Thee Beautiful Things: 8/12/08
1. The enormous possibility in a first grader’s unopened, fresh pack of crayons.
2. An entire school hallways teeming with nervous, excited, giddy first graders going into their brand-new classrooms for the first time.
3. Crisp, smiling teachers ready to greet them warmly upon their arrival at orientation, even though they probably feel like they have a million things to before school starts.
Sister Tact
Tonight, after I put Eli’s pj’s on him, I wanted to put on my own. So I asked Eva to read him a story while I went to change. He’s been really fond of Good Night, Gorilla lately so I gave her that one. While I was in the other room, I heard her reading it to him very sweetly and energetically. Then it was Eli’s turn to “read” the story to Eva.
Soon, Eva poked her head into our bedroom. She cupped her hands around her mouth and said very quietly, “He can’t read.”
At least she didn’t shatter his illusions!
Thanks for being sweet, you two. It was a good Friday.
Preschool Hip
Want to be down with the latest preschool style? Eli is so cool that he’s even invented his own slang. Now you, too, can be cool like him!
fresh adj. 1. satisfied. 2. full 3. satiated
Used in context:
DAD: Eli, do you want more cereal?
ELI: No. I’m fresh.
or
GRANDMA: Was that a good supper, Eli?
ELI: Yeah! I’m fresh!
High Praise From a Five Year Old
EVA: I love you, Daddy.
I love you more than anything in the whole world.
Except Barbies.
My Son: Abusive Spouse In Training
My son has perfected a new technique that he thinks will get him out of trouble. When he finds himself in a compromising position, where he knows that he is about to be scolded, put in a time-out, or otherwise reprimanded, he looks up at me and says in the most heartfelt, earnest way “I love you.”
He has variations on the tactic, as well. Sometimes, he offers “You’re my best friend.” In other instances, it’s “You’re the best da-da.” In any case, he is becoming the master of emotional manipulation. Not bad for someone about to turn three.
The Eli Chronicles: Part Three
What toy would you never give away?
Ummm…my monkey. George.
What do you take to bed at night?
My animals.
What’s your favorite game?
Playing Bob the Builder.
What’s your favorite restaurant?
Um, Chinese.
What would you buy first if you had a million dollars?
Elmo.
Who’s the smartest person in our family?
Ummmm. Eva.
What makes you mad?
Eva.
Is there anything else you’d like to say?
(makes plane noises)
The Eli Chronicles: Part Two
(as interviewed by my wife, Brooke)
How tall is Daddy?
Um, big.
What is one thing Mommy is always saying to you?
“Play Power Rangers.”
How do you know Mommy and Daddy love you?
Kiss.
What’s your favorite TV show?
Spiderman. (Although at first he said, “Hannah Montana.” I said “Really?” And then he said, “I’m just kiddin’ mommy.”)
What do you like best about your pet?
She can talk. (”Maisy can talk?” “Yeah.”) And she loves me.
What vegetables do you like best?
Chips.
What’s your favorite book?
Um, George of the Jungle watch out for that tree.
What is your favorite candy bar?
Um, chocolate.
What would you like on your next birthday cake?
Spiderman!
What’s the scariest thing you’ve ever done?
Watch Finding Nemo.
The Eli Chronicles: Part One
(as interviewed by my wife, Brooke)
If you could have one super power what would it be?
Ummmm….a transformer.
What chore did you do last?
Ummmmm….I played with my costumes.
What is your favorite song?
Ummmmmmmmm….Jingle Bells.
How do you get to school?
Ummm…on Monday.
What is Daddy really good at?
Stories.
What can you do better than Daddy?
Play.
What’s the nicest thing you’ve done lately for someone in our family?
Drawing.
How are you like Mommy?
We feel bad cause we can’t fly.
How are you different from Mommy?
You wash your hands.
How old is Mommy?
America Junior!
The Eva Chronicles: Part Three
If you were a teacher, what subject would you teach?
Art. I like doing art. Sometimes, I think I’m an artist because I draw a lot of pretty pictures. And I kiss my brain sometimes.
When will be a grown up?
I’ll be a grown up… let’s see. (Goes back to wall where she measured her height.) I’m this short now. I’ll keep going until I’m right there (indicates) and then I’ll be a grown-up. I’ll be eight hundred when I grow up. And then, I’ll die.
What do you like best about kindergarten?
Playing. I like playing in the house… the restaurant house. I play with Shannon, Brianna, Cheyenne, Mackenzie, and Taylor. Everybody wants to get in there, but only five or six can get in there. One time, there were over six! I thought it was going to be one thousand.
If you could go anywhere in the world to visit, where would you go?
To the movies in St. Louis. I would go shopping.
What’s your favorite thing about going to church?
Prayer requests. We tell people to pray for pets and stuff like that.
What’s something that we should do more often?
Talk about girl stuff. Barbies, Polly Pockets, Strawberry Shortcake, Care Bears, you know…
If you had a million dollars, what’s the first thing you would buy?
Six hundred and eighty pups. They’re so cute! They’re little baby puppies and they’re so cute. I don’t want them to grow. They’re too cute! Wouldn’t you want that many pups? Because it would take those pups a long time to grow. I also like big dogs, but little pups are cuter. “Whoah! Whoah! Slow down. That would be a lot of pups.” Ha! I’m pretending somebody else said that.
The Eva Chronicles: Part Two
What will you wish for on your next birthday?
That people from far, far away that love me will come to my birthday party.
What is your favorite treat?
Going to the movies and getting popcorn and a Sprite.
What’s your favorite game to play?
How tall do you want to be when you grow up?
Let’s see. (Demonstrates against the wall.) I’m this tall. (Measures, then stretches her arm all the way up.) I want to be THAT tall! I want to actually be as tall as Mommy. No wait. I actually want to be taller than Daddy. Hmmm. I want to be Eleven size.
What job do you want to have when you grow up?
Hard to decide. A ballet teacher and a scrapbooker.
If you could only eat one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Mashed potatoes and gravy!!!
If you could choose a different name for yourself, what would it be?
Princess Genevieve.
What rule in our house would you get rid of if you could?
Cleaning the whole entire house. It would would be better if there was a Champion who cleaned the house. The Champion would clean 669 rooms. The living room, the dining room… every single room in your house! That would be a lot of work to do.
About This Blog
In Thornton Wilder’s play Our Town, the central character dies an early death. Emily is given the chance to revisit a day of her life and is advised by those in the afterlife to pick an ordinary day, warning her that she might be overcome otherwise. Still, Emily is overwhelmed with emotion as she recognizes how wonderful the everyday details of her existence were. Her daily routine takes on new significance now that it is gone. Through her tears, she asks:
Do any human beings ever realize life while they live it– every, every minute?
With this blog, I am trying to fully “realize” my life by documenting the things that I love. I want to appreciate and examine my past and present, as well as plan actively for the future.
I hope to accentuate the positive in my life and in the world around me, with the hope that by focusing on the positive, I will draw more positive elements into my life. Or, at least, realize all of the blessings that I do have.
Bob, the author of this blog, is a 33 year old husband, father, son, teacher, Christian, and liberal.
