Two Little Ducks Go Quack Quack Quack

Clara and her compatriots are learning about sand right now, so beaches, deserts, sand dunes, tide pools, and the like are hot topics of conversation.  Yesterday, they learned about sand dunes.  Birdie Brigade, it is tough to ask a question about sand dunes that isn't too much a leading question, and isn't so open ended that a member of the two-year-old set can still answer it.  Members of the four-year-old set meanwhile, of course, know everything and are eager to share their knowledge with the world.  That's how we came to have this exchange:

Julie: "Clara, where do we find sand dunes?"
Clara [making motions with her hands to indicate a hill, clearly catching what is being thrown, but not quite able to toss it back--finally, in a rush]: "At the beach!"
Julie: "Yes, sand is found at the beach.  [beat] And the desert!  Are sand dunes in the desert?"
Joe [not to be contained any longer--he knows this stuff!]: "Yes, sand dunes are in the desert."
Clara: "NO!  No, Joe!  Talking to Mommy!"
Joe [blithely undeterred--he knows more about sand and deserts!]: "Grandpa Tom and Lynn live in the desert."

It is really a kick to hear Clara string together longer and longer sentences, and to pick up speech patterns and norms.  For example, this whole no-I'm-talking-to-Mommy construct is one she's heard a lot in recent months as we try to teach her exuberant brother the fine art of conversation, including the benefits of not interrupting other speakers, especially with non sequiturs.  But it is also a kick to hear out loud, in his speech, the leaps and connections Joe is making.  You can hear some of this here in what is really meant to be an audio clip until you are 1:44 in because when one turns a camera on the bambini, they will of course stop doing what it was you wanted to capture unless you are quite stealthy, and it is difficult to be stealthy when we are all in the car.  So you will get a glimpse of our route home, Fans!  But hang in there, because there are things in the clip to love more than the flashes of St. Louis Park.

For example, right off you will hear a bit of Joe singing Five Little Ducks, which is all the rage right now, and why the camera was turned on.  But the jig is up 30 seconds in, and reverse psychology fails to elicit more, from Joe anyway.  You will also get a flavor of he above sand exchange, and witness something else that continues to be all the rage: mindless repetition, Rain Man-like of words and phrases from Joe.  And at 3:00, don't miss Joe chiding Clara because he's four, you know, and knows how it all goes down.