reason 1,569 1/2 why i have children...

"hey, mommy!" the youngest said, grinning up at me from the kitchen floor. "it just loves to go in and out!"

"in and out, in and out!"

before you question what it is i do as a stay-at-home mom intent on molding impressionable minds all day, let me say we were playing with his toy grocery store, opening and closing (and opening and closing, opening and closing) the cash register drawer holding the pretend money i was throwing at him for the bounty of plastic fruits and vegetables i'd just purchased.

with his angelic grin aimed up at me, his sing-song voice still ringing in my ears, i could only smile back and say, "that's right, baby. you just remember that, use it as your life mantra and you're going to make some girl very happy one day."

yes, as a parent, it's important you use every opportunity as a passage way toward learning...