Mom asked dad to give Calvin a hand with his math homework. It looked like he was having trouble with a word problem.
Beth had four baseball cards. Then bought three more. David had three baseball cards. Then he bought four more. Who had more baseball cards.
Calvin had written Beth.
"Calvin, look at this again. Does one of them have more than the other?"
"Not now. They have the same now, but Beth HAD more."
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Needs some vocabulary lessons
Dad: Oliver, are you navigating?
Calvin (from the bathroom): That was me!
Dad: You can use the Wii remote from the bathroom?
Calvin: No, I thought that meant farting.
Calvin (from the bathroom): That was me!
Dad: You can use the Wii remote from the bathroom?
Calvin: No, I thought that meant farting.
Really interested in the art of Ninjutsu
Calvin: I know what I want to do. Two things actually. I want to be an artist...
Dad: You're very good at that.
Calvin: ...and a ninja master.
The next day -
Calvin: Are ninjas real?
Dad: They were once, a long time ago.
Calvin: But not anymore?
Dad: I don't think so.
Calvin: But they have schools right?
Dad: You're very good at that.
Calvin: ...and a ninja master.
The next day -
Calvin: Are ninjas real?
Dad: They were once, a long time ago.
Calvin: But not anymore?
Dad: I don't think so.
Calvin: But they have schools right?
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Astronomy lesson
Last night at bedtime, Dad decided to take the kids outside for an astronomy lesson.
Dad: Look at how bright the moon is tonight. Do you guys see that really bright object just a little below it?
Calvin: That's a star.
Dad: No, it looks like a star, but it's Jupiter.
Aiden: It's a star.
Dad: No, it's really Jupiter.
Calvin: Isn't Jupiter a planet?
Dad: Yes.
Aiden: Nuh-uh, it's smaller than the moon.
Dad: No it just looks smaller because it's farther away (followed by a brief lesson in perspective).
Calvin: How big is it compared to Earth?
This was followed by a 15 minute lesson from NASA.com and wikipedia on relative planetary sizes, solars systems, galaxies, and the universe. At this point everyone seemed satsified and the boys were off to bed. Calvin paused on the stairs, looked back at Dad, and said "That's kind of scary to think about." Dad said, "What, how big things are and how huge the universe is?" "No, you were talking about stars, and Jupiter, and then Mars and I started thinking about aliens." This was followed by 10 more minutes of assuring the boys that there were no aliens in our solars system or anywhere else that we know of, and yes, we do have people looking.
Dad: Look at how bright the moon is tonight. Do you guys see that really bright object just a little below it?
Calvin: That's a star.
Dad: No, it looks like a star, but it's Jupiter.
Aiden: It's a star.
Dad: No, it's really Jupiter.
Calvin: Isn't Jupiter a planet?
Dad: Yes.
Aiden: Nuh-uh, it's smaller than the moon.
Dad: No it just looks smaller because it's farther away (followed by a brief lesson in perspective).
Calvin: How big is it compared to Earth?
This was followed by a 15 minute lesson from NASA.com and wikipedia on relative planetary sizes, solars systems, galaxies, and the universe. At this point everyone seemed satsified and the boys were off to bed. Calvin paused on the stairs, looked back at Dad, and said "That's kind of scary to think about." Dad said, "What, how big things are and how huge the universe is?" "No, you were talking about stars, and Jupiter, and then Mars and I started thinking about aliens." This was followed by 10 more minutes of assuring the boys that there were no aliens in our solars system or anywhere else that we know of, and yes, we do have people looking.
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
A new hobby
Calvin loves Pokemon. He has a binder full of cards. He knows all the stats. He plays the video games (once, his mom told him to put the game down, it was time to get out of the car; "it won't let me!" was his reply).
His dad decided to buy a large lot of cards on eBay to use as allowance each week, should Calvin earn it. Calvin liked the idea and asked if he could spend his birthday money on some cards from eBay. His dad said sure, but only $10. So Calvin and his dad sat down, picked out a set of 100 cards each and ordered them. All told, 200 cards were on their way for less than $18. Both Calvin and Dad felt that they got a pretty good deal.
The next day Calvin informed his dad that the first set of cards had come in the mail so his dad decided to sit down at the computer and leave feedback for the seller. When he logged into eBay, he saw that he needed to leave feedback for 7 items. He had made a purchase or two of his own recently, but 7 was certainly not the right number. When he looked over and saw the line-up of new purchases, it included 5 individual Pokemon cards (most of Calvin's favorites) totaling around $28.
Dad screamed for Calvin to get in the house. While Calvin made the trip inside, Dad saw that there was another auction in progress that he was the high bidder for. Fortunately, the current bid was only $1. Unfortunately, Dad's maximum bid entered was $54.08. Calvin faced Dad's wrath for a few minutes, then spent the better part of the next hour sitting on the steps staring at the wall. Dad spent the next hour calling Calvin's grandpa for advice and attempting to retract his bid. Fortunately, the auction ended at $1. The average price per card dropped a little from the 200 for $18 when you factor in the next 6 were going to cost another $32.
Dad decided to look through his email to see what had actually occurred. The purchases had all been made between 9:24 and 9:43 that morning. Some pretty smooth computer hacking and efficient shopping for a 7-year-old.
