1. Bought Joseph a new shirt on Thursday – a tropical-themed kind of golf shirt similar to one of his dad’s. I told him this would be good to wear when we went to eat out.

Friday night, after the monthly trip to Sam’s, we’re going into a restaurant. He’s wearing his shirt. We head for the door.

“But I want to eat out!”

We explain that this is exactly what we’re doing.

Near tears, he protests again, “No, this shirt is for eatin’ out! I wanna eat outside!”

2. Last night at dinner, I tell him to clean his plate. He looks up at me in total puzzlement and says, “Why?” then before I can answer, has picked up his napkin and started to wipe down his plate, which of course still has food on it.

And to show that it’s not just All About Joseph:

We went to a celebration of fiber today. Really. Not bran, but wool and such. Saw sheep being sheared, llamas, etc. There was a terribly sweet little black lamb whom, we were told, had been born sometime in the past 24 hours.

As we walked away, Katie declared, “That does it. I’m never eating veal again!”

Well, good for you. Whatever it takes, I guess.