In flew Inza Bee

A couple weeks ago we were sorting out the Christmas presents and wrapping the ones that were already at home so they could be put under the tree to be gawked and fawned over.  It was obvious the girls have fewer presents than the boy; he noticed it, Madeline noticed it.

Madeline understood that her presents cost more, quantity isn't a measure of quality.  The girls knew what they were getting was more expensive, so there's less of it.  Jack doesn't quite comprehend this, and Madeline was playing around with him.

"Boy Jack, you've got a lot of presents."

"Yeah, I know," Jack replied, hesitating a little, not sure where this was going.

"Will you give some to Madeline, since she doesn't have as many?"

Jack thought for a couple heart beats then said, "No.  No sharing, Madeline."

But there was sharing, of something.  Terra caught influenza b strain.  Yuck.  Then Sunday, Madeline caught it.  Then Tuesday, I caught it.  Mom and Jack fortunately inoculated.  I know a couple other people that will follow that course next year.

How do you spell...

Jack will ask how to spell words all the time.  He asks, then you spell, and you can see him counting the letters on his fingers.

"How do you spell movie, dad?"

"Movie is spelled, M - O - V - " and I can look down at Jack and watch his fingers in fists, start to raise for every letter that is sounded off, " I - E."

"Five letters, Dad.  Movie has five letters."

Last weekend he was being really annoying, question after repeat question, like he would ask how to spell the same word three times, "What does 'I don't know mean'?" he asked me.

"Jack -- How do you spell Christmas?"

"hmm, I don't know, Dad."

"Well, that's what I don't know means."

He paused and replied, "'I don't know' means you can't spell Christmas?"