bedtime stories (part deux)

after the previous blog entry, zach and i were putting davis to bed. goodnight moon was, of course, at the top of the list. we are on the page for "goodnight room." and the dialogue goes like this.....

davis: that's a mouse.

stephanie/zach: what's the mouse doing?

davis: running to fire.

stephanie/zach: what happens then?

davis: gets burned.

stephanie/zach: oh, nice. let's get another book.

gone but not forgotten

davis: my birthday is gone.

yes, but the memories are not.

allison and madison relaxing in the wagon.

"davis i got you a boat!" stella's not one for the element of surprise.

all about 3rd's: probably davis' third hotdog and stella's third cupcake.

scootey-patooty.

i'm gonna huff and i'm gonna puff and i'm gonna blow this caterpillar out.

mischief in process

getting started

getting started for a lot of firsts. not your usual firsts. you know, the first word, the first steps, the first foods. no.... it's the first summer full of first activities:

soccer

vacation bible school

first stage performance

swim lessons

trip to the movies

summer camp

first trophy

my first baby is no longer a baby. it is so bittersweet (and fun!) so many proud moments in a few short weeks.

lets see, we finished up soccer camp and davis received his first trophy on monday. we didn't go to the end of season "pool party" because it was our 2nd night of vbs. and he can go to the pool and have a hot dogs anytime. so we sacrificed the awards ceremony. but davis picked up his trophy the next day and carried it with him EVERYWHERE and showed EVERYONE for the next 24 hours. now, it is placed in a highly, distinguished spot in his room where davis points it out at least once a day, "that's my soccer sophry."

swim lessons. our first trip to the pool this season suggested it was time to get allison in swim lessons. yes, allison. she kicked and paddled the second zach put her in the water. the next day, she was jumping of the stairs and going underwater herself. she thinks she's a fish. so it's morning swim lessons for both on alternating days, thank goodness. i don't have any pictures of her lessons because they are parent/child lessons and I'm in the pool with her. now with a lesson and swim belt under her belt, she will kick around the pool like a perfectly happy little seahorse. a precious sight. i have to get a picture of it sometime.

davis is in swim lessons without the parent. which i wasn't quite sure how this was going to go over since he is a little more cautious about the water. he likes the water, but he likes the security of knowing you are near him or as he puts it "you got me?" he did great and walked right off with his swim coach and swim class buddy, bry. not a single worry about leaving mommy behind at all. i was so proud to see him listen to his coach and actually try each new exercise. now, as we count down from three to get davis to jump in the pool, he'll swing his arms and say, "i'm getting started!" and then he'll jump in after the second countdown. funny little boy. second generation super chickens! those two.

oh my, my. vacation bible school. allison's class was still in the nursery where she played and was the little helper since she was probably the oldest toddler/baby there. still she happily helped her teacher go gather the snack when the time came. davis was a little rowdy the first day or two always wanting to go with mommy and daddy, or play a game of catch and chase with his teachers. but don't you know by the end of the week it was my precious child up there with the rest of his class just a dancing, clapping and a singing in front of the church.

summer's getting started! and i have a feeling its going to be one of the funnest ones for me and zach.

our first movie to up!

too stinking cute

and pictures from the boomerang express:
(vacation bible school-boiling springs baptist church)

bedtime stories

davis knows his moons.

there are crescent moons. circle moons. bedtime moons. which, according to davis, are the ame exact thing as circle moons. and goodnight moon by margaret wise brown. probably my favorite book of all the kids' books.

it all started tonight before bed as we all went out on the back porch to look at the bedtime moon. it got too dark outside for davis so he directed everyone back inside. put allison to bed. time to tuck davis in for the night. pull out goodnight moon.

davis is in the memorizing stage. he has every book memorized however he will not read them to you. but should you misplace a word or switch a phrase around, he'll let you know. now, he will read by fill in the blank. if i pause at the end of a sentence or line, i can usually get him to finish the sentence for me. and 99.9% of the time he'll get it exactly right. or he will improvise...

we get to the black and white page of just the toyhouse and mouse. "goodnight little house, goodnight mouse." and then davis' dialogue went like this:

mommy, that's the mouse...(pause)... mouse's house.

he's going to his house.

and what's he going to do in his house?

go take a bath.

and then what?
brush his teeth.

what does he do after he brushes his teeth?

he goes to the kitchen.

and then what does he do?

milk.

and then what?

water.

then what does the mouse do?

he goes to allison's room.

and then what?

he goes to my room.

and then?

he gets blanket.
and then what?

book.

then what does he do?

prayer.

and then what?

sings bible loves me.

and then what?

wakes up mommy.

and then what?

wakes up daddy.

oh to sleep so soundly that your nights and mornings run together!

goodnight moon.

goodnight stars.

goodnight air.

goodnight noises everywhere.

ice cream clouds

davis how old are you?

euh.

this many? (holding up three fingers.)

I'm W!

kids are smarter than we give them credit for. davis is the child who always sees things differently than expected but still right in his own way. second example was at soccer practice on monday. it was team picture day and after taking all players' individual shots it was time for the team picture. oh boy, i thought. i'll stand back and watch the coach and this naive photographer try to wrangle fifteen 3 and 4 yr olds into two rows, be still, smile and look at the camera. so the photographer asked all the "little" kids to sit cross-legged on the front row. davis fell into this category. and while she meant "indian-style", when she asked davis to cross his legs he did so at the ankles with his legs straight out. (snicker, snicker.) how entertaining it was to step back and see others try to communicate with these little minds. you can't tell him that he's wrong because he did cross his legs. just not in the way she expected him too.

allison and davis are always showing us how to see things differently. whether its a crane, dump truck, garbage truck, eighteen wheeler, building, store logo, water tower or train tracks. then after pointing out what they have just seen, davis continues to tell us who drive the garbage truck, who like to shop in what store, etc.

Family Ice Cream Night:

Say Cheese!:

Allison devouring a cone:

Quick lick for Darby:

All Gone.:

Slow Poke.:

Note: Allison, Car and Darby are long gone.