31 July 2017

Alyson was looking at a coupon book for touristy things to do in the area when she suddenly announced, "I REALLY want to go water skiing!"

30 July 2017

The girls were playing in the waves. They were sitting at the edge of the water and rolling over when a wave came in. Madelyn would "grab" Alyson as part of their playing to keep her from being washed away. We suddenly heard Alyson tell Madelyn in all seriousness, "You saved my life!"

29 July 2017

While we were walking on the beach this evening, Alyson happily exclaimed, "I forgot the ocean was so wet!"

28 July 2017

While in the car this morning, Alyson was talking nonstop as usual. Whatever she was talking and thinking about got her on the topic of ghosts. She rambled on, "Ghosts aren't real, but we could walk through ghosts if they were real because they're like air. Maybe ghosts are real, and we don't know it because they are the air." That's deep and thoughtful for a four-year-old.

27 July 2017

I was laying on the couch for a little bit before fixing dinner this evening. Alyson came in from the playroom, walked over to me, and put her head down on my stomach hugging me.

Me: What's up?
Alyson: I'm just hugging you.
Me: Okay.
Alyson: Can I climb on you for mommy cuddles?
Me: Sure.

She laid there for a minute or two.

Alyson: Do I have to close my eyes?
Me: No....

After another minute or two:

Alyson: Can I get up now?
Me: Sure. You're the one who decided to lay here.

25 July 2017

While Alyson was outside playing, she came up to me and said, "Ninja girl! That's my name because I'm a ninja and a girl."

23 July 2017

Tony and I are in a Harry Potter themed running club. Madelyn also runs some of the races and contributes miles to the House Cup competition. We're all part of the Ravenclaw House, whose mascot is an eagle. To encourage out members, we often say, "Fly, Eagles!"

While on the highway today, we went under a bridge. In the fence on the bridge, someone had written "Fly, Eagles! Fly!" using cups.

Tony, upon seeing the fence: We're trying!

Me: Ha!

Madelyn, because she has to know everything (7-year-old Ravenclaw): Trying what?

Me: Daddy and I know what we're talking about. We get it.

Alyson: Well, I don't!

22 July 2017

Typical four-year-old. Alyson got out of the bath and was drying herself off as she was singing at the top of her lungs, "I'm drying off my butt! I'm drying off my butt!"

21 July 2017

Me: If you are good tomorrow, Daddy and I have something fun planned.
Madelyn: Oooh! What?
Me: I'm not telling.
Alyson: Are we going to Myrtle Beach?!

19 July 2017

During dinner, I looked over and saw her mouth was covered in sour cream.

Me: You're messy!
Alyson: This is a yummy dinner so I'm supposed to get messy.

17 July 2017

While playing with LEGO, Madelyn dropped a bunch of pieces. Alyson informed Madelyn, "You have butter hands!"

16 July 2017

The girls had been putting away laundry today. When I was helping Alyson get ready for bed, I found two clips from a hanger for a skirt on her floor.

Me: What are these doing here?
Alyson: We took them off because we needed the hanger.
Me, putting the clips on a shelf in her closet and pulling an empty hanger off the rod: You could have just used this hanger.
Alyson: Eh, oh well.

15 July 2017

This morning, Alyson found a soft bristled baby hair brush that we didn't really need to keep anymore.

Alyson: We could keep it because what if I have a baby?
Me: That will be a while.
Alyson: Yeah, because I still have to have lots of birthdays.

14 July 2017

After we got home today, the girls were helping me clear the area around our freezer that is being replaced tomorrow. I gave Alyson two placemats they use for Playdoh and asked her to put them in the playroom. The next thing I knew, she showed up with a booklet of stickers. 

Alyson: If I'm good and helpful and do a good job can I have a sticker when I'm done?
Me: Sure.
Alyson: Yay!

After we were done:

Alyson, grabbing the stickers: Okay, did I do a good job? Can I have a sticker?
Me: Yup.

She excitedly picked a bunny that was the same color as her shirt.

13 July 2017

Madelyn was working on the computer in the living room doing some of her summer homework. The computer is a Mac Mini hooked up to our television. Alyson repeatedly was getting in her way or was distracting her. The last time she walked between Madelyn and the screen to come as me something, Alyson crouched down and said, "I'm trying to not get in your way!"

12 July 2017

During dinner tonight, Alyson wanted to ask her daddy about his job. She had been asking me earlier, and I made sure she remembered to ask him. She confused him, though, when she asked, "What does it take to take care of robots?"

11 July 2017

Alyson wanted a popsicle after dinner. She has wanted one for days. I was trying to get her to elaborate and describe what she wanted.

Me: What popsicle do you want?
Alyson: The kind with sticks!

Me, laughing along with everyone else: All popsicles have sticks.

Madelyn: Someone write that down!

10 July 2017

Alyson was trying to show us that she could dribble a basketball. She would get two bounces in and lose the ball. In her frustration, she blamed the ball and told us, "Sometimes it's stubborin!"

09 July 2017

I fixed coconut pecan crusted cod for dinner tonight. We made Alyson try it before letting her have any ketchup.

Alyson: It's good but...
Tony: You still want to douse it in ketchup?
Alyson: Um, yeah.

07 July 2017

When Disney takes over your four-year-old:

Alyson, singing: I know everybody on this island is so happy on this island.
Me, singing: I know everybody in this house is so sick of that song.
Alyson, exasperatedly: UGH!

05 July 2017

The girls had swimming lessons today. Alyson's bathing suit is a skirt and shirt that look like a t-shirt with elbow length sleeves and skirt. She can get away with wearing it out with no problems. Instead, she decided to shove her skirt into the biker shorts she had been wearing and put her dress on over her bathing suit. She came downstairs and told me, "It's okay if my bathing suit is showing a little bit." I wish I had gotten a photo.

04 July 2017

While the girls were in their room this morning:
Madelyn: Help me! I'm falling off the bed!
Alyson, sounding quite unimpressed: You'll be fine. You'll not die. [Madelyn falls.] See? You didn't die.

03 July 2017

Alyson was asking everyone about our hair colors when we were kids during dinner.
Alyson to Grandpa: Was your hair light brown or dark brown?
Grandpa: Medium brown.
Alyson: So half dark brown and half light brown?

02 July 2017

Where we are staying right now is a gated community with a guard only letting in residents and their guests in. There is one security guard that we don't like because he is very unclear if he is waving us through or not. Tony and I were complaining and Aly piped up with "How about someone else do that job?"

01 July 2017

Alyson was sitting on my lap, and I was teasing her by pretending to nibble on her arms and shoulders.
Alyson: Don't eat me!
Me: But you're tasty, even when you're covered in sweat and sunscreen.
Madelyn: It's just seasoning and dressing.
Alyson: Yay! I'm a salad!