The balloon

Nina let her balloon go -- into the sky.

Audrey: Nina, now your balloon will go across the river, into outerspace, and then to God

Aww, shucks

Audrey asked if I'd fast forward her video for her. I did. She replied, "Thanks. I knew I could count on you."

Just like Baby Jesus

Audrey wanted to know why God sent her to me before he sent Nina. I said, "you were ready first." Then she asked, "Did God put me in hay before you got me...like he did with Baby Jesus?"

Thank you Yo Gabba Gabba

The girls started watching a weird show called Yo Gabba Gabba. In the show, they sing little songs over...and over...and over. One song is about not giving up...keep trying.

I was throwing a fit the other day, moaning about how I'd deleted some photos from my computer. Audrey poked her head into the room and sang, "Remember Mom....Keep trying...Keep trying...Don't give up...Don't give up"...and then Nina chimed in and it was a choir.

It's SO hard to be Audrey

Michael took Audrey and Nina for a walk. And by walk I mean he pulled Nina in the wagon and Audrey whined until she got to ride her new scooter. The scooter lasted until they were around the corner, technically still in our yard. Michael gingerly plopped the scooter over the back fence and they continued on their wagon-pulling walk.

When they returned, Michael told Audrey she needed to get her scooter from the backyard since she insisted on riding it...and then bailing. Audrey looked out the sliding glass door at the scooter that was 20 ft away and she said in a ticked voice (and stomping her way out the door)... "You have GOT to be kidding me." Michael and I hid in the other room and laughed.

Seahawks

"They aren't very good, are they, Dad?"

"Doing God" and avoiding bedtime

Audrey was refusing to go to bed. Kept getting out, peeking around the corner...running back into bed before her dad could catch her. You know the drill.

Or he'd sneak up on her and she'd be on her knees, playing with crap sitting on the shelves of her headboard. One of these times, he startled her:

MT: "Audrey!"
AT: "I'm PRAYING"
MT: "You're done praying. Go to sleep."
AT: said defiantly... "But I'm not done doing God."

With a dead serious face...

Me: Audrey, your feet stink
Auddie: Then don't smell them

While watching Scooby-Doo

"Dad, why didn't they call it Scooby Do Not?"

"B.I.P."

Yesterday I got a note from Auddie’s teacher that says she’s the class’ first VIP next week. I still remember how excited I was when we did this in 3rd grade. And how I told everyone I was born in Walla Walla because I knew I came from somewhere that started with “W.” Anyhoo…I digress.

So I told Auddie about the VIP-ness and she was thrilled. As we passed other kids in the hallway, she’d stop them and say, “Hey, so-and-so, know what? I’m a Berry Important Person next week!” And they’d just stare at her blankly and continue walking.

Big Brother

Audrey, Austin and I were sitting in our living room. I asked Austin if he'd seen the Big Brother finale and, if so, did he like who won.

Austin said that it was a girl he liked because she was funny.

Audrey then asked, "But is she loveable?"

Put up your money

I can't remember why I gave Auddie $1 and then my friend, Amy, gave her another $1. But Auddie loved it. She slept with the money next to her and then brought it and her blanket downstairs the next morning.

As she sat on the couch playing with it, I said, "Auddie, you need to put your money up."

She obediently raised her right hand clutching the money.

I realized she'd just put it "up."

Bad day

In the car after school...

Auddie: Ugggghhh! I had such a bad day.
Me: Why? What happened?
Auddie: I couldn't do cartwheels.

Going part-time

I told Auddie the other day that beginning next month, I'd be able to pick up her and Nina earlier in the day.

"Why?" she asked.

"Because I want to spend more time with you guys," I said.

She let out a big sigh, then said, "Does this mean we'll have to wear badges?"

Welcome to a Hanford family.

Pre-school

Me: What's your favorite thing about pre-school?
Auddie: The kitchen.

Hannah Montana

In the car one day, Audrey asked, "Mom, what is life?"

I sighed, and then began..."It's who you are, what you do, it's everything day-to-day."

Audrey: So what does "I want my life back" mean?

Me: Audrey, where did you hear that? Hey...was it on the Hannah Montana movie you watched with Grace this morning?

Audrey: Maybe. How'd you know?

Allie the Alligator

Audrey started preschool. As she colored a big B for her homework, I read a letter from her teacher to the parents about what the kids learned the previous week--the letter A.

The teacher asked parents to ask the kid what Allie the Alligator says. I'm sure the response was supposed to be something that sounded like a short A, with maybe some alligator snap-jaw motion with your hand.

But Audrey's reply: "I dunno. She's talking on her cell phone."

My boss

My boss and I were working on a project and had to meet earlier than usual one morning. I stopped for a coffee, so I got her one, too. I then called her cell to tell her...Audrey, of course listened to the conversation.

"Mom, who was that?"
"My boss."
"Oh, what does she do?"
"She helps tell me what to do at work."
"Oh,...you mean like bringing her coffee."


A couple of days later

"Mom, did your boss teach you not to cross the street when cars are coming?"

Audrey's pillow talk at 3:00 a.m.

Audrey crawled into bed with us--coughing, as well as monsters, woke her up. I went to the kitchen to get her cough medicine and she whispered this to Michael, "Why do boys have to have them shirts off when them go to bed?”

The prize when I married her Dad

“Mom, did dad stand with the ‘prize’ when you walked down the aisle when you got married?”
“The prize? What do you mean, Auddie?”
“You know, the man who stands up there and marries you guys.”
“Oh. You mean the priest.”