Death and animals

Jason: When we die, do we come back again?
Me: We don't know. We don't know because we are all alive - maybe we come back again as a baby.
Jason (upset): But I don't want to get my penis get cut again, like Aunt Jen's baby did at his bris!
Me: What happens when we die is one of the great mysteries. Maybe we come back as a flower, or a baby, or nothing at all.
Jason (more upset): A flower? That would be a silly life. Someone would come and pick me and then I would die right away. Why would God want me to be a flower? God is not that powerful!

Sydney: Why do lions and tigers roar so loudly? I don't like that. And I don't want to go in caves because there might be bears there.
Me: Animals are loud to protect themselves by scaring the other animals so they won't try to hurt them.
Sydney: Is that why the animals are in cages at the zoo, so nobody hurts them?

God and school

Jason: How did God get made?
Me: How do you think God got made?
Jason: By oil and gas?
Me: Well most people think that God's always existed and nothing made God.
Jason: I think there are many Gods because they say "God is everywhere."

Sydney: Why are kindergarten and grades so important?
Me: Because...
Sydney: I know, it's because you have to learn to read and write and listen, and say the appropriate words.
Me: Right!

Old-fashioned times and triplets

Jason: In old-fashioned times, how did people wipe their face, or blow their nose, or wipe their tooshies? There were no paper towels, tissues, or tiolet paper, right?
Me: Well, they had napkins made of cloth that the used to wipe their face or blow their nose -- called handkechiefs -- and they just washed them after. I'm not sure what they used for toilet paper...
Jason: Well they must have used something!

Sydney: My three [stuffed] doggies are triplets -- there are three of them and they were born on the same day. Is there a club for triplet moms?
Me: The "twin club" is really for moms of twins and triplets. There are two moms in the club who have triplets.
Sydney: Did you wish we were triplets?
Me: No. I was very happy with twins. I wanted exactly you and Jason.

Superheros and questions

Jason: Why do superheros always save the day? They get the bad guys and never die, but ninjas sometimes die fighting. I know, it's because superheros are just pretend. If I were a kid whose dad was a ninja and he died, that would be really sad. In the morning I am going to tell Daddy not to join the ninja team, because I don't want him to die.

Sydney: I don't have any questions tonight. I used up all my questions at Hebrew school today.

Birth and marriage

Jason: If Sydney grew in your belly, and I grew in Daddy's belly, who would we each belong to?
Me: You would both belong to both of us.
Jason: [After a long pause] If I grew in Daddy's belly, would he get really sick because men aren't supposed to have babies?


Sydney: I have a comment -- I don't want to get married.
Me: Why?
Sydney: Because I want to go somewhere special instead.
Me: [starting to answer] Well...
Sydney: I want to marry Miles in my class. But Jacob and Seth always tell me not to play with him or sit next to him. But I don't listen.
Me: You can sit next to whoever you want to.
Sydney: I sat next to Miles two times. I like his clothes.

God and Halloween

Jason: Do you know what? It's dark now in the mornings because God makes it that way. God makes everything - the sky, clouds, rain, snow, sun, flowers, everything. God even makes the seasons change.

Sydney: Do spooky things come out when it's a full moon on Halloween? Like vampires, ghost and warewolves? Ethan told me that....

Scariness and Justin Bieber

Jason: Why do things have to be scary on Halloween? There is one house in Hood River decorated really creepy. I noticed it the other day.
Me: Halloween is fun because we try to scare people by dressing up and decorating in a scary way - it's fun because it's pretend. Does it bother you that Halloween is scary?
Jason: No - I love it! But how do the people who decorate their houses in scary ways not get creeped out?

Sydney: Justin Bieber - I like him and I like his music. That's a comment. [A few minutes later:] Mommy, why do girls like Justin Bieber?
Me: I don't know - why do you like Justin Bieber?
Sydney: Because I like his songs and I like his posters. Is Jason the only boy in the world who likes Justin Bieber?
Me: No, I am sure that there are others.

Friends and neighbors

Jason: Do you know that whenever Lucas is writing a name in his journal at school, I know that it's my name - Jason - he's writing. Or maybe sometimes Keirnan's too. I know that because we are his two favorites. I like playing with my friends at recess, but when it gets rough I leave because I don't want to get into trouble. Today, we started chasing kids and asking if they were part of the kingdom. It was getting wild, so when we stopped to make plans I decided to get out. I left so I wouldn't get in trouble again.

Sydney: How come that man and lady were so nice today? I loved our nature walk, and I loved that the man and lady let us come pick their apples, squash and pears! They said we could come back whenever we want to get more. How come they were so nice? But we never did find the snail we were looking for...

Actors and earrings

Jason: What would happen if there were no actors? Would there be nothing on TV?
Me: Probably not.
Jason: That would be bad because then we couldn't watch TV anymore.
Me: That's right, actors are important.
Jason: Yes - do you know that I want to be an actor?
Me: Really? Cool.
Jason: Yes. Actually, no - I want to be a spy.

