The Cow Queen: Tiny Talk

Showing posts with label Tiny Talk. Show all posts

Showing posts with label Tiny Talk. Show all posts

A Vocabulary Lesson

Last week, we were cleaning up some kid clutter. The Princess was in true princess fashion and did not want to fully participate. When I explained that picking something up from one spot and dropping it in another was not "cleaning", she said, "Crap!" To which the Prince replied, "Actually, it's 'crud'. That's the scientific word for it." I didn't know science was so simple ... or had so many four-letter words.

*****

That was also the day that we had a set of twin calves born on the farm. Twins can be a mixed blessing. On one hand, they are a two-fer. Your herd grew more than you expected. On the other hand, one calf can be an underachiever or the cow can reject one (which is why we have a calf to hand-feed in the barn from our last calving season). Anyway, I checked on the calves several times during the day.

The next day, I had a babysitter come to watch the Prince and Princess so that I could retrieve some beef from the abattoir and organize it in our freezers for sale to the public. After picking up our beef and returning to the house, I checked on the children. The conversation went like this:

Prince (excitedly): Mama, the cow ejected the calf and it is on the outside of the fence.

Me (because I couldn't decifer the 8-year-old cowboy wanna-be): The cow did what?

Prince (more calmly): The. mama. cow. ejected. the. calf. and. it. is. on. the. outside. of. the. fence.

Me: Oh, you mean she "rejected" the calf.

Prince: Yeah.

I guess that maybe she "ejected" it too, since it was on the outside of the fence. (No, she didn't really reject it. They just got separated from each other.)

*****

I'm linking up to Tiny Talk.

The grass is green. It’s good to be

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Cereal and Grilled Cheese

A few days ago, the princess awoke before the rest of us were ready to get up. I convinced her that it was not "wake up time" and she climbed into bed with Prince Charming and myself. We dozed some. We chatted some. We giggled some. When the prince awoke, he joined us. After awhile, we told them that we had to get up and get ready to take Prince Charming to the airport. The whining began.

Princess: I don't want Daddy to leave.

Prince Charming: It's only for a week, and I'll be back.

Me: And when Daddy gets back, I get to leave. (not really, but it sounded good.)

Princess: (with great distress and real tears) NOOOOO!!! We'll starve. Daddy only knows how to make cereal and grilled cheese.

I guess that means I have job security.

Disclaimer: Prince Charming is actually a very good cook and has many dishes in his repertoire.

The grass is green. It’s good to be

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Ugh

Last week, I wasn't feeling well. We had a head-cold or allergies or something yet undetermined. There were Tornado Watches and Warnings all over our area. I'm sure the weather system that brought them was not helping my sinus issues.

We were trying to get through some schoolwork. The morning started off well. (That means everyone was cooperating and in a good mood.) After lunch, I decided that we would do just a little more school and call it a day. During that time, I was trying to hold my head up and breathe. I made a noise like, "Ugh" with a sigh.

Prince: Are you o.k., Mama?Me: Yes, I just don't feel good.Princess: From all this schoolwork? I know how ya feel.

I'm linking up to Tiny Talk.

The grass is green. It’s good to be

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Tiny Talk on Adopting

Sometimes, just the prince and princess have the most interesting, insightful conversations. Just this week, they were working on school work when this gem popped up.

Prince: When I grow up I'm going to adopt a boy, but not get married.

Princess: If you get married, you get a gold ring.

Prince: You can buy one of those.

Princess: Well, if you adopt, you have to sign a lot of papers.

Where do they get this stuff?

I'm linking up to Tiny Talk.

The grass is green. It’s good to be

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

A Piece of My Mind

The princess is at it again.

Last week, we were running our regular errands ... library, bank, and grocery store. As we approached a light that intersected with the interstate off-ramp, I spotted another driver that I thought I recognized ... a farmer friend who lives in another town.

ME: I think that was Mr. Lee.

PRINCE: (Who notices every farm truck and trailer en-route) Mama, remember the man who thought our goat was a dog?

ME: Yes. That was Mr. Lee.

PRINCE: That was him.

PRINCESS: I wanna give him a piece of my mind.

She has grown quite attached to said goat and doesn't want anyone having ill-words against it.

****

I'm linking to Tiny Talk Tuesday so you can see what other cute things the children are saying.

