Sugar Plums

Just now, apropos of nothing:

Samuel: "Sugar plums are like this." [makes circle with thumb and forefinger]
Daddy: "Oh, OK."
Samuel: "When I was sleeping, before Christmas, sugar plums jumped in my head."

Spontaneous Lorax

Samuel started reciting The Lorax after I buckled him into his seat on our way to school today, and I managed to record him/us with my phone. Here it is.

Oh -- and also from this morning, as Samuel was climbing onto the bathroom counter to brush his teeth -- "I'm tall, like a POTATO! No, I'm tall like a BOWLING BALL!"

Peter Gunn Handy

We've been listening to Henry Mancini's Peter Gunn lately while driving our car; Samuel likes it a lot and requests it regularly. Suddenly, after about a week, he abruptly began calling it "Peter Gunn Handy." If we called it "Peter Gunn," he would correct us: "NO! It's 'Peter Gunn Handy.'"

That was a couple weeks ago. We've explained a few times that actually, it's just "Peter Gunn," and we've asked why he calls it "Peter Gunn Handy." He's usually answered with a very helpful "because I like to."

Last night, when we got in the car to go to our weekly small group, Samuel requested Peter Gunn and then proceeded voluntarily to tell a story that went something like this:

One time when I was going to school, Daddy was saying he didn't have any Peter Gunn Handy.

...and he's right. Since he reminded me, I distinctly remember him requesting Peter Gunn when I was driving him to school one morning two or three weeks ago. But the CD with Peter Gunn on it is in Jenn's car, so I replied at the time that I didn't have Peter Gunn handy.

Now we know.

When I Grow Up

The other day while driving...

Samuel: I could be a firefighter when I get big.
Daddy: Yes, you could.
Samuel: Or I could be a coffee-maker.
Daddy: You mean like the people at Starbucks or Barnes & Noble? Yeah, you could do that. Or you could be a teacher, like Mommy. Or maybe a software engineer, like Aaron [Brooks].
Samuel: Or I could drive a tractor.
Daddy: Yes, you could be a farmer, like Grandpa Duane.
Samuel: Yeah. I'll be a farmer. Instead of Spider-Man.
Daddy: Oh, you want to be Spider-Man?
Samuel: [exasperated at Daddy's absurdities] NO, I'll be a farmer INSTEAD OF Spider-Man.

Pants.

Now that Samuel is potty-training, we've loosened his waistbands so he can handle the process more independently. This makes him look like one of Jenn's teenaged students from time to time.

And sometimes there is an error on re-entry.

The vorpal blade goes snicker-snack

Yesterday Samuel and I played Wii for the first time in a while -- and I showed him the Swordplay games in Sports Resort. I think it was a hit...

Definitely a reasonable substitute for outdoor physical activity on a rainy day. :)

Dancing like Gene Kelly

We've watched Singin' In The Rain several times lately. Samuel is particularly impressed with Moses Supposes. Today during a skype video call with Grandma Susie and Grandpa Jim, Samuel showed off his hoofing skills.