Sparkly Unicorn

This season we decided to put both Elijah AND Aubrey into Madison County Soccer. I ended up volunteering for assistant coach on Elijah's team, The Gators (yes, Michael the head coach is a Florida Gators fan). But Aubrey's coach let the kids pick, although I didn't quite understand this at first. On the way to her second practice, she announced, "I want to be on the unicorn team." Apparently that was one girl's suggestion: The Sparkly Unicorns. I'm sure all the boys voted against that one, though.

So after soccer practice, even though I overheard several parents commenting how they enjoyed that option, Aubrey lamented that the vote didn't go her way. However, Jaguars makes a much more fearsome opponent.

Then, on the way home, my pretty little daughter tooted in the back seat and inquired, "Do you wish you were this chair?" Yeah, that was hardly sparkly unicorn behavior.

"You did what in your cup?"

 So a while back I took both the boys to their doctor's appointment. Today, it was Aubrey's turn. So my little girl prepared for her visit by packing all the necessities for a doctor's appointment. Blankets, a stuffed valentine bear, a few family photos, her Stellaluna book, and a candy cane ornament. The doctor and nurse found it amusing. It was rather cute to see the arrangement.

So, while Elijah watched over his brother, I took Aubrey into the bathroom to pee in a cup. Afterward, the doctor asked her, "Did you pee in a cup?" I answered, "She did." Aubrey then added, "And I peed on Daddy's hand too." Everyone laughed at that.

Later on, Aubrey asked for a cup of water. The nurse brought her some in a paper cup. As she was drinking, Elijah noticed something. "Hey," he announced, "your drinking out of your pee cup." Aubrey stopped and looked at her empty cup in disgust as she noticed the similarities. Then we all bust out laughing.

Comer Fair 2015

Second Grade, Here Elijah Comes

So Elijah is now in second grade. Our first impressions of his teacher were a little disappointing, seeing a lot of his friends (Lyle, David, Cassie, Brianna) wound up in Mrs. Thompson's class, and when we met Mrs. Craig she neither introduced herself nor smiled. Turns out she's a great teacher and Elijah though loves her; the fact that she gives them candy tops the lists. I told him the White Witch also gives candy... just saying.

Well within the first week or so, the students had a project to create a poster about themselves. We enjoyed his answers.

I want to be: "a mrenbiolojist" (A Marine Biologist)
I always: "will Love God"
I Love to: "play Socer"
I am good at: "Socer and writeing"
Someday, I will: "be like my Dad" (I teared up reading this one)
I love to doodle: "Navy Ships"
I like to: "swim alot"
I wish: "I could be in Mrs. Toomsin's class with my frend" (I'm sure his teacher enjoyed reading this one)

 

A week later he came home with some of his school work. He was suppose to write three declarative sentences. These were his three (The last is my favorite. It cracked us up. Apparently we make too many jokes about our lack of income):

Childhood Theology

Joshua is always faithful to remind us if we forget the blessing, folding his little hands and telling us, "Bessin."


Often, I try to take the kids through theological questions (the Neal Catechism) or reciting Bible verses; always trying to hammer the basics into their impressionable brains. As Mark Driscoll used to say, I want to make sure they don't miss the big "E" on the eye chart.

Anyway, Elijah learned most of them when he was four and five, and now Aubrey has really gotten into it, often asking me every night, "Can you ask us how many Gods are there?" And thus, we launch into it. And she has picked up on most of them pretty quick.

Afterwards, she wants to talk about "Eden and Av" in the garden. It's adorably cute.
"God told Eden and Av to eat all the trees in the garden except one because it was special. Then was a snake was there and it was evil and told Eden to eat it. Them took it... Eden took one piece and Av took one piece. Then, them didn't have any clothes, so they built clothes. And then, them got sent out of the garden and God put two angels there and fire swords in their hands. Amen."

Helpful Attitude

Aubrey has recently taken a great identity in being "a good helper" and a "good cleaner upper." She helped me unload the car last weekend after our lake trip, pulling luggage that was often too big for her. But it is a delight to have her take such pride in cleaning her room, even folding and putting her clothes away. Once she gets started, she goes all out, getting it ready "to vacuum." Makes me proud... just like her Daddy who organized the games and game closet of the Lake House we stayed at this weekend... I just couldn't help myself. Can't stand seeing everything in disarray

Sweet Moments, Part 1

Password Needed
Stephanie informed me of a short but humorous exchange between her and her daughter last Friday:
Aubrey announced to her mother, "God doesn't know everything that I'm thinking."

