Lucy: (Carrying bag of Newman’s Ginger-O’s cookies) “Mama. Can you open this for me?” Me: (It’s not even 8 am yet.) “Well, you have to ask Papa. I don’t know how much breakfast you ate.” Lucy: “I aaaaaate… THIRTY POUNDS of breakfast. Can I have one cookie?”
Me: Taking a bite of Zoe’s neck. “Is it alright if I take a bite of your neck?” Zoe: “No. It’s not.” Me: “Why not?” Zoe: “Because then I will not have any head.” Me: “Oh no. That’s no good.” Zoe: “No. It would not be good if I don’t have any mouth or any eyes. So don’t do it.” Me: “Okay.”
Today at Q Shack I overheard three Dukie boys obviously experiencing their first NC bbq: . . . . . . . Boy 1, holding up a hushpuppy: “What are these?” Boy 2, picking up one of his own hushpuppies and examining it closely: “I think it’s potato…” Boy 1 puts down his hushpuppy. Boy 3, handing Boy 1 a bottle of bbq sauce that’s on the table: “Here. I think you’re supposed to eat it with this…”
We’re driving in the car, headed to the park since it’s EIGHTY DEGREES here today. They Might Be Giants is on the radio but Zoe starts singing the nursery rhyme Old King Cole out loud, ignoring the music that’s already playing. When she finishes Lucy says “Wow Zoe. How do you know that song?” (It isn’t one of the songs we sing together.) “I know it because I’m a big girl,” Zoe responds confidently. “I make poops on the potty and I can sing Old King Cole. And I don’t need any help for neither. Do you wanna hear me…
(Pre-note: Zoe and Lucy are 3 years old. As such, there are many words in their lexicon that aren’t found in your standard dictionay. One of them, “Mopa,” is a food they might prepare for you in their kitchen. Sometimes they make you Chocolate Soup, sometimes they make you Mopa. You take what you can get.) —————– Scene: Lucy and Zoe have turned the bathtub (no water — not bathtime) into a popsicle and lollipop store. Bob, as he is wont to do, keeps going in and asking for things that wouldn’t be sold at a popsicle and lollipop store….
We’re on our way to Jen & Pete’s house for dinner, bringing two Green Tango salads as side dishes. Lucy is holding one and Zoe is holding the other and they’re talking about them. Suddenly it dawns on Lucy that she can talk about her favorite letter: “Yuh – Yuh – Yettuce. Mama! Yettuce starts with L !!”
Zoe: Give me that, Lucy! Lucy: No! (Runs away) Zoe: (Chasing after). Give! Me! That! Lucy! Lucy: (Finding herself in a corner). No! Zoe: Yes! (Grabs thing). Lucy: Wait a minute Zoe! (Grabs thing back). What’s the funny word? Zoe: Crocodile. Lucy: Here. (Gives Zoe thing).
