Yeah?
Alex: I have a bunch of jokes to tell you!

Alex: Why did the head roll down the hill?
Daddy: I don't know, why did the head roll down the hill?
Alex: Because the nose was chasing him!

Alex: Why did red say something to yellow?
Daddy: I don't know, why did red say something to yellow?
Alex: Because yellow said -- well -- I don't remember.

Claire: Why did the cat knock on the tree?
Daddy: I don't know.
Claire: Because he took the, um, he took the branch and he, then he flew up in the air!

Alex: Why did the polka dots roll down the hill?
Mommy: I don't know.
Alex: Because there was a door at the bottom!
Mommy: I don't get it.
Alex: Tell me which ones you do get.

Claire; Why did the cow ran into a bag?
Mommy: I don't know.
Claire: Because he -- ate sunbutter and jelly up in the air!

Alex: Hey, here's one. Why'd the horse jump, um, into the microwave?
Mommy: I don't know.
Alex: Because the sheep jumped into the head!

Claire: Hey, why did the cow jump into the air?
Daddy: I don't know, why?
Claire: Because he saw a doggie, like our doggie is called!

Claire: Why did the cow jump into the air?
Daddy: I don't know.
Claire: Because he saw ice cream up in the air so he got it and ate it up!

Alex: Why did you put a person in the stove?
Mommy: Why did I put a person in the stove? I don't know.
Alex: Because there was a cookie on the face.

Claire: Why was the cow eating a toast up in the air, Daddy?
Daddy: I don't know.
Claire: Because he, ran into a house with, a doggie in his hand!

Mommy (to Alex): Maybe you could tell Daddy some jokes.

Claire: Why did the dog stay in the house with the people?
Daddy: I don't know.
Claire: Because the people petted him on his head!

Claire: Why'd the cow eat sunbutter and jelly up in the air?
Alex: I don't know.
Claire: Because he ate more sunbutter and jelly to get up in the air!
(Alex laughs.)
Alex: I like that one. You should tell Daddy that one day.
Claire: Hey Daddy, why did the cow jump up in the air?
Daddy: I don't know.
Claire: Because he ate sunbutter and jelly!
Daddy: Oh!
Claire: Hey Daddy, why did the cow jump up in the air?
Daddy: I don't know.
Claire: Because he ate more sunbutter and jelly!


(dinner)

Alex: Thank you for my rojo strawberries.

Alex: When are those bananas gonna turn 'marillo?

Alex: Broccoli doesn't take pretty good, but it makes you healthy.

Claire: Hey Mommy?
Mommy: Yes?
Claire: I like broccoli, and I'm gonna eat my broccoli so I'm gonna be healthy.

Claire: Can I have more broccoli?
Daddy: Yes.
Claire: It's yummy. It's -- every day I eat broccoli, so I can be healthy.


Mommy: Who'd you play with at school?
Alex: Jaap. No, Redshirt again.
(Mommy laughs.)
Mommy: Richard.
Alex: Redshirt.
Mommy (enunciating clearly): Rich, ard.
Alex: Red, shirt.
Mommy: Rich.
Alex: Rich.
Mommy: Urd.
Alex: Shirt.

Daddy: Hey Alex. What color is Richard's shirt?
Claire: Red.
Alex: White. No it's white.

Mommy: So who'd you play with today, Alex?
Alex: Redshirt.

Claire: I'm all done. I ate all of my broccoli 'cause that's gonna make me healthy.


(Alex sounds out and writes his very first sentence!)
Alex: Alex has a cat.

(Claire writes her name, with Daddy's help.)
Claire: Hey Daddy, I'm gonna take this to school and show my teachers that I wrote my own name!

Alex: Daddy, tomorrow can we write my phone number? I'm really good at numbers!

Alex: I learned a lot at school today.


Alex: I'm too excited to draw letters, Daddy!

Claire: And you know what we could write? “Alex is a good writer.”
Daddy: Yeah!
Claire: And he knows a lot of Spanish.

Alex (tucking his elbows by his sides): Look, I'm just a T-Rex, I can't even scratch my chin!

Claire: And we could write “Alex – our famil – one of our kids is a good writer!”

Daddy, one day can we make, chocolate honey, with honey on top of it?

(Claire and Alex are watching the Berenstain Bears.)

Claire: One day can we make an apple pie?

Claire: Daddy, one day can we make, chocolate honey, with honey on top of it?
Daddy: Chocolate honey with honey on top of it?
Claire: Mm-hm.
Daddy: Sure.

Claire: Mommy, when it’s dark, can – Daddy, when it’s dark, can we build a campfire, and go around it – no, it around it, um, when it's dark?


