Words Worth Remembering

Jude:"We're not racing, we're just seeing who can win."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jude:"I wish we had those pine trees that grew peaches."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Me:"Aw, Jude I love your robot picture. He's so cute! He's got extra arms."

Jude:"Those aren't extra arms. He has snot coming out of his nose."
Me: "Oh." SMH

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Cai:"Mom, I can't sleep. Can I take like a military shower with no soap really quick?"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jude:"A donkey and camel and a moose is the same thing."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Cai:"Only God knows if I'm going to get married. I'm going to ask him because I don't know."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jude:"Just put a little sugar on it and it'll be all better."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Just a few questions about new chicks that Jude and Cai had:

 - Why don't they have tears when they cry?

 - Can my chickie come in my bed with me?

 - Can I take the chickie down the slide with me?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Rainy:"Alethia, you make me smile. I haven't smiled and laughed all day."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jude:"I love you how much stars are in the sky."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jude:"Oh no! There's Holy Molly's on that plant!!!"

(He meant rolly pollies:)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jude:"Who wants a strawberry? You should always have food. Because it gives you more intrition."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Cai:"We need animal's poop because when they eat something and poop out the seed, then when it rains it'll grow a plant."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jude:"Remember when I saw you in Daddy's office and I Skyped you? Those are some good days."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Josh:"Here you go Rainy, Alligator River."

Cai:"We're going to get a Gatorade?!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jude:"I care about Jesus more than school."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Cai:"Mom, is it snowing at night at Nonnie and G-Daddy's?"

Jude:"Uh, Cai, they live in America too!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jude:"99 is like my favorite number."

Me:"What makes 99 your favorite number?"

Jude:"Because it makes you excited to get to 100."

~~~~~~~~~~

Me:"Jude, I believe I am hearing a lot of frustration from Cai about something you are doing."

Jude:"I'm just singing and drumming!"

Me:"So it sounds like you have a couple options here.  You can listen and hear your brother's clues that he is getting a little frustrated with your loud singing and your marker-drumming and respect his request by stopping.  Or you can ignore his request and continue the drumming because that is more important to your heart right now."

Jude:"Um...what are my options again?"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jude:"Dad, what is your REAL name?"

Josh:"It's Joshua."

Jude:"Wait, what?!  BOOOYYYSSSS did you know dad's REAL name is JOSHUA?!"

Cai and Zeke:"You didn't know that?!"

Words Worth Remembering

Me:"Jude what are you doing?"
Jude:"I'm watering the Ant fort so they'll DIE!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jude:"I'll just play with Cai cuz I don't know how to get along with anybody."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Cai:"Henry said he knows he's going to hell.  I told him that can change."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jude:"Dad, what am I supposed to say when someone says, 'What's up?'"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Cai:"Dad, almost every day we have customers at our house."
(he meant VISITORS!)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jude:"Look mom, they are selling Girl Scouts over there!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jude (while watching soccer on TV):"Dad, do they have rebacks on this game?"
Josh:"A what buddy?"
Jude:"Rebacks. You know, to go back and see it?"
Josh:"Oh yeah, a replay? Uh-huh, they do sometimes."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Josh:"Hey babe, are we all out of that, uh, um, Ebenezer juice?"
Me:...
Josh:"What's that stuff called?"
Me:"Elderberry Syrup?"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jude:"Mom, will you come cuddle with me in my bed? I'll carry you to your bed if you fall asleep."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Me and Josh: "Oh man, Jude, that is a bad scratch!"
Jude:"Yeah, it's ok though. It will be better tomorrow or one day and I'll get that crispy skin on it."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Me (seeing Cai super sweaty): "Hey bud, do you want me to pull your hair back?"
Cai: "Nah, not yet.  I'm gonna wait until I grow a mustache so people don't think I'm a girl."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jude:"What is that thing mom?"
Me:"It's just something that goes to daddy's grill. His BROKEN grill. Maybe we should get daddy a new grill for Father's Day or something."
Jude:"OR a fish. He LOVES whales and fish are kind of like whales, so we should get him a fish. Or a basketball."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Josh playing basketball with Alethia and Jude.
Alethia and Jude are on a team together against Josh.
Alethia:"But he's (Josh) too tall."
Jude:"Yeah, but Alethia we have two! If we stick together we can make as tall as him!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jude:"How much longer until our soccer game?"
Josh:"About 5 hours"
Jude:"Ok, I'm gonna go set a timer for 5 hours then."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Cai:"Oh yeah, and we can drink some of that egg juice."
AKA - eggnog

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jude:"Mom, what day was yesterday?"
Me: "Wednesday"
Jude:"Can you write 'Wednesday' on my hand?"
Me:"Sure, go get a pen."
***Writes "Wednesday" on Jude's hand***
Jude:"Thanks mom."
