'CAUSE HE'S THE BOSS

"Mom, just one question.

When I don't want to do something and say no thanks, why do I still have to do it?

but when he (Dad) says no thanks,

he doesn't have to do it?"

- Tyson 6yrs. on wanting Todd to make hot cocoa for Ty & Mom.

.........................................................................................

"Dad, if you're The Boss then how come mom can tell you to go to the store and what to get?"

Todd replied...

"Cause The Boss can still take orders and do things- but when the rubber hits the pavement- then

what I say goes!"

-Tyson 5yrs. Nov. '06

*Todd, Thank you for being the kind of Boss that will take Grocery orders from me willingly when I need you to.  -Love you.

IT WAS DAD'S IDEA

Morning update to THE SHELL FAIRY...

After the kids went to bed, Todd and I watched a movie downstairs. He found Tyson's good old Rubik's Cube. He thought it would be fun to get the instructions on the web, solve it for him, and try to pass it off as "Daddy did it!"

We finished our movie and headed upstairs. We had told the kids they could fall asleep in our room. Todd went to turn a light off in Tyson's room, and when he came back in, he said sure enough those little kids each had a shell on their pillow. All shiny, and smell'n minty fresh to boot. I said we at least need to write a note or something. We agreed to let them get a coupon for a treat at the gas station. Todd also conceded to his humbleness and allowed the Tooth Fairy to solve the Rubik's Cube instead getting the fish tale glory himself. She will leave it on TJ's pillow.

This morning they were thrilled. Tyson has since been awed with his re-found interest in his old toy. HOW did that tooth fairy know how to solve it? ...magic.

oh, and one more thing...

"Dad, how much money can I get if I move the couch and grab the remote that fell behind it?"

THE SHELL FAIRY...YEAH, RIGHT!

Well this is good.  Tyson is trying to earn points to buy a video game.  So he has been asking us what jobs he can do tonight to earn more points.  Of course we have to negotiate every little thing he does into how many points, and explain why he doesn't get points for the normal things like eating dinner he doesn't like, or playing with Alyssa, or watching a movie.  As if he doesn't know he will NOT get points for this stuff.  Anyway, he has some sea shells that he got from our vacation a few months ago.  He asked how many points he would get for washing them....uh, NONE!  But then I thought it was cute and said he could have a few points for doing that.  Soo, he comes downstairs a few minutes later and says,

"well, ok.  So I just earned $4.30 something cents, and I'm going to put it under my pillow." 

"What?" Todd and I were trying to figure this one out.  How did he go from earning a few points, to a bunch of money? 

"How did you earn $4 and why are you going to put it under your pillow?"

"Well, I just earned it washing my shells, and if I put it under my pillow, maybe I will get something for it."

"Why do you think that?"

"Well, there's a Tooth fairy that comes around!"

"yeah?"

"Well, maybe she'll stop and see my money instead of a tooth and then leave me something fun instead of my money."

Todd says, "Tyson, maybe she'll see your money and take it and give it to other kids for their lost teeth."  Tyson's wheels start turning with a surprised look on his face.

After a moment he replies:

"Well, I know...what about one of my SHELLS!  I could leave one of THOSE under my pillow.  They are shiny, just like a tooth.  Maybe she will like that!?"

"And then what, she will bring you money for your shell?"

"YEAH!"  he says, looking all sly.

"Maybe?" We said...(which means NO!)

Tyson starts running up the stairs and I asked where he's going, he says,

"To polish my shell so it's shinier... with TOOTHPASTE!"

MOM, WHERE'S THE TAPE?

Tyson thought it would be great if he could sleep over in Dad and Mom's room sometime. So I told him this weekend he could do that. Last night, he came in and said he didn't want to wait till Friday, so he was going to come in "tonight". We told him, no it was a school night. He still wanted to. He said I can just sleep right here, it will be soft. Which was on the side of the bed where all the pillows were stacked on the floor. Todd said, "Tyson what if I need to get up in the night and step on you? Go to bed." Todd and I kept talking and TJ came back in the room a second later and asked where the tape was. About about 10 minutes later he sneaks in the room, because we clearly are oblivious to the loud crawling noise and paper rustling. While Todd and I are talking with our backs turned to him, he carefully tries to TAPE a note to the bed sheet. He even goes as far as taping a pencil on the bottom of the paper by the sheet to see if that will help hold the sign up. We finally spotted him after a few minutes and Todd helped him tape the sign to the lampshade to help secure it. We let him chat with us for a few minutes, then he ended up in his own bed.

--Good Try!

MANNIER...THANKS DISCOVERY CHANNEL!

Tyson: "Mom, I've changed a lot since last year"

Mom: "You have!...? How do you think you've changed? In what ways?"

Tyson: " I dunno. (with his arms stretched in front, both palms bouncing, his little head wiggling slightly side to side) I'm just...more...MANNIER."

Mom: "You are mannier"...(he he he he)

Tyson: "Yeah, I just, you know, like to watch man and woman shows now. Like you and Dad watch. Not just cartoons anymore. I don't even really like them that much anymore."

I walk in the other room to Todd a few minutes later and he says to me

"Did he just say MANNIER? (he he he)

...and so it goes on a Sunday night, when we sit down to catch up on our recording of Smash Lab, Mythbusters, Human Bodies, Cities of the Underworld, How it's made and Dirty Jobs. Can I name anymore of the top of my head? Let's see, what other learning opportunites can we disguise as great entertainment? I love that he eats this stuff up. The information is awesome. It has been fun to see him retain the info, even after a few months he will bring up a random fact, and tell us he remembers it from one of those shows.