Brin asks me to explain the rules of poker to her after she finds my box of poker chips. When I get to the part about whoever has the best hand wins, she waves her actual hand and matter-of-factly says, “I have the best hand. Look.”

“Daddy, what’s a bandit’s phone number?”

“I don’t know any bandits’ phone numbers.”

Brinley sighs.

“Daddy, just ask Siri.”

Sarah asks, “Brinley, would you like this art easel in your bedroom?”

“Yes, I would be delighted.” says 4-year-old Brinley.

Brinley brings a tiny package of pretzels for Mommy as they’re playing a role-reversal game, and Mommy needs a bedtime snack.

Mommy asks Brinley, “Is there anything healthy in there?”

Brinley replies matter-of-factly after a beat, “It’s a beef.”

“Hey Brin, how ya doing this morning?”

“Better than a fish on the road.”

Micah is trying to figure out how to activate the old camera that Mommy gave Brinley. Handing it to me, he steps back slightly to look at it, furrowing his brow and slowly tapping his lips while saying “Hmm…” as I turn it on.

“It’s fashion day!“ Brinley declares. She chooses a color for my lips from her makeup kit.

“Daddy, you get green. Boys have a greenness.”

Brinley and I just concluded a nearly 10 minute conversation about what kinds of food an anteater might possibly eat.

“Brin, listen. What kind of food does an anteater eat?”

“Um, bugs?”

“Yes! What kind of bugs does an anteater eat?”

“… roly-polies?”

“Brin, listen carefully. What kind of little bugs does an ANT EATER eat?”

A slow wide grin appears on Brin’s face.

“ANTS!!”


Update from the following day:

“Dad! What’s that animal that eats ants again?”