Josh: "Why? What was on Wednesday?"
Jude:"It helps me remember when we got the chickens."
Zeke:"But today is Thursday."
Jude:...
Me:"Yeah, we got the chickens TODAY."
Jude:...
***Jude goes and washes his hand***
Jude:"Hey mom, can you write Thursday on my hand?"

Words Worth Remembering

Jude:"Zeke, can you read me my quiet time again?"

Jude:"But WHYYYY do I have to go to bed right now?"
Me:"Because you are SO tired."
Jude:"I'm NOT tired. I'm GRUMPY!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Cai:"Mom, you're passing the wall."
translation - You're crossing the line

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jude:"Hmmmm, I like the chicken that is in that tuna!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Me:"Come on, let's do school outside today!"
Rainy:"No, not math. It is too pretty outside, but math deserves a dark place."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jude:"It's called a comperstation. That's what talking is."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Zeke:"Mom, can I show you these?"
Me:"Sure, what is it?"
Zeke:"It's what I drew last night and wanted to show you but daddy said that you were a little cranky."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jude:"Who said that? Not me. It was the other dimension Jude...Good joke huh!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Cai:"Mom, who's in the car?"
Me:"Zeke, Rainy and Laithy."
Cai:"What did you say? What about money did you say?"
Me:"I didn't say ANYthing about money.  I said Zeke and Rainy and Alethia are in the car."
Jude:"What about cheese?"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jude:"You wanna see my ball?  It's a Duke ball."
Poppie:"Is it a basketball?"
Jude:"No.  It's just a duke ball.  But it's called a basketball sometimes too."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jude:"I just gotta get a little taller so I can get into third grade."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Cai:"Ooooh, Jude, what happened to your foot?!"
Jude:"It's OK, it's just eczemO."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jude:"You know what I like most about today? Hugging you."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Josh:"The smell of a musty old books brings me to a happy place."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jude:"Mom, can we get some parrots?"
translation - pears

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Zeke:"Jude, you have to go take your shirt off cuz you're the drummer."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Cai:"I like how this lip chap tastes."
translation - chapstick

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jude:"Oh man, I'm so steaming cold out here!"

Words Worth Remembering

Jude:"Mom, what does commence mean?"
#HesFour

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Me:"I loved that idea from Mr. Matt and Mrs. Magan so much we are going to start it here."
Rainy:"That's the thing about parents, they always build off of each other."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jude:"Daddy, your day off is always the BEST day.  All the other days are NOT good."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Josh:"So after Adam was born who did God create next?"
Jude:"Justin Biever!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Cai:"MOM, I just did 21 burp ups!"
(he meant "burpees")

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jude: "Look at that fruit fly.  It's trying to get fruit out of my toe!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Josh:"yeah, we have a Hobby Lobby now.  I don't get what the big deal is."
Me:"Well, have you actually been inside?"
Josh:"Um, do they sell guitars or theology books?"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jude:
Ace Hardware = "Lowes Hardwars"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Cake Lady:"Alright, so what should I put on the cake?"
Me:"Happy Birthday Z-E-K-E."
Cake Lady:"Oh, well that is a TERRIBLE name!  Just awful!"
Me:"Why?"
Cake Lady:"Haven't you heard of ZIKA virus?!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jude to Josh mowing the grass with his shirt off to get some sun:
"DAD, you're NAKED!!!  But it's good you have pants on."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Words Worth Remembering

Me:"Why do I always have to say the same thing over again?"
Jude:"Because my ears don't want to listen to you."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jude:"Mom, I'm not sweaty yet (from working out) but when I am sweaty I'll let you feel me."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jude (talking to Siri): "Um, I love Hotwheels cars so could you put some new ones in my mailbox for me?"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jude:"We should look it up on giggle!"
(giggle = GOOGLE)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jude: *achoooo* "Bless you myself."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jude (watching me change outfits):"Mom, why do you keep changing your clothes on and off?"
Me:"Because I'm just not feelin' it, ya know?"
Jude:"What does that even mean?  That doesn't even make any sense."
Me:"I just need to find something more comfortable for today."
Jude:"K. I'm just gonna turn around so only my legs see you being inappropriate."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

According to Jude...
"Mackin' Akarica" is Captain America
"Staw Waws" is Starbucks

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Rainy:"How long have you and daddy been married?"
Me:"Almost 14 years."
Jude:"That's a lot of minutes.  That's a lot of five minutes!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jude:"Cai, I'm telling on you for nothin'!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Cai:"If I was going to see Santa I was going to ask him if I could have five sunny side up eggs sitting by the Christmas tree on Christmas morning.  And add bacon and sausage and eggs too."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jude:"I have a lot of bless you's.  I LOVE bless you's."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jude:"Mom, is this the 'Ever Be On My List' song?"
