funny things...

Dane is absolutely, positively TERRIFIED of strangers these days.  Probably thanks to a family night a while back in which we explained to the kids that although most people in the world were kind and good;  some were not... and might have "naughty" intentions.  Trying to help the kids understand the importance of not going anywhere with a stranger who might be lying, to them... who might even steal them from their loving parents we discussed stranger safety rules.  Kind of a scary discussion for Dane who has never fully gotten over it.

So yesterday, Dane bounded upstairs to find that his secret stash of gum had been half eaten.  Immediately suspecting his little bro, he angrily made the accusation.  "GRANT!  You ate some of my gum!!!"  To which Grant very coolly denied all charges.

But the sad truth of the matter is that all of us in this family know Grant has a wee bit of a fibbing problem.  Dane didn't believe for a moment, nor did I, that Grant was telling the truth.  So I addressed the issue... I bent down to Grant's level and began a lecture.  Now before I got very far at all,  Dane angrily chimed in.... "Ya Grant! I can't believe it!  You're stealing, you're lying!  You're going to be a stranger when you grow up!!!"

In Dane's book, becoming a STRANGER as an adult would be the most terrible thing you could ever grow up to be.  And he just wanted to point that out to Grant.... who was obviously headed down that path.  Too funny!

But don't get the wrong idea.  These two boys are thick as thieves.  In fact, at bedtime last night when I absentmindedly forgot to pray that Dane wouldn't be scared of spiders or snakes in his bed, something we must pray for every night in an effort to calm Dane's nerves.... Grant leaped up and exclaimed, "MOM! You forgot to pray a spider wouldn't kill Dane tonight!!"  Genuinely so concerned for the safety of his big bro.  Yes, they love each other dearly.

Grant is getting to that age (3.5) in which he is just as darling as can be, albeit still FULL OF SOOOO MUCH ENERGY.  Last week he and I played I SPY for a good half hour.  I became bored as I often do with these games and teased him a little.   "I spy something CUTE," I said.  To which he quickly replied,  "Mooom... I know that one.  It's ME!"

He was right.