Be Careful What You Eat

The kids have been learning about cowboys during their Phonics and English lessons the past week or so. They have been fascinated by their jobs, their horses, their whips, their brands (ouch!) and their hats. It's been funny. Today we learned about their diets. No, I'm not talking about Atkins for Cowboys. I'm talking about what a cowboy would eat. The kids learned about hardtack, a staple in a cowboy's diet while out on the trail. Looked more like a cracker on steroids to me, but I guess when you're tired and hungry you'll eat just about anything, right?

Tonight at dinner I was prompting the kids to tell Taigen about what they learned today. When we got to Phonics and English, I said to the kids, "Tell Daddy about some of the things that cowboys eat."

They mentioned beans, bacon, biscuits, eggs & jerky. Taigen said that possibly they might have eaten things they hunted while out on the trail. That prompted a huge discussion on bears, deer, caribou, snakes and rabbits. That was a long rabbit trail, trust me.

I wanted to round-up this conversation and get back to what we were talking about. I hinted at the hardtack. "What was that stuff that the cowboys ate that looked like a huge cracker?"

Shaylen piped up, "A heart attack."

More NH Road Terms & Other News

On our way home from church tonight, we hit a pothole. It was big enough to jostle the kids a bit in their carseats and Marshall piped up from the back, "What was that?!?"

I said, "It was a pothole."

Silence. "Is that where pots go?"

I thought I would start off this post with a bit of humor. On a totally different note, please pray for dear Grandma Rutledge. She is having hip replacement surgery tomorrow morning. Obviously, she is NOT looking forward to it, but hopefully this will alleviate some of the pain she's been experiencing and will free her up to do the things she loves. We would appreciate your prayers for her and I'm sure she will too. Many thanks.

New Dictionary Entries

sprainking - formally "spraining". tr.v. To cause a sprain to (a joint or ligament). Shaylen said that if she fell from a ridgepole, she'd have to walk funny from "sprainking" her ankle. (Can you tell we've been listening to Anne of Green Gables?)

google - formally "gobble".-v. To swallow or eat hastily or hungrily in large pieces; gulp. On the way home, Marshall said he would "google" up his lunch of Spanish rice and beans so he could then have a plain tortilla.

New Dictionary Entries

muzizum - formally "museum"; n. a building or place where works of art, scientific specimens, or other objects of permanent value are kept and displayed. We told the kids that we were going to go to the Children's Museum. Marshall had trouble pronouncing it correctly.

binoclear - formally "binocular"; n. an optical device, providing good depth effect, for use with both eyes, consisting of two small telescopes fitted together side by side, each telescope having two prisms between the eyepiece and objective for erecting the image. To be honest, I have no idea what got Marshall on this subject, but he asked if we had any binoclears that he could use.

A New Dictionary Entry

monthscles - formally muscles; n. A tissue composed of fibers capable of contracting to effect bodily movement.

This morning we were eating our breakfast and I was encouraging Shaylen to drink her milk. I told her it would make her strong. She took a few big swigs and said, "Look, Mommy! I am getting strong. Look at my big muscles!"

After a while, I looked over and Marshall was finishing his milk..again. (We call him the "milk man".) He said, "Mommy look at my monthscles!

New Dictionary Entry

mooner clips- formally "lunar eclipse"; noun. the obscuration of the light of the moon by the intervention of the earth between it and the sun.

Today Shaylen and I were singing "The Wonder Song" which says,
"Oh who can make a __________? (you get to fill in the blank),
I'm sure I can't can you?
Oh who can make a _______________?
No one but God 'tis true."

I had taught it to the kids a couple of Wednesday's ago while we watched the lunar eclipse. We had come home after church and it watching it only added about ten minutes before I got them in bed. I figured, "Why not?" I was emphasizing that it was God who made the sun, moon, earth and stars move the way they do.

Marshall came down the stairs today and heard us singing. He said, "Mommy! I know that song! We sang it while we watched the mooner clips!

New Dictionary Entries

flablulous- adj. formally "fabulous"; def. exceptionally good or unusual; marvelous; superb. Shaylen said tonight, "Mommy, this dinner is flablulous." (We wondered if flablulous is what you get when you eat too much of the fabulous food)

inside and out- idiom. formally "inside out"; def. with the inner side reversed to face the outside. Marshall was putting his pajamas on all by himself and was having difficulties putting on his shirt because they were "inside and out."

neighbor's hood- noun. formally "neighborhood"; def. the area or region around or near some place or thing; vicinity. Shaylen was making up a story about her favorite stuffed animals: "Brownie" and "Snoopy". Snoopy found his way to his "neighbor's hood". Fortunately for Snoopy, he asked for directions (not your typical male dog) and ended up back in the suburbs safely.

New Dictionary Entry

ukcypent- formally known as "occupant" n; a person, family, group, or organization that lives in, occupies, or has quarters or space in or on something.

Today I read the book Duck and Goose to Marshall and Shaylen. A duck and a goose mistake a ball for an egg. They try not to yell because it would disturb the "occupant" inside. Shaylen asked me at lunch what an "uckypent" was. It took me a while, and after much prodding and repetition of her new word, I finally got it!