Sydney: Do I get to take my earrings out tomorrow?
Me: No, on Tuesday you get to take your earrings out and change them, because 8 weeks will have passed since you got your ears pierced.
Sydney: Yay! Can I buy a new pair?
Me: Maybe, as a special treat.

Animals and the homeless

Jason: Why do people need bow and arrows? I know, it's because they want to hunt. Why do they want to hurt animals?
Me: Some people hunt for food.
Jason: I saw a cartoon today where a guy knocked on the door, and when someone answered the door, he shot them with a bow and arrow in the head and buried him. It was very funny.
Me: That's horrible. Why was it funny?
Jason: It was funny because it was just pretend, it wasn't real Mommy. Like for blood they used paint and ketchup. If it was real, it wouldn't have been funny.

Sydney: What do homeless people do?
Me: Well, they don't have money or anywhere to live, so they usually just stand on the street and ask people for money so that they can eat.
Sydney: We are lucky because we have yummy food and a nice house to live in, right?
Me: Right. We are very lucky.

The Seasons and The principal

Jason: When does the winter stop?
Eric: Winter stops with spring, it's 3 months long.
Jason How many days is that?
Eric: About 90 days
Jason: How many days are 10 months?
Eric: 300 days
Jason: Does it snow every day in the winter?
Eric: Not every day. It has to be really cold to snow, otherwise it's just rain.

Sydney: Why did Jason do that - how did he get that note from the principal?
Me: He made a mistake and got in a fight during recess.
Sydney: I know, that's really bad.

[Note: Today Jason was called into the principal's office after getting in a fight with a kid during recess. Apparently, Jason pushed a body down after he bullied his friend, Kim]

Rocks and moms

Jason: How did rocks come to Earth?
Me: When the Earth was created, the rocks were just there. Kind of like the oceans too.
Jason: So no one brought them here?
Me: No.

Sydney: Do you know that I wish I could be you?
Me: Really, why?
Sydney: Because you get to stay up late and make whatever you want for dinner.
Me: But if you were me, you'd also have to write news articles, cook and clean.
Sydney: Never mind...

Tires and friends

Jason: How does a tire lose its air and get flat?
Me: Usually either it drives over something sharp like a nail, or it gets old and starts to get cracks.
Jason: Are you proud that I found that nail in our driveway before it flattened your tire?
Me: Yes, very.

Sydney: I wish you were still a little girl, and then we could grow together.
Me: I would love that. Do you think we'd be friends?
Sydney: Yes!

Black holes and tickling

Jason: How do things fall into black holes? What happens to something if it falls into a black hole? Do people fall into them sometimes?

Sydney: Why are people ticklish? What makes someone tickle someone?

Dinosaurs and birthday parties

Jason: Do you know that I know how the dinosaurs died? There was a big asteroid that crashed into the Earth and so there were no plants for the dinosaurs to eat. The animals started to die.

Sydney: Why were the stairs at Children's Park so high? There should have been a ramp. Are you happy that it wasn't worse, that I didn't actually cut my eye?

[Note: During Catie's birthday party in Children's Park today, Sydney tripped on the stairs on a big wooden structure, slipped and got a big gash right near her left eye. It happened hours ago, but she is still replaying the incident over and over in her mind]

First day!

Jason: Did our school bus today have one of those stop signs that come out when the bus stops? Because I think those are very cool.

Sydney: Do you know what? At school today we made gingerbread men and then they disappeared. We looked everywhere for them - in the classrooms, in the cafeteria, in the library. And when we came back to our classroom, they suddenly appeared there. It was very fun.

[Today was Jason and Sydney's first day of kindergarten at May Street elementary school!]

Kindergarten!

Jason: You know what? I am excited for kindergarten because I am going to learn new things that I don't already know about. I am ready - 4 plus 2 is 6...10 plus 6 is 16...10 plus 10 is 20...! But what are you going to do when you are all lonely by yourself when we are in kindergarten?

Sydney: Why is kindergarten such a long day? I want it to be a shorter day. I wish you could be there with me. I am nervous for my first day. I am going to miss you when I am there. But I think they are going to do reading and math, and I love both (squeal of delight).

[Note: Tomorrow is Jason and Sydney's first day of kindergarten at May Street elementary school. I hope the school is ready for the dynamic duo, because here they come!]

Seeds, growing and friends

Jason: How did the first seed get here on Earth?
Me: Seeds are inside of fruit, berries, flowers and other things. It's part of nature - the seeds grow with the fruit or berries, and when they fall off and it rains they get buried in the ground and grow more fruit or berries.
Jason [growing impatient]: But how did the first fruit or berry grow - it had to have seeds to grow from?

Sydney: How do friends become friends?
Me: Why don't you tell me? How did you make all of the friends that you have?
Sydney: First you meet them, then you introduce yourself, then you say: "Do you want to be my friend?" Then you play nicely.

Cartoons, the pretend and being good

Jason: How do they make the show Phineas and Ferb?
Me: Phineas and Ferb is a cartoon - it is a drawing.
Jason [outraged]: So they are pretend - even their costumes?? I am never watching cartoons again, only real shows with real people.
Me: OK, but you really like cartoons.
Jason: What is a soul - is it the part of me that is who I am?

