December 2013 Quote Book

This is a note I found in Isaac's backpack. He wrote it in the principal's office after apparently getting out of hand in Music Class:
What I did:
1. Acted funny
2. Said things like "snarf"
3. Danced with the music stand
4. Put my music upside down
5. Called out the right answer
6. Acted bored
What I should do:
1. The opposite of everything above which is: Not act funny. Not say "snarf". Not dance with the music stand. Not look at my music upside down. Not call out answers even they're right and no one else knows the answer. Not act bored.
2. Listen and play well. Have fun. But just not too much. 
whew. . .do you see what we deal with? and yet, I can't help but love this kid.


Lydia is going through a "hitting" stage. And although she never hits hard enough to hurt, we've had to crack down on it as a matter of principle. This is how our conversation went today after she got in trouble for hitting Eliza:
Me: You know better. Do we hit, Lydia?
Lydia: Nooooooooooo!
Me: You're righ. . .
Lydia: We not hit Wydia. We hit Ewhyza!
Me: No. . . We don't hit.
Lydia: Yesh. We hit Ewhyza! 
she says smiling. gah! do you see why I lose my mind trying to reason with her?


Nate was getting projects done around the house and yard, and Eliza was following him around. After a while he said she needed to stay away, because she was distracting him and tools can be dangerous for little girls. He was in the garage grinding down a metal latch when she climbed over the mess of bicycles and toys behind him and yelled,
"Hi Dad! I'm not going to bother you this time!"


Eliza and Brigham were having a debate about whether Eliza was "grown-up" enough to play Clayton's new board game.
Brig:You're not even close to being a grown-up, Eliza. You're just a little kid.
Eliza: Well, you're a little kid too and I'm almost as tall as you.
Brig: I'm a little kid. But you're a toddler
Eliza: Yes! You're right. I'm taller!