Claire: Why do we always go to school?
Mommy: It’s your job.


Claire: Daddy, watch this.
Daddy: Yeah!

Claire: Daddy, watch this. I’m standing on one tippy-toe foot!
Daddy: Yeah!

Claire: Daddy, watch this. Watch this, Daddy.
Daddy: Good!


Alex: Look, Daddy. I wanted to make a star with my waffle and I did.
Daddy: Neat!
Claire: Can I see, can I see?
Alex: Mm-hm.
Claire: Wow!


(Alex is putting on his PJs – not the truck ones.)
Alex: I like the truck ones the best.
Daddy: You like the truck ones?
Alex: Yeah. I’m really looking forward to wearing them.

Hey Daddy, it’s gonna be fall soon!

(Claire and Alex are watching Caillou.)
Claire: When it’s fall, can we – can we blow the leaves away?
Daddy: Yes.

Alex: Hey Daddy, it’s gonna be fall soon!
Daddy: Yeah, are you excited?
Alex: Yeah.
Claire: I wanna jump in the leaves!


Alex: Claire! Why do you always leave your paper towel on the sink? Then I have to gather two paper towels and throw them away!

Enjoy your books, and have a good day.

(Alex and Claire are playing.)

Alex: You need money to buy things, Claire!

Alex: Whoever wants to come to my library, can come!
Claire: I’m gonna come in a minute! I have to get all my bracelets on, so you can see them.
Alex: I turned my store into a library, Daddy!

Alex: Mommy! Your book is overdue!

Alex (whenever anyone leaves his library): Enjoy your books, and have a good day.

I counted far away from one.

Alex: I counted all the way up to ninety-nine.
Daddy: That’s good. That’s really good.
Alex: I counted far away from one.


Alex: What comes after ninety-nine?
Daddy: One hundred.
Alex: One hundred. That’s how far I counted.
Alex: One hundred. Is that how far you could go?
Daddy: You could keep going.



Alex (out of the blue): Sorry I was so whiny this morning, Daddy.


(Alex and Claire are looking at ants.)
Claire: Red ants are mean!
Alex: They can bite you.
Claire: Yeah. But black ants are so nice. I think?



(Claire and Alex are playing with Matchbox cars.)
Alex: Oh, are we at the wrong place? I think we’re at the wrong place. I don’t see any ferris wheels. I don’t see any roller coasters. I don’t see any water slides.

Alex: Claire, now can we pretend this is just not a talking car?
Claire: Yeah.


(Alex and Claire are playing.)

Alex: Claire, weren’t you gonna go get lost? Can you go get lost this minute?

Alex: Take a friend, okay? And, when you get lost, tell it to the friend, okay?
Claire: ‘Kay.

(Claire wanders into another room with Mallory. She sits down quietly for a long time, without saying anything.)
Alex (finally tired of waiting): Hmm. Claire must be lost. Come on guys, wake up!



Alex: Are the cookies ready?
Mommy: Mm-hm.
Alex: All right!
Claire: Yay, yay!
(Alex and Claire run into the kitchen.)
Alex: Cookies!
Claire: Cookies! Cookies!



(Alex and Claire are swinging.)
Alex: I’m goin’ high up to the clouds!
Claire: Me too!


(Claire and Alex are watching Caillou.)

Claire: One day can we make a rocket ship? And we make – make a rocket ship? And paint it?
Daddy: Yeah.
Claire: Can we make a rocket ship?
Daddy: Yeah, we can do that.

Claire: Can we have cereal for breakfast?
Mommy: Yeah.
Claire: Can we have cereal for breakfast, Mommy?
Mommy: Yes, you can have cereal for breakfast.

Can we just have, a dog and a cat?

(Alex finds Daddy's baseball cap.)
Alex: Why don't you wear your school hat any more?
Daddy: I don't know, do you want me to wear it?
Alex: Mm-hm. You look cute in it.


(When being dropped off at school, Alex leans in to whisper his drop-off-at-school words to Daddy.)
Alex: Play in the backyard -- no, um --
(Daddy laughs.)
Alex: Don't laugh, okay?
Daddy: Okay.
(Alex says the correct drop-off words.)


(snack time)

Alex: You've got a lot of pudding right there.

Alex (to Daddy, staring into Daddy's eye): One time I was a teeny tiny baby, as small as the black dot in the green.

Daddy: Where's the green?
Alex: The green is in the white, in your eyes!

Daddy: But I have brown eyes.
Alex: Well then your eyes don't look brown, though.