This is also when gravity of the situation hit. Calvin made a couple of "buy it now" purchases. In other messages, "Congratulations! You are currently the highest bidder" was followed by maximum bids of $.90, $25, $54.08, $2,583.22, and $5,000.
His dad decided to buy a large lot of cards on eBay to use as allowance each week, should Calvin earn it. Calvin liked the idea and asked if he could spend his birthday money on some cards from eBay. His dad said sure, but only $10. So Calvin and his dad sat down, picked out a set of 100 cards each and ordered them. All told, 200 cards were on their way for less than $18. Both Calvin and Dad felt that they got a pretty good deal.
The next day Calvin informed his dad that the first set of cards had come in the mail so his dad decided to sit down at the computer and leave feedback for the seller. When he logged into eBay, he saw that he needed to leave feedback for 7 items. He had made a purchase or two of his own recently, but 7 was certainly not the right number. When he looked over and saw the line-up of new purchases, it included 5 individual Pokemon cards (most of Calvin's favorites) totaling around $28.
Dad screamed for Calvin to get in the house. While Calvin made the trip inside, Dad saw that there was another auction in progress that he was the high bidder for. Fortunately, the current bid was only $1. Unfortunately, Dad's maximum bid entered was $54.08. Calvin faced Dad's wrath for a few minutes, then spent the better part of the next hour sitting on the steps staring at the wall. Dad spent the next hour calling Calvin's grandpa for advice and attempting to retract his bid. Fortunately, the auction ended at $1. The average price per card dropped a little from the 200 for $18 when you factor in the next 6 were going to cost another $32.
Dad decided to look through his email to see what had actually occurred. The purchases had all been made between 9:24 and 9:43 that morning. Some pretty smooth computer hacking and efficient shopping for a 7-year-old.
This is also when gravity of the situation hit. Calvin made a couple of "buy it now" purchases. In other messages, "Congratulations! You are currently the highest bidder" was followed by maximum bids of $.90, $25, $54.08, $2,583.22, and $5,000.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
At least Aiden is keeping an eye out
Dad: Calvin, get in the bathroom, put your pajamas on and brush your teeth.
Calvin: I need to go downstairs and get Woof-woof (a stuffed dog).
Dad: You're late for bed already. You've never had to have that thing to go to bed before.
Calvin: I need it tonight. I'll go get it.
Dad: No you won't, I'll get it. Brush your teeth and get your pajamas on.
Calvin (throwing himself on the ground): I want to get it. You never let me do anything.
Dad: FINE! Hurry up.
Aiden: Dad, Calvin is taking toys to school.
Dad: What?
Aiden: He went downstairs to put legos in his school bag.
Dad: Seriously?
Aiden: You better check his bag.
Dad: Calvin, did you take legos downstairs to sneak to school?
Calvin: What...why would you ask me...I didn't do anything...I know I'm not supposed to...why would you ask me...no...what?
Dad: Ok, I'll check your back and I'll keep anything that shouldn't be there.
Calvin: Agghh! FINE, I'll go get them.
Calvin: I need to go downstairs and get Woof-woof (a stuffed dog).
Dad: You're late for bed already. You've never had to have that thing to go to bed before.
Calvin: I need it tonight. I'll go get it.
Dad: No you won't, I'll get it. Brush your teeth and get your pajamas on.
Calvin (throwing himself on the ground): I want to get it. You never let me do anything.
Dad: FINE! Hurry up.
Aiden: Dad, Calvin is taking toys to school.
Dad: What?
Aiden: He went downstairs to put legos in his school bag.
Dad: Seriously?
Aiden: You better check his bag.
Dad: Calvin, did you take legos downstairs to sneak to school?
Calvin: What...why would you ask me...I didn't do anything...I know I'm not supposed to...why would you ask me...no...what?
Dad: Ok, I'll check your back and I'll keep anything that shouldn't be there.
Calvin: Agghh! FINE, I'll go get them.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Interesting career options....
When dad got home the other night (from his job as a high school guidance counselor), mom told him that Calvin had made some plans for his future.
Mom: Calvin, tell dad what you said you want to do when you grow up.
Calvin: A naked wrestling coach?
Dad: What?
Mom: That's NOT what he said!
Calvin: I mean...no...um...what?
Mom: What did you tell me earlier?
Calvin: Oh, I want to be an underwear model.
Dad: How did you even know that was a job? You've said you want to be an astronaut, an artist for Disney/Pixar, a wrestling coach...why doesn't anyone ever say they want to be a guidance counselor?
Calvin: What's that?
Epilogue:
After hearing this story, Grandpa asked Calvin if he wanted to be naked and coach wrestling or coach naked wrestlers. "Both!" Seems he wants to take it back to the Greek Olympic style of wrestling.
Mom: Calvin, tell dad what you said you want to do when you grow up.
Calvin: A naked wrestling coach?
Dad: What?
Mom: That's NOT what he said!
Calvin: I mean...no...um...what?
Mom: What did you tell me earlier?
Calvin: Oh, I want to be an underwear model.
Dad: How did you even know that was a job? You've said you want to be an astronaut, an artist for Disney/Pixar, a wrestling coach...why doesn't anyone ever say they want to be a guidance counselor?
Calvin: What's that?
Epilogue:
After hearing this story, Grandpa asked Calvin if he wanted to be naked and coach wrestling or coach naked wrestlers. "Both!" Seems he wants to take it back to the Greek Olympic style of wrestling.
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