Stephanie quickly corrected her. "Oh, Yes He does."
Without hesitation she replied, "But I didn't give him my password."


Funny Wordin
Aubrey has recently started choosing things by the "eeny, miny, moe," method, but hers seems to be a little different. "Eeny, meeny, miny, moe. Ketchup on a toe."

In July, I was reading Joshua a book. "Whats this?" I asked, pointing to a snowflake. "Elsa!" He exclaimed.

Kids are impressionable, and Joshua picks up bad things from both his parents and his siblings. "Shup!" he yells at the dogs to tell them to be quiet.
"Mean Daddy." He'll say randomly. I doubt he really knows what it means, but he hears his brother and sister get in trouble enough to know it, and Aubrey likes to throw it in her rotation of things to get Joshua to say in the car. ("Jay, say 'Banana!'" "Bah-na-na." "Good!")

"Top it, Daddy." He tells me whenever I start to annoy him or sing the Frozen songs in an annoying voice.

"Pah-kuh!" he shouts, as he raises his Popsicle in the air with victory, and the rest of the family joins in.

Often, Jay wakes up, and comes in the Living Room in the morning with droopy eyes, as if he is still waiting for his cup of coffee. The first thing out of his mouth is usually, "Whe-uh my pah-cee go?"

Early this summer, Elijah askied, "Have I had a sleep over with Kingston and Kali?" Then after a pause he answered his own question, "I think so."
Aubrey piped up, "Whose Kingston and Kali? I don't remember."
Finding this rather strange, I said, "Uh... Mrs Jessica's kids. Little brother named Korbin."
Remembering his blonde curly hair, she asked, "The one with the noodle hair?"

We waiting until after Aubrey was four before she made her start using big kid toothpaste. We were with some friends when Aubrey randomly announced that she "could spit." We understood she was referring to the fact she now used big girl toothpaste, but no one had any context.

Not that long ago I went in to tuck Aubrey in and got a hygiene reminder after I brushed her leg with a fingernail. "Hey Daddy, you huwt me. You need to cut yous finguh nails."


Our Public Schools Are Failing Us
At the end of last year, we were riding in the van when Elijah announced: "I think I can name all the constinents: Asia, Africa, Alabama, North America, South America... Is that right, Mama?"


Appeal to Educational Value
After not getting to listen to what she wanted to listen to in the card and Elijah did, she expressed her frustration by belittling the educational quality of his choice. "Adventuhs in Odyssey teaches you bout nothin!" she said with a pouty face.


A Pixar Perspective
Aubrey, after seeing the movie "Inside Out" saw some red buttons and said, "Those buttons are anger."


Reptile Salutations
Last month, Joshua bid me farewell by saying, "Bye, bye, aygatuh tahtodiyo (aligator, crocodile)." He put together "See you later, Alligator. After awhile, Crocodile."


Letters
After our friend Ellie and her three kids left after a Friday hangout in August, Elijah decided he wanted to make a card for his friend Memphis (I'll give you three guesses what Elijah's love language is). Naturally Aubrey began making one for her equivalent: Myah. Then Jay followed with wanting to make a card for the youngest Bradshaw, "Bae-Bae Max!"

Elijah, Aubrey and Joshua and their counterpart buddies in the Bradshaw family: Memphis, Myah, and Max; all enjoying a watermelon treat. We were hoping for a better Kodak moment, but we were all a sweaty mess as soon as we walked out into the muggy August evening.

Update on Jackie
Aubrey has had an imaginary friend that occasionally visits. Creeps her Aunt Riya out. So we make sure to text Miriya anytime Aubrey informs us that Jackie has gone to Florida without us. Sometime in July, Stephanie sent me this text: "Jackie was apparently hurt in an army battle while protecting the queen."


Joke Time:
Every kid loves the knock, knock joke: "Knock, knock. Who's there? Interrupting Cow. Interrup... MOOO!" And each child has tried to master it. One evening Aubrey was rehearsing it over and over again in the bathtub. Joshua would try the abbreviated version by balling up his little fists and drumming either side of his head while saying, "Knock, knock." And then after a short pause he would exclaim, "Mooo!"