"Mama, I gotta work a job."

Rory built the kids a rock box that we painted red and then filled with little stones. We saw a rock box at the county fair and thought it was a good idea. So far the perks of a rock box versus a sand box is that sand doesn't get in hair, eyes or bottoms, and no animals use it as their litter box as they pass through our yard. And the greatest perk is that it serves as the third parent. Ivar is out there all the time.

He'll tell me the game plan when we get home from errands or when he gets up in the morning. He'll say, "Mama, I gotta work a job. With the bulldozer."

Today I heard him downstairs say quietly to himself, "I gotta go work a job. Bye." And then listened to the kitchen door close and watched him, from an upstairs window, walk out to the rock box.

At least he has a strong work ethic.