Weigh-in time

Myla and Luke had their annual check-ups in July.  Both were healthy and growing.  Myla is 46 inches tall (56%) and 39 pounds (14%!).  Luke was 42 inches (86%) and 40.5 pounds (also 86%).    But since then, Myla has probably grown another inch.  I'm guessing she's still 39 pounds, as she has been for about two years now.

Tough Questions

Matthew is out of town this week, so I was out to dinner last night with the kids by myself.  At one point Myla and I have the following conversation:

Myla: Do you want me to get married?

Me: I want you to be happy.  So if getting married would make you happy, I want you to get married.  If it wouldn't make you happy, then I don't want you to.

Myla: Do you have to be married to have kids?

Me: Well, no, though people usually get married before having kids.  And it's a really good idea, because being a parent is really hard and it helps to have a partner, like Daddy is my partner.  (I'm thinking I nailed that, right?  But then . . .)

Myla:  What about slaves and orphans?

Me:  (internally:  Mayday!  Mayday!)  What about slaves and orphans?

Myla:  With orphans, there's a lot of kids and only one adult to take care of them.

Me:  Oh.  Right, like in Annie.  Well, people have figured out that that isn't a very good way to take care of kids, so we don't really have orphanages anymore.

Myla:  Yeah.  Mrs. Hannigan does a terrible job.  (I still wasn't sure where the slaves fit in and I didn't dare ask.)


Also during this meal, Luke kept talking about the time he went to school and I went to asparagus.  I eventually figured out he meant "Paris."

She's Speaking English, but I Don't Have a Clue What she is Saying

Last night at dinner, Myla was all excited to tell Kasey and I about something from school.   It went something like this:

Myla:  "Mrs. Beck said that if we bring in $2,000 we will get a duck trophy."
Matthew:  "Who is Mrs. Beck?"
Myla:  "The gym teacher."
Kasey:  "Say that again."
Myla:  "If we bring in $2,000 to Mrs. Beck we will get a duck trophy."
Matthew:  "I'm so confused.  Why would you get a duck trophy?"
Myla:  "Because we brought in $2,000."
Kasey:  "But why would you bring in $2,000?"
Myla:  (getting frustrated) "To get the duck trophy!"
Matthew:  (starting to laugh)  "Let me get this straight...Mrs. Beck told you to bring in $2,000 to get a duck trophy?"
Myla:  "Yes!"
Matthew:  "Did she just tell you this, or the whole class?"
Myla:  "The whole class."
Kasey:  "Is Mrs. Beck running a pyramid scheme?"  (Matthew laughs, Myla shoots Kasey a look)
Matthew:  "So we are supposed to give you $2,000 to give to Mrs. Beck?"
Myla:  "No!  We are supposed to email our friends and family to ask for it."
Kasey:  "Oh, I see.  So we should send an email to everyone telling them to give us money so you can get a duck trophy from Mrs. Beck."
Myla:  "Yes."

At this point Kasey and I just gave up.  This morning when we opened Myla's backpack we found answers.  There was information in there for a Jump Rope for Heart Fundraiser where the kids are supposed to collect pledges.  It clearly says that if a child brings in $200 in pledges, they will get the trophy duck. 

So, on the way to school, I told Myla that I now understood about the jump rope fundraiser:

Matthew:  "Hey Myla, I saw your info on the ducks for Mrs. Beck."
Myla:  "Oh yeah.""
Matthew:  "It is $200 not $2,000 that you need to raise for the trophy duck."
Myla:  "Whatever, dad."
Matthew:  "There is a big difference, Myla."
Myla:  "I know."

I love my kindergartner.