houpley

Mama, I wish it was November. Why? Because then it would be your birthday? No, because then it would be warmer.

Mama, I turned down the lighting so it was romantic for when you have a wedding in the living room, you know? Uh ... Thank you.

After a lengthy blessing at the table Eli explains... Amen. Which is the end of a prayer. Or Amen. Which is a kind of snack.

Eli's reading has really improved over the school year. He loves to read and is constantly reading everything he sees. The other day he did such a great job finishing a book I said... Eli, I love to hear you read. Mama, I love to hear you say 'I love to hear you read.'

One night, while preparing supper the whole family was helping Jack with his math problems for homework. There was much banter and numbers flying everywhere. Fractions all over the place. Lots of discussion and dinner preparation. I had set a bowl of soup down in front of Eli at the dinner table and then we all went back to 5th grade math. Still, the math discussion went on until Eli's voice shouted above all of ours to say... ZERO! The number is zero spoons! As in I have zero spoons to eat my soup with!

Eli hands me the travel bingo card we were playing with during a recent road trip. Here mama, I thought this would entertain me. But... it didn't.

It was a bird and a crocodile. Oh, really? Yes, the bird says 'tweet, tweet' and the crocodile says....  um ... "dile! dile!' Crocodile is fun to say.

I still can't believe Jack turned 10 in August. He had a fun filled birthday with some friends - they went paint balling, to Wild River Country, movie watching and slumber partied. It was a fun (exhausting) day. It is interesting to see how 10 fluctuates from immature boy to young adult. One day he is pestering his brother during breakfast before getting ready for school.  He can't find his shoes and no one knows (even Jack) if he has brushed his teeth. The next, he is out in the yard with me raking leaves for five hours like a grown man. Encouraging his little brother to read, practicing to perfect his lay up and studying Greek mythology on his own. He still loves to read. He could read for hours. He loves learning new things. He is amazing to watch on the soccer field. This year he played defender and goalie. He has a boot for a leg. Watching him on the field/court is getting more emotional for us as the games start to become more important to him. But every time he is...

There is a stop sign we pass every day on the way home. One day, a sign had been taped right over the word STOP. After a few days, Jack and I agreed we should take that sign off so the sign would be visible again. We talked about safety and taking care of your neighborhood, etc. When we pulled up to it, he hopped out and tried to reach for the taped-on sign but could not reach it. He jumped and jumped but still wasn't close. So he suddenly grabbed the stop sign pole and started climbing up it. In his cowboy boots! He forced himself up there and grabbed the taped on sign. We were all impressed. But... He is now so immensely proud of himself that EVERY TIME we pass this stop sign he refers to it and his stop sign. Every day: There's my stop sign! This kid, ya'll. I love him.

We all know Jack has a flare for the dramatic. Still, sometimes it catches me off guard. During basketball practice one night, he was running toward me for a water break. As I handed him his water bottle it spilled all over my dress. Welp, I guess this dress is washed now. Ha! That's funny. Thanks. (He turns to me with a serious expression and puts his hand on my shoulder - like he is the parent!) You know, that's what I love about you, mama. You always stay positive!

Each night, when I tuck the boys in I tell them how much I love them, how they are good, smart, kind, funny boys. The other night when putting Eli to bed I forgot my usual end of day speech and as I was close to the door Eli stopped me with: But Mama! You forgot all the sweet stuff! The sweet stuff? Yeah, you know how I'm smart, funny, cute? You know.                                                          ------------------------------- Just last night, Eric put Eli to bed. But he returned to the living room defeated and said that Eli still needed to see me. So I went to his room and asked what was wrong. He peered up at me from under the covers with a look of absolute shock: Mama, daddy didn't even do my songs or my compliments!

Eli! How exciting! You used your goggles to swim under water. What did it look like under water? Famous!

I'll be right back. I have to use the restroom. Are you going to do a pee-pee or a poo-poo? That is none of your business. I'll take that as a poo-poo.

Eli, would you like me to read Flat Stanley to you? No, ma'am. I can read it with my mind.

Over heard between Eli and Jack at the pool - both are wearing goggles - when Jack was irritating Eli: You can't see, but I am rolling my eyes at you.

Eli, you know how to get rid of those hiccups? No. Well, some say if I scare you it will get rid of your hiccups. Ok. You want me to scare you? No. I want Jackie to do it when he comes home.

Mama, I think the whole world shines bright at night!

Mama, when I grow up I'm going to be a vampire. Turn into a bat and everything!

Eli was struggling with a little girl at school. She was telling him his choice of books was not appropriate. He had selected an action-packed book that the classmate felt was too gory. Eli explained to me that he liked this booked precisely because it was action packed: Maybe you should tell her not to worry about your business. You don't have to explain yourself to her. Yeah! I don't need to explain my beeswax!

While putting him to bed one night, Eli asked me if I had named him: Yes, I did name you Eli. Why? Because it is a family name. And it was perfect for you. No, you got it wrong. I did? Yes. That's not my name. Then what is your name? Eli Rocket Blaster Cyborg Copley.