Suds and Sensibility

So, what do your kids talk about as you are pulling into your driveway/garage/street parking spot/front door? Perhaps noting that they would like X for dinner? Perhaps talking about what they want to do when we get home? Complaining in advance about washing hands or taking a bath? Singing a song? All quite normal. You may wonder why I'm asking? What do you think Vasco and Justine energetically and repeatedly request, as we are pulling into the garage? Nope, not cookies. They want to wash the car. Again. Yup, you heard it right. On Saturday, a fabulously beautiful day, after a super nice trip to the zoo complete with a picnic by the waterfall across from the lion/tiger area, we decided to try out a fun and useful family activity, involving a bucket full of suds, oversize sponges, and a hose! Turns out that that was at least as entertaining as the zoo trip, if not more, because so far I've counted 3 requests for a follow-up trip to the zoo, and 5 requests for washing the car again. :) See some pictures below.

A brief course in how to win an argument if you are clearly losing, courtesy of Justine, circa 9:19pm tonight:

(I should say I don't remember how this particular conversation started, but let's just jump in, shall we?)

Vasco: "Grandma and Grandpa live far away" (which they do. 8 hours away. In North Carolina)
Justine: "No, Lulu and Emma live far away" (well, they live 20 min away in Arlington, not close, but not Grandma and Grandpa-style far away)
Vasco: "No, Justine, Grandma and Grandpa live far away"
Justine: "No, VASCO, Lulu and Maddie live far away (new characters. The plot thickens!)
Vasco: "NO! Grandma and Grandpa live far away!"
Justine: "Moooooooommmyy! Vasco's talking!!!"

How does one keep a straight face???? Where is the instruction manual for these kids????!!