i must look hungry

I dropped Trey off at preschool as usual this morning.  I was getting one final smooch from him (and as has become routine, he also gave my tummy a smooch "for Baby Elle" as he says), and then I told him to have a wonderful day and I would see him after school.  My sweet boy replied to me,

You have a wonderful day too, Mama, and make sure to eat your lunch!

usain bolt carstensen

We have been in our new home for two weeks now.  The Dude LOVES having space to run and play!  Sunday, after running laps through the kitchen, living room, and front room, he came and told me with his most serious and earnest face,

Mom, you should sign me up for a class where I can just run and jump over things.

Apparently soccer just isn't cutting it anymore.

problem solving

We were driving in the truck and Trey told me,

Mom, I had a booger in my nose.

I asked him if he would like me to get him a kleenex so that he could blow his nose.  Trey replied,

No, that's okay I just picked it out and threw it down.

everything's better with it

While driving home, Trey was in a funny mood and was telling me that he and his dad were going to eat up the road.  I played along and told him that I didn't think that would be a great idea and that it would probably taste pretty bad.

Trey responded:
No it wouldn't, I'd put butter on it.

He is SO his mother's son.

reasons not to buy a house

Last night while driving to get on the freeway, Blinn noticed that a house rather close to the freeway had sold.  I mentioned that I sure wouldn't want to live there.  From the back seat, Trey said with 100% sincerity, as if he was making an astute observation:

It's because there's zombies there, right?

How could it have been anything else?

keep up with me, alright?

We were up at Grandpa Mike's shop after Trey's day of harvest on Saturday.  The night before, he had gotten to park the combine with Grandpa Mike as we arrived late, and then he went to the shop to sit around with the guys and enjoy a grape pop while they enjoyed their "barley pop" (as my Grandpa Kenny would've said). 

He had told his Dad the minute he was back at the house that he wanted to go over to the shop and "wait for the guys". We told him that they wouldn't be there for an hour or more, so we can just hang out, ride bikes and wait a bit longer to head over.

Trey didn't like that explanation.  He told his Daddy and I (with his serious face and numerous hand gestures):

"Okay, so guys we can go over to the shop, and then the guys will all come in, and then we'll be there waiting.  Does that make sense"?

early to rise, early in the sack

After a full 9+ hours on the combine with his Grandpa Mike, Trey was finishing up his supper and announced to his dad and I:

"Tomorrow we're gonna wake up, we're gonna eat breakfast, and then we're going TO HARVEST"!

master manipulator

Trey said to his Grammie,
"Grammie, call my Mommie and tell her that Cokie doesn't have sugar in it". 
And she did.

wishful thinking

Blinn was carrying Trey to bed, and Trey began covering his Dad's eyes and saying:

Close your eyes.

Then he would remove his little hand from in front of his Daddy's eyes and say:

Suprise!  Therrrre's Santa!

ousted by syrup

Trey and Blinn got to stay home on a vacation day without Mommie.  I am cheap, and rather than drive myself to work, when the boys are home, I prefer to have them take me to work and pick me up.  That particular morning, Trey and Blinn were discussing what they should have for breakfast.  Trey suggested waffles.  Daddy said yes.  Trey was very excited.  After this discussion and celebration ended, Trey looked at me and said:

We can't take you to work anymore Mama...bummer. 

This was accompanied by some very dramatic face and hand gestures.  I asked Trey why I can't have a ride to work.  He responded:

I just have to eat my waffles, we don't have any time for you.

that's the spirit ?

My Mom and Dad have a nativity scene out in their front lawn.  This morning (Trey got to stay the night) Grammie said to Trey:
We can go outside and look at Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus now.

Trey responded:

Can I throw snowballs at them?

that's logistics

Trey "sneaked" out of his room last night to go to the bathroom.  Sneaked is in quotations because apparently Trey defines "sneaking" as covering his own mouth up, bugging his eyes, out and announcing once he sees us looking at him that he has to go potty.

After he was finished with his business, Blinn went to tuck him back in.  While getting him re-tucked in, Trey lecuctured Blinn:

Daddy, when you go to sleep you sleep this way (dramatic head flop towards the window) NOT this way (another dramatic head flop, this time his head is facing the door).  That way you can't see me. 

