Things They Say

I wrote this back in June but never got around to hitting that "publish" button. Anyway, enjoy a couple of conversations with the kids!

Mom and E in the store.
E: I know how the cows make the milk.
Mom: Oh really? How?
E: They just find the pig. Then it just swallows it. Then it makes the milk.
Mom: It swallows it whole?
E: Yeah. The cow just goes like this (he opens his mouth as wide as it goes, he holds his hands open on either side of his mouth, ready to clamp his fingers shut along with his mouth, after he catches the pig).

This conversation goes back and forth for several minutes. I'm trying to get my mind around this whole thing. I ask things like, does it chew the pig? Does it chase the pig? E talks about the cows eating other things, like grass, the grass turns into the milk. But finally, I ask the right question.

Mom: How does the milk get out of the cow?
E: You just, the farmer just pulls on the pig's legs.

And then it all became very clear to me, and I tried very hard not to laugh. Over the next couple of days I told a few people. We all found it funny, and in the end, most of us cried, even Mr. A, Archer's famous 5th grade teacher, cried when he heard the news. You just pull on the pig's legs, of course!

Mom and Shelly at bedtime.
Mom: Shelly, let's make a deal. On Thursday night, after your last day of school, you can stay up as late as you want reading. BUT, for the next few nights, you can't complain about wanting to stay up late to read.
Shelly: Best deal EVER! (Thumbs up, jumping up and down, runs out of the room. Leaves her book behind with me to prove she won't be reading too late tonight.)