Breaking: Malachi Talks!

He said, "Hi," and I was the only one there to hear it.

You know what? I can spell "Hi": It's H-I.

You know what else? I can spell "Hi-C": It's H-I-C.

Photography by Meyer

I took these pictures of Mommy and Mally all by myself:

Washing Daddy's Car

This evening, Resha Kate and I washed daddy's car using spray bottles and hand soap. It was supposed to be a surprise, but Resha Kate can't keep a secret.

I Made This Card for Malachi

Here's the front:

And here's the message on the inside. It says, "Malachi, grow up big and strong. Love, Meyer." (Sorry, I switched the r and the o in "grow.")

You Know What?

Two 6s and a 5 is 17.

Happy Easter From the Tinley Kids

Re: My Fifth Birthday

I turn five today. This is how we'll be celebrating my birthday tonight:

First, we'll be dropping off Resha Kate and Malachi and picking up my cousin Morgan. (I was hoping that Malachi would be able to come too, but Mommy and Daddy said that, if I invited Malachi, I would also have to invite Resha Kate. I love Resha Kate and everything, but she really isn't mature enough for the dining experience that I'm planning.)

Mommy, Daddy, Morgan, and I will then go out to a fancy restaurant: Ruby Tuesday's. (My choice.) We'll all be dressed up. (You have to dress up when you go to a classy place like Ruby Tuesday's.) I'll be in a shirt and tie. Daddy will be wearing his orange, long-sleeved, button-up shirt with a black sweater. (My choice.) Mommy and Morgan will be wearing the dresses that I helped them pick out. Should be a good time.

If You Want to Play on the PlayPlace, You'll Have to Buy Something (Besides Coffee)

Yesterday mommy took us to McDonald's to play at the PlayPlace. I assumed that we also would be eating at McDonald's, because enjoying the PlayPlace without also paying for food is not OK. Mommy had different plans. She intended to buy only a cup of coffee. Purchasing a cup of coffee technically qualifies one as a customer. But allowing one's children to spend an hour on the PlayPlace after buying a single one-dollar menu item is ethically questionable. (A cup of coffee certainly gives one the right to use the McDonald's restroom; I'm not sure it gives one the right to invite one's family to spend an afternoon at the restaurant's indoor playground.) Making matters worse, both Resha Kate and I were willing and eager to eat at McDonald's.

Fortunately, I had anticipated such a situation and had some cash on hand. (It was Valentine's Day money.) So I took matters into my own hands. I stepped up to the counter, ordered a hamburger and an orange juice, and payed for it. So that Resha Kate would not feel left out, I went ahead and bought a hamburger for her too. We shared my orange juice. (Valentine's Day money only goes so far.) Having purchased a total of two burgers and two beverages, the Tinleys could at last put aside ethical reservations and enjoy the PlayPlace.