Dinnertime is like his time on stage...he's got a captive audience. He says grace every night. Sometimes it's looooooong and drawn out - other times it's quick and straight to the point (but it always includes a little "thank-you for giving us Annie") - and then he starts in with the stories.
He always waves his hands in the air before he gets started, saying "everyone...everyone...listen to me for a minute" and then we get to listen for 10 minutes to a story about a little guy who fell in the toilet but managed to grab a granola bar before he fell in (I know...good dinner conversation).
My favorite is when we get to hear stories about his days as a champion karate fighter and how he used to be on karate commercials. He swears it's all true...has the karate trophies to prove it. When Ross asked him where all of his karate trophies were - he said that "Mom threw them away when she was cleaning my room". He's still sticking to this story.
Not sure where he comes up with this stuff.
Decided a few weeks ago to have Ross start cooking dinner and cleaning the kitchen on Wednesdays (I figure it's good practice for him and a good way for me to get out of cooking one night a week). He asked me if I would pick up some Hamburger Helper (apparently that's his idea of a well-rounded meal), Cole's eyes lit up immediately and he started waving his hand in the air hollering "I'll be your Hamburger Helper Ross, I'll be your Hamburger Helper" (Courtney of course couldn't stand the thought of Coley being Ross's only Hamburger Helper...so she offered her services as a Hamburger Helper as well). We've been cracking Hamburger Helper jokes around here for weeks now.
The other night while we were eating dinner, Josh started joking around with Coley (he's forever joking around with him just because it's so much fun to see what sort of a response you'll get) ...Coley wound up his fist and said "You want a TUNA sandwich, Josh?"
Lucky for me, when I feel like I have nothing left to blog about...I can always count on Coley for a good story.
LOL. I know what you mean about counting on Coley for a story. My daughter, Emma, ALWAYS has stories too and she starts like this, "This one time..." It makes her SO bad when I say, "at band camp." :-)
Posted by: cindy | March 22, 2006 at 10:32 AM
Karen, I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the fact that you are being so diligent with your blog! You will truly appreciate that you have "archived" these "ordinary" days! The Karate champ story is priceless...reminds me about the story my son told at preschool one day when HE had a captive audience (the director and a couple of teachers)...seems he had a half brother (a child I had before I had him) who lived in Salt Lake City (we lived in Reno, he had never been to Salt Lake City, how did he know about Salt Lake City?), his name was Lucas (why Lucas? Skywalker?) and Jim was going to get to see him when we all traveled to Southern CA for my sister's upcoming wedding. Yeah, my "pick up" time at preschool that day took a little longer as I unwound this little "story" that the director asked me about..."So, I didn't know you had any other children???"
Posted by: Patti | March 22, 2006 at 11:15 AM
Ok, the "I'll be your hamburger helper" line just got me right in the heart. I just love that little guy, and I don't even know him!
Posted by: Jenn N | March 22, 2006 at 12:04 PM
Oh such priceless stories, they totally crack me up. Life is never dull at your place is it.
I think I want to be your neighbor just to watch the fun.
Ok after our house is finished you have to come over just so I can enjoy your kids!! - Brooke
Ps I will keep them while you shop at No Bare Pages and Scrapbook King (how's that for a bribe)!!
Posted by: Brooke Stranberg | March 22, 2006 at 02:53 PM
LOL! Such cute stories! Don't kids just crack you up? The "hamburger helper" thing is just too funny!! :o)
Posted by: Denise | March 22, 2006 at 03:00 PM
Oh, thhat is way too funny!!!
Posted by: joanna | March 22, 2006 at 07:46 PM
LOL at "Hamburger Helper"! Darling.
Posted by: Gillian Greding | March 23, 2006 at 09:09 AM
Just.. TOO CUTE! :)
Ashley.
Posted by: Ashley | March 24, 2006 at 10:52 AM