("Ever Be" on my lips by Bethel worship)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Zeke:"Mom, we should make a tacky."
Me:"What's that?"
Zeke:"You know, those houses that Indians lived in made of sticks and cloth."
Me:"Oooohhh, a Teepee?"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jude:"I don't really like babies cuz' they lick me."

Words Worth Remembering ~ Christmas Edition #ThingsTheySay

Cai:"Hey! I thought we were watching the Graham Cracker!  Who changed the channel?!"
(he actually meant "The Nutcracker")

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Me:"Jude, don't open that present.  That one's not yours."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Josh:"Jude, do you have another piece of gum?  I thought you said you weren't going to eat any more of it?  We already brushed our teeth."
Jude:"Oh yeah!  Ooooohhh, sorry dad!  I was just tempted to eat just one more piece!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

(after being sent to his room to reevaluate his attitude)
Jude:"Mom, can I come out now?"
Mom:"Nope.  You have 5 minutes to go back to your room and think about your rude words."
Jude walking back to his room, puts his finger up to his head as if thinking and says..."hmmmm".
Then he comes running down the hallway saying, "MOM!  I thought of a word!  I can play with MY cars and Cai can play with HIS cars!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Josh:"Jude, buddy, that present isn't yours!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Zeke:"Mom, it's like a dream day cuz we got this dream car!"

They have only been asking for one of these for 7 years:-)
They don't even care that we had to ghetto rig the back on, ha!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jude:"Thanks for this stuff. What is it?"
Rainy:"Jude!  That is mom's perfume that I gave her!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jude:"Here mom, this is yours.  I got it for you.  It's fingernail polish.  Can I open it for you?"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jude:"Here mom, this is a book for you and daddy and I'm giving it to you."
Me:"Thanks buddy, but that is YOUR book that daddy and I gave to YOU!"
Jude:"Oooh, THANKS!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

All Colony members to Jude:"Noooo, stop opening presents!  Those aren't yours!"
Jude (crossing his arms and pouting): "But I WANT to open more presents."

#ChristmasWithTheColony
#ColonyChristmas

Words Worth Remembering

Cai:"Zeke, wouldn't that be so funny if somebody screamed so loud that their head popped off?!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Me:"Jude, are you okay?"
Jude:"Yeah. I just had mac-n-cheese all the way down in my choking spot."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jude:"Mom, are you putting your earwax in?"
translation:"Mom, are you putting your contacts in?"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jude:"I can't find any hard workin' shirts!"

ie: work out shirts

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jude:"That's adarious"
translation - "That's hilarious!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jude:"I'm gonna call you a 'sweatie bubble"
Me:"What?"
Jude:"You know that chocolate stuff you like?"
...thinking...
Me:"Ohhhhh, a butterfinger?"
Jude:"Oh yeah. a butterfinger!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jude:"Look mom, it's yummy skittles!"
Me:"Mmmmm, are you gonna share with mommy?"
Jude:"NOPE."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jude:"Daddy let me have a huffy puppy."
huffy puppy = hush puppy

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Zeke, looking at the ground beef thawing on the counter for dinner: "Mom, what IS that?!"
Me: "It's meat for tacos for dinner tonight."
Zeke: "Ooooh.  I thought it was some kind of penguin meat."
Me: "What?  We have never even mentioned ever eating penguin.  I'm not sure if people even eat penguin mean."
Zeke:"Yeah they do.  Like Coyote meat or something."

#ZekeLogic

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jude:"I have sharp teeth to bite dinosaurs."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jude:"Mom, I think squirrels like us.  They like our yard.  Squirrels like our yard, but not dinosaurs."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Cai:"Hey mom, you know those bathrooms at school?"
Me:"Yeah."
Cai:"I wish we had THOSE here because you can put all the toilet paper you want in there and it just flushes down.  They NEVER overfloat!"

#ItsTheLittleThings

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jude:"Sorry for throwing my food on the floor that one time."
Me:"It's okay buddy.  I forgive you."
Jude:"Thanks.  I forgive you too."

Words Worth Remembering

Cai's sidewalk chalk spaceship

Jude:"Mom, can I go to Zeke's school now, I'm bigger today."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Josh:"Rainy, you look really pretty today.  I hope no boys wink at you today at school."
Rainy:"DAD!!!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Alethia:"MOM!  Jude doesn't have to use baby cups anymore!"
Jude:"Yeah, I don't have to use baby cupth anymore!"
Me:"But that's kind of sad because that means he isn't a baby anymore.  Boo.  Jude, will you still be my baby boy?"
Jude:"No, but I can be a nice little bear."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Josh:"Alright Jude, what was YOUR Bible verse today?"
Jude:"Ummm..."
Josh:"My God..."
Jude:"...is the greatest...meat."