Sydney: How do people be bad? Like, how do they learn bad things. Like to say "stupid" or "shut up?"
Me: They usually learn bad things from other kids or from TV. Kids really just want to be good, but then they learn other things that can make that hard sometimes.

Shadows and distance

Jason: Why does baby Nathan's eyes only see by shadows?

Sydney: Why is Oregon so far away from Maryland?

[Note: As you probably already know, Nathan is Jason and Sydney's new cousin who is about a week-and-a-half old. Also, we just flew back home to Oregon on Friday, after visiting family and friends in Maryland]

Numbers and nature

Jason: Is octillion a real number? I love nature, everything in nature and I never want to hurt nature.

Me: yes, octillion is a real number. It comes after septillion and before nonillion

Sydney: Mommy, do you know that sometimes I wish it was only me and there was no boy? Because Jason sometimes be’s (sic) bad to me. I am sorry that you have to sleep lonely tonight – you can sleep with me if you want.

[Note: The last comment of Sydney’s refers to the fact that Eric returned to Oregon yesterday, and the kids and I are still here in Maryland through Friday]

More Nathan...

Jason: Do you know what I liked best today? Seeing the baby, Nathan, again. I love newborn babies. They are very special to me.

Sydney: How do babies grow in the mommy's tummy and come from little eggs?

[Note: the kids seem to still be reeling from Nathan's birth yesterday. In fact, they were able to get into Jen and the baby's room today, even though only siblings are technically permitted]

Oh baby!

Jason: I had fun today with Noah swimming at the indoor pool, but my favorite part of the day was seeing the baby. He looked so cute, his eyes were closed. How do babies come? How does electricity come?

Sydney: Why do hospitals not let kids in to see a baby after it is born? I am glad we got to see the baby anyway.

[Note: Aunt Jen gave birth to Jason and Sydney's new cousin today: Nathan Max Weil! The hospitals in Montgomery County, Maryland don't let kids other than siblings into the Labor and Delivery Ward, but Jason and Sydney got to see Nathan when they wheeled him and Aunt Jen out to transfer them to their room on the maternity ward]

Racing and avoiding messes

Jason: When will we be big enough to ride the level two race cars - because I really want to? Maybe next year when we are six? But I'm ready for it now, I can handle it!

Sydney: Why do storms knock out electricity? How do storms knock over trees and make wires fall down? Why do these bad things always happen in Maryland when we aren't there?

[Note: Jason is referring to the go-kart race track that he and Sydney rode today - the "level two" cars he mentions are really super fast and nobody less than 56 inches can ride them. Sydney is referring to a storm in Montgomery County, Maryland today that knocked out the power at the houses of several people we know, like my super-pregnant about-to-deliver sister in Gaithersbrurg. Since we moved from Germantown, MD to Hood River, OR in January, we have managed to miss 5 feet of snow, the hottest July on record, an earthquake, and at last two bouts of massive power outages - for this most recent one we are in Rehoboth Beach, Delware].

Haunted houses

Jason: In the haunted houses ride, did you see the floating skeletons and did you see the Frankenstein that popped up? I loved it! The Frankenstein was my favorite part of what we did today. But, I also loved finding all of those sand crabs and beautiful shells on the beach - the scallop shell and the white twirly shell were the best.

Sydney: How do they make haunted houses? Why do they make scary things? I just like castles and princesses - why don't they make rides about that?

[Note: We are at Rehoboth Beach, Delaware and went to the rides on the boardwalk after dinner tonight. Jason was all excited to go on the haunted house ride after he talked about it and imagined it for months, but Sydney had to be talked into it]

Infinity and the sky

Jason: I think I know what's bigger than infinity - infinity plus one! Is infinity a number, or does it just mean something that goes on and on and on?

Sydney: Why is the sky all painted blue? What makes some things alive, and other things not alive?

Crazy girl, crazy day...

Jason: Mommy, did you ever run home from camp when you were a kid?

Sydney: What is a heart attack? I think I had one when I was running back from camp. I was shaking because I was alone and it was hard to breathe because I was running so fast. I had to slide down that hill and hold my hands in the air so that the cars could see me. I kept saying "it's ok, it's ok." I am scared I am going to dream about that tonight...

Storms, light and building

Jason: Why do people use candles when there is a storm? I saw that on Phineas and Ferb.
Me: Well, some times a storm is so powerful that it knocks out the power and there is no more electricity to the house, so there are no lights and you have to light a candle if you want to see anything.

Sydney: When people build houses, how do they get up so high to make windows and the roof and stuff? Do they use a jet pack, or maybe a blimp?
Me: They use ladders and special machines to get up high.
Sydney: At camp today I was kind of shy. I didn’t play with anyone, I just did my own thing.
Me: Did you want to play with other kids, or did you just feel like being alone?
Sydney: I wanted to be by my own (sic), but I also wanted to play with other kids.

mosquitoes and badness

Jason: Do mosquitoes really drink your blood?! Do they just need a drop because they have such tiny tummies? I notice that I get bit my mosquitoes at camp when I am in the shady lunch area - I think tomorrow I will just eat in the sun.

