At a sporting goods store, Daddy and Emily perused a wall of left skates on display. After looking for awhile, Emily asked:

“Do they have any that match?”

“I was there so long I got sunburned. In fact, I got lobsterized.”
– Mama, retelling the tale of a beach trip from her college days

“How did you get lobster eyes?”
– Amanda, pointing at her own eyes in wonder

“Watch out for the exploding Amanda!!”
– Amanda, running gleefully somewhere in the house. (No explanation was ever given as to why she was exploding.)

“Mama, I believe this belongs to you!”
– Emily, suddenly wrapping her arms around her mama in a big hug

“Do you think I should take a nap?”
– Daddy, to Amanda

“No, because you need to get your hair cut.”
– Amanda

“Oh, really? I do? Are you sure?”
– Daddy (whose hair hasn’t been longer than 2 or 3 inches since High School)

“Yes! Soon you’re gonna look like a girl!”
– Amanda

“Mama, Mandy and I have a huge Thanksgiving dinner! Look!!”
– Emily, pointing out the fact that every dish in her play kitchen is now on her little table

“Thanksgiving isn’t for a long time yet. Do you mean you have a big Easter dinner?”
– Mama, making casual conversation

“No, Mama. It’s a Thanksgiving dinner.”
– Emily, not sure why Mama is not getting it

“Oh. Well, what are you thankful for?”
– Mama

“I’m thankful that my Mama came home to be with me.”
– Emily, making Mama cry

“Hard.”
– Amanda, pointing at mama’s shoulder, where she had been laying her head

“Soft.”
– Amanda, patting mama’s chest, where she then laid her head down

“OK. I love you. Bye-bye.”
– Shannon, amid other kissy noises, while ending a phone conversation

“Who were you talking to?”
– Emily, truly curious

“Daddy! Who else would I be saying ‘I love you’ to on the phone like that?”
– Shannon, surprised that Emily had to ask

“Grandma, Grandpa, Gram-Gram, Auntie Jill…”
– Emily, the essence of innocence

“Bess can yell.”
– Emily, reading the sentence in her lesson book

“Yes, very good.”
– Mama, providing encouragement

“AAAAAAAAAAAAH!”
– Emily, directly into Mama’s ear, proving Emily can yell too!

“Ooh! The music gives me dancy-antsy pants!”
– Emily, who hopped off the couch and proceeded to demonstrate