Coin Professor

With the help and inspiration of Poppie, Will is continuing to add to his Wheat Penny collection.

Do Antelope Eat Canteloupe?

It seems these days that I'm regularly saying, "Oh, I have to write that down!" So now, I will be doing so in this post. I will update the date so that it appears current.

Will's conversation with Magnus, the affable tennis pro at Sawgrass, went as follows: Magnus: Hello there, Will! I think it's been a whole year since I last saw you. A lot can change in a year, what have you been learning? Will: Well...in school I've been learning a lot more math. Magnus: What kind of math? Will: We're doing division now. Magnus: Oh, division is tough stuff. What's 10 divided by 5? Will: That's easy, 2. Magnus: Okay, how about 20 divided by 4 then? Will: Don't get carried away now, Coach Magnus. It's a tennis lesson, not a math lesson! (March 21, 2016)

Daddy was telling Will about how Mimi used to ride on the back of Poppie's motorcycle. Will responded, "Wow, I think Mimi is usually pretty calm but maybe she's actually a little rock and roll!" (February 1, 2016)

We've been enjoying New York bagels and Will has been carefully considering his favorite varieties. He's currently struggling to decide between Poppy Seed - "because I love my Poppie!" - or Sesame Seed - "because I love my SesaMimi!" (April 10, 2015)

We've been talking a lot about the role of "The Silent E," which "makes the vowel say its name." For example, the "O" in pole or the "A" in cake. When we saw the word "depot" recently and I explained that it was a Silent T instead of a Silent E, Will asked, "Is there a Silent T so that the Silent E can relax and take a day off work?" (May 3, 2014)

On gender stereotyping: Will hasn't made many comments differentiating "girl" things from "boy" things until recently, when, for example, he told me that a hat I bought for him was a "girl hat." Today, he was coloring in clothing on a picture he drew of himself and me. He drew himself wearing red. He then said he needed to run downstairs to get a "girl color" for my clothes. I caught my breath. "What color are you going to get?" I asked in a neutral tone. From down in the playroom, he yelled back, "Orange!" (February 5, 2014)

Will was heading out to run an errand with Marcia this afternoon and asked, "Would you like us to get you a coffee?" Since I had made a larger than usual pot this morning, I answered, "No, thank you." In a perplexed tone, Will asked, "Are you sure?" "Yes," I replied. I then overheard him say to Marcia, "Huh, that's very strange. She always says yes!" (November 20, 2013)

There's a local grocery store in our area called Mollie Stone's. The other day, Will was asking why they call it Mollie Stone's, and I responded that it was probably because there was a woman named Mollie Stone who created the first store with that name. Will considered that for a moment, then asked, "Is there a man named Home Depot who made that store?" (May 17, 2013)

Granddad (speaking to Will on the phone): We'll show you a map of our trip when you visit in March.
Will (to Granddad, in deadpan but earnest tone): Or, you could send it to me.
Mom (later, on email): Is it just me, or is that something Grandmother Hamill might have said?
Granddad: Good observation - yes, Grandmother Hamill might well have replied as Will did. A very polite way of proffering a preferred alternative rather than expressing disagreement. Will for Congress! (5 February 2013)

Our fireplace in the family room got demo-ed today in anticipation of a new mantle. When I mentioned what was happening to Will (forgetting to clarify that a new fireplace would go in its place), he was beside himself. "Mama," he said, "How is Santa going to get down the chimney???!!!" (January 22, 2013)

While singing songs with Daddy this evening, Will came downstairs into my office and asked, "How does that part go in Somewhere Over the Rainbow, you know, with the bluebirds at the end?" "You mean, 'If happy little bluebirds fly beyond the rainbow, why oh why can't I?'" I asked? "Yes, that part," said Will. "Beyond. Beyond is the word I needed." (August 6, 2012)

We were explaining to Will what would happen during our friend Margot's baptism service. After discussing the part where the minister would sprinkle her with water, Will asked, "Is that why they call it a bathtism?" (June 2012)

"If a mousetrap catches two mice, do we call it a micetrap?" (March 14, 2012)

While walking to the library the other day, Will observed, "I like to keep on the sunny side of life." (February 18, 2012)

What does your tongue do? "Taste!" What do your eyes do? "See" What does your nose do? "Smell!" What do your ears do? "Listen!" What do your fingers do? "TICKLE!!!" (February 4, 2012)

Taking a cue from what he's been learning in music class, Will described the slow, soft motion of putting our (quiet-close design) toilet seat down as, "largo." (January 18, 2012)

"Mama, my name is Sir, and I am your Captain today." (December 21, 2011)

I put on a skirt, along with some patterned tights, for the first time in ages to go to brunch with my Great-Aunt Bobbie. Will sized me up and asked, "Are you Cinderella?" I said no, then asked him why he thought I could be. He said, "Because you have a dress on!" Then, looking more closely at the tights, he asked, "What are those?" "We call them tights," I explained. That seemed to suffice. Later that evening when we were singing songs before bed, I asked if he wanted to come and sit on my lap. "No," he said. "Why not?" I asked. Touching the tights gingerly, he responded, "I don't like those fancy pants you have on!" (November 27, 2011)

Will has been making shapes with his hands. Today he woke up and wanted to show me how he made a pear with a stem. It was pretty cool, and I told him so. Then I said, "C'mon Little Pear, let's get dressed." He replied, with some exasperation, "Mama, I'm not a little pear, I just made one with my hands." (November 22, 2011)

Will just described a double cement truck as a "double-double Humpty Dumpty cement truck" this morning.  (November 8, 2011)

I've been telling Will that I turn into a pumpkin after he asks for "one more thing" for the millionth time at bedtime. So, last night he calls out, "Mama! Mama! Pumpkin? Pummmmpkin! Pumpkin, can you still sing when you're a pumpkin?" (September 15, 2011)

Today I overheard Will and Marcia (his nanny) talking about the foam that comes out of fire extinguishers. Will then observed, "And beer does have foam, too, Marcia!" (September 12, 2011)

Do antelope eat canteloupe? (Early September)

Mama, there's a song in my heart so I need to bang the spoon right here. (August 15, 2011)

January Along the Beaverkill

When climate change gives you 50s in the Catskills in January, make chips and guac!

Skiing the Blues at Plattekill

Homestead Ski Club

Will's school runs Ski Club Friday afternoons during the winter and Mom got to chaperone! It was all smiles as he and his classmate Viv tore up the slopes, and Will earned his orange ribbon to go on the chairlift on his own. Antics with Logan and Aiden closed out the day. By the second time he and his friend Rory were old pros.

Cousin Mash-Up

Daddy and Will went to Utah to visit Aunt Katie, Uncle Scott, and cousins Alex, Andrew, and Emma Kate. Visiting cousins Marshall and Patrick (on the Marshall side) added to the fun on the slopes!