Fill your mind like Abigail

Last weekend we visited my mom and step-dad and spent a night at their cabin. My step-dad and his sons are avid hunters, and there are a number of "trophies" mounted on the walls. Abigail was understandably wary about the large animal heads, and she asked my step-dad about it. He kindly took her around and told her about how the animals weren't alive any more, and that what she was seeing was just the animals' skins with marbles for eyes. He told her a little about a taxidermist and the different kinds of animals she saw - elk, antelope, badger, deer, pheasant - and then reassured her again that what she saw was just the animals' skins. A few minutes later she came to me and said,

"Mom! The animals are just their skins, and - and - (she tried to gather her thoughts for a minute) and - my mind is really full - but the animals are just their skins!"

Abigail, almost 4

This summer Abigail has been creating dances. She performs them and then teaches them to me, to her friends, and to her dolls. One afternoon I complimented her on her most recent creation, and she replied, "Yep! That's what I like to do - make up dances."

Abigail's favorite person

Cameron says to Abigail: So, Abigail, who do you like better - me or Henry?
Abigail replies: Me.

Cameron, age 7

Some of you may know that Cameron was recently diagnosed with Henoch-Schonlein-Purpura, an illness which causes extensive bruising on the inside and outside of the body, with joint pain and edema as well. Cameron has been really good-natured through it all (though he did NOT like being at the hospital!), as I've helped him with routine tasks that have suddenly become difficult - getting dressed, walking, etc. Tonight as I was helping him into bed, he said, "Mom, thanks for all the help you've been giving me. It's been a big help." (Gotta document the rare times you hear this kind of thing from your children!)

Cameron, 1st grade

While driving around the other day, Cameron asked me how far away Grandma's house was. I pointed south, and said, "about 360 miles that direction".
"Oh," he replied, "so if we drove 120 miles per hour, we'd get there in 3 hours."
"Good figuring!" I replied. "How did you determine that?"
He innocently responded, "100 + 100 + 100 + 20 + 20 + 20. Or, 10 + 10 + 10 + 2 + 2 + 2 times 10."
Great math for a first grader!

Is it really being there if...

Cameron, 7 1/2, is excited for a campout with his dad this weekend. He was describing to Abigail what the camping site was like, and Abigail said, "Oh yeah, I've been there." "No you haven't!" Said Cameron. "You didn't go with us last time." To which Abigail responded, "Uh-huh! I've been there in my dream!"

Excuses for not eating

Abigail, 3 1/2, has recently created a new excuse for not eating her dinner (or lunch or breakfast). She says, "I'm saving it for my birthday." Half a banana, the last bite of peas, soggy cereal - "I'm saving it for my birthday!" Her birthday is in September.

Cameron, age 7

"Revolution is work and evolution is something changing."
(Great Wisdom from School House Rock and Pokemon)

Henry and Cameron, ages 10 and 7

We're at Cold Stone, eating ice cream. Henry orders something with gummi bears in it; Cameron orders dark chocolate ice cream with white chocolate chips.

Cam: Mmmm, this is really yummy.

Henry: What do you have in it?

Cam: White chocolate chips.

Henry: Yuck. I don't like white chocolate chips. (He pauses and takes a bite of ice cream.) Well, they're not as bad as chicken or anything!

Abigial's perceptiveness

Last night Abigail and I were reading a story where one of the characters "stole the show" at the end.

Abby: Mom, what does it mean to "stole the show"?

Mom: It means that that person ended up being the best thing in the show.

Abby: Oh! She stole the show!

I'm often amazed at the questions my kids ask.

Cameron, age 7

Cameron: Mom, do boys do ballet?

Mom: Of course!

Cameron: Huh. I knew that boys did some things that girls do, like Karate.

(I love that he sees Karate as a "girls sport"! Those years of blood and sweat and black belts paid off today. :) )

An old but good quote from Cameron

When I was pregnant with Abigail, we took the boys with us to the ultrasound where we found out if the baby was a boy or girl.

Ultrasound Technician: Do you want to know the gender?
Keri: Yes.
Tech: Congratulations, you're having a girl!
Cameron: And her name is Abigail.

And that's how Abigail was named.

Abigail 3 yr 5 mo

Our 7-month-pregnant neighbor, Stephanie, was at our house the other day, and Abigail was feeling her belly.

Stephanie: I'd let you feel her when she's kicking, but she's asleep right now.

Abigail: But it's not dark outside!

February 11, 2009

Abigail is 3 yrs 5 months old and playing with some Legos at the doctor's office.

Mom: That looks cool! What are you building?

