The Man. The Legend. My Father.

Kiddo #2 was hanging out with Grandpa on Saturday, which is to say that Old Kiddo #2 and Young Kiddo #2 were hanging out like those Freedom 55 commercials of yore.

"Hey! I know you! You're... me--"
"From the Future.  Wanna play trains?"
"Sure!"

My father, Grampie-- as he's known around these parts, is a horseman. We were raised around horses for most of our young lives, and now that my kids are, well, existing, they are hangin' with the horses, too.

This weekend, while Kiddo #1 did her dressage lesson (which I wrote in italics because you can't say it with normal font, you say it all slanty-like with your mouth.  Dressage.  Dressage.  See, told ya.) Kiddo #2 hung out with my father and his horses.

They fed them, watered them, curried them (which means 'brushed them' to people who wouldn't write dressage with the proper iltalics), and had all sorts of fun.  Kiddo #2 and Grampie chased the barn cats, hunted for the perfect blade of grass... it was everything they ever wanted to do.

Like I said, they're a match made in heaven.

Just before they got ready to go, they brought Buddy out to check something or other.

(Honestly, I wasn't there, I have no idea the order of this story, so if you WERE there, keep it to yourself if this isn't quite how things went down, dig?)

Anyway, Kiddo #2 was watching Grampie do something while Buddy the Horse was on the tethers. Following Grampie's lead, Kiddo #2 also began inspecting the horse and asking all sorts of questions.

Kiddo #2: Grampie, why is Buddy brown?
Grampie: Well, because his mom and dad were brown, I guess.
Kiddo #2: What's that fingy on buddy's face?
Grampie: That's the bridle. It is where we attach the tethers to keep him from running away.
Kiddo #2: How many cats are at the barn?
Grampie: Oh, I think probably 3. There's Toots over there, she's the mama cat. And Fingers is the one with all the extra toes. And sometimes there's a nice grey cat but he isn't here all the time.
Kiddo #2: Do horses like chocowate melk? I do. And Juiiiiiiice. I wuv juice Grampie!
Grampie: Horses just like water. Milk will make them sick.
Kiddo #2: I like your cookies, too, Grampie.
Grampie: We're almost done here and then we'll go have a snack, ok?
Kiddo #2: Ok. Grampie, what's THAT? (pointing to the horses's tail)
Grampie: Now you're just bein' silly! You know that's the tail!
Kiddo #2: (chuckling to himself)  Yeah, Grampie. That's the tail. And here's the weg.  And here's the belly. And... WHAT'S THAT?
Grampie: That's the horse's penis.
Kiddo #2: Wow.  Dat shore is beeg!
Grampie: Yes.
Kiddo #2: I have a penis, too.  My sister doesn't. Grampie, do YOU have a penis?
Grampie: Yes.
Kiddo #2: Is it big like Buddy's?
Grampie: Of course, Kiddo #2.

Honestly.