The grass is green. It’s good to be

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Prank or Pinch

The princess had the funny this week. We haven't spent a lot of time talking about the minor holidays. This year, the prince and princess began to ask about Groundhog Day and St. Patrick's Day. The week before April 1, the prince kept asking, "When is April Fuel's (that's the way it sounded anyway) Day?" So, when the big day rolled around, he was ready with his little joke. Then, the princess piped in with, "Mom, it's April Fool's Day. You have to prank somebody or they will pinch you."

I guess we need to work on the holiday lessons a little more.

****

I'm linking to Tiny Talk Tuesday so you can see what other cute things the children are saying.

The grass is green. It’s good to be

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Hubcaps and School Pictures

Last week on my Tiny Talk Tuesday, I said, "It has been a while since I've posted any of my Tiny Talk Tuesdays. I hope I remember all of them to share with you." Well, I forgot to tell you two of them.

****

On the princess' birthday, Prince Charming was teasing her about not having a present for her. He was seated on a bench and she was standing on it beside him. She had one hand on the back of his head, had her head side-by-side against his, and was stroking his beard on the other side of his face. He was denying that he had a present and she was gently insisting that he did. I was laughing at the whole scene. Prince Charming said, "I'm going to miss this when you're married." To which the princess replied, "Daddy, I'm only five!"

****

While we were at the Civil War Era school, we saw a bush with beautiful pink flowers on it. One of the other moms gardens a lot. So, I asked if it was a Camellia. She said that it was and the prince said, "It's not a chameleon. That's an animal."

****

Fast forward to this week:

We were in the local "mart" getting a few things. As we walked past an aisle, the prince stepped in a few feet and said, "Look Mama, hubcaps." That would have been a great find for him ... had we been in the auto department. However, we were in the kitchen area, and he was looking at drip pans for an electric stove.

****

The princess was watching a cartoon about school pictures this week. I knew the show was okay for them to watch and just listened from the other room. When the show ended, the prince said, "Mama, can we have school picture day?" Then, I said, "Sure. We can have school picture day." Then, I thought, "with all two students in your school."

****

I'm linking to Tiny Talk Tuesday so you can see what other cute things the children are saying.

The grass is green. It’s good to be

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Civil War & A Birthday

It has been a while since I've posted any of my Tiny Talk Tuesdays. I hope I remember all of them to share with you.

****

Back in February, we were studying the Civil War. Coincidentally, some homeschool friends of ours were also studying the Civil War. They borrowed a chest of Civil War memorabilia and invited other homeschoolers to come for a day of sharing. Homeschoolers were invited to study about a figure during the Civil War, make a poster and speech about that person, participate in a debate about an issue relevant to the war, and have a re-enactment. Unfortunately, the prince had a fever the day before the event. So, we stayed home that day.

As I was telling my father-in-law about the sickness and the missed event, he mentioned that his great-grandfather was in the Civil War. The conversation went like this:

Father-in-law: My great-grandfather was in the Civil War. He got shot in the back of the head.

Prince (indignantly): That's not fair.

My father-in-law went on to say that the Union doctors put a silver dollar in the bullet hole and put him in prison. We are still trying to determine why they would put a silver dollar in the wound.

Fast-forward to today: The students who made posters took them to a Civil War Era school in our town. The posters will be on display for visitors to see. Since we didn't have a poster, we met them there to see their posters and see the school for the first time. As they got their posters ready for display, we looked around. I pointed out some costumes and such that were on display. We started in the parlor and went to the dining room. When we got to the dining room, the prince became the tour guide. Gesturing to the exterior door, he said, "Mama, this is what they would called the 'back door.' "

I was looking at a poster on top of what I assume was the buffet for storing the precious china and silver. The princess noticed the key in the buffet. She said, "Look Mama. It is just like The Indian in the Cupboard." Yes, it was very similar to the key in the movie and only she would notice.

****

Last week, the princess had a birthday. She was really excited about turning 5. At one point, she asked if she could have some juice. I went to the pantry to get a new bottle of juice, and the conversation began:

Princess: Mama, there is some right there. (pointing to the kitchen counter)

Me: Yes, there is. I did not see that.

Princess: It's a good thing you have a 5-year-old to tell you.

Later in the week, we went shopping. As she trailed behind the prince and me, I kept hearing, '"Wait for the 5-year-old."

****

One day that week, the prince complained of his ear hurting. He kept touching it, and I decided that we needed to go to the doctor. Yep, he had an ear infection. While at the doctor, we saw several cute babies. During the visit to the pharmacy, we saw more cute babies. The princess has "baby radar." She can see them before I realize that anyone is around. On the way home, she said, "Country kids can track down babies by the sounds of their screams ... but not me. I can scream really loud." I'm not sure that it was a logical sentence, but true nonetheless!

