Ada: When I get to heaven I will see Jesus.
Erin: That’s right!
Ada: And I’ll ask Him for a magic lamp with a genie.  A girl genie.
It’s a work in progress.

Ada: I want a ponytail.
Me: I don’t think it’s long enough, honey.
Ada: Well it’s almost long enough, and almost long hair is perfect for a ponytail.
I can’t even tell you how often we call her “our little problem-solver”

Eli: I haven’t had bacon this good in like, three years!
Good old Oscar Meyer.… Read the rest

Grace: It’s not like you’re a boy, and you want to be a chef, and POOF! you’re a chef.  It takes a lot of practice.

Eli: I had a nightmare last night.
Ada: Don’t worry, it’s just a pretend scary picture in your head.

Ada was at a friend’s house, they didn’t know what they were in for…
Ada: You’re interrupting me again.  Do you know what interrupting is?  It’s when someone is talking, then you talk at the same time.  It’s impolite.  You have to take turns talking.

Ada: Eww!  My arm pit is… … Read the rest

Eli’s working on his new Lego set…
Eli: Grace and Ada, stop it.
No silliness.
Don’t play with that!
Ada, I’m watching you…
No singing!
Stop singing Pinky Dinky Doo!
No craziness.
Guys, I’m concentrating.
Ada, I mean it, don’t touch that.
NO SINGING!!

Me: Yikes!  Ada, your feet are stinky!
Ada: (smells them) AH!!  How did I get that smell??

The kids are jumping on a bouncy castle…
Grace: Holy shoot!  My head hurts!… Read the rest

Grace: Ada is half girl, half squirrel half carrot.

Grandpa: Are you a good boy?
Eli: Yes.  Why would you ask that?… Read the rest

Ada: Mom, can you help me?
Me: I can kiss you!
Ada: That doesn’t help.

Ada: Mom, I need a napkin.
Me: OK, well, you can probably get one.
Ada: OK.  I’m going to listen.  I’ve never done that before.

Grace: I’m not trying to be mean, but I don’t really like this supper you made.
about 30 minutes later…
Grace: I’m not trying to be mean, but I’m not really learning anything from this consequence.
I’m not trying to be mean, but I will LOSE IT if you say that ONE … Read the rest

Ada: Mom, I will give you a sticker whenever you don’t yell at me.

Me: I had to get a cap put on my tooth.
Ada: A CAT?!?

Ada: I got a little cheese on the floor.
Me: Grab the dust pan.
Ada: Can you show me where it is.
Me: Yes.
Ada: Oh, thank you, mom.  You’re a good helper.

One of Grace’s new chores is sweeping under the table after supper.  While working on this chore…
Grace: I hate sweeping!
Me: I know, I do too.
Grace: … Read the rest

Ada: (gasps) Mom!  Where’s Eli?!?
He had been in Chad’s car for about 30 minutes…

Grace: Dad, can you give mom directions, but not in cursive, to the place where you got Eli’s slushy?
Because I can’t read cursive?


The girls are playing with Barbies, I’m helping Ada with her doll’s shoes (this is why I usually just throw them away…)
Grace: Are you coming?
Ada: Yes, someone’s just helping me with my shoes.  It’s a giant.  I know giants.

Ada: I can spell net.  n-e-t
Myah: What about jet?
Ada: j-e-t
Myah… Read the rest

Ada – 17 months

Ada: Look at my scrape.
Me: Ouch!  That’s a big scrape!  Did you cry?
Ada: Not at all.
Me: Wow, you’re a pretty tough girl.
Ada: Yeah, I’m almost as tough as you.

Ada: Grace, don’t talk to me, you’re making my head dizzy.
She had just woken up from a car-nap.

Ada: Daddy, I’m going to give you one of my bestest hugs.
Chad: Oh, that was a good one!
Ada: Yeah, that was all squishy!

Ada: Mom, feel my head.
Me: Nope, no fever.… Read the rest

Ada: I wish these geese would poop in their own place.  Where nobody is.  Like the forest.
Agreed.

I sent the kids to their rooms to clean, and said in 30 minutes if they weren’t making progress I would start taking toys away.
Grace: (sobbing) I can’t do it with this time pressure!  I just can’t do it!
Eli: Mom, I’m doing a good job listening.  I’m working really hard, and I’m only playing a little bit.

Ada: I’m not tattling.  I’m not!
Me: Yes, you are.
Ada: That’s true.

Ada: Daddy, … Read the rest

Me: Ada, aren’t you cold?
Grace: You mean ORANGE you cold?!?

Me: This Hello Kitty Journal is scented.
Chad: Does it smell like dirty cats?
Me: Strawberries.

Eli working outside with Grandpa, using hedge trimmers
Eli: This is more fun than I thought!!

Chad: Maybe someday you’ll be an author.
Grace: Or maybe even a writer.

Ada: Is that the church where… ABCDEFG, HIJKLMNOP…

Me: I don’t know anyone as stubborn as Ada.
Chad: Really?  You don’t know anyone?

Chad helping Ada finish her prayer…
Chad: Thank … Read the rest