Having a large family makes for some interesting conversations sometimes. Here is how the conversation at breakfast this morning went:
Peter: Can I have yogurt?
me: Yes
Bethany: Can I have yogurt in a bowl?
Phillip: Can I have applesauce?
me: No
Bethany: I want yogurt
me: It is already in a cup. You don’t need a bowl.
Phillip: Why can’t I have applesauce?
Bethany: Can I have yogurt?
me: I never said you couldn’t have applesauce.
Phillip: You said ‘no’
Bethany: I want yogurt
me: I didn’t hear you ask
Peter: I’m just getting yogurt for Bethany
me: I was talking to Phillip
Peter: Phillip can have yogurt?!
me: No, he was asking about something else
And on and on it went. And that was with just three of my kids. Anna had not entered the room yet, and Candice was behaving fairly well.
I think a little bit of confusion will be eliminated once I learn to use names before responding to my children. It is conversations like the one above that will eventually push me to remember their names, so I can use them. 
Notes: Peter did eventually get thanked for helping out with Bethany, Bethany did eventually get yogurt, and Peter was surprised that Phillip might be getting yogurt because Phillip has a milk allergy.
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Oh man, you just pegged dinner w/ my in-laws!!!
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