My brother came and crawled up on my lap earlier, an occurance that is becoming pretty rare. As we talked about legos and Narnia the following conversation ensued.

ME: "I want you to stay 6 forever. Can't you stay 6 years old?"

HIM: "Well, I'm getting older already. I'm gonna be 7 next."

ME: "Yes, but couldn't you stay 6 and not turn 7?"

HIM: "But it's going to happen! I don't know why, but it just keeps hapenin'."

ME: "But if you just decided to turn 6 again on your next birthday, and on all your other birthdays, won't that work?"

HIM with brows knit together: "Hmmm, I don't think it will work."

ME: "Why not? Please? For me?"

HIM, reluctantly: "Hmm, okay, I guess."

(He leaves and comes back a few minutes later)

HIM: "I just figured somethin' out. When people's sister's ask them to stay 6, they still get bigger, even if the age stays the same."

ME: "Well then, maybe you could stay the same size too?"

HIM, very patiently: "But it will be wierd when I get bigger and bigger, big as Grampa. People won't know I'm still 6, they'll think I am older than that!"

ME: "You are pretty smart."

HIM: "Yeah, I know. I noticed."

ME: "I guess you'll just have to grow up than and turn 7."

HIM: "Yeah."

ME: "I wish you could stay 6 though."

HIM: "Well, it will take a long time."

ME: "Are you sure?"

HIM: "Yep, it always does. I'll be 6 a long time. And it will take even longer to get even bigger. It took a long time for me to get this big.

Oh Little Man, if only that was true.

HIM: "Hey, did you know I can count to 100 by 5's? Want to hear me?"