Doctor Livvy

Livvy found the perfect patient -- Pilot. He really likes to snooze on the couch and he'll pretty much allow anyone to do anything to him as long as he can stay stretched out and he gets touched. Just look at the look in his eyes. He's not really enjoying it, he's tolerating it.

Are you from Easters?

I had pulled my t-shirt over my head and Livvy asked, "are you a ghost?" I shook my head in the affirmative. She asked, "Are you from Easters?" I had no idea what the heck she was talking about. Jenny interjected that Liv gets Easter and Halloween confused with each other because they are the primary candy holidays.

Damn It

Livvy first said Damn it.

Dear Grandma Miffy

Last night we read the Miffy book, "Dear Grandma Bunny," which is a book that explores the loss of a grandma. We had a recent loss in the family, and we were looking for ways to discuss death and dying in an age appropriate way with Olivia. This book, to put it mildly, is blunt. "Why is miffy so unhappy? On her cheek a tear is bright. Do you know why she is crying? Miffy's grandma died last night." It goes on from there to show Grandma lying in a coffin, being buried, the headstone, and the whole family crying. The first time we read it she asked no questions. The last few times, however, have been very enlightening for me and Olivia. Last night as we read it she asked me, "Why do people die?" I said that when people get old they stop breathing, hearing, tasting, seeing, and that they just cease to be. She said, "Oh." "Why do they stop breathing?" The she asked why they put Grandma in the ground. I explained that some people like to bury their loved ones once they die. She said, "Oh." The she asked, "When I get old and die, are you going to put a rock on top of me?" These are all appropriate questions, and I tried to answer them in an appropriate way for her age, but as the questions kept coming, I slowly moved the book onto the pile next to me and pulled out the old favorite "I stink!" It's about a garbage truck. "What's that? You think I STINK? WHOOOOO-WHEE! Do I ever! No skunk ever stunk THIS BAD!"

Fire House Open House

We joined Paul, Gabe, Lonnie and Nolan for a pancake breakfast at the fire house in Albany. The food waqs as expected, but the grease fire demo, the free reign to play in the fire engines, the police car and the jail more than made up for the tough 'cakes.