Sydney: Why are people either bad or good?
Me: Most people are good, but they can sometimes do bad things. There aren't usually people who are all bad or all good.
Sydney: But I am always good, and Jason today be'd (sic) bad to me.

Buried treasure and God

Jason: Is there treasure buried underneath the Earth?
Me: Maybe, we don't know.
Jason: There is a treasure chest buried under an island, and I want it.
Me: What would you most want in the treasure chest?
Jason: Jewels!

Sydney: Was God alive a long time ago?
Me: God was always alive
Sydney: But you can't see God, right? Is he invisible?
Me: God is like love or happiness - you can't see it, but you feel it.
Sydney: And like air - you can't see it - but you breathe it
Me: Right
Sydney: Goodnight - God is sleeping right next to me, right?

Monkeys, babies, and being a kid

Jason: In cold, snowy places are there monkeys?
Me: No - monkeys live in warm places, like jungles in Africa.
Jason: But, in the Tintin book there was a monkey in a cold snowy place.

Sydney: How do people know when they can read? When the first baby came, did she have no mommy or daddy to take care of her?
Me: There had to be a mommy or a daddy there, because you can't have a baby without a mommy and a daddy.
Sydney: Really - so adults come before kids? That's good. Were you nice when you were a little girl?
Me: Yes, I shared and played nicely. But sometimes I made mistakes and got into trouble.
Sydney: Did you know Daddy when you were a little girl?
Me: I met Daddy when I was a teenager - we were friends. We didn't get married until I was 27 and Daddy was 28.
Sydney: How old is Gianluca?

Stars, birds and butterflies

Jason: Why do stars explode?
Eric: Some stars explode when they burn up all of their fuel. But the sun isn't big enough, so it'll never explode.
Jason: Do baby spiders come from eggs?
Eric: Yes, they do.

Sydney: Why are butterflies so fast? I really want to have one on my shoulder, because they are so beautiful. And why are birds so fast? I really want to have a bird on my shoulder, and a butterfly on my hand.

Thorns and barbies

Jason: Why do roses have thorns?
Me: Some flowers and animals have prickles around them - like roses and hedhodges - to protect them from animals that want to eat them or hurt them.
Jason: But, then how do people get roses into vases with all those prickles around them?
Me: They probably use gloves and special very sharp scissors to cut the roses.
Jason: Oh wow (makes happy noise) - specially sharp scissors!

Sydney: Are Barbies alive? I know they're not, but I want them to be alive.
Me: You're right, Barbies are dolls, they are pretend.
Sydney: Are the men ones called Barbies too?
Me: No, they're called Ken dolls.
Sydney: Some day can I buy a Ken doll and have him marry my bride Barbie with the sparkling ring? She needs a man.

Whiskers, the sun and a missing boy

Jason: Do dogs have whiskers, because I thought only cats have whiskers? Why does Dad's grill have three things that get hot for you to cook on? Have you ever heard of a camp that gives the kids popsicles??

Sydney: Why is the sun so bright? Are they still looking for that little boy in Portland? Are they still looking in his school?

flower and hair

Jason: What's lavender?

Sydney: What's behind our hair?
Me: You mean under our hair? It's your scalp.
Sydney: And does it have a lot of holes all over it, to let hair grow?

Living in space and hearing on Earth

Jason: Are there houses in space where people live?
Me: Well, we don't know. But we do know that there is an International Space Station in space put there by America and other countries. Astronauts live there and can do scientific research there.
Jason: One - there's just one house in space - there must be more than that between here and Pluto! How did they put it there?
Me: They sent it up on a rocket, and then it just stayed there, orbiting

Sydney: How do ears hear things?
Rebecca: There are tiny nerves in you ear and special bones and cartilage. The sound comes into your ear, and your brain recognizes what you are hearing.
Sydney: We can't hear when we are asleep, right?
Eric: Your brain still hears because loud things can wake you up, biut you don;t know what you heard because you were asleep.

Hearts, fireworks and mermaids

Jason: Tomorrow, can we watch the movies of the fireworks that are on your camera?
Eric: Sure we can.
Jason: If you get shot with a bow and arrow in the heart do you die?
Eric: Maybe, if your heart gets damaged by anything you have to go to the hospital right away, because the heart is very important. It moves the blood through your body.
Jason: Is there a red side and a blue side of your heart?
Eric: No, but your blood needs air to be red, so if doesn't have blood it is blue. But if it goes through your lungs and gets air it turns red.

Sydney: Why were some guys still lighting fireworks by our house today?
Me: Probably because they had leftover fireworks from yesterday.
Sydney: Are mermaids alive?
Me: No, mermaids are pretend.
Sydney: But someone saw mermaids a long time ago. That's how we know about them.
Me: I don't think so - there are no mermaids in the ocean. They are imaginary.
Sydney: Aww...

