Boys will be boys

Declan's current favorite insult/exclamation/swear word: "Butt crack!"

Also, yesterday Logan tried to convince me his fart smelled like fresh apples.

Total Recall

Along the lines of Ed trying to remember the name of a Chinese restaurant in Rhode Island ("It was called Dragon Something...or Something Dragon"), Declan asked for "those crackers with Club in their name" today.

Mystery solved?

I think I've figured out the reasoning for the macabre subject matter of some of Declan's songs. When he tells me about them, or sings them to me, he'll ask if I think they're scary. Sometimes I'll ask him if he wants me to think they are. In response his eyes open wide and he nods his head yes while talking about why xyz is scary to talk about. When watching movies with creepy, suspensful parts (the black wolf, Gmork, in The Neverending Story, anyone?), Declan's the kind of kid who shuts his eyes tight or pulls a blanket over his face initially and then can be seen a moment later peeking to watch the action. Logan, on the other hand, shuts and stays shut until it's all over and done with.

I guess the point is that Declan enjoys the thrill of being scared and wants to turn that around on us a bit. What better way to do that than with songs about blood and death?

Little lies

I think I've mentioned before how the boys are fascinated by teenagers and basically think they are the.coolest.thing.ever. The highest compliment they can receive at this point in their lives is that they look like teenagers. Declan was showing me how cool he looked today in his jeans and sweatshirt, rocking out to a Declan original song instead of doing the super important chore I had asked him to do. So I told him that if he really wanted to be like a teenager, he should do what I said because they *always* do what their moms and dads tell them. Logan piped up saying, "Yeah! Act like a teenager!" Of course, Declan in his stubborn individualistic way, told me he didn't actually want to be a teenager, he just wants to look like one. Somehow, he always finds some fine print.

Along those lines, Declan has created another dead song which includes things like trees being dead, houses being empty and falling apart, grass being so dead that it's just dirt, people and animals being dead and their blood going around and around the earth, and the earth exploding and sending all its parts to other planets. This basically leads me to ask you, people with boys: Is this normal? Because I'm thinking it's a bit macabre for a four year old (though I'm speaking solely of the lyrics, as his tunes are usually quite jubilant and cheerful).

When I grow up

Logan: A police officer. Or maybe a football player.

Declan: A pokemon trainer.

Girls, Girls, Girls

Logan came home from school today telling me he wanted Reece to come over and play this weekend because she gave him her autograph. I asked to see it, and the autograph was actually her name and phone number. I told him we could probably call her mom and work something out so they can play together. He then says, "I guess it'd have to be on Saturday because on Sunday Caleah wants me to meet her at the park."

So I guess he's getting along fine with the ladies.

The differences between these boys:

Logan and Declan were arguing over a pair of Lego pieces that they both wanted to use. We tried compromising and giving each of them one piece of the set, but that wasn't good enough for either. I told them they needed to find a solution since they both wanted the pair and they both had equal claim to them. There was some discussion back and forth about what each boy intended to do with the Legos. No agreement could be reached and I told them I was not going to make their decision for them. Frustration. Anger. Whining. More arguing of their cases. Finally, Logan stopped and gave his piece to Declan. I said that was a very nice thing he did and asked him why. "Because I only wanted that piece. I didn't *need* it."

________


Chris made dinner for the boys, grandpa, and himself one night. As they're sitting around the dinner table, Declan starts panting and breathing heavy as he does sometimes when he's playing. Chris looks at him and says, "Workin' hard, huh?" Declan says, "Yeah. It's hard work eating all this crap!"