soft tacos

my youngest boy, 4 years in age, brought the most delightful humor to my day yesterday. i had to share. and although it may be a "had to be there" experience for you, it will forever be remembered as worthy of a laugh. at least until the next "moment" comes along. this should be soon, he is a never ending supply of giggles.

so we're sitting at Taco Bell. i think this is an adventist favorite. cheap and easy to make into a vegetarian meal. okay, that is not to say adventists are cheap though... let's get back on track. Taco Bell. eating. the boyz...

we have all ordered and quickly demolished the contents sitting on our tray. michael perks up and asks for money (i hear this is a common thing with one's children. thankfully at this age its pretty easy to bear.) i hand him his treasured dollar and a quarter and he proceeds to expertly order yet another bean burrito. no onions mind you.

upon his return i notice that bubsy perks up and begins to eyeball his order. not wanting to interrupt his thoughts, but rather see where they will lead, i merely glance peripherally and enjoy the scene. he is bouncing between examining the burrito, me, my purse and that nice lady in purple who takes the orders of giddy boys. here it comes, i just know it now...

"mommy, i'm still hungry. can i have some money?" hmmm, i consider. will he speak loudly enough to be heard, will he become frustrated if he is not. is a tantrum what i am willing to risk with this strong-willed, i-know-what-i-want-why-don't-you boy? yes, yes it is. he is so eager, how could i turn him away?

before he takes this adventure, let's rehearse what it is he wants. "soft taco with beans". i know the (politically incorrect) 'gal at the front' will know what he means by beans, seeing that she already afforded us the weird look when we noted it was not meat we wanted, but merely beans. so we practice a time or two and then i release this boy ready for an adventure in 'big boy land'.

this is what got me laughing so hard. he walks up to the line and swiftly moves past the various other patrons in order to establish his place. at the head of the line. ahum, i say, bubsy *point point*, there he goes, he makes it to the end of the line. standing in line, much like the others, money in hand so ready to order he's almost leaning forward. and then he stops. motion stops, hands stay still and i know he has forgotten what it was he wanted. as he turns i catch his eye and remind him of his soft taco with beans mission. grinning large, he turns back around. the line moves until he is the very next patron. once there, he starts to turn around again... oh no. has he forgotten?

i am greet with instead, the biggest smile you can imagine from the cutest little boy you have ever seen (tied only with Michael, and yes, i could be a bit biased here ;)) while he fairly yells across the room "soft taco with beans mommy!" thumbs jab up in the air, eyebrows raise and the megawatt smile has just added another watt. he is so proud. he is a big boy now for sure.

i try hard to keep my snickering down to a minimum, but alas i must burst out into a full-fledged laugh. he has made it through, and by golly he's PROUD!

these moments are the ones that make mothers proclaim "yes! these are my children! aren't they just wonderful!" praise God for the humor of kids that keeps our thoughts easy and our burdens light. may you also be blessed by the wonderful children near you today.

smiles