OOOO!!!  I do so DETEST crab grass!  I can even think of two good reasons God made it the way He did.  But it is NOT good for my garden, and I hate it!  My garden, by the way, which still has nothing in it but crab grass, other weeds, and crab grass, partially thanks to miscarriage — another thing I hate.    Although, I will give Tim a bunch of credit for getting a LOT of the weeds out of the garden this weekend while I was trying not to throw up (presumably from whatever nastiness hit Caleb last weekend, and Tim late last week.)

But I end with this thought: I hate crab grass! 

Let me start by saying I am NOT in fear for my life or the safety of my house.  But…..  I fear that we’ve accidentally created a bit of a pyromaniac in Ethan.   A few weeks ago we went to the Science Museum with the older boy cousins.  While there we went (for the first time) to the "Explosion and Fire" show.  It’s a series of experiments/ demonstrations in which various things catch on fire and/ or explode.  Older children are called on stage to assist with some things, and it is rather exciting.  It is loud.  It is somewhat destructive.  It is many of the things a growing boy loves.  

Now Ethan collects various items declaring that these will be "perfect" for HIS experiments, and he frequently requests that we build a fire on the patio so that he can throw various substances into the fire and see what happens.   Yes, there have been numerous discussions about adults vs. children and fire, fire safety, why we don’t throw things into fires willy-nilly, etc.  He assures us that he will NEVER try to mess with fire alone.  But of course he also does not know where any kind of fire starter is, so we’re not too concerned about that.

Also, as a family we get a kick out of watching the Discovery channel show "Mythbusters."  This show also often (almost always) involves controlled destruction/ mayhem/ fires/ explosions/ etc.  In fact, if the myth they are investigating involves an explosion, and they can’t recreate what the myth says should happen, they FIND a way for the explosion to happen.  It’s fun TV.  

But since we are fuddy- duddies and won’t build a fire on the patio for substance- tossing, Ethan will often get out some toys and declare, "Okay, here’s the mythbuster we’re doing today."   He says things like, "So in this mythbuster  you have to pretend that this toy is the _________, and we’re going to see if we can throw it over this wall…"  or something like that.  These scenarios also usually involve explosions.

So if anyone wants to build a fire on YOUR patio and let Ethan toss stuff into it, let us know and we’ll talk….. 

Quick plug for a site my brother just started a few days ago.  It’s not a money-maker or anything — just for fun is all.  He got to thinking one day about all the hilarious/ strange conversations parents end up having with their kids.  He thought, "A lot of these things fall under the heading: ‘That is a sentence I will probably say one time in my life,’ and I ought to write it down."  So being the computer goof that he is  he instead chose to do a web site.

It is   stuffisaytokids.com  and he’s even got a place for submissions, if you’re so inclined.  By the way, the gummi worm entry is mine and Ethan’s.  I’m so proud.   

Ethan gets a kick out of the new VW commercial where people are playing the "Slug-Bug" game.  After I explained why it’s funny for Stevie Wonder to pop Tracy Morgan (is that right?) on the arm and say, "Red one!" he thought it was even a better commercial.

So once in a while in our house you’ll hear one boy or the other (they both like doing this) shout out, "Red one!"

Closely followed by, "How did you DO that!?"

Boy #1: HA!

Boy #2: HA, nothin’!  How you DO that!?

Boy #1: I said, ‘HA!’

Boy #2: Al- RIGHT!       (Then they both laugh.)

If you have no idea what I’m talking about, you might be able to find the commercial on YouTube.  I don’t know if it’s there or not.  But it’s pretty funny to hear the two of them following this script. 

Caleb’s latest ways to try to get out of trouble or talk you into letting him have free reign with whatever he wants to do at the moment (it’s almost certainly something he’s NOT supposed to be doing):

** "No, I asking you…."

** "Jus’ a miiiinnnn – iiiiite!" (in sing- songy voice)

** "But I jus’ DOOOING somesing."