Josh:"well, um, close.  My God will meet all your needs."
Jude:"Philidia 4:19"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Josh:"So, what did ya'll learn about in your classes at Journey today?"
Alethia:"Look before you leap."
Zeke: "No, it was listen before you leap."
Cai:"No, it was look before you sleep."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jude:"Daddy, sit down on the chest so I can tell you a stoe-rey.  One day I was playing basketball and I hit the ball with my bat and hote my fingeo and rolled down the hill.  I busted my fingoe and it was bweeding weewee bad and I had to go to the hospital.  And then it started bweeding again and I had to go back to the hospital.  I had to go to the hospital fwee times.  And then I hote my eyeball.  And then I had to go to the hospital again.  Then I came home and played more basketball. And then I took a bath and then I got out."
Josh:"Well I'm sorry about all of that buddy. Goodnight."
Jude:"No sit back down daddy.  I'm gonna tell you anothoe story."
#StoriesWithJude

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jude: tweezer = sleeveless shirt
Jude: rollercoaster = wheelbarrow
Areyna: machette = meditating

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jude:"Mom, why does Satan have powers?"
(then this shocked mama got to have a mini spiritual conversation with my 3-year-old)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Alethia:"Knock, knock"
Rainy:"who's there?"
Alethia:"Banana.  Knock, knock"
Rainy:"who's there?"
Alethia:"watermelon. Knock, knock"
Rainy:"who's there?"
Alethia:"ORANGE you glad I didn't say orange."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Cai:"Alethia is frustrating me because she said that I was talking about her in my head."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Words Worth Remembering

Jude:"Hey! My Jellow-fish is gone!"
translation:Hey, my cherry pie is gone!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Me:"Jude, what's on your tummy?"
Jude:"It's a baskettie bike."
Me:"A what?"
Jude:"A baskettie bike."
Me:"You mean a mosquito bite?"
Jude:"Yes."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Cai:"Mom, what's 'drama'?"
Me:"Well, it's when..."
Cai:"Girls have drama."
Me:"Well, yeah, but boys do too.  And adults and kids can too."
Cai:"And dogs?"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jude:"Mom, I'm just a little sad."
Me:"Awe, why are you sad buddy?"
Jude:"I just am.  I just have little tear in my eye."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Cai:"Did olden people really live in log cabins."
Me:"Yes"
Cai:"But some of the olden peoples lived in brick homes too?"
Me:"Yes, after a while."
Cai:"Was it really black?"
Me:"Was what really black?"
Cai:"In olden peoples lives."
Me:"No, life was regular.  Just movies were in black and white because they hadn't learned to put color in cameras yet."
Cai:"Oooooooooohhhhhhh!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jude:"Can I poopie on pinecones?"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jude trying to say "chapstick"
 - chapchip
 - chackchip
 - chapchick
 - "uh!  I can't say it!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Zeke:"Dad, isn't Rainy too big for lipgloss?"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jude:"Mom, I ate my donut all."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Wipekins = napkins in Jude-ese

Words Worth Remembering

Jude:"Mom, can you help me take my shoes off?"
Me:"Why? I just put them on you."
Jude:"Because I'm going outside."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Rainy:"Cai, what are you doing?  You know you can't bring your gum to school!"
Cai:"I'm just getting a piece for Jude so he'll stop following me around."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Zeke:"Cai, you know you should really try to go to college when you grow up because they have really cool water fountains."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jude:"Can chickies wide bikes?"
Me:"Nope."
Jude:"Awe (frowns)."
Me:"It's ok, because God made them with wings so that they can fly!"
Jude:"Can I get wings on to fly too?"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Alethia:"When we play family I like to be the mommy because I get to tell everybody what to do."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Cai:"Zeke, I wish we could have a clean-up robot so we didn't have to clean up all our stuff."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jude:"Zeke, I ate your gummie!"
Zeke:"No you didn't. Daddy found it on my desk and I ate it!"
Jude:"No you didn't Zeke!  I ATE IT!  LOOK, see it in my tummy?!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Zeke:"Sometimes it's cool to have pimples."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jude:"I'm so proud of my pee-peein' in the potty."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Cai:"Can girls have beards?"
Me:"Well, kind of, but not like a guys beard."
Cai:"Alethia, you know Andrew?  He said his mom has a beard! heehee."
Alethia:"I want a beard!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jude:"Isaac, I'm wearing big boy undies!  I'm just gettin' SO big!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jude:"I can't find my mow-da-gwass."
translation:"I can't find my lawnmower."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Josh:"Cai, tell us something good about your day at school.  How was your day?"
Cai:"I took my green jacket off and my long shirt and only had my one-sleeved shirt on."
Josh and I look at each other with smiling eyes and both tell him how proud of him we are for stripping down some of the layers in the 90 degree weather at school, ha!
