101

The company picnic was geared toward the whole family this year. We went to the Lugnuts game -- a first for me -- and both boys had a blast. They have the carnival-type blow-up jumpy things -- a first for Jack. They also had a huge, huge slide. At first, Jack was not interested. But after seeing some "grils" slide down, he decided he was up for it ... at least until he got to the top. Then he decided he didn't want to come down -- at all.


So we sent up a co-worker's daughter to try to convince him to come down.

Brennan wasn't worried in the least. But after everyone on the base (including strangers) couldn't get him to come down, Joe realized he'd have to go get him. The plan was to get up there and bring him down the ladder slide. But, Joe slipped.


And they rolled several times down the steep slide. Jack's face was borderline petrified. Joe just looked like he was trying to look like he was is control.



Luckily, by the fifth and final role, Jack thought it was hilarious. But when he said he'd like to try it again, I distracted him with an ice cream sandwich.

100

Another 100 down.

Jack has informed us he plans to meet his wife at a dance club. This was an unprovoked, out of nowhere conversation. And when Joe asked him if he even knew what a dance club was he said ...

"Daddy! It's a place where you go and dance and play games."

That's just about right.

This weekend begins the whirlwind we like to call fall. We head to South Haven tomorrow to celebrate Ma's birthday; San Francisco next weekend to see our Cali. friends and go to the Cal v. MSU game; a wedding the following weekend; Brennan's Big Bash the next weekend ... and then every home game EVERY home game we have either people staying or meeting us somewhere. OSU will be a possible sibling weekend but also a memorial tailgate for our friend who passed away this spring; Notre Dame is our anniversary and parties all over; Homecoming brings Joe's friends into town. When will I ever have a minute to rest again?

99

My integrity as a writer -- and a mother -- has been challenged. Even though Husband was in the car when his eldest son used the word "prefer" correctly, he is insistent that Jack didn't say it.

I find this intriguing considering immediately following my conversation, I said to him, "Oh my gosh! Did you hear what he just said?" And of course he hadn't because the Tigers were on the radio.

So I rehashed what he missed (including the word "prefer") and we both laughed and commented on how smart and amazing Jack is ... Apparently, he was just faking that conversation? Just nodding along? But I bet if anyone asks, he can tell you who was pitching and what the score was for the game.

Details on his son's growing vocabulary? Not so much.

And why is "prefer" so unbelievable when he's a kid who uses "actually" on a daily basis? "Prefer" is no more difficult a concept to tackle. If I were Jack, I would be insulted. He is a child who (though still confused by pronouns) understands past tense versus present tense and plural versus singular. He corrects incorrect spoken grammar when he hears it and is constantly asking me English-language questions. This boy is the product of two professional writers who have always spoken to him as if he was at least 10 years older than his actual age. Why wouldn't he say "prefer"?

So Daddy, how did the Tigs do?

Following the vocabulary theme -- Brennan now says "uh-oh." Though he has refused to say it in front of his father (perhaps because he figures it is a lost cause) Jack, our nanny and I have all heard it. It's can't be easily described but it's truly exciting to witness the teeny-tiny "uh-oh" through his puckered up baby lips after a quick toss of keys.

98

In one month Brennan will be 1.

Is that possible?


***
Driving home from church Jack asked me ...
"Mama, do you know what $100 means?"
"Do I know what it means?" I asked.
"Yeah. Do you know what $100 means?"
I kind of ignored him. I had no idea what he was talking about or where he was going with it.
"MAMA! It means you can buy a lot of toys for me."
I had to laugh.
"Or clothes for school."
"Yeah ... but ... I'd prefer toys."