Out of the mouths of . . .

Mommy and Daddy often laugh at the things I say. Or they just stare at me with mouths hanging open. They say things like, 'That is so funny!' or 'Where did you learn that?' or 'You are so clever!' or 'Your ability to remember things is scaring me!' or 'HOW old are you?!?!?' You think they would remember when my third birthday is going to be. It's November 22nd, by the way.... just in case you were wondering when to send the cards and presents.

Tonight at dinner I held up a piece of broccoli and said, 'Look! It's a mock bush!' Lucky for me I didn't say 'Let's mock Bush!' Mommy asked, 'Where did you learn the word 'mock'?'

A couple of weeks ago, we were walking to nursery (well, Mommy was walking and I was riding in my stroller) and I said, 'Look! A school bus!' Mommy looked up and said, 'Where?' 'There, the white van.' 'What makes you think it's a school bus?' said Mommy, who is used to them being big yellow things. 'Because it says "School Bus" on the back!' Duh! Mommy squinted and sure enough, it said 'School Bus.'

These past two or three weeks I've been asking the name of every car we passed whenever we were walking anywhere--and sometimes even in the car (not that I'm in the car very often). So I've learned to recognize the logos for Volkswagens and Toyotas and Fords and Fiats and Vauxhalls and BMWs and Rovers and Land Rovers and Jeeps (etc. etc. etc.) and my beloved Peugeots--and of course my even more beloved Mini Coopers! Mommy thinks I like Mini Coopers because it sounds like my best friend's name, Millie Cooper! But they are really cool cars and they are made right here in our town!

Last Saturday Daddy had to work but he let Mommy and me have the car so we could do some errands. We were pulling out of the Toys-r-Us car park [parking lot] where Mommy had been getting party supplies and I looked up and said, 'Look, that sign says "Volvo" and they have Volvo cars there!' Mommy looked up and saw a big blue sign and said, 'That's right. What letter does it begin with?' 'V!' 'And what other letters does it have?' 'V-O-L-V-O! That spells "Volvo!"' Mommy was gobsmacked ['shocked'--'gob' is slang for 'mouth'].

This week Mommy and I were going down a shopping street where there are no cars on our way to the toddler group at our church. I asked her 'Which shop is first?' Mommy was confused. She thought about it and said, 'Well, maybe Boswell's, I guess'--the name of a shop we passed at the start of the pedestrian zone. 'Why do you ask, JoMo?'

I pointed to a shop we were just passing then and said, 'Because that store is "Next". Which one is first???'


Mommy stopped and looked over and saw the Next store. And then she twigged [British English for 'caught on']. Then she stared at me. Then she laughed. I didn't think I had said anything funny. It was a serious question. Something that is 'next' comes after something else that is maybe 'first.' But Mommy thought it was funny. (That's not a photo of our local Next. But it looks a bit like that and Mommy didn't have her camera with her!)

Well, I'd better sign off. I have to get up and do some 'barist-ing' (as I call making coffee) in the morning!