Cai:"Well actually, my teacher made me take them off because she said I was making HER hot."

Words Worth Remembering

Jude:"I'm a rockstar!"
Me:"Awww, yes you are a rockstar.  Can I be a rockstar too?"
Jude:"Nope. You are beautiful."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jude:" Oooh, I see helicostumes!"
translation: helicopters

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Zeke:"Mom, can you stop for a minute?"
Me:"No buddy, we're on the INTERSTATE!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Zeke:"Mom, I think I just heard a bird yelling for help!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jude:"I poopied in the potty lasterday"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Cai:"Jude, NO, you can't go out there.  The volcano syrup is going to get you!!!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jude:"Mom, open your face."

translation: mom, will you look at me?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Me:"Jude, do you PROMISE you'll do it?"

Jude:"I pinky pwomise!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jude:"Can I get a goodie bag of thtuff and give it to Edis and Lois?"
translation: Can I bring a snack to Ed and Lois?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jude:"Cai, I love you so bad."

Words Worth Remembering

Jude: "Mommy, Ju-Ju eat Ju-Ju's candy kingth"
(translation: mommy, I ate my candy cane)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Cai:"One time I thought I lost a tooth in my bed...but it was just trash."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jude: "Ah! I see a more kwimpin yites!"
(translation: Yay, I see more Christmas lights!)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Areyna: "Hey, I wanna see the slunk."
(slunk = SLOTH)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Zeke:"Woah, look at all those logs daddy has for the fire!"
Cai:"Why are they called logs?  I thought logs were only in rivers."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jude: "Mommy, I saw a hop a ah boon!"
(translation: Mommy, I saw another hot air balloon!)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Cai:"How can God fit in our hearts?  Is he bigger than Goliath?"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Zeke heard Cai say: "I'm glad to see you so I can eat your feet."
He was thoroughly disgusted.
But Cai ACTUALLY said: "I'm glad to see you so I can bring you food."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Cai: "Do sometimes when foxes see us they think we're ginger bread mans?"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Cai:"...but I don't have any squooshy pillow room!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Alethia:"Why do I have so many nerds in my hair?"
nerds = knots

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Josh, reading Ferdinand to Cai, "...and he sat under the cork tree..."
Jude chimes in: "I like cookie trees!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Cai:"Jude, don't unlock your diaper yet, k."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Zeke:"Dad, how many hours until it's morning?"
Dad:"What? Why?"
Zeke:"Cuz I'm hungry!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jude talking to me:"You are beautiful, daddy is handsome and I am a BIG BOY!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Zeke (to me after showing him a new place for his toothbrush): "MOoooooommmm, this is a FABULOUS idea!"

A Morning With Cai-bo and His Questions

Cai has got to say the cutest things EVER!  It's not just what he says, but the way his voice so innocently asks the questions.  And his cute little voice and the way he still talks with a lisp.  I love the whole "experience".

So, yesterday, with a whole day all to myself with him because he was feeling a little under the weather, I got to enjoy the questions and answer them in detail.  We spent a great deal of time getting to the bottom of how this crazy world works.

Here are just a few of the random questions his mind rested on yesterday morning as we worked tirelessly to solve the world's problems.


Cai:"My tummy just growled.  Why does tummies growl, mommy?"

Cai:"I see birds mommy.  How do birds land on the ground mommy?  Maybe they just don't flap their wings."

Cai:"How did the world start with nothing and then a God baby?"

Cai:"How is there different kinds of colors of grass?"

Cai:"Have you ever heard of a fire stone? Are they for real?  How are they firey?  What if they were not hot?  Maybe they could just be warm."

Cai:"Tomorrow we don't have school.  Because it's track out.  It's just weekend now.  Weekend is two days and track out is lots of days.  How many days is track out mommy?"

Cai:"What if I lose a tooth but I'm sleeping and it's lost and I can't find it and then it's gone?"

Words Worth Remembering

Zeke:"Dad, if you've noticed, but you are dripping sweat everywhere."

(a few minutes later)

Zeke:"Dad, can you PLEASE take a shower after this?"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Rainy:"Hey guys, can I join your conversation?  But if I do, can we CHANGE the subject because I don't know anything about cars."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Me:"Cai, I'm going to ask you a big boy question.  Zeke is going to spend the night up with Ezra and Eli.  Would you like to do that too?  You have to be simmer and quiet and just go straight to sleep."
Cai:"But I don't think I can do that."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jude:"I wan some mo hot chokan"
translation:"I want some more hot chocolate."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Zeke:"So when are we gonna have that meeting?"
Rainy:"What meeting?"
Zeke:"THE meeting!  You said to go outside so we could have our meeting!"