New Dictionary Entry

liedampterist- formally known as "lepidopterist"; n. an entomologist who specializes in the collection and study of butterflies and moths

Marshall and Shaylen have a book entitled The Bug Hunt and it is from a series of Winnie the Pooh books. In this particular story, Owl proceeds to tell all his friends about his Aunt Augusta who was a lepidopterist. On our way home from Worcester, MA, Shaylen decided to tell a story. It was the story of Froodinand, the bear. Froodinand was a "liedampterist."

New Dictionary Entry

freelection- formally "reflection"; n.the production of an image by or as if by a mirror. We were on our way home from church last night when Marshall pipes up from the back, "Mommy, I can see my freelection right there (pointing to the window).

Father and Son

Lest Marshall should feel left out while Shaylen and I went down for the Teddy Bear Picnic, Taigen took Marshall out for lunch at McDonald's. Of course, Marshall was thrilled! According to him, he had chicken and french fries with "honey pusstard" at "Ol' McDonalds!" Then they went to a special store: Home Depot, and looked for a new "spwinkler".

Shaylen had brought home a teddy bear and some gummy bears for Marshall. We told them that if they ate a good dinner they could eat some of the gummy bears. So when Marshall's plate was finished he said, "Daddy, may I have some crunchy bears please?" Too funny!

New Dictionary Entry

recognize- formally "wreck"; v. to tear down; demolish. This morning, Marshall and Shaylen were looking out the window at the street sweeper. There was a small cobweb in the window sill and I took a napkin and wiped it away. Shaylen said, "Mommy, don't recognize it!!!"

New Dictionary Entries

goose goose- formally "couscous"; n. A pasta of North African origin made of crushed and steamed semolina. Last night we had grilled chicken with couscous and Marshall asked for more "goose goose".

broccoli- formally "sparkly"; adj. Having brief brilliant points or flashes of light. Brenda told Shaylen last night that she had "sparkly" eyes. Shaylen responded saying, "I don't have broccoli eyes!"

lawning the mower- formally "mowing the lawn"; v. To cut down grass or other growth. Marshall said last night that Daddy was "lawning the mower".

New Dictionary Entry

trickity- formally "electricity"; n. an electric current used or regarded as a source of power.

It seems that Central Maine Power is having some sort of issues with the power in our area. This is probably because of the heat and humidity combined the past three days and everyone has been turning on their a/c units. Our power has gone out twice in the past 24 hours and Marshall and Shaylen both said, "We have no trickity."

New Dictionary Entries

dishcondator- formally "air conditioner"; n; an apparatus for controlling, especially lowering, the temperature and humidity of an enclosed space. New pronunciation of this word are credited to Shaylen Joos of N. America. Shaylen asked me if I would turn off her "dishcondator" for nap time.

jingle- formally "juggle"; v; To keep (two or more objects) in the air at one time by alternately tossing and catching them. New pronunciation of this word are credited to Shaylen Joos of N. America. Shaylen asked Jason this weekend if he would "jingle" three balls for her as we were playing in the backyard.

New Dictionary Entry

pogo- formally "piccolo"; adj; Of, relating to, or being a musical instrument considerably smaller than the usual size; piccolo flute, piccolo trumpet. New origins and pronunciation of this word are credited to Shaylen Joos of N. America.

This morning she had some blocks stacked together and was blowing on the top block. She told me, "I am playing the pogo tuba."

Wouldn't Dr. Turner from the Foundation Brass be pleased?

New Dictionary Entry

loosebumps-formally "goosebumps"; n; Momentary roughness of the skin caused by erection of the papillae in response to cold or fear. New origins and pronunciation of this word are credited to Shaylen Joos of N. America

New Dictionary Entries

popcorn- formally known as "porcupine"; n; a rodent known for its coat of sharp spines, or quills that defend it from predators. New origins of this word are credited toShaylen Joos of N. America

gerrolla- formally known as "granola"; n; cereal made of especially rolled oats with dried fruits and nuts and honey or brown sugar. New origins of this word are credited to Marshall Joos of N. America

packpack- formally known as "backpack"; n; a bag that is supported by the shoulders with double handles and lies across the back. New origins of this word are credited to Marshall Joos of N. America

Got Moo?

The topic of conversation this morning at breakfast was mostly about the storm. They were fascinated by the wind whipping around the grill on the deck. I think Shaylen was afraid that it would blow away.

As our Cheerios were being consumed, however, Shaylen looked at me and asked, "Mommy, are you going to put moo in your hair?"

"Moo in my hair?"

"Are you going to put moo in your hair today?"

"Shaylen, what is 'moo'?"

"Moo."

I sat and thought a while. What would I put in my hair that she would call "moo"?

Then it dawned on me.

Mousse!

New Dictionary Entry

estronaut-formally known as "restaurant"; n; an establishment that serves prepared food and beverages to be consumed on the premises. Origins of this word are credited to Marshall and Shaylen Joos of N. America