Eli was trying to make some sort of deal with Ada in the car
Ada: That doesn’t work on me.
That’s my girl!

Chad: (to Eli) You’re not the boss of me.
Note: this was not in much of a “parental” voice

Me: Ada are you dressed?
Silence.
Me: Ada.  Are you dressed. (You know, when your tone isn’t really asking, more implying that you better answer, and you better answer with a yes.)
Ada: Uhhh….
And this is when my head starts spinning. 

Me: Ada, flush the toilet.
Ada: WHAT???  How … Read the rest

Eli: I’ll have a corn dog for lunch.  And if we don’t have any corn dogs, then my back-up plan will be McDonald’s.  Well, let’s just get McDonald’s.

Zach was baby-sitting one night, and was giving Ada a glass of water before bed.  This is a paraphrase as best as I can remember…
Ada: I want more water.
Zach: You can have more water after you drink that.
Ada: I’m not drinking this until I have more water!
Zach: I’m not giving you more water until you drink that.
Ada: (hands on hips) I … Read the rest

Twelve Days of Christmas (According to Ada)

Twelve drummers drumming
Eleven pipers piping
Ten hords a-leaping
Nine babies dancing
Eight maids a-looping
Seven squash a-swimming
Six piece of lane
Five golden rings
Four calling birds
Three french hens
Two turtle doves
And a partridge in a bare tree
… Read the rest

On her way to the bathroom…
Ada: I’m going to walk/jog because I have to go badly.
I love that she actually used the phrase “walk/jog” and that she has such a great grasp on adverbs at 5. 🙂 

We were having a lovely dinner with some friends…
Ada: Zac, Santa isn’t real.
I was in shock, Zac was laughing to the point of tears, and thankfully his small children seemed oblivious.  I had a talk with Ada the next day…
Me: Ada, remember we’ve told you – you can’t tell kids about Santa.  You have to … Read the rest

On our way to church…
Ada: I wish we had church at our house.
Grace: Maybe we could have a kids’ office!
Eli: Yeah!  And we could play there whenever we wanted!
Grace: No, we would have to do work.  Working at a church is a lot of work.
Eli: Well, mom would just do it.
Ada: Yeah.
Grace: No, we would have to help!  There’s a lot of work to do at a church!
So here are my take-aways.  1) Maybe I talk about work too much in front of them. 2) … Read the rest

Eli: Mom, you were right.
I don’t remember what preceded this, and honestly it doesn’t matter.
Chad: Mom’s usually right.
Eli: Well really, mom’s always right.
And then the heavens opened up and all the angels joined together in singing the Hallelujah Chorus…

Ada: Here are some things about me: I’m chubby, cute, funny, aaaaand smart.
Eli: And adorable.
Ada: Yes.  That’s what chubby means.

Eli: That babysitter puts me in time out.
Ada: Only when you’re mean to us.
Eli: ADA!  I know.
Ada: We don’t like it when you’re mean to us.… Read the rest

Me: Did you wash your hands?
Ada: Yes.
Me: Are you sure?
Ada: Yes.
Me: Please don’t lie to me.
Eli: Sorry mom (on his way to the bathroom).
I wasn’t even talking to him!  I love accidentally getting a confession! 

Ada has started using finger quotes, incorrectly.
– Our coats are “the same”. (they were completely the same)
– Grandpa left his soap at “our house”. (he did leave it at our house)

Chad was trying to explain what a “soul” is at dinner the other night
Chad: When God created … Read the rest

Me: Ada, you’re funny.
Ada: But I won’t be when I’m a grown up.
Me: Do you know any grown ups who are funny?
Ada: Grandpa.  And daddy.  And sometimes you.

Me: Grace, did you take your pill tonight?
Grace: Yes.
Me: But your Thursday night pill is still in the organizer.
Grace: It is?  It must have been a massage.
Thinking….thinking…
Me: A mirage??

Eli: Dad, how do you get around those black spiky things on the cloud world in Super Mario Brothers?
Chad: I don’t know buddy, … Read the rest

Eli: Mom, you’re the best mom ever.  Even though you can’t cook on the grill, and sometimes you cook food we don’t like, and sometimes we say things that upset you… we really appreciate you.
I’m just going to take that in the spirit in which he meant in and be thankful his “even though” list wasn’t any longer. 

Eli: Calvin said girls are weird.
Chad: I think sometimes girls are weird and sometimes boys are weird.
Eli: Boys are always weird.

Me: Eli had to get a helmet a size bigger than the girls’.… Read the rest

Eli:  The sprinkles on my donut weren’t as good as my imagination.  Nothing’s better than my imagination.  Except for God and Jesus.  You can use that part in a church song if you want.

Eli had a bloody nose…
Chad: Eli, you need to try to stop crying (the crying was over a broken toy).  Think of happy things like rainbows and unicorns.
Eli: DAD!!  Those are girly things!
Chad: OK, how about Legos and Star Wars?
Eli: Not right now.

… Read the rest