Thing Three (first thing after getting up from nap): Ora-ka, ora-ka, shayoh buby taio. (translate: Orange sock, orange sock, shake your bushy tail.)

The philosorapter

Thing Two: Once, Dale did philosophy against me and [Thing Two].

Dreaming of the future

On Things Two's list of jobs he could do when he grows up: keeping cats and dogs; being an Oreo cookie maker; making coffee for his mom, dad and siblings; being an assistant to George Lucas; making salt; making ice cream with Grandpa; and helping people like Uncle Eric make the swirls in their mustaches.

Mystery substance

Thing Two: I think there's mouse poo in the bathroom. It's small and brown and doesn't taste like chocolate.

Trophy love

Thing One (while eyeing his brother's new soccer trophy): I'm hoping to work my way out of the people trophies and into the cups.

Milestone

At age 18 months, one week and five days, Thing Three can officially walk through the kitchen and open all the child safety locks on the lower cabinets.

Kitty love

I was giving away a box of Fancy Feast cans I had bought for Kitty, when Thing 3 saw that it had a picture of a kitty on it. She said, "Mow," in her tiny high-pitched voice, made the sign for kitty and leaned over and give it a hug. (She also likes to hug all the kitties she sees in books, which doubles the time it takes to read books like "Nobody's Nosier than a Cat" where there is a cat on every page.

Flavor of birthday cake

Me: What kind of birthday cake do you want for your party?
Things Two: Oh, I get to pick? How about butterfly nectar, like from flowers. You know, what bees and butterflies drink.

Dumbledore rewards everyone

Thing One (as Dumbledore, welcoming everyone to a feast in the great hall): First, I would like to reward everyone who came. (pause for applause) And I would like to reward everyone who did not come. (pause for applause) And I would like to reward everyone who has died. (pause) And I would like to reward everyone who has not been born yet.

Thing Three speaks

After a loud crash in the other room,
Thing Three: Uh oh. Kchkchkchkchk. (And signing the word for "kitty")