Abigail: Someone else builded it. I'm just modifying it.

(Does your 3-year-old use the word "modifying"?)

From May 2008 - Abigail 2 yr 9 mo

I'm helping Abigail put her pajamas on after a bath. She started using her fingers to pick at the shoulder of my shirt.

Mom: Is there something on my shirt?

Abigail: No, just my hand!

From October 2008

The kids and I are in the car, sitting at a red light. I told Henry something and he replied:

Henry: Indeed.
Abigail: No, in-red!

From September - Abigail 3 yrs

On this day, I was wearing my gold harp necklace. Abigail noticed it.

"Mom, your necklace is metal. It's gold metal. (She lifted it up to look closer.) Now it's white metal. (The light reflected off it differently. She put it down.) Now it's shiny gold metal. (Lifting it again) Now it's white. (Back down) Now it's gold."

Abigail - 3 yr 5 mo

After using the bathroom:
"Holy smokes! There's a poop snake in there!"

Henry- age 9 yr 10 mo.

This is Henry telling me that he's going to tell his friend about his progress on a video game.
"I'm bound to give him another update since I got out of that weird realm."
I love raising kids who are readers. It takes their vocabulary to new realms. :)

Henry and sleep

Henry: Mom, I haven't slept for a month!
Keri: Then why do I have to wake you up for school every morning?!

January 21, 2009 - Star Wars Dinnertime

For months my boys have been enjoying the Youtube video, "Star Wars - an a capella tribute to John Williams". They know every note and every word - even Abigail knows all the tunes and about half of the words. (If you haven't seen this video, here is the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cs7jAzAQN_4)

So at dinner, Tim was trying to encourage Abigail (3 yrs. 5 mo.) to use her silverware instead of eating with her fingers.

Tim sings: You must use your fork.
Keri sings: You must use...
Cameron sings: You must use...
Henry sings: You must use...
All: ...your fork!

Abigail sings in reply: I won't use my fork! I just use my fingers!

From August - Abigail 2 yrs. 11 mo.

So I'm reading nursery rhymes with Abigail at bedtime. She's helping, since she has the book nearly memorized. We're reading "Hey, Diddle, Diddle." The illustration shows all the characters, including the dish and the spoon who appear to be running.

Keri: Hey diddle
Abigail: diddle
Keri: the cat and the
Abigail: fiddle
Keri: the cow jumped
Abigail: over the moon.
Keri: the little dog
Abigail: laughed
Keri: to see such sport. And the dish...
Abigail: is standing right there!

From September - Henry - 9 yrs. 5 mo.

Beethoven's Ode to Joy
Utah Symphony/Utah Symphony Chorus, conducted by Keith Lockhart

Henry and my husband Tim attended the concert, and I sang with the chorus. Henry wanted to meet Maestro Lockhart afterward, so I took him backstage. The conversation went like this:

Keri: Maestro Lockhart, my son wanted to meet you. Henry, this is Keith Lockhart; this is my son, Henry.

Keith Lockhart: Henry, it's nice to meet you. (He shook Henry's hand.)
Henry: I have about a million questions I want to ask you.
KL: Well, why don't you pick you favorite one and ask it.
Henry: Why...Why did you pick Beethoven?
KL: Well, one reason is because there's a man, O.C. Tanner, who gives a lot of money to the symphony. Beethoven is one of his favorite composers. Also, he sponsors the opening concert each year, so he's giving money to support this concert. The other reason is because, choosing music is like choosing food - what you want depends on what you're in the mood for - but if someone put their hands around your throat and demanded that you tell them what the greatest music of all time was, you might just have to say Beethoven's 9th.
Henry: Cool.
KL: I'll answer another question the next time I see you.
Henry: Thanks.

From December - Abigail - 3 yrs. 3 mo.

We're sitting in church, and I've been snuggling my month-old niece for five minutes: "Mom, can we sit with someone who doesn't have a baby!"

From December - Abigail - 3 yrs. 3 mo.

We're driving in the car and the song, "It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas" comes on the radio: "It already looks like Christmas! Turn off the radio!"

From August - Abigail - 2 yrs. 11 mo.

Preparations for her first "real" birthday party are underway. "I'm gonna have a birthday party here with friends. It's gonna be so cool!"

Cameron, age 7 yr. 1 mo.

To his sister, who was jumping on him, blanket-wrapped: "I'm a blanket with feelings!"

I don't have time for this, but...

Parenting is an everyday adventure. One of my favorite things about being a parent is hearing the interesting, funny, and amazing things my children say. Perhaps you may enjoy them, too. On, dear reader!