Feelings about the future

Somehow last night Jeff, Tyler, and I got into a conversation about Ty's future in school. Jeff told Tyler that next year he would start to get homework. The conversation went something like this:

Jeff: "Ty, do you know that next year, not only will you have to work at school, but when you get home you'll have to do your homework before you go out to play?"

Tyler (looking like what Jeff just said was truly absurd): "WHAT????" That's crazy!"

Jeff: "Yep, this is actually the most play time and free time you'll ever have in your life until you're retired. After this year, you'll never have as much time to play. How does that make you feel?"

Tyler: "Tired."

Humility?

Here's a conversation between me and Ty from a car ride today:

Tyler: "Mom, I'm really smart. I know half of everything."
Me (not understanding that he meant that he had acquired half of all existing knowledge): "Oh really, what's half of 10?"
Ty: "I don't know, but I know half of everything...when I get to heaven I'll know the other half."

A sweet riddle

A few weeks ago, we were driving to the store and Ty had a MagnaDoodle in the back of the car. He kept asking me to look at his drawings and I kept telling him that I couldn't look because I need to keep my eyes on the road.

His solution was to start telling riddles about his pictures that I had to solve in order to figure out what he drew. Here's my favorite that he made up:
"What has blond hair, blue eyes, and loves his Mommy?"

When did he get so old?

Ty was incredibly sweet today on my birthday and several of his comments left me wondering when he got so mature. An example from this morning before we headed downstairs:

Jeff: Are you going to open presents when we go downstairs?
Me: I don't know. Maybe I should wait until later in the day.
Ty: Mommy it's your birthday so it's your choice. You can do whatever you'd like.

Oh, how technology has changed our world

Conversation with Ty in the car yesterday afternoon:

Tyler: Mommy, do you know the way to Fairy Tale Land?
Me: Um, no, I'm not really sure how to get there. Do you?
Tyler: No, but I bet the GPS does.

I'm in trouble

Conversation between Tyler and me tonight after I incorrectly said that a) the figure in the red robe in the Little People Nativity Set was one of the kings and b)the figure with the staff was in fact Joseph:

Tyler: That's not a king, it has long hair and doesn't have a crown.
Me: Yes it is. Not all kings look the same. Plus, he has a gift for Jesus.
Tyler: No, it's not a king. And that's not Joseph; it's just a shepherd.
And on and on for a few more rounds...

Me: Ty, you're just like Daddy; you always think you're right.
Tyler: I'm awesome.

From the mouth of a four-year old

Today as I was preparing dinner, Ty was trying to tell me a story. I can't remember what I said back to him to try to communicate that I was a little bit busy, but as I stopped for a minute to actually look him in the eye, I was greeted by the following words, complete with an appropriate arm motion:

"Just calm down Mommy. Just calm down."

Tyler's heaven

Warning: If you haven't seen Disney's "Up," there's a small spoiler in the next paragraph.

Tonight Tyler and I had a movie night and watched "Up". I had prescreened the movie last night to ensure that there weren't any scary scenes that might keep him up all night. However, I failed to think about the impact that Ellie's death would have on him.

So, when I asked if he liked the movie, the 45-minute conversation that ensued was a bit of a surprise to me. I won't go into all of the details, other than to say that it was incredibly sweet, bounced all over the place, and ended with him asking me to show him my Bible. I do, however, think that this short excerpt might bring a smile to your face:

Tyler: "I don't want Nana and Papa to be in heaven. I don't think they can eat or drink there."
Me (frantically trying to find the right words): "No, in heaven, you can do whatever makes you most happy."
Tyler: "I like to eat alot of foods and talk to people. That's what I'd want to do."

Conversations with a four-year-old

Ty definitely keeps me on my toes with his questions. Here are two from today:

Tyler: "Mommy, who made God?"
Me: "Well, no one really. God was the first one here."
Me (seeing that he wasn't quite satisfied with that answer): "God made God."
Tyler: "Where did He get the directions for how to make God?"

Tyler: "Mommy, where do baby animals come from?"
My first response: "Well...(thinking...am I really getting these questions already?)...their mommy and daddy make them." From the look on his face, that was way too much information.
Luckily he was satisfied (for now) with my second answer: "From their mommy's bellies."

And the holy comments continue...

Recently, after we were done with his bath, Ty summed up the experience saying, "Mommy, I was bathtized."

Fun at church with a 3.5 year old

Attending church with a 3.5 year-old can sometimes be a little challenging. Ty's pretty good in general, but we still try to get him as involved as possible to keep him engaged. One of the jobs we give him is to put the money in the offering basket. This morning I continued that tradition, but he added a new twist: as I handed him the money he looked up at me with his inquisitive eyes and said (rather loudly), "Mommy, why do we have to pay for church?"

His favorite part of the day

When Jeff got home from work today, he asked Ty one of our typical questions, "What was your favorite part of the day?" Today, Tyler had a new answer...he responded, "You loving me" and ran up and gave Jeff a big hug.

Nothing like a 3 and a half year old to turn your day around.

A prayer

As Ty was sitting in bed this morning a few minutes after he woke up, he turned to me with a quizzical look on his face and said, "Mommy, God needs to give me new feet. Mine are stinky."