Listening to THE FOUR-STORY MISTAKE. Big one is designing cards. Little one is drinking my water because she says mine always tastes better.

Has to pause to explain telegrams to big one. “So it’s like a text meets snail mail?”

Had to pause again to show them google images of station wagons because from what the 6yo was trying to describe, she thought they were talking about Conestoga wagons. In the 1940s.

During tonight’s chapters we have had to google old-fashioned bicycles (velocipedes).

And explain why children were riding bicycles on a highway. (And then explain what a highway was.)

And then assuage their alarm about Randy entering the cop’s house without asking to see his badge first.

And explain what mumps are. (Which is honestly a terrifying google search. Do not recommend.)

For today’s Melendy update: we were listening in the car. So no Google image searches. Thus when the 10yo didn’t know what a typewriter was, the 6yo had to dramatically explain.

“It’s like a computer, but with NO SCREEN. And you put the papers in it, and you push the buttons and they make like little stamps of the letters ON THE PAPER.”

“Mom, what’s a jiffy?”

(So obviously now I’m going to tell them “I’ll be done in a jiffy” every time they ask me if I’m done working.)

I wish I’d made a hashtag at the beginning of this thread! How about #howardsreadthemelendys for the rest. Since we’re planning to finish out the quartet.