Apparently he too realized his sneakiness wasn't as sneaky as he had hoped.

they call me Trey, Trey Carstensen

We were watching a movie before bed time on Friday night.  Trey decided he wanted all of the lights off for the movie.  Blinn and I said that's fine, but you'll have to do it yourself.  He said okay in his usual upbeat fashion and went to the kitchen and pulled a chair over to the first light switch. After he had reached the switch and turned off the light, as he was getting off the chair, he looked at Blinn and I and said,
"I icredible (incredible)".

Now Blinn and I usually are pretty good about listening to what Trey says and not laughing as he can be very serious, but after this statement, we both had to laugh out loud!  Our sudden burst of laughter did not deter The Dude.  He proceeded to drag the chair into the living room to turn off the final light switch.  As he was about halfway to the light with the chair, he looked over at us and said,
"I very dangerous".

No shortage of confidence or self-awareness at our house.

these are a few

After dinner tonight Trey listed a few of his "favorite" things (stated in a sing-songy tone, though thankfully not of the Julie Andrews variety):
"Corn is ma favorite, lickrish (licorice) is ma favorite, and milk is ma favorite".

au natural

Upon arriving back at our house after daycare, Trey said to me:
"Hey Mom.  We have any contractors comin over tonight"?
It was a legitimate question as we have had a couple over lately, so I replied,
"Nope, we won't have any over tonight".
Trey responded,
"Oh good.  So now I can take my pants off and play"?

can you tell how we've mourned previous nemo's?

Overheard by Mama while Trey was going potty and Gus was roaming around the bathroom:

Gus you do anything you want.  When you done we flush you down the toilet and get a new doggie.

Last but not least

Last night while having some after dinner jelly beans on our front porch, I asked Blinn and Trey if they wanted to have tacos for dinner on Wednesday.  They both answered in the affirmative, and then Trey further inquired, "with Auntie too"?  I thought that was adorable that he was thinking of his Auntie (my sister Emily) and that he wanted her to come over so I said, "well sure!  Why don't you call her and invite her over".  The following conversation was overheard by Blinn and I:

Trey:     "You wanna come over for tacos tonight?"
Auntie:   "Oh, I can't today I'm getting ready for bed already."
Trey:     "You wanna come over Wednesday?"
Auntie:  "Sure!  What are you having?"
Trey:     "Soft ones."
Auntie:   "You mean soft tacos?  I'd love to come over!"
Trey:     "Okay!"
Trey (with a 100% serious face and some firm gesturing of his hand while talking) "Bring presents."

Emily and I cried we laughed so hard.

not wheaties but close

After Trey finished his peanut butter toast and blueberries this morning, and I had finished my eggs, he told me "Mama, we ate that breakfast like a champion". 

He's totally ready for soccer practice tonight.

wedding or survivor?

We were talking over breakfast about Aunt Krissy's upcoming wedding.  Trey and I have been looking at pictures of Aunt Krissy and we've been talking about how he gets to be the ring bearer.  This is more than just your usual ring bearer duty; Trey also gets to walk Kristin's beloved pup Chloe down the aisle.  We've talked about this as well because Trey loves and takes great pride in walking Gus. I want him to know what he gets to do, so he's prepared on Kristin and Jay's big day.

After all the groundwork I've been laying, I was rewarded this morning when I told him that his Aunt Krissy sure misses him he responded "I gonna walk that dog on the island".

poodle lecture 101

This morning Gus was on a barking rampage outside as another dog walked by our house.  Blinn said "somebody needs to make him stop that".  Being the helpful wife I am, I continued to prune my geranium on the back porch.  Blinn then went out back to address the barking and I hear this stomp-stomp-stomp hustling towards me.  Trey is now outside and yelling as loud as his can
"Gus!  Gus!  You stop that.  Come here Gus"!

Whether it was Daddy or Trey who got Gus to run back into the house, Trey took credit for it and said
"I got him back in, I go talk to him". 

Trey followed Gus to the living room and we listened as he crouched down towards Gus' level and began his lecture:

"Gus, you caaaaannnn't bark.  That dog bad.  He a bad dog.  He KILL you Gus.  Okay Gus, OKAYYY"? 

Something must have stuck, we didn't hear a peep out of Gus for the rest of the morning.