Rainy:"YOU are the one that said that, Zeke."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Cai:"Guyyyys. I'm not kidding me!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jude:"I show Cai I nakee!"
translation: Wait dad, don't put my jammies on yet!  I wanna show Cai that I'm naked!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Zeke: singing I'm to sexy in true Zeke form "I'm too 60 for my shirt. Too 60 for my shirt. Too 6-0 yeah."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Cai: "Dad, slimy poop comes out quick!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

(Cai oversees Zeke writing our last name)
Cai:"Zeke, my name is that too!!!"
Zeke:"Cai, ALL our names are that."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Cai:"Can Satan be invisible?"
Me:"Yes."
Cai:"And God can be invisible?"
Me:"Yup."
Cai:"How do you know if you can't see them?"
Me:"The Bible tells us about the spiritual world all around us that we can't see."
Cai:"But God is super powerful and Satan is only a little powerful."
Me:"Yes.  Satan only has the power that God has given him."
Cai:"But how much does he have?"
Me:"I can't really answer that."
Cai:"Pleeeeeease..."
Me:"I mean, there really isn't an answer to that question."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jude:"Mommy pways da bidamin"
translation:"mommy plays the violin"

Passing Notes Under The Door ~ A story of a #ColonyMom meltdown and the kids that loved her through it

Setting: 4:30pm 

(the witching hour - ie. mom is tired and in need of a break while the Colony is hungry and in need of a meal and their quickly approaching bedtime.)

Mom: Jude don't throw that...

Areyna: Alethia won't let me have the...

Mom: Jude DON'T THROW THE...

Cai: Ahhhhhhh! MOOOOOOM, Jude just threw the...

(why does he ALWAYS have to throw every stinking thing!)

Mom: Baby, I know. Jude, no NO!

Mom: Girls, will you please come and unload the dishwash...

Zeke: AHHHHHH! MOM, JUDE IS PULLING MY HAAAAAAAAAAAIRRRRRR!

The Girls: Ah man. The dishwasher agAIN?!

Mom: JUDE. No, no baby! Stop pulling Zeke's hair.  Let go.  LET GO!

(takes Jude to the room to give him consequences)

I come out to crying girls, fighting boys - I've lost it.

I'm done.

I am no longer capable of being a good mommy at this point.

DONE.

I stomp down the hallway and slam my door.

Locking it behind me.

Sitting in the chair to stair out the window and pout.

Then I hear a crinkling under the door.

What in the WORLD do they need from me now?!

"BE STILL. Calm down"

 He knows this is my year's mantra and something I have been working on:)

Ok. that is sweet.

Now leave me alone.

More crinkling under the door.

Oh brother.

"I love you mom. Even when you are anxious."

 Ouch.

How does he know how anxious I am?

They NOTICE when I'm falling apart and not parenting in love but in anger?

Hmmm...

More stuffed paper under the door...

"You are the best mom ever." 

Oh wow.

I've acted TERRIBLE!

TERRIBLE!

and he still loves me and just wants his happy hearted mama back.

By now I'm sitting against the door and can't grab Zeke's sweet little love notes fast enough.

"Pray to God to help you."

 I quickly begin to cry out to the Lord.

For my bad attitude.

For my precious kids.

For my tender-hearted Zeke who GETS ME.

Who get's this out-of-control mama moment, because we have guided him through his own meltdowns.

"Read the Bible"

 By now my sweet Zeke is guiding me through the steps to calm down and get my heart back on track.

"You are awesome"

...and then brings it around to encourage me! 

"Shhh, Shhh, Shhhh"

 This is when I typically come in to sit with him and rub his back, give him some gentle kisses and prepare him to enter back into the family activities.

After reading these streams of notes I walked outside, called a family meeting and apologized to my kids.  Of course they were so gracious and offered immediate forgiveness.  Because that's just the kind of kids they are:)

But I wasn't done.  I asked them to help me walk through the past 30 minutes or so.  I asked them to think about what happened and tell me some of the things I did wrong.  I told them I was wrong and then we walked through the appropriate response that SHOULD have occurred.

What did I get out of this whole thing?

It's never too late.
It's NEVER too late.
You can always make it right.
Even when you screw up in the worst of ways.
Ask for forgiveness.
Accept that forgiveness.
And then mentally walk through the steps to handle the situation correctly next time.

I'm thankful for kids that understand grace and forgiveness, even when it is undeserved.
I'm thankful for a God that lavishes his love and grace on us, because it is never deserved.

Words Worth Remembering

Cai:"Mom, Alethia said that I was...wait, hold on.  ALETHIA!  WHAT  DID YOU SAY THAT I WAS?"
Alethia: "I did't say that you were bragging!"
Cai:"She said that I was bwagging but I was NOT."

