31 August 2016

Madelyn had been home for a while when I noticed that her lunchbox was still sitting on the dining room table.

Me: Madelyn, you need to put your lunch containers in the sink.
Madelyn: Why?
Me: Because that's one of your jobs for when you get home from school. You want to be a big kid and being a big kid means more responsibilities.
Madelyn: But what if there are other fun things I want to do first when I get home?!?!

Nope, sorry, kiddo. It doesn't work that way.

30 August 2016

While I was in the bathroom after we got back from the bus stop this afternoon, there was a knock on the bathroom door.

Me: Yes?
Madelyn: I have this important paper from school that you need to fill out and send back.
Me: Okay. I'll look at it when I'm out.

As I was washing my hands, and blue paper come sliding under the door.

Me: Um, excuse me? Didn't I just say I will look when I get it out? I'm not looking at it on the bathroom floor.

Madelyn opened the door enough to grab the paper and go.

Me, after I was out of the bathroom: Okay, where's the paper?
Madelyn, handing it to me: Here.
Me: It's just for after school activities. You're not doing them.
Madelyn: Good because the only one I could do is the craft one and I don't wand to do that.

29 August 2016

Madelyn brought home her pin number for buying lunch at school today, and I quizzed her on it randomly throughout the evening. She knew it pretty well.

Me: Your pin makes a pattern. It should be easy to remember!
Madelyn: The only way it would be easier is if it was "1111"!

28 August 2016

Madelyn seems to have the seafood section of the grocery store confused with an aquarium. When we got there, she noticed the lobster tank was empty and was confused, "The lobsters are gone! Where did all of the lobsters go?"

27 August 2016

Madelyn owed me some money for something I bought her. We were getting the money from her piggy bank.

Madelyn: I want to give Aly $10.
Me: Why?
Madelyn: Um, because she's my sister!

26 August 2016

I was texting Mom to update her on some changes in our plans for the day. Next thing I know, she says that the girls want to talk to me and that they were going to call.

Me, answering the phone: Hello?
Madelyn: Hi, Mommy.
Me: Hi!
Madelyn: Happy Anniversary!
Me: Thanks! What are you up to?
Madelyn: ....
Me: Madelyn, what are you doing?
Madelyn: Huh? Watching TV.
Me: Watching TV? Okay. What are you doing today?
Madelyn: ....

25 August 2016

While we were waiting for her dentist appointment, Madelyn randomly said to me, "Guess what! I played basketball at Grandma's yesterday, and believe me, I was pretty good!" Turns out she was talking about Wii Sports Resort basketball, but she was so serious and proud of herself.

24 August 2016

When I got to Mom and Dad's to pick up the girls, they were dressed up and having a Halloween party. Madelyn was wearing a super hero cape and a mask. Alyson was wearing a tutu.

Madelyn: Do you recognize who I am? Did you know it's me? What about her?
Alyson: Yeah, do you know who I am?

Um, yes, kiddos.

23 August 2016

During dinner tonight:

Madelyn: Alyson, would you please pass me the tomatoes?
Alyson, passing the bowl of tomatoes: Here you go.
Madelyn: Thank you, Alyson. We're having a polite dinner tonight! Asking nicely for things to be passed is polite, right? And saying please and thank you. And not talking with food in your mouth. And asking to be excused from the table.

22 August 2016

Madelyn wanted soy sauce on her broccoli tonight with dinner. She ate about half of it and then wanted to save the rest for lunch tomorrow.

Mom: You could save that for a side for lunch tomorrow. We still have some pizza. Do you want pizza?
Madelyn: I want the broccoli on my pizza! Soy sauce broccoli pizza! Soy sauce broccoli pizza!

I gave her a weird look.

Madelyn: What? I want to be adventurous!

21 August 2016

While cleaning her room this afternoon, Madelyn decided that on top of her bed was the perfect place to put all of her stuffed animals.

Me, when I saw her bed: How are you going to sleep? You're going to need to move those.
Madelyn: I will.

Then, right before bed when the toys hadn't been put away:
Madelyn: Can I sleep in my sleeping bag?

20 August 2016

The girls and I went to Silver Diner for dinner tonight since Tony is away for work. As we got there, Madelyn realized that it was a Pokestop and said, "I want to spin Silver Diner!"

19 August 2016

I had seen earlier today that it was National Soft Ice Cream Day. After dinner we went to the park and then decided to treat the girls to some ice cream from Dairy Queen. While we were eating our ice cream:

Me: It's National Soft Serve Ice Cream Day today.
Madelyn: Is Diary Queen soft serve ice cream?

18 August 2016

I painted the girls' fingernails after we got home today.

Madelyn: What would happen if there wasn't gravity on earth?
Me: You would't be able to sit or run or do anything.
Madelyn: Our nail polish would never dry!
Me: You also wouldn't be able to breathe.

