FUN HOUSE
Sharing Mom's special recipe with a friend

My son Michael, at the age of 3, could really confuse words.

• One day I was cooking, and he was playing in the yard. My neighbor was doing yard work, and I saw from the window that she was talking to Mike. He came into the house and said, "Ms. Nattie wants to know what you are cooking that smells so good."

I told him, "Tell her, 'Just ham hocks and pinto beans.' "

He went outside and talked to Nattie, and I noticed she started laughing, which I thought was strange.

Later that evening, I was in my yard and Nattie came over. The first thing she asked me was, "Where do you buy your chicken hawks that you cook with beans?"

• Another time, in the first grade, Mike's class was going to sing the "Christmas Song."

I heard him rehearsing to himself, "Chipmunks roasting on an open fire ... Jack Frost snipping off your nose."

• You know how small kids love to open presents? On my birthday, I received a gift from my mom, and he wanted to open it for me.ÊHe got the wrap off, opened the box, and pulled out a satin teddy.

Later on, he told my husband, that I got a satin "doggy" for my birthday gift from Grandma.

If you have a funny, true story about your child, spouse or other family members, send it to: Fun House, 'Ohana Section, The Honolulu Advertiser, P.O. Box 3110, Honolulu, HI 96802; e-mail ohana@honoluluadvertiser.com; fax 535-8170. Submissions should be 200 words in length or less. Articles submitted to The Advertiser may be published or distributed in print, electronic or other forms.