Dreams

Eli getting ready for bed.

Mama: Ok, go ahead to sleep and dream something fun.

Eli: Uh, mama I don't make up the dreams; my brain makes up the dreams!

The Bleeding Worm: Fathers Day 2011

Let me preface this story by saying that Eli is extremely sensitive to animals and not hurting them. Over the Father’s Day weekend, we took the boys camping for the first time. Joe also took Eli fishing.

Daddy: Eli did great. He did a good job casting.

Mama: That’s great.

Eli: Yeah, the worm was bleeding. It was because of the hook.

Mama: (In my head, “Oh man, I didn’t think about that.”) Oh, really.

Eli: Yes, but that’s ok because I threw the worm in the water. It will wash off the blood and help him heal. The water is like a Band-Aid.

Mama: (Yeah, I am not going to tell him the truth at this point.) Yes, the water will wash the blood away. That’s  a good point.

Eli: Yeah, I saw it right after I threw it in and the blood was gone. It had already started healing.

You Can’t Fool Me

Before Eli’s Pre-K graduation, Joe and I were speaking with Eli’s primary teacher, Cindy.

Kathryn: Joe and I are hoping Eli acts like he is supposed to!!

Cindy: Laughs. I was speaking with the children before the parents arrived telling them that they needed to be on their best behavior. I told them that if they didn’t graduate from Pre-K, they couldn’t go to kindergarten.

Kathryn and Joe: Laugh!

Cindy: All the children were looking at me scared at the thought except for one. That one speaks up and says “Miss Cindy, that’s not true. My mama has already taken me to my new school and signed me up for kindergarten.”

Kathryn: Laughs!  Too funny! Who said that??

Cindy: (With a look that said REALLY) Eli. He was not fooled by my bluff!

Ballet

Eli: Mom, can you sign me up for ballet?

Mama: (having no clue where this is going) Well, let me check into it. I don’t know where they offer ballet.

Eli: Ok

Mama: Why do you want to take ballet?

Eli: (again with that Eli grin) So I can be the prince!!

T-Ball Game or Eli Game

Our neighbor, Sarah, came to Eli’s t-ball game the other day. I was on the field as a first base coach. Eli was in the dugout waiting to bat and was talking to Taylor (his newest love interest). This was the story that Sarah told.

Eli: How old are you?

Taylor: Seven. How old are you?

Eli: Six.

Taylor: You’re not six.

Eli: (With that Eli grin) Well, how old do I look then?

I like meeting new people

Heading to a birthday party for a little girl in Eli’s class.

Mama:  Are you ready to go to Lanie’s party?

Eli: Yes. Mama, why do we keep going to parties of people I know?

Mama: Because we know them.  Whose party would we go to?

Eli: I want to go to people’s party that I don’t know so I can meet new people.

Eli was once a dog in another life

Eli: What happens when you die?

Mama: What do you mean?

Eli: What happens to your body?  Where do you go?

Mama:  Well, different people believe different things.  Some people believe your body stays on earth but your soul goes to heaven; some people believe that nothing happens, you just go away; and others believe that you are reincarnated as something else.

Eli:  Reincarnated??

Mama:  It means that you come back as something else.  Like an animal or a tree.

Eli: I was a dog before I was Eli.

Mama:  Really?

Eli:  Yes, I would sit around and bark at other dogs.  I would eat food.  But then, I got sick and died.

Where's Your Money?

While on the way home, Mama was going over the plan for the evening, which included stopping at Harris Teeter.

Mama: We need to run into Harris Teeter to get Caleb’s medicine.

Eli:  Harry the Dragon is there (a little dragon that kids can ride on). I haven’t ridden him in a while.

Mama:  Eli, I don’t have any money with me.  Maybe next time.

Eli: Didn’t you go to work today?

Mama: Yes.

Eli: Then where’s your money?

Mama: Where’s your money?

Eli:  At the house.

Mama: So let’s stop and get your money.

Eli:  I don’t want to use my money.

Eli's Crush

Madison is an eleven-year-old girl who takes karate where Eli does.  Her little brother is in his class. 

Eli is IN LOVE with Madison. 