Madelyn gave me a startled look of disbelief. 

17 August 2016

Madelyn was singing in the car on the way home and laughing at herself. I don't think she knows that mash-ups exist. She sang, "Shut up and dance with me 'cause I can make your hands clap!"

16 August 2016

Before bed, Madelyn was telling me about something she wants to do next Wednesday that she wants me to help her with. As she was explaining it to me, she told me, "And, you can think about it for a while week as in half of this week and half of next week."

15 August 2016

After I picked them up, the girls and I went to Carter's to get some new school clothes and take advantage of sales. While we were there, Madelyn found a shirt she wanted that said, "BEST BIG SIS". 

Madelyn, in typical of course this is true fashion: Hey, Aly! Do you think I'm the best big sister?
Alyson, confused and not sure how to answer: Why?

14 August 2016

While the girls were eating breakfast this morning:

Madelyn: Are chickens mammals?
Me: No, they're birds.
Madelyn: Are mice mammals?
Me: Yes.
Madelyn: And dragons are pretend!
Tony: That they are.

13 August 2016

The bathrooms at The Green Turtle on the Boardwalk in Rehoboth are labeled with "cutsie" signs. The men's restroom has a squirrel with acorns and say "Nuts". The women's has a squirrel without acorns and says "No nuts". After Madelyn read them, she asked, "Why do they say nuts and no nuts?" Too soon!

11 August 2016

On the way to Madelyn's VBS program, we were listening to music in the car. "Heathens" by Twenty One Pilots came on. Madelyn exclaimed, "I was so busy with all the songs for VBS that I forgot about 'Heathens'!"

10 August 2016

The girls were getting ready to take a bath.

Me: Madelyn, you're going to start washing your own hair.
Madelyn, excited: Really?!?! Um, but I don't know how.

(She does, but just needs to practice.)

09 August 2016

The stir fry I fixed for dinner tonight included some Japanese eggplant in it. Madelyn has high standards for the foods she likes, "I like eggplant because it's purple, and I love it!"

08 August 2016

Madelyn is going to Vacation Bible School this week at Tony's aunt and uncle's church. On the way home, she was telling me about what they did today, "Every day we're going to watch a movie about someone who inspires hope in people. Today we watched about a girl who donated her hair for kids who can't grow hair. First, her hair was as long as Belle's. After she cut it, it was as short as after Rapunzel cut her hair! It was really short!"

07 August 2016

The girls went on a tour of DC today with Aunt Gina and Uncle Matt. After they got home:

Me: What did you see on your tour?
Madelyn: We saw the Washington Monument!

We talked some more about various things.

Me: Did you see anything else on your tour?
Madelyn: Um... the Washington Monument!

To be fair, it's one of the few things she recognizes in DC.

06 August 2016

While we had the Olympics on earlier, beach volleyball was on. Madelyn was watching. When one team scored a point, she yelled, "Touchdown!"

05 August 2016

Madelyn and I were playing Mario Kart Wii. We were doing the coin collecting battle on the same team. After we lost, she stated, "Maybe we should get more coins next time." Well, that is how you win.

04 August 2016

Madelyn was looking at the Recreation Guide and classes at the nature center.

Madelyn: I want to do this one! And can we do this one? Cool! It's raptors!
Me, while reading the description: Yeah, that's cool, but part of it is pretty gross.
Madelyn: Really? What?
Me: Do you know what an owl pellet is?
Madelyn: No....
Me: Do you know what owls eat?
Madelyn: No.
Me: They eat mice and other small animals. When they eat them, they pretty much swallow them whole, but they can't digest the animal's bones and fur. So, they throw up the bones and fur in a ball. Part of this class is to pull apart one of those balls and find all of the bones.
Madelyn: EEEEEWWWWWWW!!!!!!

But, she was pretty impressed that I've done that before.

03 August 2016

While the girls were playing, we heard Madelyn congratulate Alyson and tell her, "You got a first place medal for doing such a good job at doing the Chicken Dance!" I guess there are medals for everything.

02 August 2016

When I picked up the girls today, I asked Mom about our plans for them watching the girls for our anniversary. 

Madelyn: You could watch us for a week!
Mom: You would wear us out!
Madelyn: But we're here all week anyway.
Mom: But only during the day. We would still have you for the evenings and nights.
Madelyn: Well, you'll get some time along at night time after we're in bed!

01 August 2016

After looking through the Fall Recreation Guide, we were talking to the girls about what they wanted to take.

Me: Alyson, do you want to take karate or the class with lots of different sports.
Alyson: Karate! I can kick like this! [jumps and kicks into the air]
Tony: I think for Madelyn's sake Alyson probably shouldn't take karate.
Madelyn: Why not?
Me: Because she'll want to show off what she learns on you.
Madelyn, with a scared look on her face: Um, yeah, that would be bad for me!