~Masterful Conversations~

After this afternoon's ice skating adventure...

Eamon:  <gravely> "Well, I've mastered ice skating."

Me:  "Oh, really!?  You skated for an hour and now you're a master?"

Eamon:  "Well, yeah.  It's kind of like roller skating but that took me several days to master."

Me:  "Ok, look.  There are people who skate every day for years and some of those people could be considered masters and professionals but I don't think you skating for an hour [or less if you count the times we rested after the epic falls and tears] qualifies you as an ice skating master."

Eamon:  "But I skated on one foot."

Me:  *sigh*

How can you argue with "The Master?" ;)

~Be-GUY-ling Conversations~

While driving home from school and discussing the eagerly-anticipated upcoming Guys' Night...

Me:  "Oh, hey, actually I might not be going to my book club meeting tonight so can I join your Guys' Night?"

Eamon:  "Well, you'll have to ask Daddy and Rowan."

Me:  "What?!  Why...?"

Eamon:  "Well, Rowan had to get permission from Daddy to be a member of Guys' Night so I guess you do too."

Me:  <scoffing>  "Well, here's a little secret:  Daddy gets his permission from me so I say I'm in."

Eamon:  "I don't think so.  You have to pass the test like Rowan did.  Maybe you can ask her how she passed."

Me:  "Hmm, what characteristics do you, Rowan, and your Dad all have in common that would make you eligible for Guys' Night?  Not bathing regularly, inability to do laundry, and having to be told how to do everything...  Yeah, you're right - I'll totally fail the Guys' Night test!"

Whatever!  Girls are better anyway! ;) 

~Conversations With Meema~

While on our mini-break in Myrtle Beach after swimming in the hotel's indoor pools, which were teeming with screaming children btw...

Me:  "Sooo... you're not going to shower after your swim?"

Meema/Mom:  "Nah."

Me:  <innocently> "Oh, ok.  You don't mind not washing off all the pool chemicals - and kid pee?"

Meema/Mom:  <thinking for a minute>  "No, I'm good."

Me:  "Ok, cool.  Hey, Eamon?  Come sit over here with me tonight."

Ok, the pool didn't actually look like this - there were way more kids!  Ha!  Just kidding, our pool was not green at all - but there were a ton of kids.  And I actually really admire my mom's sense of fearlessness and joie de vivre but I do have to bust her chops now and then! ;)  

~Excel-lent Conversations~

The night before leaving for a mini-vacation...

Me:  "So Eamon, which of your stuffed animals are you going to bring on the trip?"

Eamon:  *sigh*  "I really need to make a chart." 

Meema:  "A chart? What for?"

Eamon:  "You know, so I can write down my stuff animals' names and then where I take each one of them on vacation?"

Me:  "So they each get equal travel time, right?"

Eamon:  "Yeah."

Meema:  <laughing>  "Well, I think there's room for you to take more than one on this trip."

Me:  "Do you want me to show you later how to make an Excel spreadsheet so you can keep track of your animals' travels in the future?"

Eamon:  <seriously>  "Yeah, that would be good."

Decisions, decisions... ;) 

~Cyclical Conversation~

While driving to the park to ride Eamon's new bike...

Eamon:  "Daddy said there's going to be a 200 mile bike race next October."

Me:  <laughing>  "Oh, yeah?  Are you thinking of signing up?"

Eamon:  <nonchalantly>  "Yeah."

Me:  <surprised>  "Oh, really?  You think you could do 200 miles on a bike?"

Eamon:  <matter-of-factly>  "Mom, it's in October so I'd have plenty of time to train."

Wow, I wonder where he learned that phrase! ;)

Yeah, somehow I don't think he's ready for this yet... ;)

~Salted Conversations~

On a recent visit to Rowan's Subway...

Me:  "Ok, I'll buy everyone ONE cookie.  Eamon, what kind do you want?"

Eamon:  "Gingerbread.  And these sea salt and vinegar potato chips."

Me:  "What?!  You've never had those and you don't even like stuff like that!"

Eamon:  <eyes glazed over with longing>  "I know but I think I really would like them now."

Me:  "You can either have the chips or the cookie, not both."

Eamon:  <resolutely>  "Ok.  Then I'll take the chips."

Me:  <surprised>  "Alright."

Later in the car...

Eamon:  <rapturously>  "These are so good!"

Me:  "Glad you like them."

Eamon:  "Um, mommy, can I have some water?"

Me:  "Sure, here you go."

Eamon:  "It's important to stay hydrated while you're eating these kinds of chips or you could get deyhydrated."

Me:  "Um, I guess..."

Mark:  <talking to Eamon>

Eamon:  "Uh, huh... <sadly>  My chips are almost gone."

Mark:  "Did you hear me?"

Eamon:  "I'm just going to stick my face in the bag so I can inhale their scent even though they're gone now."


My boy and his obsession with food.  I can't even imagine what the teenage years will bring. ;)

~Conversations With Husbands~

Christmas-Eve Eve

Me:  "So you're going to use the smoker to cook the Christmas chicken tomorrow?"

Mark:  "Yeah, it'll be fine."

Me:  <worriedly>  "Has anything really ever been successfully cooked with that smoker?

Mark:  <confidently>  "Yeah, I've done it a thousand times!"

Me:  <with certainty>  "You have not!"

Mark:  "Well, it was at least twice."

A thousand times, two times... really, who's counting? Oh, right, the wife!  ;) 

Let's hope this isn't what our X-mas chicken will look like. ;)