More Taterisms to Brighten Your Day

"Dad, when you were a little kid did you have a yo-yo?" Darrin said, "yes." Payton then added, "I guess it was made of wood, right?" His said asked, "why do you say that?" "Because I know they didn't have plastic back then," Payton replied.

I said, "Look Payton, here's a coffee mug with a 'D' on it. That could be for Daddy or Darrin." Without hesitating he replied, "Or Doofus!!" I guess I should be happy he's learning to spell, right?

While completing his math homework, Payton was getting frustrated with the subtraction problems. He put his book down and angrily said, "I hate subtraction! When will I ever have to used that in my life any way?!" A few minutes later he was having difficulty with subtraction again and I was trying to explain the concept of re-grouping (borrowing for our old timers). Again, he got frustrated and said, "Never mind, I'll just do subtraction with my own style!"

He's recently given our dog Bo, who tends to pass a lot of gas, a new name.... Bo Mc Farts-a-lot. No, they are usually not allowed to say the "f" word, but that one was too funny!

I usually call my mom at least once a day to update her on the boys' day. Last night I waited until Payton was in the bathtub to call her because I wanted to tell her about a note his teacher had sent home. Now, he's upstairs, in the bathroom, in the bathtub, with the door shut and apparently still heart me telling her about the note. Next thing I know he's hollering, "Why don't you just put it in the newspaper for Pete's sake?" Now, why can't he hear me when he's standing right next to me and I ask him to clean his room??

One night recently we were going around the dinner table and everyone was to say at least one thing they liked about each person. When Payton's turn came he said....
I like that mommy is pretty.
I like that daddy plays the PS2 with me.
I like that Garrett is nice.
And, I like everything about me!

Taterisms & a Bubby Blunder

Last weekend the boys and I were in Oceana, WV (i.e. "home") for Mother's Day. Sunday afternoon there was a tornado watch in effect. Tater told his dad that it was really dark, high winds and lots of rain but he didn't see any funnel cakes in the sky!

Tater came home from school one day, unpacked his backpack as usual and then searched the bottom for "something important." He pulled out a little scrap of paper, held it up in the air and announced..... I finally got Madison's phone number! He is his father's child.

When his friend's mother asked Tater where his dad worked he replied, "At a hoity-toity grocery store where they play fancy music." She asked what he did there and he told her "Nothing much really. He just walks around all day and straightens stuff." For the record he's as assistant manager at The Fresh Market and says he does do a little more than that each day.

While putting lotion on Tater's legs after his shower I asked if he knew what those blue lines were under his skin. He assured me he did and said, "Yes, they're blood vines!"

Just last night we were watching a movie on TV and Tater told us that he doesn't like it when movies are in mail box. (letter box)

Tater says that he doesn't like it when he has nightmares and wishes he would have goodmares sometime.

Bubby recently helped his dad install a white picket fence at the side of our house. He was telling his nana about it and referenced the pence fost that he helped his dad set in concrete.

A few "Taterisms" to brighten your day

It's been a while since I've shared any of Tater Tot's cute sayings or "Taterisms" as we like to call them. So, here you go.....these just happen to focus on his fascination with heaven lately.

• Who created God?
• Are there bike ramps in heaven?
• Do you still have birthdays in heaven?
• You know the "streets of gold?" Well, I'm going to ask God if I can have a little piece of the gold.
• How old are you when you die?
• Will Bo and Chasie (our dogs) go to heaven?
• Is that where Bam Bam (our first dog who died two years ago) is now?
• Is he running and happy?
• I bet he sleeps with Papaw Otis (my grandfather who passed away in May 2005) at night.

I love the way a child's mind works.

Taterisms

I laid out Tater's clothes for him to wear to school. He came downstairs in a totally different outfit. When I asked him why his response was, "You are not making me wear Tigger to school." Apparently a "Tigger" sweatshirt is okay to wear at home but not at school! Who knew? (notice the sweatshirt in the picture?)

"Mom, did you know I have two little guys on my shoulder? They help me out when I have problems. Like, they tell me the answers during math superstars at school." Wow! If only we all had "two little guys."

"I don't like the kind of milk that comes from a cow. I only like the kind that comes from a jug!"

