More Toddler Translation

Everything is play-pretend these days...

I had to take an important phone call during the kids' lunch recently...  and when I came back into the room the sweet potato chips, which had formerly resided on their plates, were now smashed to smithereens all over the floor.  Addison's chair was pushed back from the table.  And when I asked, "What happened in here?" the reply was right to the point.  "We were feeding da donkeys Mom."  Which means, we were pretending to feed the donkeys just like Grampy!

I put the kids down for a nap today and they did pretty well.  Both got into bed quietly and seemed ready to cozy up to sleep without a word.  But they were talking by the time I got downstairs.  The Lovie throwing commenced shortly after, followed by bouncing, dumping their quilts over the side, and eventually undressing.  I got back up there to find Addison with only her socks and one arm of a shirt left.  Caden wasn't that far along but had his hands on his waistband, pushing those pants south as he said, "Caden has poop in da pants."  Ug.  I asked them "What is going on?"  They said, "We were in Mr. MacGregor's gawden Mom."  Stifling my laugh, I was all business as I redressed, changed and retucked everyone back in with a serious-don't-mess-with-Mama look.  It was quiet when I left, but by the time I hit the monitor downstairs I hear "Looooooovie!??!?"  You guessed it.  Punkin Pie had tossed her and Baby under Caden's crib.  I could have let her live with those consequences, but in the interest of getting them to sleep before 3pm I retrieved them.  I held up Lovie and with a bit of a scowl said, "Now how did Lovie get under the bed?"  I instructed her to keep Lovie in the bed with her and to "lay down and stay down" with the seriousness of an Army general.  At which point she rolled over and said, "A'n was missing you Mom".  Which means, don't be mad Mom, but please do be impressed with my cunning and wit.