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Wednesday, January 11, 2017

The Family Dictionary: Pyders, Tonkings, and Tickers!







































Around here, there's no need to ask for translation. We get it. All of it: "Where you wented? The quirlows were drinky so we thought it was o-tay to serve chalk-it koo koo ka doo! Then we ate cheesy balls and bingoed til we were done-done!"

We also fully understand that Tanta fills tonkings on Kitmutt. That a few of grandma's cats "talk" when they're cornered. And while pyders and monstas are best disposed of by daddy, mommy is the one who locates pajas, brings home ticker books, and makes sure no buggedies enter the house!

The Family Dictionary. Every home has one. Most often, though, its pages are stored "upstairs." But ours? Well, it's time to preserve them within a fluid volume that I hope will become a generational treasure.

Not only will our dictionary list and define alphabetically, I'll also illustrate entries with photos and anecdotes because some of our best have an unfortunately short shelf life. Like, "I'm drinky," for example. Brielle invented that one when she was three. "Thirsty?" What a weird word! What does it even mean? We like "drinky" and we're sticking with it, even though Bree, now six, has moved on!

And "koo koo ka doo?" That invisible gourmet concoction, stirred to perfection inside a play kitchen coffee cup, was described by two year old Kaylee as something to enjoy in a down moment because "it makes you happy." It's not unusual to hear any one of us sigh deeply, after a rough day, that a nice steaming cup of koo koo ka doo would sure hit the spot right now!






Austin was eighteen months old when he entered a phase that found him checking for "monstas" around every corner. When the coast was clear, he signaled with a hearty, "o-tay!" I like that word. It makes me feel safe!









Grandma Camp for our three year old little ladies this past summer was a gold mine of material for my dictionary. Ava, especially, kept me on task with reminders. I didn't dare promise cookie baking or a squirrel peanut feeding session unless I was prepared to promptly deliver. "What about those 'quirlows' you said we were going to feed?" Ha! "Q" is for quirlow! I wonder how many other family dictionaries have an entry for "Q!"?











Some descriptions were initially difficult to decipher. "Doo dah, whee!" for example. Angeline was two when she declared that her favorite destination. The rest of us scratched our heads until a light bulb went off over mommy's head. Swings and slides! Of course! Get it? You slide and you shout "WHEE!" Now, the "doo dah" part has never fully been defined. Perhaps some day, though. I look forward to paging through my dictionary with the kids long after they've forgotten the delight we found in their unique expressions and pronunciations. And who knows? They might even satisfy some long held curiosities for me. At that point, I will close the cover of this volume and sigh wistfully, "done-done!"*






*Done-done (dun-dun), adj. 1. completed 2. sufficiently filled with food and ready to be removed from high chair (Kaylee, 2014) 3. blog post written and ready for publishing (Grandma, 2017)

P.S. This is a good scrap-booking type project for those of us who enter a post "Kitmutt" slump like I do every year. Nonetheless, there are others who always have it worse. My grand-kitty, Marshall, for example. Imagine a full month of blissful snoozing beneath the softly lit, comforting branches of your very own toy-laden indoor tree - abruptly, and rudely interrupted, leaving you forlorn, unsheltered, dazed, and confused!

21 comments:

  1. Ha ha! This is so cute and will be great to look back on! When I brought up "doo da whee" to the girls this morning they had no idea what I was taking about even though a year or so ago that's all Ang talked about 😢 They are growing up fast.

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  2. Great idea! I only remember a few from my kids. "After the lucas" meant after the music. And Meesken muskin was english muffin.

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  3. Hello, the family dictionary is a cute idea. I remember a few words. Your grandchildren are adorable. Enjoy your day!

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  4. This is hilarious! I am always trying to make notes of this stuff so this is fun it's in a blog post for all of us to remember. Love it!

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  5. Oh yes - the fidgerdator held our cold food when Rhiannon was little.

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  6. I am cracking UP!!! I wondered what in the world a quirlow was....LOL!

    and the forlorn cat at the end. HA!

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  7. Love it. I remember outpit for outfit and pasghetti for spaghetti. Those are good days my dear friend, Joyce. And, please add a picture of those beautiful and handsome grandkids in the dictionary. They truly are a group of kids that just make you smile they are so cute. :-)

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  8. I love that you have a family dictionary. I try to remember when my kids say cute things in a cute way by writing it down somewhere. My 10-year-old used to see cars and buses out the window when we were driving and yell "Cow! Buth!"
    #FridayFrivolity

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  9. Oh my gosh!!!!! I LOVE this post. I am sharing with my daughters so that they can do this for their children. You are the best!!

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  10. What a wonderful idea to get the "language" down in writing. Every family has words and phrases that no one else would understand. Thanks for sharing yours.

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  11. I love this! What a treasure your dictionary will be for all. The kids, once adults (or even teens) are going to get such a kick out of it. Brilliant, Joyce! ❤

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  12. What a FUN idea - I love it! So glad you shared it with us at #FridayFrivolity this week and off to add "zert" to our list right now...

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  13. What cute grandkids you have! You are blessed! Great post as always!

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  14. Oh, the kids are so cute and I love those fun words and saying that they come up. That family dictionary is certainly one to cherish! Thanks for sharing with SYC.
    hugs,
    Jann

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  15. Awww this is just PRECIOUS. So much sweet! Thank you for sharing the "aww" with us at #FridayFrivolity this week! Also, don't you think "doo dah wheee" was probably "do the whee"... like, "let's go where we do the 'wheeee'"? ;P That's how I read it right off the bat, anyway! Pinning and tweeting. :)

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  16. My son also says doo-dah, its his happy word, when something brings him joybits doo-dah doo-dah

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  17. I can always use a nice cup of "koo koo ka doo" to unwind anytime of day.

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  18. Such a fun idea. So sweet!!Thank you for sharing with us at #HomeMattersParty . We would love to see you again next week.

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  19. Ha, ha. Such a great idea!Thanks for sharing at the Inspiration Spotlight party.

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  20. Lo0ve the photos and love all the definitions! Jenna's new kitten has also been devastated since the Christmas tree went away. Those bottom branches were so comfy!

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