You Say "Tomato", Spencer says . . .

"POTATO!" We are working on differentiating between the two.

So after THREE years of attempting to grow some tomatoes, we FINALLY saw our tomato plant yield a single tomato. It was only about the size of a golf ball, but we watched it grow for an excrutiatingly long time. When it had reached that perfect stage of ripeness, Spencer got to pick it. I was longing for the opportunity to teach him that food is GROWN and that it doesn't just come from Whole Foods or A.J.'s Fine Foods. So I made a HUGE production of explaining to him that we grew this perfect little food ourselves. We washed our precious little tomato ever so gently and together sliced it into four tiny portions. Spencer and I then sprinkled some fleur de sel on it and each ate two of the portions. We discussed how good it tasted because we grew this tomato ourselves ORGANICALLY with absolutely no chemicals. We commemorated this event with photographs. Afterwards, I asked Spencer, "wasn't growing and eating our very own tomato so exciting?" Spencer replied "Mom, it was only a little exciting". So anyway, here are the pictures.

Guess Who Can Write His Name!

His parents could have chosen a shorter name which would have hastened this development. Nonetheless Spencer learned how to write his name recently. Here is a sample:

"This Is Your Captain, Spencer, Speaking . . ."

Our airplane-obsessed little boy informed Mommy recently that when he grows up he is going to be a pilot and he is going to fly this SPECIFIC aircraft (no ordinary plane will do as far as this kid is concerned). Apparently he has decided that practicing medicine -- regardless of whether on people or animals (see post below) -- is not the appropriate career choice after all. So, if anyone out there knows someone in Human Resources at Southwest Airlines, could you put in a good word for Spencer?

Paging Doctor Spencer

Spencer is now practicing medicine on his stuffed animals and pretty much anyone else who happens to be around. He has diagnosed a lot of broken bones and other maladies, but fortunately he has been able to cure everything -- in fact, he recently performed surgery on Daddy and Uncle Skippy (apprently they both had broken ribs). Dr. Spencer is reticent, however, to administer vaccinations which is probably based on his own experiences as a patient.

Fish and the Needle

Spencer recently visited his Auntie La-La and Uncle Mark in Tacoma/Seattle. He was excited to see the Space Needle again because it is featured on his Little Einsteins CD; he said that it is "very-very-very-very-very tall and the needle is at the tippy-top". Spencer loved watching the guys tossing fish at the Pike Place Market. He also visited the Seattle Children's Science Center which boasts a number of hands-on interactive exhibits -- just the way he likes it!

He Feels the Need for Speed!

Spencer and one of his best buddies, Drew, recently visited the Phoenix International Raceway to watch some races. Spencer and Drew are both HUGE car fans and had an absolute blast.

For the record, their Dads also had a great time.

Words of Wisdom

So now that Spencer is four, he has some profound thoughts that he likes to share with us from time to time. Here are some of our favorite statements:

1. Mommy, skeletons do not poop their pants.


2. Daddy, I don't want to eat any candy because I don't want to get fired up.


3. Mommy, Santa will put things in your Christmas stocking if you stop saying bad words (I have no idea what he is talking about).


4. Mommy, tell me a word that starts with the letter "B" (wait a minute -- isn't this supposed to work the other way around?).


5. Mommy, someday Roscoe will get old and die, but I will be an animal doctor and make him all better (hmmm . . . perhaps we need to ramp up the 529 plan contributions?).


6. Daddy, when I am am big I am going to fly to Guatemala on an airplane to get you (awww -- now THAT is love!).


7. Mommy, you love me even when I am naughty (so true, so true!).


8. After observing the television show "ER" was on Spencer announced to Daddy "Hey -- I'm not supposed to be watching this!" Daddy promptly switched the channel to a different program that happened to feature a man and woman engaged in a passionate kiss. Spencer then proclaimed "I'm not supposed to be watching this either!"

9. (Yelling from the dinner table) Hey -- who's gonna fix my wedgie?!

10. This one requires a story: Mommy returned from the gym one Sunday morning and decided to take Spencer to the park. On her way out the door she grabbed a snack -- a can of V8 juice. Upon arriving at the park Spencer informed Mommy that he wanted to swing so Mommy set the V8 down on the ground by the swings. Observing this, Spencer announced (loudly enough for everyone at the park to hear) "don't worry Mommy -- no one will take your beer!" Mommy felt the need to respond (loudly again) "Spencer, that's not beer! It's vegetable juice!" We haven't been back to that particular park since . . .