****

I'm linking to Tiny Talk Tuesday so you can see what other cute things the children are saying.

The grass is green. It’s good to be

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

The Prince is still coming up with the witty comments.

****

This week, he was watching Sid the Science Kid. Prince Charming came in and and a conversation started about the show. I can't remember what Prince Charming said, but I said something about how Sid likes to learn. The prince said, "He's not real AND he's a muppet."

****

The big excitement of the week was the truck that Prince Charming picked up for a friend. We are babysitting the truck and Prince Charming will deliver it to his out-of-state friend in a couple of weeks. In the meanwhile, the prince is keeping a close eye on when the truck comes and goes. He has been airing it out and even checked under the hood. Then, he asked Prince Charming, "Why does it have a joystick?" I guess he was too young to remember Prince Charming's previous truck that had a manual transmission.

Several times, he asked about Prince Charming's previous trucks and why we don't still have them. So, we discussed trade-ins and why you don't keep everything. Prince Charming made some crazy comment about it being time to trade me in. The prince looked at me with wide eyes.

Me: Do you want to trade me in and get a new mommy?

Prince: (thinking)

Me: (indignantly waiting)

Prince: We'll come visit you at the orphanage.

****

I'm linking to Tiny Talk Tuesday so you can see what other cute things the children are saying.

The grass is green. It’s good to be

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

The Lab Rat and Other Things Funny

The Prince has been up to some of his funny thoughts again. Really, they are never-ending, but these stand out to me from the past week:

We were doing some Science experiments in the kitchen. The lesson was on taste buds. So, we were tasting things. A part of the lesson even involved a blindfold. After saying three times that he didn't want to be a lab rat, I thought we were doomed. Prince Charming was home at the time and made some comment about how Dr. Jekyll had to taste a lot of things for his experiments. I made some comment about how that probably wasn't the best argument for science, and continued to lure the prince back to our lab. He relented and we finished the lesson.

It just so happened that this was also the day that we were going to have an introduction to the state of Florida (my home state). In our literature, we learned that Gatorade was developed at the University of Florida in the 1960s. The conversation went like this:

ME: Ya know what? I know somebody who tasted the Gatorade when they were first inventing it.

PRINCE: HO-LEE! Is he alive or dead?

ME: (half chuckling) He's alive.

*****

In a Grammar lesson, the instructions said to "write an argument to convince your parents to take you to the park. Use as many thinking and feeling verbs as you can." Not wanting him to actually ARGUE with me, I paraphrased:

ME: What would you say to me to talk me into taking you to the park?

PRINCE: How do you write, 'Let's not go to the park." ?

ME: (thinking he just wanted to get out of the assignment) No, you have to write about how you would talk me into taking you.

PRINCE: You know, Reverse Biology.

ME: (really trying to keep my composure) You mean "Reverse Psychology."

As he worked on it, I ran to the other room to tell Prince Charming.

Over the last few days, we have been working on math assignments that involve adding and subtracting 2-digit numbers. One day, we reviewed the previous day's assignment of adding 2 digit numbers. Then, we started doing subtraction. The Prince was having lots of daydreams during school that day. When I finally got him to focus on the assignment, he would add instead of subtract.

ME: We are doing subtraction.

PRINCE: UGH!! Bless you evil curses of math.

****

I'm linking to Tiny Talk Tuesday so you can see what other cute things the children are saying.

The grass is green. It’s good to be

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

The Road Trip Funnies

On Christmas Day, we got up bright and early and left to visit The Queen's family for a few days. The day-long trip would take us to "Sunny Florida." We opened gifts along the way to keep things interesting.

On Tuesday, the prince grabbed a biscuit and juice and ran out the door for an adventure with his grandfather. He invited Prince Charming to go too, but Prince Charming just said to report back to him. So, they left. When they returned, I asked the prince what he learned. He said, "Grandpa knows more than you think he does."

*****

On the return trip, we again left early. We skipped breakfast and were going to get it on the road. As we got about 5 miles into our trip, Prince Charming and I were discussing if we wanted to get fuel and food before or after the big metropolitan area. We already decided that we wanted to get through that town before rush hour traffic. Then, the princess said, "Can we just get to Georgia already??"

*****

The next morning at breakfast, the prince asked, "When are we going to Florida?" Say what????

