Another Ethan first: He broke the spelling code.

Beth to Grandma: “Do you want to take Ethan to the S-A-N-D…”

Ethan interrupted: “That spells sand dunes.”

What are you doing?

Eliana is quickly learning many new words. She asks lots of questions, but she never asks what something is. Instead, her favorite question is, “What are you doing?” She asks even when she already knows the answer, for example, if I’m pouring a glass of milk. This leads me to believe that she’s asking primarily to hear the answer. She instinctively wants to hear the words that describe the action.

Another Ethan first: He played by ear.

Ethan is learning violin using the Suzuki method, which employs simple songs like “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star”. One song that isn’t used is “Hot Cross Buns”, but Beth plays that for fun with the kids when giving them a taste of playing piano. Today, Ethan decided to play “Hot Cross Buns” on the violin.

Another Ethan first: He wrote in l33t.

I suppose it is questionable as to whether what Ethan wrote is technically l33t, but l33t by its nature defies any technical specification. I find his work sufficiently obscure to qualify. It also provides perspective on those who use l33t speak intentionally. Are they really just regressing back to their unrefined origins?

What does this say?

Hungry children in China

Don't try platitudes with Ethan.

Daddy: "There are millions of hungry children in China who would love to have that cereal you say is soggy."

Ethan (in the cutest voice imaginable): "Throw it in the sink then and it will go to China."

What would Jesus do?

We were reading a story where a boy must pass through a briar patch to retrieve a blind man's cane. The story pauses to ask, "What would Jesus do?" Ethan's answer was, "Fix the blind man's eyes."

An Eliana first: She put boots on her doll.

Or as she put it, “Look! Baby wears boots.”