"Mom, did you know that pink and purple are boyfriend and girlfriend?" (yes, he was talking about the colors folks)



What language do you speak in the bathroom? .....................European!

Taterisms

I asked, "So, what center did you go to in school today? Blocks?" He replied, "No, I'm taking a break from blocks."

While addressing his Valentine's day cards to his classmates he stopped and said, "I have to rest a minute. My hand is getting grouchy."

Payton recently asked me, "How come when I'm sick you take care of me and Daddy just watches TV?"

"How do Nana and Papa (hubby's parents) get money if neither of them work?" I answered, "well they are retired and get money from Papa's old job." "But what will they do when the money runs out?" He's six people...SIX!

I recently overheard Tater asking a friend, "Do you think I'm too little to be a Romeo?" His friend told him, "No, man!" I'm not quite sure what that means but I'm a little worried.

Tater Tot recently pooted while he was in the same room as me. His daddy said, "What have I told you about doing that in front of girls?" Tater answered, "Dad, I wasn't in front of her. I was behind her!"

The things they'll say...

"Hold your cows" (instead of horses I suppose) -- Tater

"Look mom, it's a '54 catarack!" (cadillac) -- Tater

"shamp lade" instead of lamp shade -- Garrett

"If they get in my way I just knock them down. Because, you know, life isn't always easy." -- Tater Tot referring to playing soccer

After he recently burped, I asked Tater what he should say. Without even hesitating he replied, "Thank you God for letting me be able to burp."

More "Taterisms" to enlighten your day

"Know what I learned today, dad? If you have hair, you're in the mammal family. But you're not! You're in the bald family."

He came downstairs the other night and asked if I had more cotton balls. "Why?," I asked. "Just wondering" was his reply. I told him I did then he says..."Well then, you have got to come and see this!" He proceeded to take my hand and lead me to our master bathroom. He had emptied our cotton ball container on the vanity. Why you ask? So he could wet each one with water (thus making spit balls) and throw them onto our mirror. The entire mirror (which is quite large) was covered with them!

Last weekend we were at hubby's brother's house. His Nana noticed that he had skid marks in his underwear and asked him about them. He said, "Well, I'm just going to start using those things mommy uses." We all just looked at him because we had no idea what he was talking about. He soon enlightened us. "You know, those things she puts in her underwear so she won't have skid marks!" Talk about embarrassing.

That's our Tater Tot!! :)

"Mommy, I like you more than anything else I like!"

"I'm glad I'm me"

More Taterisms

Tater Tot was full of them last night at the parade.....

• He refers to our downtown trolley as a "Charlie"
• We saw a menorah downtown and he said, "I know what that's for....people who celebrate Harmonica!"
• A group of girls danced by us with short Santa like dresses on. Tater said, "That's a cute dress." I just look at him sort of funny then he added, "you say that sometimes too, mommy!"
• As a marching band passed us he said, "Wow, they sure throw those "cratons" (batons) up high."

Tuesday Taterisms

Things I have over heard recently from the one and only Tater Tot...

• I'm sorry, I'm not a very good rememberer


• While telling his grandmother about the skeletal system, she asked, "How do you know so much about this?" His answer? "Well, because I'm so smart!"


• When I grow up I'm going to be an acrobat...they do really cool stuff


• When asked why he liked his student teacher he replied, "Because she is so darn pretty!"


• He told his dad he needed to talk and then said, "I think it's the parents, don't you?" Dad asked what he was referring to. Tater said, "You know, the whole Santa thing."

And, that wraps up this edition of Tuesday Taterisms. Stay tuned for more six year old ramblings.

Taterisms

(I call this his "Buddy Holly" picture)

Payton was picking out a shirt for his dad for father's day. He found a nice blue one and asked me what it said. I told him, "When I grow up I want to be just like my dad!" He said, "oh, no... I don't want that one!" Why in the world would he say that I thought. Then he continued..."I don't want to be bald when I get big!!"

A few days later he asked me why the top of daddy's head was bald. I told him because that's the way God made him. He then said, "Do you think God will do that to me when I'm big?"

After eating out recently Garrett wanted to take his drink with him when we left. Payton said, "You can't do that, dad will have a cow!" He then asked his dad why they weren't allowed to eat or drink in his car. Darrin told him, "Well, I'll tell you what my dad told me...when you're older and have kids of your own, you'll understand why." Payton replied, "well I'll tell you one thing, I don't understand today!"

