Tongue Twisters and Monkeys

***Editor's Note***
(Everyone in my family knows that my tongue gets twisted up quite frequently, and things don't always come out the way I intend for them to. But I must say, usually I only mess up two words at a time instead of three. I don't think it has ever been quite this bad. I'm thinking my brain is becoming mushier as I get older. Also, here's a little disclaimer for any kids out there - DO NOT TRY AT HOME WHAT YOU SEE IN THESE PHOTOS. We are definitely NOT a normal family, nor have we ever tried to be. We just might all be a bit deranged, so I wouldn't recommend following our example.)

The other night, I was trying to explain the Dark Ages to Shana, and ended by saying, "The Dark Ages were full of castles, knights and chivalry." So then she wondered what chivalry was. "Does it have to do with being cold?" she asked. (She was thinking the word was probably spelled something like this - SHIVERY. Now mind you, this is the same child that was reading the newspaper one day, looked up at me with a slightly disgusted look on her face, and exclaimed, "Mom! This lady is getting married for the fourth time!" I looked down at an engagement picture of a very nice-looking, young couple. "What makes you think that?" I wondered. "Well, look right here," she stated, matter-of-factly. "It says that she is announcing her FORTHcoming marriage!" Anyway, back to chivalry.....) I tried to explain what chivalry was, and used words like gallant and noble. But she didn't know the meaning of those words, either. So I finally threw out, "It's when knights put fair maidens in distress above themselves." To which Chris replied something about the knights having to be pretty strong in order to hoist up all those maidens so high. I started to snicker, which was a bad idea since I was eating a pretzel, so I made a beeline for the fridge in order to get a drink, proclaiming, "EXCUSE ME, PLEASE! I HAVE A THROAT PRETZELED IN MY STUCK!" Which for some reason, made the atmosphere in the room all the merrier........

I would also like to announce that it is quite possible for human beings to give birth to monkeys. (Wait....maybe I'm not human. I thought I was, but I could be wrong.) Anyway, I'm not sure how to explain these photos otherwise:

He does this in a matter of seconds. Don't ask me - I have no idea. He was supposed to be in bed at the time. Have you ever heard the phrase, "Driving me up a wall?" Yeah, well, that saying has a LITERAL meaning here in this household..........