Night lights, First Fridays, and fireworks

Jason: I just have a comment tonight, not a question. I think Anthony's Mom needs to put a nightlight in his room so that he can sleep better. If there is a nightlight in his room, then when he will see it and feel better and go to bed.

Sydney: Why does Hood River have "First Friday"? When is July 4th? Do they actually light the fireworks with fire? Can we really stay up late and watch them?
Me: "First Friday" is a chance to celebrate in Hood River on the first Friday of every month during the summer. You saw tonight that there was music, people dancing, and people could even go into shops and restaurants and sometimes taste samples. July 4th is the day after tomorrow. Yes, they light fireworks with matches. You can stay up late and watch the fireworks if you take a nap before that.

July 4th, fireworks, and pictures

Jason: Is today July 1st? When is July 4th? What is July 4th?
Eric: It is a holiday where we celebrate America's birthday
Jason: Where is the party?
Eric: We celebrate it everywhere
Jason: Can we go to a party at someone's house?
Eric: We might go to Waterfront Park to see fireworks
Jason: If people get hit by fireworks, do they get burned up?
Eric: No, they do the fireworks over the river, so no one gets hurt

Sydney: Mommy, how can we see people and talk to them on the computer? How do cameras take pictures? How do different colors shoot out into the sky from fireworks?

Rainbows and echoes

Jason: Mommy, can someone go right up to a rainbow and punch it, and break it? I want to know if a bad guy can get in a spaceship and do that.
Me: No, a rainbow can't be broken.
Jason: Good, because I love rainbows.

Sydney: What is an echo? I think I know why I am holding old doggie when I go to sleep but not when I wake up. Maybe when I am fast asleep I don't know what I am doing and I drop her.

Magic and sea animals

Jason: Is magic real? I think it is because the magician today used words like "Hocus Pocus" and then things happened. Like he held those things up to a flame and they turned into quarters. Nad things disappeared in mid air. How did he do that? It was so cool.

Sydney: Do sea animals wear goggles? I think they have to because the sea water would bother their eyes and turn them all red.

Speaking, royalty and Native Americas

Sydney: How do people learn to talk? How do they learn to make sounds that mean something?

Jason: Are kings and queens real, or are they pretend? When did the first Indian die - I am talking about the Indians with boats and bow and arrows? Where do Indians live in America?

Gun powder and flowers

Jason: What is gun powder, and why do they burn a stick before shooting a cannon? In real life do people still use axes? Are they weapons or tools?

Sydney: How do flower seeds come? Were there flowers before people?
Me: Yes, there were flowers before people during the time of the dinosaurs, and even earlier.
Sydney: But how do people know there were dinosaurs, if they weren't there to see them?

Old-fashioned times and bathing suits

Jason: Why are things from old-fashioned times made different - like old-fashioned cars, old-fashioned tow-trucks, old-fashioned helicopters and old-fashioned telephones? They look different.

Sydney: Why does Savannah still have my bathing suit? Will I get it back tomorrow? Will it be warm again tomorrow? I think it will be warm for all the days now that it is summer.

Planets galore

Jason: Who are the scientists who make planets?
Me: Scientists don't make planets, God does. But I think you are talking about astronomers.
Jason: But why can't people make more planets? Why haven't astronomers figured that out yet? When I grow up, my scientists are going to help me figure out how to make another planet. We are going to put it closest to the sun. Can you imagine how hot it would be? And I think it would always be summer there. If we made that new planet, then Pluto would be the 10th planet, but nevermind, because Pluto isn't really a planet anymore.

Sydney: Before people came, was the Earth so beautiful? But if there were none people, then it couldn't really exist. But if there were just one or two people, like us, then we could see the beautiful view and it wouldn't be too crowded.

Comets and Santa

Jason: If I see a comet go by, I will make a wish that I never see any black widows or tarantulas or other spiders. Are there hundreds of other universes out there? Are there many black holes, and do black holes suck down parts of universes? I think we will go on a field trip in camp to see a physicist.

Sydney: How does it get warmer and warmer in the summer? Is Santa Claus real? Because I saw a picture of him with Peanut and Pugsley.

[Note: Jason and Sydney just started at an art camp today, which they loved. Also, Peanut and Puglsey are the dogs that belong to their Aunt Erin and Aunt Dana]

Laughing and fishing

Jason: What makes people laugh and smile?
Me: Different people think different things are funny. Whatever someone thinks is funny is what makes someone laugh or smile.
Jason: No, but something has to happen in their body to make them laugh or smile -- what is it??!!

Sydney: What are we going to do at the fishing derby tomorrow?
Me: We are going to catch fish, build a campfire, and cook them.
Sydney (starting to cry): But that is going to hurt the fish, and I don't want to hurt them. I want to be a good girl and be nice. I don't even like to hurt bugs. I will go fishing, but I am not going to hurt them or eat them.

Boxing and burning

Jason: Why do people do boxing?
Me: It's a kind of a sport, like basketball or soccer.
Jason: But they are just hitting each other and hurting each other - I don't like that.
Me: OK
Jason (after a brief pause): Mommy, I am going to be a boxer when I grow up. I am going to first lift weights -- one hundred billion pounds.

