Overheard

1. Jacob, despite his proficiency at reading, has difficulty with the "th"sound. He pronounces it as a d. Example: "Hello, mudder. Hello, fadder."
This mispronunciation is consistent in all of his speech. I have never bothered to correct it as I imagine that he will grow out of it. Although, if he sticks around these parts, he might not. (All those familiar with Valley speak can now chuckle softly to themselves.)

The other night at supper Jacob asked me how many letters and sounds Ben knew. I started to list them off and ended with "th". I said that the "th" sound is difficult as Ben keeps wanting to pronounce it as a z - zzzzz. Jacob looked slightly confused and the conversation carried on. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Jacob talking quietly to Ben. He said the following:
"Don't worry, Ben. You can just say "duh" for "th"; that's the other way to say it."
I said: "The other way?"
"Yeah, the real way," he replied.
"Jacob, do you really think that "th" is pronounced as a d?"
"Yeah, it is, isn't it?", the beginning of doubt creeping into his eyes.
"It's not."
His eyes widened with the dawn of realisation, "But, I thought..."
Hannah: "You were wrong."

2. I saw Joseph bending over little Isaac yesterday as the littlest brother reclined in his chair. Pictures of brotherly love might spring to your mind. I assure you that whenever Joe leans over Isaac in any position brotherly love takes on a menacing form.
I stepped closer and caught the last of Joe's words: "Don't worry, little Isaac; I'm your big brother - I won't kill you."
I choose to be encouraged by this.