June 14 2011

I would say over the last few weeks half of the news and any conversations is tied to the flooding of the Missouri River.  I grew up along the river and I've never had to deal with anything like it is now.  I moved to Northeast Nebraska when I was 10, and spent a lot of time around the Gavin's Point Dam.  I remember thinking it was pretty cool that I could say the word dam, and it not be a bad word.  The fact that a naught word could so easily be used in every day language without being in trouble was pretty cool.  So I guess I shouldn't be so surprised that my boys are just as fascinated with it.

The other day we were eating dinner and having another conversation about the dam.  The boys were going on and on about this and that, using the word over and over in the correct way, so as not to be a bad word.  The reminded us that it wasn't a bad word the way they were using it.  Then as serious as anything, Will looked over at me and said "Mom, there are too dam (damn) words."  Place whichever word makes you laugh more.  Lewis and I were rolling in laughter.  Ah, the simple humor in our children.

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Saturday was a beautiful day, so we took another trip to the park.  Ella has become far more independent that I am comfortable with, but I still try to let her explore.  This was a new park for her, last year she was too small, and she was thrilled with a little wiggling balancing bridge.  She was insistent on doing it herself.  I said to her "Ella, you scare me!"  She stopped turned towards me and replied "ROAR!!!"  She growled, like I asked her to scare me.  Not exactly what I meant, kids are very literal.

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I'd like to share a silly story from each of my kids, but Jack is almost getting too old to be naively funny.  He is becoming to keen on sarcasm and too in tune to the effect on others for the simple things to be funny.  But with a loss of one thing, there is sure to be a gain of another.  Jack's one love, as of now, is skateboarding.  I must say, I'm thrilled.  I'm NOT being sarcastic.  I really do like watching him practice something, fail, and learn to do it the way he wants.  We've been trying to make it over to the skate park once a week.  He is greatful, but always wants more.  I guess I should be glad he has found something to pour his time into.