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My mom:"...and I was just thinking, 'whoa, that's TYI'."
My dad:"? TYI?"
My mom:"hahahaha...I mean TMI!"

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Cai:"I still don't know how God started the worwed (ie.world)."
Me:"Well you wanna read how it happened from the Bible?"
Cai:"But I don't know how to read!"
Me:"I'm gonna read it TO you silly."
I begin reading the created account in Genesis 1
After day one...
Cai:"But how did it happen?"
Me:"God just used his words and everything obeyed what He said.  It's pretty amazing, huh."
Cai:"So He just said it and it happened?"
Me:"Yup."
...continuing on.
Then I got to the creation of the sun and moon...
Cai:"But how do we have sunshine and Uganda and the moon all at the same time?"
I went on to explain the orbiting process.  I thought I did a fabulous job!
Cai:"Can I go watch TV now?"

I suppose it's the little planted seeds that count, right?:)

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Me:"What in the world am I going to do after I finish reading this book?"
Zeke:"I don't know, eat some chocolate or something?"

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Josh:"Cai, is mommy awake yet?"
Cai:"She's still in bed but her face is awake."

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Areyna:"I wonder if people who have punch buggies punch their kids all the time."

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Cai: "I get some more of that chicken?"
Me:"What chicken? We didn't have chicken for dinner."
Cai:"The chicken that's in the fish."

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Rainy:"Oh wow! Look at all those cows! Are those wild cows?"

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My mom while telling me a story:"...and what did she call it?  I think she called it her 'baby daddy'."

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Zeke singing:"Sweeeeet home of the Llama."
Me:"Um, Zeke, it's 'Sweet home ALABAMA"
Zeke:"Well, that doesn't make sense! What in the world is that?!"
Me:"It's a state, like NC, silly.  It's a song about that state being a home to the singer. The place where he lives."
Zeke:"...Oooooohhhh..."

Words Worth Remembering

after getting hurt Zeke rushed in to help Cai clean up his "wound" then helped him lay on his bed, got out his guitar and began singing to Cai to help him feel better

Cai:"Zeke, do you feel sad for me yet?"

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Cai:"It wasn't a vewey good day.  Ms Sook said I almost got in twouble because I awmost cheated."
Josh:"I wanna know why she thought you were about to cheat.  Were you trying to look at somebody's paper, like Jordan?"
Cai:"No they were in a special spot."
Josh:"Everybody?"
Cai:"Jordan and Cooper."
Josh:"Was it because they were in trouble?"
Cai:"No. Tyler was not."
Me:"So nobody was in trouble?"
Cai:"No. Some people were just in special spots and some people were in their own seats."
Me:"And then Ms. Sook told you what?"
Cai:"No, Ms. Britson tode me that was cheating."
Me:"What was cheating?"
Cai:"But I didn't know what the six looked like because I couldn't wemember what it looked like."
Me:"So you asked somebody what a six looked like."
Cai:"I did ask Tyler, but I'm not supposed to because that is cheating."

shew, glad we figured that out;)

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Cai:"but I don't want to go to school cuz I have to label tuff and labeling is twicky."

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Alethia:"but I don't LIKE fish."
Josh:"But Ugandans LOVE fish!"
Areyna:"Well, obviously THAT Ugandan doesn't like them!"

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Cai:"Dad, can you come help me with this game cuz dis is the twicky pawrt."

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Jude:"Aaah own juice."
Me:"scuse me Mr.?"
Jude:"cuse me"
Me:"Can you ask nicely?"
Jude:"ummmm, k. now own juice."
Me:"we really need to work on the please part."

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Cai:"but I don't like school cuz it's twicky!"

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Areyna:" Are you going to practice the keyboard again today?"
Me:"Oh yeah.  I've got a lot to work on this weekend."
Zeke:"Well, I hope you don't break my amp!"

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Cai:"I have so many itchies. They keep coming in my skin and then itching me."

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Cai:"Unco Moose, are you feewing better fwom your stwipped thwoat?"
translation: Uncle Moose, are you feeling better from having strep throat?

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Cai:"Pretend that I'm doing ballalet and you are my mom. Watch me point my toes."

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Alethia:"I have a brain freeze in my mouth."

Words Worth Remembering

Rainy:"I think I want bangs."
Daddy:"Well you know, having bangs is a commitment."

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Cai:"Smell my breathe. It smells like ice!"

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Jude:"Mmm babaaaa"
translation:"I'd like some bacon"

Josh:"Well, to be honest with you, I kinda forgot aboutcha buddy."
translation:"You weren't quick enough and you weren't at the table when it got passed out and now it's all gone."

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Cai:"Mom, do you know who Annie the Apple is?"
Me:"Who?"
