clara's blog

Parsnip

Submitted by clara on January 6, 2007 - 6:58pm

Clara begins her useful career as additional memory space for Dad’s brain.

(Clara is setting a play table.)

Clara: Heeeere’s your lunch, Dad.

Dad: Thanks! What is it?

C: It’s soup!

D: Mmm. What’s in this soup?

C: Noodles, and cheese, and… beans and…

D: Carrots?

C: Yes.

D: And split peas? I like split peas.

C: Yes!

D: And, uh… um… what are those white things that look like carrots… you know, they’re so good in soup… what’s the word, I can never remember it…

C: Parsnips?

D: Yes! Parsnips!

C: Yes!

Don't Panic

Submitted by clara on November 16, 2006 - 5:12pm

[Clara is drawing lots of letter H’s on her chalkboard.]

Katherine: Hey, do you want to try drawing some letter K’s?

Clara: Don’t panic, Mom, I’m just drawing H’s right now.

Best Toy

Submitted by clara on November 6, 2006 - 10:29am

Clara: Daddy, you’re my best toy.

Timothy: Aw, thanks!

C: Come, toy!

[frantic arm gestures]

C: I’m playing with you!

Hickory Dickory Hat

Submitted by clara on April 22, 2006 - 10:40pm

[Clara is playing. Her mom has given her a small irregularly-shaped piece of leftover fabric with the ends stitched together; she wears it on her head and calls it a hat. She sees a toy clock on a shelf. Starts moving its hands around. Sings:]

Hickory, dickory, dock.
A mouse run up the clock.

[Clara’s “hat” falls off her head. Still singing, in tune:]

My hat fall off,
A mouse run down,
Hickory, dickory, dock.

Australia zoo

Submitted by clara on March 21, 2006 - 12:45pm

[contains many references to the Wiggles DVD Wiggly Safari and the song “Wobbly Camels”]

C: [singing] Wobbly camel walking by…

T: [singing] With padded hooves and hooded eye…

C: Camels at Buffalo Zoo. read more...

Buckwheat song

Submitted by clara on February 6, 2006 - 11:47am

Clara (to the tune, roughly of the Maisy theme song) (sung to her buckwheat cereal):

Buckwheat,
Buckwheat.
What you do today in my bowl?
Cock doodle doo.
I love you,
 Buckwheat.

You need a kiss

Submitted by clara on January 26, 2006 - 9:22pm

[while Dad is changing Clara’s diaper for bed]

Dad: Who’s my girl?

Clara: Me!

D: And who’s your daddy?

C: Timothy John Weber. I kiss your fingers.

[kisses each finger on Dad’s left hand in turn] read more...

Say what?

Submitted by clara on November 7, 2005 - 11:36am

[during some conversation about monkeys]

Timothy: We saw monkeys at the zoo.

Katherine: What?!

Timothy: Uh… what did you think I said? read more...

Secret pants!

Submitted by clara on November 4, 2005 - 4:57pm

[Background note: Timothy’s birthday is coming up, and Katherine has been making something in great secrecy, banishing Timothy to his office for periods of time. (This is like banishing Brer Rabbit to the briar patch. But we digress.) —Ed.]

Clara: … Presents.
Timothy: Presents? read more...

Green cup

Submitted by clara on October 16, 2005 - 3:25pm

C: Want sumpin’a drink.
K: OK… here’s some water.
(hands her a green plastic cup)
C: Green cup. Deacon Darby! Deacon green cup; Darby blue cup.
K: Uh, yeah, it is the same kind of cup they used when they came over for dinner…
T: … two weeks ago?!