My Life is Weird

I took the kids out for a walk around our apartment complex the other day because their fighting was making me insane it was gorgeous outside. 

We stumbled across this man sitting conspicuously all by himself rolling a couple unshelled walnuts around in his hands. He wasn't eager for any conversation nor was he overly friendly. But I HAD to have a picture of him and his US Army getup. 

So what does one do? Pull out my phone and quickly snap a picture before he tells me not to???

or...

Knowing he won't refuse, say, "Hey...my daughter would LOVE to have her picture taken with you...is that ok?"  ("hey eden...pretty please go stand by ShuShu so I can take is picture, mmmkay??")

Why yes, that was me. Using my daughter as an excuse.

I felt like the whole thing was priceless. His kind face. The camo. The fact that it said US Army. 

I asked him if he knew he was wearing "American Soldier" clothing. His response was equivalent to, "mmm...hmmm...what of it?"

So since then, each time we pass by US Army ShuShu, he smiles kindly and waves at Eden, thinking he has quite the admirer.

And it's been with his help that we realized Eden has reached a new milestone.
Yesterday morning as Brandon was walking Eden out to her teacher's car to go to preschool, they walked by US Army ShuShu with his unshelled walnuts rolling around in his hands.

ShuShu said, "ammmph whhhhheeeyey gllllummmm baayyyyy?"

Brandon chuckled, smiled kindly and was about to say, "Sorry...what? Can you repeat that?"

But before he could get that out, Eden responded with, "Yep! Headed to school!" (in Chinese...of course)

It blew Brandon's mind.

With this news we've reluctantly given up having "private conversations" in front of the kids using Chinese with one another. That still works with Salem, but I'm convinced it won't be long before his language surpasses our progress as well. Soon enough they'll be making fun of us in Chinese with us completely clueless as to what they're discussing.

Note to self: learn how to say chonies, pee, and poop in Chinese before Salem...otherwise he will most likely use those words against me.