JOKE, JOKE

Yesterday, EJ attended the butterfly-themed birthday of one of her favorite friends, "Nutmeg." Aside from the five-year old birthday girl's two-year old sister, EJ was the youngest one there, and while we weren't sure if we should stay or go when we first got there, she made it immediately clear (by running into the fun and not looking back) that she would be just fine for a "drop-off" with the 4-5 year old set.

I have a feeling that the older ones were telling some knock-knock jokes at the event, because this morning, EJ and I had this exchange, out of the blue:

EJ: Mom, I'm telling you a joke, okay?
Me: Okay!
EJ: Knock, knock---now you say, "Who's there?"
Me: Who's there?
EJ: Piggy.
Me: Piggy, who? (At this point she squeals with delight, because she realizes that I "get it"---I must have learned this knock-knock business, too, and she doesn't have to explain it.)
EJ: JOKE JOKE! Knock, knock!
Me: Who's there?
EJ: Orange.
Me: Orange, who?
EJ: JOKE JOKE!!! Knock, knock!
Me: Who's there?
EJ: Banana.
Me: Banana, who?
EJ: JOKE JOKE!!!!! Knock, knock!
Me: Who's there?
EJ: People.
Me. People, who?
EJ: JOKE JOKE!!!!!
Me: I love your jokes, kiddo, but you better go get ready if you are going to go on an adventure with Daddy today.
EJ: Okay. (trailing out of the room) Knock, knock! Knock, Knock! JOKE, JOKE!!!

I really can't do this rapid-fire exchange justice by writing it down, and like so many all-too-priceless child development moments, I was not armed and ready with my Flip camera to catch it on video. I hadn't even had my morning coffee yet, for goodness sake, and I was sitting in my jammies staring at my capstone data wondering where the day would take me (for those keeping track, my capstone, aka thesis, is due May 22nd, and my defense is May 27th---gulp.) Someday soon, I'm sure, someone will invent a tiny camera we all just wear around our necks, armed and ready for moments like these.

While she was telling her jokes, her entire body was laughing, giggling, and bouncing with delight. She could barely spit out the words without breaking into total glee, with every syllable mixed with chuckles and smiles. I defy anyone to find anything funnier than a three-year old cracking themselves up, except, maybe, a three-year old cracking themselves up by cracking her parents up, too.

Mike then took EJ on a daddy-daughter date so I could get some work done, but on her return, I was treated to round two of knock-knock joke fun. By then, I had figured out that the "orange you glad I wasn't a banana" joke must have been her original template, so when she launched in again, I thought I might model the punchline for her, to see if it jogged her memory.

EJ: Mommy, knock, knock!
Me: Who's there?
EJ: Orange!
Me: Orange, who?
EJ: KNOCK KNOCK!
Me: EJ, let me try one. Knock, knock!
EJ: Who's there?
Me: Orange!
EJ: Orange, who?
Me: Orange you glad I didn't say banana?
EJ: Mommy, that is SO FUNNY! I'm going to do it! Knock, knock!
Me: Who's there?
EJ: Piggy!
Me: Piggy, who?
EJ: Piggy you glad I didn't say lemon? Knock, knock!
Me: Who's there?
EJ: Orange!
Me: Orange, who?
EJ: Orange you glad I didn't say anything? (Throwing her hands in the air and screaming with laughs.)

I should have seen this coming, of course. A few days ago, while my mom was visiting, we were on our way to music class, and the car in front of us stopped in the middle of a crowded road. A few moments passed, then it pulled forward, at which point, I followed suit. All of the sudden, though, the confused driver threw her car into reverse, and we had to stop/swerve to avoid getting hit, or hitting the parked cars on both sides of the narrow road. I said something not-so-nice---I didn't swear, thankfully, but still, I wasn't very generous with my words. Upon yelling, "Come on, XYZ lady!" (insert colorful adjective), EJ started to laugh. I quickly said, "I'm sorry, kiddo, I shouldn't have said that. It wasn't nice, and it wasn't funny."

Her reply: "Well, it was a little funny, Mom."