I am going to turn this blog into a book, so it's important for me to write down the funny things Kensley says/does in an effort to remember them:
Genesis 1:1:
Ok, try to follow me on this one. During September, Kensley had a weekly Bible Verse of Genesis 1:1 "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." Also during that time period, Kensley's class talked about what number to call during an emergency (call 9-1-1). Kensley became quite confused as to which number to call if there was an emergency. She seemed to understand what an emergency entailed: if mommy/daddy/adult-in-charge falls down and can't get up; if someone can't breathe; if someone bad tries to come inside; etc. The problem, however, was calling the proper authorities when there is an emergency. Kensley would simply say, "Call Genesis 1:1" While calling upon God in an emergency is appropriate, first responders are who she
should call for immediate attention and use the phone to call 9-1-1.
-> Fast forward to this afternoon when Kensley was finishing up in the restroom. She was taking too long and I checked in on her only to slide through the bathroom. Turns out, Kensley was spraying air freshener on the floor. I reprimanded her for being careless with the spray and told her that I almost fell down and hurt myself. Kensley didn't miss a beat. She said, "Mommy, I would have to call Genesis 1:1." Clearly, we haven't done enough 'splainin' where the two are concerned.
Elf:
It's Christmastime. We have an elf-on-the-shelf. We've watched Christmas shows with
real elves. You would know that when we went to Wal-Mart there was a little person/dwarf who is NOT an elf. Kensley, however, hadn't been schooled on the difference between the two (my bad!). So, when I wheeled her around and she caught sight of the plain clothes little man/dwarf, you can just imagine her excitement and instant proclamation "Mommy! It's an ELF! It's an ELF! Does he know I've been so goood??!?!?!?!" I promise I did my best not to squelch her enthusiasm for elves, but to also teach respect for little people. I might have used Nanna and Grammy as examples, though. Sorry!
Wal-Mart Teeth:
As a disclaimer, I happen to like
some things about Wal-Mart. Due to our current residence, it happens to be
the shopping mecca for those in the Redneck Riviera. It also means that I can rarely go when it isn't just completely crowded and filled with nutty people.
The past two times I have
had to go to Wal-Mart, I have encountered the nicest, friendliest, most down-to-earth people. The one yesterday was our checkout clerk. She didn't have but two teeth in her sweet little head. I promise. It led to this comment from Kensley as we rolled away - still within ear-shot (and post-Elf comment and lesson): "Mommy! She only had two front TEETH!!!" I rolled away even faster and reminded her to say so quietly and that we all knew that - she doesn't have to state the obvious. We went into a lesson about proper eating habits and dental care and about not making comments that could hurt someone's feelings (A-gain!)
Today, our Wal-Mart greeter was a fill-in, so he wasn't trained properly on how to work that new machine for returns, so he just had to write on a yellow and white sticker. He was as sweet and charming as can be, but his four front teeth were ROT-TEN and very noticeably and mostly missing as he explained the circumstance to us. We, again, rolled away with Kensley's commentary on missing teeth, but this time she remembered the lesson on dental care. Great... I would have preferred she got the
MANNERS part of that!
As I have composed this entry, here's what I have decided to say each time we go to Wal-Mart :
Kensley, we are going into Wal-Mart now. You are going to see things that you don't normally see at stores like Publix, Target, and Dillard's. That's ok. There are nice people here. They are going to smile at you with the best smile they have. They may or may not have teeth. Smile back politely and say, "Hi." They may or may not be average height. They are still people with feelings. Smile politely and say, "Hi." Do not stare (for too long) and do not point. We'll talk about it when we get in the car, I promise.