Alex: So, a lot of people are watching TV.
Claire: 'Cause… maybe their brain is gonna get mushy.
Alex: No I -- I'm pretending.
(Pause.)
Daddy: What are you talkin' about, Alex?



Claire (to Daddy): I'm gonna be Dora, and you're gonna pretend we have Diego, and… you're gonna be the Grumpy Old Troll!


Claire: Cats can stretch out on things, like cabinets. One day, can we have a cat stay with us, at our house?

Claire: Can we just have, a dog and a cat?
Daddy: Maybe one day.
Claire: Okay.
Claire: But Daddy I like Allegra to play with us in our house for a little while.
Daddy: Yeah. That was fun.

I don’t really like people talkin’ about hippos.

(getting ready for bed)

Alex: I don’t really like people talkin’ about hippos.

Alex: Daddy, I lie with my eyes closed, and I’m not tired. And all of a sudden I’m already asleep!


(Alex says his words really fast.)
Alex: I held my breath, until “look at pictures play house”. Then I really needed to breathe!

And beyond!!

Alex (sad): I don't wanna go to 4-K.
Daddy: I know.
Alex: Moving is hard.



Alex: It’s the strawberries’ fault.


Daddy: Claire, tell me about your class.
Claire: I don’t know.
Daddy: Do you like your new class?
Claire: Yeah.
Daddy: What do you like about it?
Claire: I don’t know.
Daddy: Who’s in your class?
Claire: I don’t know my class.
Daddy: You don’t know your class?
Claire: Nn-nn.
Daddy: Who are your new friends?
Claire: Libby, Iha, and… Harper, and Cecilia, but I don’t know what else my new friends are named.
Daddy: Are you happy to have Libby, Iha, Harper, and Cecilia in your class?
Claire: Yes.
Daddy: Did you play with them today?
Claire: Mm-hm.


Daddy: Alex, tell me about your class.
Alex: Uh… I know my class.
Daddy: Yeah?
Alex: 4-K.
Daddy: That’s right.
Alex: Or are you meaning my old class.
Daddy: No, your new class.
Alex: Oh.
Daddy: What did you do at your new class?
Alex: All I know, all I remember is making handprints.
Daddy: Well, tell Daddy about making the handprints.
Alex: It, it’s not handprints, I mean, tracing my hand.
Daddy: And you did it all by yourself, right?
Alex: Uh-huh, and you know what else I did, Mommy?
Mommy: What?
Alex: I traced with glue.
Mommy: Wow.
Alex: That’s what the teacher told me to do.
Mommy: Neat.
Alex: And I did it on both hands!
Mommy: Wow!

Daddy: What friends are in your class?
Alex: Um… uh, I’ve never seen somebody who I, in a long time. It’s Jaap, but, there’s another one.
Claire: I saw Jaap, with Nana, in front of us. I saw Jaap.

Alex: And Daddy, it’s red shirt. Have I seen red shirt in a long time?
Daddy: Who’s red shirt?
Alex: You remember red shirt?
Mommy: Richard?
Alex: Yeah.

Claire: I smell the meatballs.
Mommy: Yeah?
Claire: Yes.
Claire: Next time I wanna have meatballs for dinner, next time.

Alex: I have a question, Mommy.
Mommy: What is it?
Alex: Uh. How can I become a baby, and the – and the um… in that um… in the hospital. How did I become one?
Mommy: Really. Um… well… you know you came out of Mommy’s tummy, right?
Alex: Oh. But how did the baby come from… to your tummy?
Mommy: Well, when mommies and daddies love each other, they sometimes can make a baby.
Alex: How?
Mommy (to Daddy): Um, how do you explain that to a 4-year old?
Daddy: I don’t know.
Mommy: Um…
Mommy: Well, part of Mommy and part of Daddy come together, and the baby grows in my tummy.
Alex: But, I don’t understand, how you make it. How you make it.
Mommy: Um… can I get back to you on that?
Alex: Why?
Mommy: ‘Cause I need to figure out how to tell you so you understand.
Alex: Okay.
Mommy (to Daddy): Can you look that up?
Daddy: Yeah.
Mommy: Did someone at school ask about that, or did you think about that yourself?
Alex: Um, I thought about it when Nana was here and then I asked her.
Mommy: What did Nana say? Ask your mommy?
Alex: Uh-huh.
(Mommy laughs.)
Mommy: Well I’ll tell you. I just have to figure out how to explain it to you.
Alex: I already know that. You don’t have to tell me anymore.
Mommy: Okay.


Alex: We live in the United States of America.

Alex: That’s because of our flag!
Daddy: Yeah, we have a flag. All countries have a flag.
Alex: Mm-hm. Because they all have a ‘Nited States name. Right?