Eli:  How old is Madison again?

Mama:  11.

Eli: I wish I was 11.

Mama: Why?

Eli: So I could play with Madison.

Mama: What would you play?

Eli: Mario Kart!

Don't Blame Me - November 2010

Eli:  Sean’s daddy died. He’s no longer on this earth.

Mama: Oh no, that’s really sad.  Did you tell him you were sorry and give him a hug?

Eli: Well, I didn’t kill him!

White Blood Cells

Eli has a cough.

Eli: Mama, I slept last night, so my cells (white blood cells) were able to fight the germs. As he says this, he is pretending to punch.

Dolphins

While watching a football game, Eli sees the cheerleaders come on TV.

Eli: What football team is that?

Mama:  The Dolphins.

Eli: I like that football team.

Mama: Why?

Eli: The girls.

Mama: What do you like about the girls?

Eli:  They are pretty.

My Job -December 2010

Riding home from Day Care

Eli: Daddy I don’t like my job

Dad: What job is that Eli?

Eli: Going up stairs and letting Okie out

Note: There was never anything mentioned about this being his job.

The Girls Love Me Best - December 2010

Mama had taken Eli to school a little later than normal because of a doctor’s appointment.  When we came into his classroom, one little girl helped him take his coat off and then hugged him.  Another little girl told him what they had been doing (practicing the letter L on the board.) Eli goes over to practice and four little girls are now standing around telling him what a good job he is doing.  Eli is grinning the entire time. All the little girls proceed to give him a hug.

At dinner that night:

Dad: So, I hear some little girls were hugging you today.

Eli: Yeah. (as if it were completely normal)

Daddy: Do they like you?

Eli: I guess.

Mama: Do they hug Matthew?

Eli: No.

Mama: Do they hug Fedy?

Eli: No. I guess they like me best. (Grin)

Mom Disappearing - January 2011

Picking the boys up from school.

Eli was in his seat but not buckled. I buckled Caleb in and then came around to buckle Eli in.

Eli: Mama, what if you disappeared right now?

Mama: What would you do?

Eli: I would go find another mommy and say “I need you to help me find my mama.”

Mama:  What would you do about Caleb?

Eli:  I would get him out and carry him like you do.  When I got to the other mommy, I would say “You have to hold this baby, because I can’t hold him any longer!”

Christmas December 2010

While visiting Pa Pa for Christmas

Eli: My daddy was crying.

Pa Pa: He was.

Eli: Yes, he is sad because his mama died.

Pa Pa: Yes.

Eli: She was really sick.

Pa Pa: Yes.

Eli: I’m sorry you’re all alone Pa Pa.

Later in the car on the way home. 

Eli: Mama, when is Pa Pa going to leave that house?

Mama: I don’t know Eli. Why?

Eli: Because he lives too far away from me. He needs to leave so he can be closer.

Yogurt Spill - November 2010

While eating yogurt at the dining room table, Eli spilled some on the table.  There were four drops side by side.

Eli: Mama, I wish this was my house, this was Pa Pa’s, this was Jacob’s, and this was Grayson’s so I could see them all the time.

Hard Worker Traits - October 2010

Eli, Mama, and Caleb in the hall bathroom.  Mama is washing her hands. 

Eli leaps from the door towards the toilet and pushes Caleb out of the way.

Mama:  What are you doing?

Eli: Caleb was getting ready to put his hand in the toilet.

Mama: Oh, well thank you.

Eli: That’s my job. And I will never stop doing my job!

Eli September 2010 Right before turning four

Riding down the road in a 35mph zone.

Eli:  Mama, go faster.

Mama: I can’t go faster.  It’s not safe and I don’t want anything to happen to you boys

Eli:  Nothing will happen to me, I’m tough.

Mama:  Well, something could happen if I was speeding, so Mama is extra careful when you boys are in the car. 

Eli:  If a car hit us, I would be ok.

At this point, we are pulling into our parking lot. Eli is quiet for a few moments.

Eli: Mama, if something happened to you, daddy, and Caleb, I would be all alone. Huh, I started crying when I said that. 

Big tears are coming down his face as the gravity of that hits him.