Earlier this week Chickpea and I had this conversation…

• CHICK: What is it that Garbanzo’s called?  He’s not quite a baby but he’s not quite a kid either.
• ME: You mean a toddler?
• CHICK: Yes, a toddler.  Okay, so what is it that I’m called?  Where I’m not quite a kid but I’m not quite a grown-up either.
• ME: Um…  (thinking)  Well, Chick, I’d say you’re still a kid.
• CHICK: No no, I’m past that.  I mean when I’m older than a kid but not a grown-up.
• ME: Lots of people would say that being a five-year-old means still being a kid.
• CHICK: Well, don’t I look all grown-upish to you?  I really am growing up a lot.
• ME: (hesitating, not sure how to answer without being offensive) … Yes, you do.
• CHICK: (silence, obviously thinking)
• ME: Chick, enjoy being a kid while you’re still a kid.  It goes by really quickly.
• CHICK: Mom, how old will I be when I’m allowed to go to a store by myself?  Seven?

Lord, save me now from the pre-teen years.

Earlier today, when Chickpea looked out the window and saw our landlord’s son’s car in the driveway:

• CHICK: Hmm. Looks like Rick is still here.
• ME: Who’s Rick?
• CHICK: The guy who drives that car.
• ME: His name is Scott.
• CHICK: Oh I know, but I call him Rick for short.

And in a totally unrelated note (other than that it relates to the same carrier of our DNA as mentioned above), Kabob and I counted to discover that Chick has been to nine countries and on 47 separate airplanes. Not too shabby for a five-year-old.

My friend Rachel has had these questions on Facebook forever, but we just got around to asking the kids at breakfast today.  Here are their answers.  (Please note:  All of Garbanzo’s answers were “Uh!”)

Questions About Mommy

1. What is something mommy always says to you?

• Chick:  be quiet

2. What makes mommy happy?

• Chick:  hugs

3. What makes mommy sad?

• Chick:  giving me time outs

4 How does your mommy make you laugh?

• Chick:  telling me jokes (for the record, I’m horrible at telling jokes)

5. What did your mommy like to do when she was a child?

• Chick:  play with her dolls

6. How old is your mommy?

• Chick:  31 or 22 (I’m 32, so… close.)

7. How tall is your mommy?

• Chick:  an inch

8. What is her favorite thing to watch on TV?

• Chick:  Night at the Museum (I’ve seen this once)

9. What does your mommy do when you’re not around?

• Chick:  Puts candy around where I can find it; going to the park (I do neither of these things)

10. If your mommy becomes famous, what will it be for?

• Chick:  how she can paint

11. What is your mommy really good at?

• Chick:  telling jokes (again, what?)

12. What is your mommy not very good at?

• Chick:  juggling (true, though I don’t think she’s ever seen me try)

13. What does your mommy do for her job?

• Chick:  type (now this IS true)

14. What is your mommy’s favorite food?

• Chick:  macaroni and cheese (not in the slightest)
  

15. What makes you proud of your mommy?

• Chick:  that’s she’s my special mama, and she has a baby in her tummy

16. If your mommy were a cartoon character, who would she be?

• Chick:  Babe the pig (thanks, Chick)

17. What do you and your mommy do together?

• Chick:  Go out to eat breakfast and exercise

18. How are you and your mommy the same?

• Chick:  Our skin looks the same

19. How are you and your mommy different?

• Chick:  Our hair color is different

20. How do you know your mommy loves you?

• Chick:  She gives me candy

21. What does your mommy like most about your daddy?

• Chick:  He gave you rings and took you on a honeymoon

22. Where is your mommy’s favorite place to go?

• Chick:  Starbucks (here, this is most definitely true)

Questions About Daddy

1. What is something daddy always says to you?

• Chick:  You’re really special to me

2. What makes daddy happy?

• Chick:  I share with him

3. What makes daddy sad?

• Chick:  When he gives me time outs

4 How does your daddy make you laugh?

• Chick:  By honking (this is our family’s word for… emitting gas)
  

5. What did your daddy like to do when he was a child?

• Chick:  Play with his cars

6. How old is your daddy?

• Chick:  21

7. How tall is your daddy?

• Chick:  As tall as a big tree

8. What is his favorite thing to watch on TV?

• Chick:  Babe (we just got this movie, and we’ve seen it once so far)

9. What does your daddy do when you’re not around?

• Chick:  work

10. If your daddy becomes famous, what will it be for?

• Chick:  Juggling like a clown (again, I don’t think she’s ever seen him juggle)

11. What is your daddy really good at?

• Chick:  Playing hide-and-go-seek

12. What is your daddy not very good at?

• Chick:  Getting specks off of big trees, like in Paris (One time in Paris, she really wanted this spiky ball-type growth off of one of the trees – they were everywhere.  He couldn’t reach them.)

13. What does your daddy do for his job?

• Chick:  He gets Garbanzo dressed

14. What is your daddy’s favorite food?

• Chick:  Broccoli

15. What makes you proud of your daddy?

• Chick:  That he can do little tricks on you (meaning me, mommy)

16. If your daddy were a cartoon character, who would he be?

• Chick:  The captain on 3-2-1 Penguins

17. What do you and your daddy do together?

• Chick:  play

18. How are you and your daddy the same?

• Chick:  Our skin is the same color

19. How are you and your daddy different?

• Chick:  Our hair is different

20. How do you know your daddy loves you?

• Chick:  He kisses me

21. What does your daddy like most about your mommy?

• Chick:  He likes to kiss her

22. . Where is your daddy’s favorite place to go?

• Chick:  to Kipa (the local grocery store — this is decidedly not true)

Happy New Year!