Alex: Somebody at school said they went to Mexico and saw a real toro.

Alex: I love you. I love you, Mommy.
Mommy: What, honey?
Alex: I love you.
Mommy: I love you too!

Mommy: Claire, I want you to eat some more carrots, and then you can have more pasta, or dessert.
Claire: I want dessert!
Alex: I like dessert. What kind of dessert?
Mommy: Well, you can have cake from Natasha’s party, or you can have chocolate pudding.
Alex: I can’t decide, they’re both yummy!

Mommy: But you have to eat carrots first.
Alex and Claire (in unison): I ate my carrots!
Claire: Every day you have to eat carrots, so you can get really strong. So you can grow.
Daddy: That’s right.
Alex: I’m eating my carrots, so I’m getting strong.
Claire: Like this.
(Claire tenses her muscles.)
Claire: This is strong.
(Daddy laughs.)
Alex: And you might be able to get on a high monkey bars if you’re strong.

Daddy: Do you guys know this?
Daddy: I pledge allegiance…
Alex: Mm-hm.
Daddy: What comes next?
Alex: To the flag.
Claire: United States.

Mommy: One nation…
Alex: Under God…
Claire: Inabisible…
Mommy: Good!
Mommy: With liberty…
Claire: And beyond!!

I wrote a dragon story for you.

(Labor Day. Daddy is sleeping in.)
Claire (shouting up the stairs): Daddy!! What do you want for Christmas?!


(Daddy gets up.)
Alex: Hey Daddy, I wanna get you some things! We were talking about Christmas.

(Alex and Claire have drawn pictures of all of the things they could get Daddy for Christmas.)
Alex: This is a toaster, and this is a playset, this might be... this is a microwave, this is your name, this is a easel, this is a apron, and that’s all I remember. Oh, this is a swing. So tell me what you want.


Alex: I wrote a dragon story for you. I could write it down. It’s called “A Dragon Got Scared By A Scarecrow, And Kept Coming Over, To Get It”.


Mommy: You wanna see the rain? I’ll show you the rain on our computer.
Alex (running over): Oh, yeah! Of course I do!

I think I gonna like these Scooby Doos.

Claire: Hey Mommy?
Mommy: Yes?
Claire: Um, Caillou is my favorite show.


Alex: The train ride costs two moneys. No, three moneys.
Claire: I have three of moneys. One, two, three.
Alex: You have all the moneys. Let’s ride on the special train!


Claire (pushing her stroller and wearing her Dora backpack): Daddy, we’re going to a building site and I’m Dora.


(Alex brings home goody bags from a birthday party.)
Claire (pulling a little bag of candy out of the goody bag): Look!
Daddy: What is it?
Claire: A bag of… something!

(The bag turns out to be a bag of Scooby Doo Fruit Flavored Snacks.)
Claire: I think I gonna like these Scooby Doos.

Claire: Hey Mommy?
Mommy: Yeah?
Claire: Are we gonna go to another party with Scooby Doos?
Mommy: No.
Claire: No – a different day. Another party with Scooby Doos.
Mommy: No.

Goldfish, dinosaur, goldfish, dinosaur, goldfish, dinosaur, goldfish, dinosaur!

Claire: “Ahhh! I can’t get back on!”
Claire: Said the policeman.


(Alex and Claire are eating Neapolitan ice cream.)
Claire: I like bunilla and chocolate. Is there strawberry in it?


Claire: Mommy, you wanna see my pattern?
Mommy: Okay, last time.
Claire: Goldfish, dinosaur, goldfish, dinosaur, goldfish, dinosaur, goldfish, dinosaur!


Mommy: That mosquito bit me! On the hand.
Daddy: That’s not nice.
Claire (shaking her finger at the air): Not nice, bug!!
Alex (talking to his scarecrow): Scare the bug, scarecrow.

All the senses. Except no and yes.

(Daddy is driving Alex to the doctor.)

Alex: Thanks for taking me to the doctor.

Alex: We can find a nice place to pull over.

Alex: I'm okay with that. Do you know why I'm okay with that?
Daddy: Why?
Alex: Because I don't want my tongue to hurt anymore.

Alex: Daddy, can you let me tell the doctor my tongue hurts?




Alex: Daddy, can you teach me how to do senses. Because I can't talk.
Daddy: Um... what do you want me to teach you?
Alex: All the senses. Except no and yes.
Claire: Hey Daddy, can you teach me games?
Daddy: Okay.
Alex: Because no and yes I can nod my head.



Claire: Alex? Where are you, Alex?
Alex (from the bathroom): In the bathroom leave me alone don't talk to me.