A Bit of Dinner Conversation

Hannah, holding up a spoonful of meatballs and rice: "I'm going to start with this bite!"

Me: "Ok, honey, that's good." Then to Lamont: "So at the women's ministries meeting this morning, we agreed that --"

Ashley: "When I was a little tiny baby, I was this small!" (hands spaced 2 inches apart)

Me: "You were when you were still in my tummy, but you were this small when you were born." (hands spaced much wider)

Ashley: "Oh, well I remember when I was little --"

Lamont, poking her: "You're still little!"

Hannah: "Now I'm going to have this bite!"

Lamont: "Ok, that's good. You know, Ashley, your mummy can remember when she was four years old like you. Isn't that neat? That means when you're older, you will probably remember some of the things you're doing now."

Ashley: "I already remember before we lived in this house, when we lived in our other house and my sister was a little tiny baby, and I got to hold her at the hospital!

Me: "You remember that? Wow! Bethany, your apples aren't supposed to dance, just eat them."

Lamont: "Holding new babies is kind of like holding puppies..."

Ashley: "Yes! I can't wait until we have a new little puppy! It will be so cute and I will hold it and it will lick me!"

Hannah: "I'm going to start with this apple, ok Mummy?"

Me: "Ok, but Hannah --"

Hannah: "I'm not going to tell you about any more bites after this apple!"

Me: "Ok, thank you. And Ashley, I know you're excited talking about puppies but you need to sit still to eat."

dead silence

Lamont, looking at Ashley: "Excuse me?"

Ashley: "Excuse me!"

Me: *snort*

Lamont: "No, I mean -- Mummy told you to do something. What do you say?"

Ashley: "Excuse me?"

Me: *choking on silent laughter*

Lamont: "No! I'm not telling you to say excuse me, I'm telling you that you need to answer Mummy when she says something to you!"

Ashley: "Oh...yes Mummy!"

Hannah: "Now I'm going to eat this apple next, and then that one! But then I'm not going to tell you about the other apples."

Me: "Ok Hannah, thank you!"

Lamont: "How many more years do you suppose she'll inform us which bite she is going to take next before she takes it?"

Bethany, mouth stuffed to overflowing: "I'm finished!"

Me: "Good job, now you just need to chew that whole meatball you just stuffed in your mouth! And don't wave your plate around, please, just set it down on the table."

Ashley: "I need to hurry, Bethany is almost done and I want to get down first!"

Me: "It's not a race, you can just eat your dinner and not worry about your sisters. Are you actually full?"

Ashley: "Yes, I'm full. So I just want one more piece of apple, please!"

Lamont: "What were you saying about the women's ministries meeting?"

Hannah: "Now I'm going to eat this apple!"