Sydney: How does fire come? We don't want the house to burn down while we are in it.

Police and park playing

Jason: What makes fire? Why are there police who take people to jail? I know - it's because people who steal need to be put away from everyone else because they might steal things again.

Sydney: When I was playing with Parker today at the park, he said he didn't want to play with me, but he kept playing with me. That was really weird. Why did he do that?

We are all on the same page

Jason: What does "We are all on the same page" mean? Why do armies have to test bombs underwater and on Earth?

Sydney: Are they still looking for that little boy, Kyron Horman? Are they really looking everywhere, like in people's houses?

Time machines and a missing boy

Jason: Do time machines really exist? They can take you back to the old times. You hold onto a purple thing, and then you go back to what you did a long time ago. I think time machines can go back to the future too.

Sydney: Mommy, why is that little boy lost? I think the wrong person picked him up from school, but now maybe they brought him back and his mom went back to school and got him. I am really sad that he is lost. What was his name?
Me: Kyron Horman
[Kyron is the 7-year-old boy who vanished from his school -- Skyline Elementary -- in Portland, Oregon on June 4. Roughly 300 trained rescuers are looking for him.]

Bugs and fireworks

Jason: Why is there bug spray? It hurts the bugs, and they can't go back to their families. Their families will miss them - I want to be nice to bugs. But I don't want to go in the jungle because I don't like tarantulas. They might get me.

Sydney: Is it June? Is July when we will have the fireworks? I can't wait to stay up late and see the fireworks. But are they very loud? Will I have to cover my ears? But some guys don't cover their ears, right?

Air and memory

Jason: How does air get trapped your belly? It makes you have tushy burps, right? Why does God talk to people through burning bushes or burning trees? Did Moses have to call the fire department?

Sydney: Can you help me remember what RIO back in Maryland looks like?

Monkeys, anger and food

Jason: Why do monkeys love bananas? Why do pirates have swords? Why do people get angry?

Sydney: Why are so many foods healthy and yummy? Why is the sun so bright?

Indians, babies and centipedes

Jason: Why did Indians have to hunt and kill animals for their food?

Sydney: Why do babies need cribs? If a centipede bites you, will you die?

Rocks, gas and streams

Jason: Why is the universe rocky and gassy? Why do people have to paint old-fashioned cars?

Sydney: Why can't people drink out of streams?

Space and flower petals

Jason: Why did one of the two Mars rovers die? What are all of the planets made of? Why is the sun on fire? Are all of the other stars the same as the sun?

Sydney: Why do petals fall off of flowers on trees? That makes me sad, because flowers are my favorite spring-time thing.

Jail and grandmothers

Jason: If a kid punches their friend down on the floor, will they go to jail forever? If you eat too much spinach, what happens to your heart? What does protein look like?

Sydney: When I am ten years old, will you be a grandma? How does somebody get to be an old lady?

X-Rays and kindergarten

Jason: What are X-Rays again - the ones that come from black holes?

Sydney: Why does kindergarten take so long to finish? What do really big kids -- like the ones in 6 and 7 grade -- do at school?

Horses and tiredness

Jason: How do horses understand when somebody says: "Giddyup"? Do horses understand "trailer", "girafee", or "dog"? How about "monkey"?

Sydney: I don't have any questions - I just need to go to sleep now. I really had fun swimming with you today!

Jupiter, storms and smiles

Jason: Why does Jupiter have a storm on it that just stays there and never goes away? I like that because I like lightening.

Sydney: I am too tired to have any questions. I love you infinity, and I really love your smiles.

Satellites and fairs

Jason: How does the satellite dish go all the way up to the satellite in space?

Sydney: Why was there a fair in Portland today?

Electricity, aliens and softness

Jason: How go people who make batteries put electricity in them? Why does gravity make you float in space? How do people know that aliens are real and alive?

Sydney: Why are doggies alive too? Why are pillows and blankets so soft?

Spiderman and space

Jason: I don't have any questions tonight because my brain is weak. Tell me more about radioactive blood - how did black Spiderman become black Spiderman, and did Spidergirl get bit by a spider too?

Sydney: Some day, will there be places in space - like McDonalds, and icecream places, and donut shops? Maybe a farmer's market too? I would like to go to space, but I might be a little bit scared when the rocket first takes off, because it would be really fast.

Spiderman and fairies

Jason: How did Spiderman get his powers from a spider bite? When I make the explosion that creates a new planet, I want to take some of the gas and use it to make another star so the planet will have more light.

Sydney: Are fairies real? I think they are. When I was in the backyard with Charlie today, I saw little white fluffy things that were smiling at me. I think they were fairies.

Colors and memories

Jason: Why are doggies lots of different colors, but people are just one color?
Me: Really, you think people are just one color?
Jason: No, actually two: brown and light.
Me: I'm not sure about that. I think there are more than two colors of people.
Jason: You're right, Mommy. There are three colors: lightish, brownish/lightish, and brown.

