the didactic virtues of the big mess

Benjamin's new word is partout (everywhere), which he only says in combination with par terre (on the floor): partout par terre, all over the floor. This is what his mother says when he's made a big mess, and although I'm supposed to refrain from using French in front of the boy, I let myself say partout par terre because it sounds so cool. Benjamin pronounces it "pah too pah tay!"

- papa