Dead Ducks

One of the wonderful things about living where we do is the incredible scenery.  The views from our house are breathtaking.  

We also get to see wild animals every day - squirrels and chipmunks, deer and elk, tons of birds - hawks, falcons and eagles in addition to the dozens of songbirds that live around our house.  We've even seen Coyotes and once a fox (I swear it was!)

There's a pond off Traverse Ridge Road, which we drive to get anywhere we want to go.  The pond comes and goes with the weather.  Depending on how hot the summer is the water is gone sometime between July and August, but it's back in September.  In the Winter it freezes, in the Spring it melts and the ducks come back.  

The ducks are a big source of interest for the kids.

Last Fall, after the ducks had flown South, Matt was taking Tessa to school one morning.  As they drove past the pond she said (very matter-of-factly)

"All those ducks are gone.  I guess they're dead."

He explained to her that they were NOT dead, they'd simply flown to a warmer climate for the cold weather.  

We laughed about it constantly - it became this silly thing we'd say to each other "Guess those ducks are dead." and then we'd laugh hysterically.  What can I say? We're easily entertained.

We made sure not to do it in front of Tessa - didn't want her to think we were making fun of her! - but we were not so careful about Asher.

This Spring when the ducks came back the kids started pointing them out every time we drove past the pond.  Before long, Asher began saying 

"Look mommy, there's ducks in there!"

So I'd answer "Yeah, baby, I saw the ducks, too!"

Then he'd say "And I saw a DEAD one!"

and he'd laugh hysterically.

I kept telling him "No, there's no dead ones, silly boy!"

That lasted for about 3 weeks.  Now he says 

"Look mommy, there's ducks in there!"

and I say "Yeah, baby, I saw the ducks, too!"

then he says "and there's NOOOOO dead ones!"

Tessa is out of school in a few days.  I can't wait to see what variation on ducks/dead ducks they come up with next.  I think we're going to be talking about them for a while.