
We are at a restaurant and I ask Conrad how he likes his dinner. He turns his head and says, “Well, it’s just a little pistoss.” Claire seems to understand perfectly, so I ask her what “pistoss” is. She tells me it’s just a word that Conrad has been using lately. I ask Conrad what “pistoss” means and he answers, “Pistoss means stupid.” We told the kids not to use the word “stupid” when talking about people, so Conrad made up his own.
When Harper smiles…

…she also sticks her tongue out at me. I never know if she’s laughing with me or at me.
Polite, the Conrad Way
Rich: Conrad, will you pick up your clothes, please?
Con: No, thank you.
Harper’s Journal
We started a journal for Harper and Julia wanted to illustrate it. This was the first page that Julia did:

Now that’s just inappropriate.
KISS

Julia’s friend had a birthday party and everyone was supposed to dress up like rockstars. The whole idea was inspired by Hannah Montana and Julia is not a fan. So, I suggested we paint her face like the band KISS. She, of course, has no idea who KISS is, but went along with the idea anyway. I asked Julia what her friends thought of her face painting and she said, “Well, the adults all seemed to like it.”
The boys felt left out, so we painted their faces as well. Conrad wanted a blonde beard. We couldn’t talk him out of it.

Owbama
I try to keep the blog apolitical, but I couldn’t resist. It was completely unsolicited.

Just so it’s clear, this blog endorses neither political party and the only political opinion Julia has offered is that that maverick Palin lady is pretty.
Mixed Up Little Dude

I walk by as Claire is helping Conrad put his shoes on…
Claire: “That shoe goes on the other foot.”
Conrad: “No, it doesn’t!”
I assume this all got resolved until, later in the day, I notice Conrad’s shoes are on the wrong foot. The problem is, last time Conrad was over at his friend’s house with his shoes on the wrong foot, the friend’s parents teased me for it. So, this post is to let them know that I’m not to blame this time.
…a few hours later…
Claire: “Conrad, are your pants on backwards?”
Conrad: “No, they’re not!”
His little pockets were inside out (as they always are) and sticking out his rear end. So, just a little wrap up: The kid’s shoes were on the wrong foot, his pants were on backwards, and his pockets were inside out. It’s a good thing he’s funny.
Punkin

We had the kids draw their own pumpkins and Claire and I carved them (I had to cut outside the lines a little on Weston’s). Then we took photos of each of the kids making the same face as his or her pumpkin.
X-Con, the Superhero

When you ask Conrad to do something he doesn’t want to do, he gives you his look of defiance and says, “You are not in charge of my power.” No one is sure how to respond to that, which may have been his ruse all along. I wouldn’t be surprised to find out Conrad has super powers. The look in his eye tells me he knows much more about the universe than he’s letting on.
Santa
We stop at a light and Conrad says, “I see Santa’s car.” Claire and I look at each other, completely puzzled….then we look at the car next to us. It’s a silver sedan — doesn’t make any sense. Then we look at the driver in the car next to us — an older gentleman with a big white beard. Claire thought it would be rude to take a picture of him. Sorry.
