Toys have feelings, too

Lisy has been playing with her Princess Leia doll as if it was real. She includes it in her games, talks to it, and swears that it moves when she isn't looking. By dinnertime Benjamin had had enough when Lisy put the doll on the table.

"No toys at the table!" Benjamin loudly reminded her.

So she put the doll on a chair and gave it a handful of food, "so she doesn't get hungry. Don't look at her or she won't eat!" Lisy announced.

"Leee-seee! She is not alive!" shouted Benjamin.

Now, I've seen Benjamin read to his stuffed animals and tuck them in at night. And heaven forbid you accidentally step on one of them. I had to put a stop to this. Not to mention that shouting matches don't belong at the dinner table.

"Benjamin, leave her alone. Let her believe whatever she wants; she isn't hurting anyone. How would you feel if I told you that your stuffed animals weren't real?" I postulated to him.

*shocked gasp* Benjamin lowered his gaze and hung his head. He quietly answered, "I know they're not real. But in my heart I believe they are."

One morning the girls set up a breakfast of orange juice and biscuits for their dolls.

Naps are tough on those who stay awake

"Aaah! Mom! I lost my Way-chel (Rachel)!" Makayla came screaming into the kitchen.

"Did she fall asleep?" I asked.

"Yes!" lamented Makayla.

Rachel and Makalya: sisters and best friends

Beware the Feather Duster (and the toddler)

Tonight during family scripture study, Makayla walked right up to Dad, waved the feather duster at him and shouted, "Aba-da-dabwa!" It's difficult to keep up a serious discussion when we're all laughing.

Philosophical discussions of 10-year-olds

On the way home from cub scouts, Samuel, Benjamin, and their friend Oliver, started talking about planets in the "goldilocks zone:" not too close to or too far from the sun, but the perfect distance for liquid water and hopefully life.

Benjamin: Do you believe aliens really exist?
Oliver: No, I don't believe they actually exist.
Samuel, aghast: What about Spock?!
Oliver, thoughtfully: That's true...

Pokey Little Puppy

Elisa doesn't do anything fast. Although I appreciate her laid back style, sometimes she needs to move faster than a snail. For instance I wake her up in plenty of time to get ready for school. I even stand there reminding her to get dressed: "Now put on your shirt, your shirt, put your shirt on, yes the one you're holding. Remember your socks, both socks, put them on your feet, not your hands, your feet." You get the idea. Somehow she still misses the bus. I drive her to school at least 2 days a week. (I hope I never get into an accident, because now I just wear my bathrobe and slippers.)

Poor Lisy, the other day when we were in a hurry to get to a doctor's appointment, she looked up at me, and with wide eyes asked, "Why does everyone always tell me to hurry up?"

Time to go grocery shopping

Lisy: Mom, can I have a banana?
Me: No, because we don't have any bananas.
Lisy: Can I have an apple?
Me: No, we don't have any apples.
Lisy: An orange?
Me: Nope.
Lisy: Do we have any fruit?