Word Play

I guess it has been a while, as my little man, who was 5 at last time I posted, just recently turned 7.  He is now in first grade and still keeping us busy and entertained as always.  Recently his vocabulary has been the source of much of the entertainment.  He reads a LOT, so I suspect that helps.  And he has two older sisters who like to use fancy words as well.

We had some friends in visiting from Rutland, VT the weekend after Christmas.  We used to live there, and these are some of our closest friends.  My daughters (Caitlyn, 12 and Mara, 11) thought that we needed to take our friends shopping because we have many stores here in the Buffalo area that they do not have.  We sent the dads out for lunch and on a couple of errands and the moms and kids headed out.  Our first stop was at Target.  Their 12 year old exclaimed "Wow!  I've never been in a Target before" as we walked through the door.  My kids were astonished.

We all kind of separated to shop.  The three older girls went off together to explore clothes, music and toys.  My friend Carmen, and her 6 year old were with Finn and I for a bit, but then we too split off.  Finn had gift cards in his wallet and he was determined to spend them, despite the fact that some of his presents from both Christmas and his December 15th birthday were still in the plastic they came in.  He had three gift cards.  I told him he could spend the smallest one, which was $15 and should save the rest for another time. He very carefully looked through the $1 bins at the entrance, even checked out clothes.  He found some stickers and crafts in the office supplies area and I decided to pick up our grocery/household item needs while we were there.  As I finished putting my stuff in the cart, I told him I was done and asked if  he needed to look at anything else before we cashed out.  He replied "Yes, we haven't been to the toy section yet.  I need to look at the toys because I still have $9 left on my gift card." (he had been keeping a running count in his head)  To which I kind of grumbled "Oh great.  Because between Christmas and your birthday, you didn't get enough toys!"  He stopped, looked at my with a very unimpressed look on his face and said "Mommy, I can tell you are using your sarcasm voice".  The lady stocking the shelves as we passed laughed so hard I thought she was going to fall off of her ladder.  Yep...I was caught.  So off to the toy section we went.  And he found a way to spend each of those remaining $9.

Fast forward to Wednesday, January 2.  The kids went back to school reluctantly.  Finn came home bursting with stories to tell about the first day back.  He has a really good memory, so one of the first things he did was to tell me what 1 thing EVERY kid in his class got for Christmas.  Apparently at carpet time, or whatever their group discussion is, they each got to discuss 1 item that they got for Christmas.  2 girls in his class got an Easy Bake oven.  At this point Finn said to me "Admittedly, I would like one of those too, even if they are kind of girly.  But I saw on the commercial that they have a mold for baking stuff that is shaped like a guitar and that is pretty awesome!"  I was taken aback by the fact that not only did he use the word admittedly, but he used it correctly as well. Some adults I know probably couldn't do that.

This kid is something else, I tell you.  He's smart, he's witty, he's funny.  He's Finntastic!

The Remember Forever Cap

So, Finn (5) for as long as I can recall has always talked about his "Remember Forever Cap"  And I swear he isnt joking.  The other day we went to a picnic at Chestnut Ridge.  There are a LOT of shelters and different picnic/-playground areas at Chestnut Ridge Park.  More than 40 shelters and each has different set ups.  We visit Chestnut Ridge a lot.  We hike there, go to play at the playgrounds there, go sledding there, Finn and I used to bike there (with him on the seat on the back of my bike when he still fit in there). Since we moved back to Western NY, it has been a favorite destination.  So, Finn was excited when I told him we were going to Chestnut Ridge for the swim team picnic.  He asked if it was near a playground.  I said, no this particular shelter, the same one we were at last year, had a big field across from it for the games, like egg toss, scavenger hunt, etc.  He said "Oh yeah, but remember they also have just a few swings on an old swingset behind that one."  I replied "Um...maybe, but I can't remember, we haven't been to that one in a whole year".  Finn replied "Yes, it is there.  I put it in my Remember Forever Cap."  Sure enough we showed up and about 20 feet behind the shelter is an old metal set of swings.  "See" he looked at me smirking.

He has caught Tom off guard with his "Remember Forever Cap" as well.  They read "The Hobbit" over a period of a month or more.  A few pages or sometimes a whole chapter at a time, before bed.  When they finished, Finn asked Tom to start the Lord of the Rings Trilogy.  The first chapter of the "The Fellowship of The Ring" is called "A Long Expected Party".  Tom, asked Finn, rhetorically I think, if he remembered what the first chapter of "The Hobbit" was called, and without missing a beat Finn replied "The Unexpected Party".  Apparently he had stored that in his Remember Forever Cap as well.

From the time he was little, he was very good with remembering things that baffled me.  He would point at a street we had been down once and tell me which friend lived there, or what store was down that road.  He could remember play dates that happened months ago in great detail (like what games he played with the other child, and what they had for snack) and don't even THINK about telling him yes to something unless you plan on following through because he will spurt back at you every promise you have ever made until you keep up your end of the bargain.  Which is why if I ever win the jackpot on the Sweet Millions scratch off, I will be forced to take on a small pet for each child.  Finn asked one day in the grocery store as we were walking past the lottery machines, "When can we get pets?" and I said "If I ever win the big prize on that lottery ticket".  Now every time he sees those tickets he wants me to buy one, "Because remember, if you win the big prize, we each get a small pet! And I am going to get a Guinea Pig"

So, at the first few mentions of the Remember Forever Cap, I kind of giggled and thought "what a cute game".  Now I am wondering....WHERE CAN I GET ONE OF THOSE?  It sure would come in handy!

I tell you this boy is Finntastic!

Monsters in the Dark

I tell a lot of stories about my son, Finn.  He is 5, and one of the funniest people I have ever met.  Recently many people have suggested to me that I should start a blog about Finn and the funny things he says and does.  So, here I am.  This is my first post.  It is something that happened today.  I may in future posts retell stories that have happened in the past, or things that he has not yet said or done.  For now, let's talk about last night...


My friend, Holly, and her husband and son are staying with us this weekend.  They drove in from North Carolina.  Her son is 10, soon to be 11.  Finn was very excited when I told him that Zach would be camping out on his floor for a sleepover this weekend.  However, Finn had a VERY busy week.  He started full day kindergarten this week, and also had two nights in a row of back to school BBQs to attend.  So, by the time Holly, Jeremiah & Zachary arrived, Finn was fast asleep.  In fact he fell asleep laying on my bed, mid conversation.  At some point later that night, we moved him to his own bed, and Zach set up his sleeping area on Finn's floor. 

At about 3AM, Finn woke up for a trip to the bathroom.  He apparently had forgotten that we were having company.  At first when he woke up (he told me this later) he saw a lump under some blankets on his floor, and hid under his own blankets on his bed, concerned at what was on his floor.  After a bit, curiosity got the best of him, and this morning, Zach told us that he was awakened by Finn, poking him repeatedly with one finger, backing away from the slumbering pile, and asking "Are you a Monster?".  I am not sure exactly what he would have done if Zachary had said yes.  But for now, he is happy that it was just a friend, snoozing soundly, in a pile of blankets. 

I tell you, this boy is Finntastic!