Sydney: How do they decorate castles? You know what I really miss from back in Maryland? Alex, Lindsey and Sophie.

Planets, noses and marriage

Jason: Why is Pluto not a planet anymore? Which planets are filled with gas? Did you hear that when I am a scientist I am going to get all of my scientists together and make an explosion that creates another planet? It will be green and black and have life on it.
Eric: What will you call it?
Jason (after thinking about it awhile): Sound. Because when we have the explosion that makes the planet everyone will hear it. Construction workers will go to the planet to build houses and stands and ice cream places. It will have skyscrapers and airports and forty-eight-seventy states.


Sydney: What is inside of our noses?
Me: Hairs to help filter the air before it goes in your nose and then into your lungs.
Sydney: No, I mean the things that you take out of your nose that are dry.
Sydney (before I could answer): Why did Dominic say that he wanted to marry me when we were on the trampoline? I told him no thanks because Gianluca already wants to marry me.

Rings, time and sickness

Jason: How did Saturn get rings around it? It doesn't seem that late, but you said it's late. The little hand on the clock is pointing to the 8, but what is this other hand that keeps moving?

Sydney: How do we get a cold? What makes us sneeze? Why can't we touch glass things?

Guns and roses

Jason: Why do people have guns? It's because they hunt and kill animals, right? But that's not good because the animal will not be part of its family anymore. I don't like guns or bow and arrows. Bow and arrows could shoot someone's heart.

Sydney: Why are princesses, flowers and butterflies so beautiful? I wish I could wear a flower in my hair while I wear a princess dress. I would love that.

Meat, homelessness, laughing and dresses

Jason: I have a comment, not a question: Meat comes from pigs - no, it comes from meat cows. Why are there homeless people? Why when somebody laughs do other people laugh?

Sydney: Why are princess dresses so beautiful? I am like a princess girl because I love wearing beautiful dresses.

Poop and boats

Jason: On Dinosaur Train, they showed dinosaur poop. There were three piles of poop - two were green and one was brown, and they had little things in them. Why did the dinosaur who only eats leaves have brown poop?

Sydney: Why can we not see God? How do they make posters? Can just you and me go on a cruise one day, because I have never been on a boat?

Genetics and aging

Jason: How come some people are so tall - like basketball players? How come people have different colored skin?
Me: It has to do with your parents - if they have dark skin, then you have dark skin. If they have dark eyes then you have dark eyes.
Jason: So if you go past a leaf, do you have green eyes?

[10 minutes later, Jason came downstairs to say his throat hurt. Afer I gave him Motrin, he asked: How does medicine make you feel batter? Does it fight with the hurtness?]


Sydney: When people get old they can run really, really fast, right?
Me: As you grow up you can run faster because you are stronger. But, when people get really old they sometimes get slower.
Sydney: Really old like Great Grandpa Sidney? He died before we were born, right? Is he in heaven? I wish I could have met him because I think he was really funny.

Aliens and Giants

Jason: Why do aliens have to travel in space ships? When I grow up, I am going to build a spaceship that has a magnifying glass that can tell if an alien is good or bad. It will look into their body and then words will spell either "good" or "bad". How did God talk to Moses?

Sydney: Why is soda only for adults? Is it because adults don't grow anymore - they don't keep growing into giants, right? Have you ever seen a giant?

Making the rules

Jason: Why did the dinosaurs come before everyone else?
Me: Well, just like humans rule the Earth now and can do whatever they want, dinosaurs used to rule all the other animals and do whatever they want.
Jason: But I am a human, and I can't do whatever I want.

Sydney: Why are light bulbs hot? Was that a very good question, so can you scratch my back now?

Fish and other non-humans

Jason: How does a fish die when it's cooked? Why can't we see God?

Sydney: Why do animals eat different stuff than people? Like, they drink water froma stream and eat little bird eggs that people don't eat.

Deer, planets and princesses

Jason: How do deer get those things that grow on their heads - antlers? I know - when they are a kid they don't have them, but when the become as adult those antlers grow. How did the other planets come from the same explosion that made Earth? They have to be careful to stay away from black holes, because they will get sucked in and that's not good.

Sydney: Why are princesses not alive - the princesses in my poster I mean? What is it like to be pretend and not real? I wish that they were real because they are so beautiful.

Animals, animals, animals

Jason: Why did God want people? Where did all the animals come from, and the dinosaurs before them?

Sydney: What would it be like to be an animal? I like being a person, but I just want to know what it would be like to be an animal. If you tell me what it's like, I might want to be one. Actually, I want to be a mermaid, no that's not an animal - I want to be a dolphin. Or, maybe I want to be a bird - I'd love to fly.

Fish and hay eating

Jason: How come sharks eat fish - that's not good, the fish will miss its family. What would happen if a chicken smelled the seeds we planted behind our house, and he came and ate them?

Sydney: How does God make people again, I don't quite get it. What would it be like to eat hay?

Teeth and reexplanations

Jason: How do teeth get wiggly? Then when one falls out, does the tooth fairy come and give you a lot, a lot, a lot of money until you are an adult?