Cai:"Annie the Apple.  She's an apple from Letter Land at school.  The teachose said that we have to find her and that she is weel.  But I think they are faking it. When gwoneups say things like that I think they are faking it."

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Josh:"Ya'll HAVE to stop growing!"
Rainy:"Dad, you know that GOD is the one that makes us grow, so you are really telling GOD not to make us grow!"
Josh:"Hey, don't blame everything on God, ha!;)"

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Cai:"Hey, I've never tasted flosted flakes."

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Cai:"I wanna get a baby puppy"
Zeke:"a 'puppy' IS a baby"
Cai:"and I wanna get a daddy puppy and a mommy puppy...and doggies too."

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Zeke:"Guys, I just got the last sip of apple juice."
Cai:"Zeeeeke stooooop.  You're just trying to brag us!"

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Cai:"I tode the librariER if i could bring home the book but she tode me no cuz I might lose it."

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Zeke:"Is that right mom, that G-daddy was born back in the olden days?"
Me:"Yeah, I guess so."
Zeke:"And you were too, right?"

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Cai:"Mom, do you like cream flies?"

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Zeke:"Mom, do these mac-n-cheese noodles look smaller to me because I'm getting bigger?"

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Cai:"You know why I like watermelon so much? Cuz it's SO juicy!"
Rainy:"You know what else is juicy?  Your CHEEKS!"

Things I'm Gonna Miss (and words worth remembering)

Cai:"Hey Alethia, you wanna play the fishy game where I'm the fishy and you're the 'get me'?"

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Cai:"Mom, can you get down the snow glubs?  I NEED snow glubs for my spidoman costume."

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Cai:"Does a genius mean 'awesome', cause I think I'm genius."

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I'm sure going to miss the sweet way Cai says things.
And the way he sings his own theme music while playing by himself or getting dressed or running around in the yard, or coloring or...

I'm going to miss seeing Alethia help her baby brother tackle obstacles and complete tasks.
And the way she help me with absolutely EVERYTHING around the house.

I'm going to miss hearing them play so cute together.

But you know what makes it easier?

Hearing Rainy and Zeke give step-by-step instructions on how to buy a lunch, or where to go in the hallway, or how to get to the "walker's" line.  They talked well into the night, the experienced informing the wide-eyed, upcoming littles of the things facing them on their very first day of school.

The excitement was brewing before we even opened their bedroom doors to get up.
They were all in the car, waiting on me and daddy to get our act together and follow suit, each adorning their overstuffed book bags full of school supplies and homemade lunches (packing 4 school lunches is NO JOKE!), before the first school bell even rang.

Zeke took full responsibility of his two siblings joining him on his hallway.  He made sure I told their teachers that he would be picking them up after school.  He tried his hardest to encourage Cai and help him be brave as we made our way out of his classroom (don't worry, we were assured Cai only cried for a few seconds after we left).

It's going to be a good year.

The quiet will necessitate some getting used to.
And more importantly, figuring out the "quiet" that simply means a content little boy playing quietly by himself, or the "quiet" that means that he has tracked down a stool and carried it across the house to my bathroom in order to reach my contact case which still housed my contacts, except for the one that was scrunched up on his cheek...

But it WILL be a good year.

Words Worth Remembering

Cai:"It's good I didn't say any bad words today. I did say poopie-face once though."

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Cai:"Tacos are my LIFE, mom!"

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Zeke:"I was actually looking forward to my baseball game today.  It's a GREAT day for a baseball game."

Cai:"Are you excited about your snack too?"

Zeke:"I know, I wonder what it's gonna be tonight after the game."

Cai:"Zeke, it's not all about the snack you know."

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A friend talking to Zeke in the duggout:"I was catcher once.  It was frea-key! I peed in my pants a little bit."

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Cai:"Mom, can you write the things that are supposed to be right?"
(translation: mom, can you tell me what color each of the numbers are on this color-by-number page?"

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Cai:"I'm so starving for water."

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Cai:"I don't like that blue kind of soap, because of the sprinkly things in it. Even I don't like the smell."

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Cai:"How is everything gonna poof out when we die?  Like it's all gonna go away?"

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Josh:"So what were your top 3 things from being at the Honeycutt's?"
Cai:"coloring, eating ice cream and when I widing the bawrf cawrt...lol...the GOLF cart"

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Cai:"I can't wait 'til it's summertime so we can go to the beach.  Is it summer yet?"
Me:"Yup"
Cai:"Can we o to the beach today?!"

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Zeke:"What's for dinner mom?
Me: "Baked chicken, mashed potatoes and zucchini chips."
***not 2 minutes later***
Alethia:"What's for dinner?"
Me:"Why don't you go ask Zeke and see if he can remember."
Cai:"Why don't you remember? Then why are you making it right now?  You don't remembered for you to remember?"