Morning Conversation

The following conversation took place in The Lou's bed this morning as she searched for her Rapunzel doll:

The Lou:  "Daddy, where is my Rapunzel?"
Daddy:  *holding her Rapunzel doll under his arm the whole time* "I don't know."
The Lou:  *noticing I have Rapunzel*  "You have it, Silly Daddy!"
Daddy: "No, this is my doll."
The Lou:  "Daddy, you're silly!  That's not a USC doll!  That's a girl's doll!"

This conversation left me with the nagging question; Is there such a thing as an SC doll and where can I get one?!

Christmas Conversations ~ Hot Cocoa

The following conversation took place the night before Christmas Decorating:

Daddy:  "Lou, guess what?!"
The Lou:  "What?!"
Daddy:  "Tomorrow we are going to put up and decorate the Christmas Tree!"
The Lou:  *CHEERS LOUDLY*  "Daddy, that means we get to have Hot Cocoa!"
Daddy:  "Oh yeah?!"
The Lou:  "Yeah!  Christmas means Hot Cocoa!"
Daddy: "Sweet!"

The subsequent conversation took place the following night as we were to decorate:

Daddy:  "Okay, let's decorate the tree."
The Lou:  *holding her arms out in a stopping motion*  "Wait!  We have to have Hot Cocoa!"
The Lou:  *does a little song and dance dedicated to the Hot Cocoa gods*
Daddy:  "You really like Hot Cocoa, don't you?"
The Lou:  *looking and speaking to me as if I am crazy*  "YES!  Have you ever had it?!  It tastes just like chocolate!"
Daddy:  "Well, alright!  Mommy is making some now."
The Lou:  *sipping her Hot Cocoa*  "Daddy, do you like it?"
Daddy:  "Yes.  It is delicious."
The Lou:  "I TOLD YOU!  It tastes just like chocolate!"
The Lou:  "My favorite part is the smishsmellows!"

This is one of those conversations that words cannot describe.  Even if dictated exactly as the conversation took place, you could never capture the excitement and personality of it.  It was a profound lesson to me, and not a solitary lesson but rather one of many conversations that teach me to be grateful for all I have; To appreciate the simple things with such excitement and passion.  If we express such love and gratitude for the simple things we already have, how much happier I suppose we will be during the holidays and throughout life.

From the mouth of babes...from the mouth of babes.

Christmas Conversations ~ Elfreth

First and foremost...MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!  Our family has adopted "The Elf on the Shelf" tradition.  For those who don't know what it is, it is a book that explains how it is the Santa comes to know if the kids are good or naughty.  He has helper elves such as the elf you see above.  The book explains that each family is assigned a helper elf who likes to hide around the house and observe and then, at night, he or she travels back to the North Pole to inform Santa of the children's behavior.  The elf then finds a new hiding place.  

Nothing like a Christmas tradition to teach your kids lessons such as 1) how to tattle, 2) how to always watch over your shoulder in paranoia and 3) how to behave only when being watched!  HAHA!  The fun part is that you get to name your elf and register it on Santa's website.  Santa then sends an email to your child by name and every morning the child wakes up to eagerly discover where that nuisance of an elf is hiding today!

In an effort to strike up the season, I helped The Lou look for Elfreth (that's our elf on a shelf) the first time and reminded her of the reason why Elfreth is in our home.  The following conversation took place:

Daddy:  "Lou, Where is Elfreth?"

The Lou:  *looks around until she spots him*  "Right there!"

Daddy:  "Remember, Elfreth is here to watch you and to report to Santa how you are behaving."

The Lou:  "How does he do that?"  *looking perplexed*

Daddy:  "Every night Elfreth travels back to the North Pole to tell Santa."

The Lou:  *speaking matter of factly and as if I am being silly*  "Uh...Daddy...It's just a toy."

She is already getting older!  Her reasoning and logic skills are definitely in tact and in motion.  It made me sad to realize, but also proud that she is bright.  I expressed those exact sentiments to her that night and the next morning, as if to appease me, the first thing she asked was, 

The Lou:  "Daddy, where is Elfreth hiding today?!  Let's find him!"  

All is right in the world again.

Conversations on the Foot of a Bed

Upon The Lou waking up with a stuffy nose, the following conversation took place on the foot of my bed.

The Lou:  Sniff, Sniff.
The Lou:  Sniff, Sniff.
Daddy:  "How are you?"
The Lou:  "I have a stuffy nose."
Daddy:  "You know what will help that?"
The Lou:  "What?"
Daddy:  "A Great Big Hug!"
The Lou and Daddy share a big hug
The Lou:  Sniff, Sniff
The Lou:  "Daddy?"
Daddy:  "Yes?"
The Lou:  "Maybe a cookie will help my stuffy nose."

HAHA!  She is getting smarter every day!

Another Conversation on the Swing

This conversation took place while pushing my daughter, The Lou, on her swing.  Upon assuming she heard me fart, the following short, yet condemning conversation took place.  Of course, it must be noted for the record, that I never fart.  That would be rude.

Daddy:  (makes some random sound somehow that resembles a fart)

Leah:  "Daddy, did you fart?!"

Daddy:  "Of course not!"

Leah:  "Daddy, Jesus knows if you farted.  He can hear you."

Daddy:  (head simultaneously hangs in shame while proudly looks up at his daughter swinging in the sky)