I'm linking to Tiny Talk Tuesday so you can see what other cute things the children are saying.

The grass is green. It’s good to be

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Monkey Business

Time is running out: Don't forget to vote for
The Cow Queen for the

Best Blog Design at the Homeschool Blog Awards.

The prince has been in rare form with his Tiny Talk lately. Here is just a sampling of the funny things:

We were working on his Latin assignment (watch for the review on this one). The directions said "circle yes or no" The question was "sunt means there are".

Prince: I'm just going to circle both.

Me: No, you can't do that. It is either "yes" or "no".

Prince: Is there a "not really sure?"

****

We were on the way to church, and the princess asked if I knew any monkey songs. The closest I could come to a monkey song was "10 Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed." (In hindsight, I should have made it 5 Little Monkeys) We I sang through all the verses. As I got to the last few monkeys, I would stop to let the children say what the doctor said. The last monkey to fall of the bed became the prince's turn to be the doctor:

Me: Mama called the doctor and the doctor said ...

Prince: I'm tired of you calling me all the time.

(laughter)

Prince: ... and how do you get Monkey blood out of the carpet?

****

As we were talking about Veteran's Day, the prince asked who we knew who were veterans. We listed a few. He knew that Prince Charming's dad was in the Army. He asked about my dad.

Me: He was in the Reserves.

Prince: What are the Reserves?

Me: They train people to be like people in the Army and keep them ready. If they don't have enough Army people, they call the Reserves to help.

Prince: So, he just sat around playing video games until they called?

Me: No, they didn't have video games back then. He was farming.

Later that night as he was preparing to brush his teeth...

Prince: So what do the "preserves" do?

****

I'm linking to Tiny Talk Tuesday so you can see what other cute things the children are saying.

The grass is green. It’s good to be

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

It Takes Forever

Don't forget to vote for The Cow Queen for the

Best Blog Design at the Homeschool Blog Awards.

Have you noticed that the toys and activities that come with kid's fast food meals are not always geared toward the pre-school set? I have.

This week, the princess got a cardboard hand puppet with her cheeseburger meal. You had to punch the puppet part loose from the cardboard sheet. It was one of those tuck-slot-a-into-slot-b kinds of things. She found the package on the table just before supper and asked if I could put it together. I told her that I would, but she would have to wait.

Later, as I was putting it together, the prince asked how it got ripped. (The poor tiger had his tongue ripped out/off.) I said that I asked the princess to wait and she didn't. Then, the princess said, "I don't like to wait. It takes forever."

****

As I was brushing the princess' hair, I told her that we were going to the store to get a gift for Ms. K's wedding. The conversation went like this:

Me: When we are done at the doctor, we are going to the store to get a present for Ms. K's wedding.

Prince: You know what would be the best present?

Me: What?

Prince: Love

Me: That would be a great present. I think that is what ya'll are going to get for Christmas.

very brief pause

Princess: Nope. No love for Christmas.

She has yet to learn that Christmas is the greatest love of all ... but she will.

I'm linking to Tiny Talk Tuesday so you can see what other cute things the children are saying.

The grass is green. It’s good to be

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

A Big Responsibility

With elections quickly approaching, campain signs are e-v-e-r-y-w-h-e-r-e. One day, Prince Charming's father was riding with us when he noticed that one of the signs he put up the previous day was missing. Since then, the prince has been on the look-out for other signs for that candidate. One day, he noticed the smaller print on the sign.

Prince: "Mama, what does 'U.S.' stand for?"

Me: "United States is one thing that it can stand for. (gramatically incorrect, but that's how we roll sometimes) Where did you see it?"

Prince: "On the (candidate name) sign."

Me: "Yes, it stands for United States. He is wants to be a United States Senator and help make the laws."

Prince: "Wow. That's a big responsibility."

Me (half chuckling): "Yes. Yes, it is."

And who says "wisdom comes with age."

I am The Cow Queen and I approved this message.

*****

This past week, we started reading Farmer Boy by Laura Ingalls Wilder. I grew up watching Little House on the Prairie on t.v. and have the boxed set of books from my childhood. The prince has seen an episode or two.

I love the family-value stories from childhood that have been replaced with mindless drivel in books and t.v. When we read or view something that is not appropriate behavior, we talk about how it is disrespectful or "not nice."

In the second chapter of Farmer Boy, Almanzo is told to leave the pie alone, or he will spoil his supper. Almanzo didn't think that made any sense. Then came the line:

"But of course, he could not say this to Mother; he had to obey her without a word."

