Conversations from the Backseat

I haven't been good about trying to keep up with all the amusing things the kids say.  But they do keep us entertained, especially when talking to each other in the backseat of the car.  They both have big career aspirations that they talk about often.  Ethan, always the logical one, plans on being an engineer and owning his own engineering firm.  He is looking forward to having regular hours (unlike his dad) and plans to hire people to do most of the work so he can have lots of time off.  He has offered Taylor a job at his company but he was very clear that it won't be a job where she would just sit around because she is his sister but that she would really have to work.

Taylor on the other hand is putting all her hopes into becoming a famous singer.  She is great at memorizing songs on the radio but, as any who has sat by us in church knows, we are all bad singers.  But she will sit back in her seat and hear a song she likes on the radio and say "I'm totally going to sing that at one of my concerts."  She will negotiate with Ethan how many concerts he will come to each week (and with Ethan's great schedule and nights off he is sure to make it to quite a few).  Taylor did mention that she can not guarantee us front row seats every time because it wouldn't be fair.  Ethan plans to make signs that say "That's my sister" to hold up at the concerts.  I just love to hear all the details that go into these plans.  As much as they fight it is also nice that they plan on hanging out together when they get older.

They love to make plans about me coming to visit them at their houses and all the things that they will do as adults on their own.  Taylor can't wait to grow up and thinks that we have way too many rules at our house.  She is 4 going on 16 with all the things she thinks are unfair and how she doesn't like us making all the decisions.  She is going to push me over the edge with her strong opinions about fashion (which is in direct opposition to my strong opinions about little girls fashions).  I think she should look like a little girl and she is pushing for shoes with heels, short skirts, and as many sequins as she can get.  Getting dressed is always fun in the morning.  At least she has finally admitted that the brown cowboy boots she has been wearing for months are too small.

My favorite backseat conversation took place a few weeks ago.  Ethan was asking about having a lemonade stand over the weekend and I was explaining how it wasn't going to happy because we had a busy weekend planned. Here is how the conversation went from there:
E: It doesn't have to be every day, just Saturday would be fine.
M: Nope, sorry.  There just won't be time on Saturday.
T: But Mom we will give you some of the money we make.
E: (in a quieter voice to Taylor) Taylor, no we won't.
T: Yes we can, Mom doesn't have any money.
E: No we can't. Don't you know we have to buy supplies. Lemons aren't free ya know.  And Mom does too have money.
T:  No she doesn't. Don't you remember she quit her job.
E:  Remember, she gets money from Dad.  And what does he give us? Nothing!

Nothing??? Really?? Holy cow that kid has no idea how much we do for him.  I just love Taylor's willingness to give me money.  She is so generous with her money and Ethan takes advantage of that all the time.  He will charge her to play games with him or make some rule that if she loses she has to pay him money.  And she is always more than willing.  Thank goodness she can't reach her piggy bank without help so I usually know when Ethan has weaseled money out of her.  And he just smiles when he gets caught.

For Ethan's birthday he bought a building set that you can use to build forts without having to pull out all the chairs from the kitchen.  I thought he would love it since he loves to build things.  I was kind of surprised to find that Abe was doing most of the building and Ethan was just hanging out waiting for it to be built.  I told Ethan "I thought you wanted to be an engineer.  Why aren't you building something?"  He didn't  miss a beat and said "Uh, Mom, engineers don't do the building.  I designed it and Dad is my builder."  What can I say to that?  He has a good point.  So I just let him go back to directing Abe around.

Today I heard them discussing how Abe wants to get a truck.  Ethan tells Taylor that we should just get one.

Taylor: "Oh no we won't".   

Ethan: "Yes we should." 

Taylor: "Not unless Mom approves it."

Ethan: "Why does Mom need to approve it? Its Dad's truck"

Taylor: "Because Mom is older."

Ethan:  "No, Dad is older."

Taylor: "Then because Mom makes all the rules."

And Ethan couldn't argue with that.

I love those two kids.  I have a feeling it is going to get crazy once Brooklyn starts talking too.  There is already not enough time for everyone to get in their two cents and from the way Brooklyn has started squealing very loudly, she has a lot to say too.  Christmas day Brooklyn decided to roll over for the first time from her front to her back.  She is just getting too big.