Happy Father's Day, Daddy.

We love you...bald head and all!!

P.S. -- Payton's nickname is "Tater", hence the title of this post.

Questions from Tater Tot

Just a few more of Tater's observations to share with you....

• Day before yesterday he asked me if Jesus was in the sun. I replied, "no, why?" He said, "Well, I thought he was the Light?"
• "Pizza starts with P, right?" "Yes." "And, cookie starts with... almost a circle."
• "Will there be toys in heaven?" "Yes." "Well, do you think Papaw Otis is playing with my toys right now?"
• He refers to Pilot Mountain in North Carolina as "the big bump."
• He recently said something that I didn't understand so I said, "beg your pardon?" He repeated what he had said. A few minutes later he said, "I know, from now on I'll beg my pardon and you beg your pardon. Okay?"
• One of our dogs was outside wanting in and scratching at the door. I asked Tater to go let him in. On his way to do so he said, "okay, okay, hold your cows!"

"But you've already made the cupcakes!"

Okay, so it's the day before my youngest turns 5 years old. He's sitting on my lap and we're just cuddling and chatting. He's just so precious. I'm having a hard dealing with the fact that he's growing up. I look at him gently and with all sincerity say, "I don't want you to turn five. I just want you to stay four." He makes one of his smirking faces and replies, "Sorry, but you've already made the cupcakes....I have to." Already made the cupcakes? Now if it were only that easy to keep him four, I'd destroy those things in a flash!

Our "Tater Tot" (his nickname from almost day one) is chock full of "Taterisms." I'm never surprised what comes out of that child's mouth. For instance....."Do you know who the boss of all of us is," he asked. "No," I replied. He matter-of-factly said, "GOD!" Well, I guess I sort of knew that but just never really thought of him as the "boss."

I recently asked him if he had blown out a candle that I had lit and sat on the stove. He said no, he didn't. I proceeded to ask Garret, my oldest son. His reply was the same. Okay, then who was it? The dog? Tater thought a moment and said, "Well, if it wasn't Bubby, I guess it must have been me." He's not directly admitting to doing it, therefore he avoids getting in trouble, right?

Every morning when I tell him to get dressed for school (preschool) he wants to know if he can wear "cool clothes" or "dumb clothes." To him "cool clothes" consist of basketball type shorts and any shirt that has a number on it (see picture). "Dumb clothes," on the other hand, are say khaki shorts and a non-numbered shirt. And, if he's going outside to play, it's mandatory that he wear his "fast shoes." Oh no, ordinary tennis shoes will not due and sandals are out of the question. He has to have a certain pair of tennis shoes that have been deemed, by him, as "fast shoes."

He, his dad and older brother wrestle almost every evening at some point. If he finds that he's not getting equal time "on top" or isn't happy with the outcome of a match he breaks out the "arm kit pooties." This all started a while ago when he discovered that daddy has hair under his arms. How gross he thought at the time. Then, dad would give him arm pit cooties to get a rise out of him. Well, now he retaliates by smirking, pulling his arm into his shirt and slowly taking it out the bottom of his shirt. Then, after a brief pause, he does it......he lifts that arm straight up to the sky and comes at you with his "arm kit pooties." (it got a little twisted around in his translation huh?)

This week we're dog sitting for some friends who are on vacation in London. We have two Yorkies of our own and now, for a week, we have three. She's as sweet as can be and we all just love her. Anyway, while walking the dogs the other day he came up with an excellent idea, or so he thought anyway. "Hey, mom" he said, "I know what we can do.....let's buy some paper and write 'If you're leaving bring your dog to our house' on it. Then, we could put them up everywhere. How about that?" So, now we have a little entrepreneur on our hands. I always knew this kid was smart.

He's a very thoughtful boy too. He has told his dad on several occasions that when he gets big he's going to work for him. When asked why he said, "so he can spend more time at home." Awwww, isn't that just precious? One of his favorite foods to eat is "China Knees" (chinese). This seems so strange to me since during my pregnancy with him I developed my dislike for it. This little gift that God saw fit to bless us with five years ago is truly that.......a precious gift. Thanks a million, boss!