Just then, the phone rang. As I went to answer it, I said (sarcastically), "Gee. Imagine that. Obeying without a word." (something we have been working on). Then, the prince said, "Mama, that was back in the old days." Oh, yeah?

I'm linking to Tiny Talk Tuesday so you can see what other cute things the children are saying.

The grass is green. It’s good to be

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Babies & My Little Helper

More than likely you know from where babies come. I got a whole new perspective during a conversation with the princess.

I was piddlin' in the kitchen, half-way prepping to make cinnamon rolls to take to our church Harvest Festival the next day. The princess came over, sat at the table, and held a board book that she found earlier in the day. It was a small book of colors that featured small children on each page. Then, she said,

"Mama when you want to have a baby you go to the hospital because that is where pregnant ladies go to have a baby and they put the baby in a thing that looks like a fish tank but it doesn't have any water in it because the water is in a bottle for the baby to drink and sometimes it has a straw in it so the baby can go 'slurp' and get a drink when it wants to ..."

(I apologize for not using punctuation, but I don't think she used any! --- Come to think of, I guess it wasn't really a conversation either.)

*******

The next day, I had just finished mixing the cream cheese frosting for the cinnamon rolls, when the princess asked if she could lick the beater. I said she could. As I tried to scrape most of the frosting off the beater, she said, "I can lick it off faster." She's such a good helper.

I'm linking to Tiny Talk Tuesday so you can see what other cute things the children are saying.

The grass is green. It’s good to be

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Learning to Write

As a parent, you anticipate the day that your child will enjoy reading and writing. Sometimes it is a struggle to get them to try, and sometimes it is a struggle for them to learn. You wait for the day that they can write something on the grocery list while you are busy. Then, you dread the day they can also read the "secrets" on the Christmas list.

You start to see spelling tests that look like this:

(I really tried to make this a full sheet. It has a great big smiley face drawn on it.)

Their confidence is boosted. They start to try more writing and reading on their own ... street signs, cereal boxes, anything and everything.

Soon afterwards, you are sitting in church. Everything is going great. The prince is enthralled in a search-a-word and other items in his "children's worship bag." Then, just as the pastor is starting his message, you get a note passed to you. The note reads:

Translation: "Can we go please"

Prince Charming said to "keep it forever." Now, there it is ... for all the world to see.

While this isn't exactly tiny TALK, I'm linking up anyway.

The grass is green. It’s good to be

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Birthdays Can Still Be Fun ...

... even when you are old!

As I am writing this, I have just eaten a piece of my 40th Birthday cake. I know, some of you are going to tell me that 40 is not old. Some may say 40 is ancient. I'll admit, 40 is not as old as it use to be!
As a family, we have been building up to "Mama's Birthday." The big race to the finish started about a week and a half ago when I got a new laptop computer from the FedEx guy. Actually, it was from Prince Charming, but it came in the FedEx guy's chariot. The prince and princess have been full of excitement about what we could do for my birthday. What we could eat? When are we going to make the cake, etc.
Some of the best laughs came over the course of the last 3 days.
On Friday, UPS brought a package from my brother and one from my mother. I had instructions not to open the one from my mother until my birthday. Brother gave no such instructions, so it was all about the packing peanuts. Inside was a set of plastic flamingo lawn ornaments in my college colors. We promptly set them up in the yard and returned to the house to play with the boxes. Remember how much we liked this box and this box? When we went out again, the princess claimed them as her "pets."
Later in the day, we had a discussion like this:   Prince: Why can't you open the other box?   Me: Because my mama told me not to open it until my birthday.   Prince: She's not the boss of you any more.
The next day, the prince was outside with Prince Charming. The princess was busy putting my shoes into empty boxes and telling me "Happy Birthday Mama." It's the thought that counts. Anyway, at one point, we had this conversation:     Princess: Mama, how old are you going to be on your birthday?   Me: Too old.   Princess: Really. chuckles How old are you going to be?   Me: 15   Princess: That's doesn't look right. I'm going to say 14.I'm going to be so sad when she learns to count past 12.
Which brings us to today:We were eating cake and, since I already opened all the presents earlier, I jokingly said,   "Is it time for presents?"    To which the prince replied to me, "You forgot to buy them, didn't you?"

I’m linking to Tiny Talk Tuesday to thank her for hosting.

The grass is green. It’s good to be

Tuesday, September 28, 2010