Sydney: I still don't know how the Earth moves around so slowly. Can you tell me again how it does that?

Colors and rockets

Jason: Why does the Earth have so many colors? If it was just black, people would be bumping into everything - each other, the wall...

Sydney: What would it be like to go up in a rocket ship? Does a rocket ship have a steering wheel? If not, that would be bad because you would just go into the hot sun or moon and get burned.

confetti!

Jason: How do they make confetti? Why do giraffes have such long necks?

Sydney: How do birthdays come? When we move back to Maryland, will we come back and visit here?

[Note: Today was Jason and Sydney's birthday party, that is the reason for the talk about confetti and birthdays]

invisibility and the factory

Jason: Why is air invisible? How do they make tires, and how do they pump up tires? How does the pump get air?

Sydney: Do they make crowns in a factory? Do they make cake in a factory?

Guest stars

[Note: My parents, who are visiting from Maryland, put the kids to bed tonight. This is what they said:]

Jason [In response to whether he has any questions for Grandma]: Nope, I don't have any of those...I need more time to think.


Sydney [In response to whether she has any questions for Grandpa]: I only ask questions on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Lightening, lava and marriage

Jason: How does lightening come? I know what the sun is made of: gas and lava. But where does lava come from?

Sydney: What helps us grow and grow and grow, until we are an adult? How do friends meet friends who they marry?

Birthday on the mind

Jason: How do you get to be one, then two, then three, then four, then five, then six, then seven, then eight? How does that happen?

Sydney: Why do people get older on their birthdays? How do they make cake?

[Today was Jason and Sydney's 5th birthday!]

Explosions and birthdays

Jason: Were all of the other planets made from the same explosion that made the Earth?

Sydney: What is it going to be like to be five years old? I don't know what kinds of things I am going to do.

[Note: Tomorrow is Sydney and Jason's 5th birthday!!]

eyes and rain

Jason: Why do people have different colored eyes? Like I have blue and you have brown? Does Daddy have blue eyes?


Sydney: How do they make rainbows when it rains? Like, are they tiny little drops of different colored rain?

Bubbles and love

Jason: Can you tell me again how the Earth was born? Actually, I think I already know - it was very small and was in a ball with a lot of bubbles. Then it was really bubbling and bubbling, and sharp things were sticking out. But how did they make water?

Sydney: You're not going to get hurt, are you? If you fall down and get really hurt, I will still love you. If you can't walk or see, I will still love you and I will put you in a wheelchair.

Potatoes and other food

Jason: Is there a potato in space? Because in the book that Grandma and Grandpa have there is a potato in space, and I don't know why it's there.

Sydney: How do animals make milk and food for us?

Bones, ants and concrete

Jason: What do bones look like? How do ants know where food is?

Sydney: How do they make bones and skin - how do those grow? What's in concrete, and will you really hurt yourself if you fall down on concrete from up high?

[note: Jason and Sydney are in different rooms, so it is entirely coincidental if they ask me about the same or a similar topic.]

Poor flies

Jason: Why do people pull off the wings of a fly?
Me: Oh no! That's not nice, who does that?
Jason: Me, I did it one time in Maryland.
Me: What?! Why?
Jason: I don't know.

Sydney: I don't have any questions because I am very tired. But I love you more than the whole entire universe.

Slime and puddles

Jason: Why are snakes slimy on the bottom? Why do snails have slime coming out of them? How do people get calories?

Sydney: How do zebras have black and white stripes? How do animals make eggs that babies come from? One day, can I throw mud into a puddle?

Time travel

Jason: I will grow and grow and be an adult. But will you be really old when I am as old as you are now? How long does it take to get to Saturn? When I grow up I am going to be a scientist who makes a rocket that can get to Saturn in one minute. I am going to need a lot of wire, a huge engine, and infinity gasoline.

Sydney: Why does it take us so long to get to Mars? How can we get astronauts there when it's so far away and so hard to find?

[note: Jason and Sydney are in different rooms, so it is entirely coincidental if they ask me about the same or a similar topic.]

People and the Earth

Jason: Why did God want people, I can't remember?

Sydney: How does the Earth move around the sun anyway? How does it become day or night?

Calories and Princesses

Jason: Why don't animals understand people? What do calories look like?

Sydney: How can I make sure I dream about beautiful princesses in a castle -- like Ariel, Sleeping Beauty and Belle? How do they make electric wires?

Space and people making

Jason: Why are there asteroids in space, and what planets did they used to be? Will they fall into a black hole?

Sydney: How do they make people, and is God pretend? How do they make stickers?

Death and rainbows

Jason: What is the age people are when they die? I want to know when I am going to die. It would be cool if I lived forever because then when the people who own shops die, I could go in and take all the stuff.

Sydney: Why is the world so beautiful? But why do I never see a rainbow after it rains?

God and the President?

April 20 , 2010

Jason: Why does God want people to live a long life and then die and not come back?

Sydney: I want to be a candy store owner when I grow up, but will people come shop there? I want to be President when I grow up, but if I change my mind that's okay, right?