I brought the kids with me on a quick trip to the grocery store. Just to buy some coffee and milk. And as we were walking back through the produce section to the checkout I spotted a large crate of fresh cucumbers. Cucumbers are one of the few vegetables that the kids will eat so I stopped and asked them both to pick one. My daughter chose one and put it in the bag. Then my boy picked one up, and in his way-louder-than-necessary-but-normal toddler voice said, “Dad, this cucumber is hard. Like Larry.”

Good. Lord. Larry is the cucumber from the animated VeggieTales movies, in case you didn’t know. Not some “weird” uncle like some of the other shoppers were thinking.

“Put it in the bag, son.”

We got out of there before Child Protective Services showed up.

Comments

1. Gail on 2006-08-18 08:49:41 wrote: That’s hysterical – I know the Veggie Tales tunes thanks to my five little nieces and nephew, but I’m sure that would sound awfully creepy to people who aren’t familiar with the cartoon.

2. Anna on 2006-08-18 18:00:47 wrote: Okay, so I’m obviously a mother of young kids. My first thought was, “I never thought of Larry has hard, but I guess it would be.” And then I went to, “Well, hard is obviously an unintended innuendo but Larry the Cucumber doesn’t HAVE a penis.” OH! Oh NOW I get it! People don’t know who LARRY is. Of course this thought train came much faster than it takes to read, but really that was the order. I’m just glad it wasn’t me. I’m not certain I wouldn’t have SPOKEN my first thought to my toddler. CPS might have met me at the register….

3. Anna on 2006-08-18 18:02:04 wrote: and I’m obviously lacking sleep. “has hard” = “as hard” and “it would be” = “he would be”

4. rik on 2006-08-18 20:25:14 wrote: i can only imagine what my reaction would be if i had been in the next aisle over…or even worse, if it had been my child loudly announcing Larry’s attributes to the rest of the store. my wife would have dead fainted and hit the floor!

5. Kristine on 2006-08-20 19:21:57 wrote: omg. It’s been years since i’ve watched Veggie Tales (my kids are older) so that one caught me offguard. Thanks for the laugh!!!

6. Andrew on 2006-08-21 06:18:41 wrote: Did he have the LarryBoy Super Suction Cup ears on?? I-Am-That-Hero!!!!!!! ummmm can you tell my kids (and me) are Veggie Tale fans?

7. christine on 2006-08-21 09:47:29 wrote: Yessss!

8. carcollectorz on 2006-08-21 21:25:58 wrote: I can’t get enough of your stories or your flickr toys. Keep ’em coming!

9. Hemlock on 2006-08-22 14:18:49 wrote: WOW… That’s fantastic. I totally wouldn’t have picked up on the Veggie Tale reference. I would have just stood there in shock! Then I might have figured out that there was a logical reason… but only after the shock wore off!

10. Jeff on 2006-08-22 14:36:36 wrote: I wonder which law of the universe declares that these kinds of statements from our kids have to be in public places… and have to be said quite loudly… It seems to happen to all of us at some point, and the situations are too similar for coincidence. ;-)

11. Kristy on 2006-08-23 15:06:46 wrote: I love your observations they are so like mine.My kids are always saying innocent things that could be taken it such the wrong way! I came across your blog by accident but will be back!

12. Michael on 2006-08-24 00:27:51 wrote: Sometimes its hard to remember that young children don’t say these things to embarrass us… that comes later.

13. Teena on 2006-08-25 06:35:25 wrote: Ha! Ha!! As a non-parent, I wouldn’t have known who Larry is so my eyes definitely would have bugged out :)

14. Simon on 2006-08-25 06:41:00 wrote: lol made me laugh too loudly at work, now huddled up in my office hoping no-one is looking at me. We all have dirty, dirty minds, and thats why the innocence of childhood makes us all smile. On another note, I have noticed you havent been around on your blog recently.

15. john on 2006-08-25 13:52:52 wrote: I’m around, just busy. Hopefully things will settle down a little soon.

16. tanyetta on 2006-08-27 13:25:28 wrote: toooooooooooo cute. i loooooooovw veggie tales! by the way, i just came across your flickrtoys site. i just created a mosaic with it. i’m still trying to figure out more fun things :) :) :)