A Few 4-Year-Old Funnies

Despite the fact that Mama was facing a deadline and not in the mood for folly last night, I was persuaded to participate in the "family laugh circle" by an insistent 6-year-old. The four of us placed ourselves strategically on the floor, with each person's head on another's tummy, and let the jokes begin.

The best—and worst—ones came from the youngest member of our clan, whose delivery can make even the utterly illogical hilarious.

"What did 29 say to 21?" she asked. The punchline? "Hey, look out! You're in an air balloon!"

And another: "What did the bear say to its honey?" A short pause, and then: "Hey, honey! Wake up, 'cause I'm gonna eat'cha!"

She's not ready for stand-up yet, but she had a friendly audience in her family.

One Telltale Sign Your Child Is Sick

After dinner tonight—a dinner our girl barely touched—I served up bowls of ice cream for all. Probably not the best idea (Did I mention that our youngest hardly ate?), but I wanted some, so that's kind of how it had to play out.

Anyway, I put her bowl in front of her on the sofa, where we had all settled in to veg for a while. Then, after polishing mine off, I went to the kitchen to load the dishwasher—and eat what was left in the carton. (There wasn't much. Honest.)

When I returned to the TV room, there was our girl, nearly zonked on the couch with the untouched ice cream still before her.

"I'm just gonna take a little nap before I eat this," she said.

I practically ran for the thermometer.