Super Why has it taken me so long to post this?

Halloween. So long ago, yet still cluttering up my kitchen with its piles of candy. You wouldn't believe the self control I've had this year. Every night I walk right by that bucket of candy...and straight to the freezer for ice cream.

Before the parade of candy, there were pumpkins to be carved.

I was so proud of Cal's Super Why costume. Even though Grandma Mary did all the heavy lifting (she made the cape, which is clearly the best part), I somehow managed to turn duct tape and scraps of fabric I found around the house into a somewhat recognizable character costume. The book is my favorite part — I cut the shapes out of felt, used some leftover gold ribbon to give it a 3D orbit, fabric glued it together, then sewed it on his tshirt. Cal's favorite part was the Why Writer, which I made out of a kisses-filled Christmas candy cane. (And I thought I wouldn't be able to find one of those in October. Ha.)

 

They had a parade at school, which I left work early to attend. Cutest ever. All these parents standing in the middle of the school cafeteria/gym while our bewildered children circled us. After the parade, the kids got to have Oreos. Because there's no better way to ramp up for an evening of gorging yourself on candy than by eating Oreos.

Post Oreo with his friend Ada. She's Donkey from Shrek. Love her.

Super Why being Super Cute.

And also Super Intrigued by Nate's puking pumpkin.

Joined by his Super Sidekick, Black Kitty.

Our kitty was not impressed by her hat. At all. Which makes me glad the only effort I put into her costume was buying a hat and putting it on her head (repeatedly).

Love how it kept working its way up her head. She looks like a cat gnome. 

Nothing cooler than sweatpants and a duct tape belt. But he didn't seem to mind one bit. Pretty sure Super Why was Super High On Sugar at this point in the evening. 

October: Check! Now on to November...

Car ride.

Yesterday, while driving to the mall.

Calvin, from the backseat: Cars!

Abby, driving: That's right. Lots of cars! How many cars do you see?

Calvin: One, two, three...

Abby: Good job, sweeti–

Calvin:...four, five, six....

Abby: Wow! Yes, that's right! Six car–

Calvin:...seven, eight, nine, ten!

Abby: Um, what?

----
Two minutes later.

Abby: Hi!

Nate, calling in response to Abby's page at work: Hey, what's up?

Abby: Did you know our child knows how to count to ten?

Nate: He does?

Abby: Yes! He just counted to ten. Like, counted ten cars on the road as we were driving!

Nate: Really?

Abby: YES! He's a genius! Our son is a genius! What are they teaching him at that school?

----
One minute later.

Calvin: Talking about. Talking about. Talking about.

Abby: What are you talking about?

Calvin: Dinos.

Abby: You're talking about dinos?

Calvin: Yeah.

Abby: What about dinos?

Calvin: Bad dinos. (A reference to the book Oh My Oh My Oh Dinosaurs!)

Abby: Oh, the dinos were bad? What did they do?

Calvin: Um...

Abby: Did they empty their mommy's recipe box onto the floor?*

Calvin: Yes. On the floor.

Abby: Oh? And what happened to the dinos when they did that?

Calvin: Um...time out!**

----
*Guess who pulled that neat trick earlier in the day?
**Guess what punishment was instituted after refusing to help pick them up? It took an hour, a time out, and a few tantrums, but those recipe cards got picked up and I was not the one to do it. Any doubt I had regarding the effectiveness of time outs at his age has certainly been erased, thanks to that little conversation. His genius is going to be his demise...

Breakthrough.

Calvin and I have the same talk every morning before I leave for work. Today's went a little something like this:

Abby: "Okay, Calvin. Mom has to go to work now. Remember, no biting at school today! No biting! We do not bite our friends. Biting hurts."

Calvin: *gives Mom a big hug*

Abby: "Calvin, do we bite our friends at school? Do you bite Mommy's finger?" *holds up finger*

Calvin: "NO!" *kisses finger*

Abby (to Nate): "Wait- did he just say no? And use it appropriately in a sentence? Like, in response to my question? IS HE BEGINNING TO UNDERSTAND??"

Holy crap, I hope so. I'll let you know in about four hours.