More storytelling

so every night, we tell stories. We read books, then I tell at least one story that I make up -- usually based on Xander and some fantasical adventures featuring dinosaurs, Thomas the Tank Engine characters, or highlighting a recent activity we did.

Tonight, after we'd read our books and he was in his crib, and I told the 'made-up' story, he asked for another story (as usual). I told him no, that it was time for sleep. Xander (age not quite 27 months) said, 'ok, I'm going to tell YOU a story," which he proceeded to do.

Here's an excerpt (and yes, it was this clear and included ALL the words below):

"Once upon a time there was a little Mommy named Mommy. One morning she woke up and decided to play trains with Xander..."

yeesh...

JQ's mantra

From "You're A Good Man Charlie Brown"

LUCY:
Linus, do you know what I intend. I intend to be a queen. (Musical fanfare.) When I grow up I'm going to be the biggest queen there ever was. And I'll live in a big palace with a big front lawn and have lots of beautiful dresses to wear. And, when I go out in my coach all the people...

LINUS: (interrupting her)
Lucy!

LUCY:
All the people will wave, and I will SHOUT at them. And...

LINUS:
Lucy, I believe queen is an inherited title. Yes, I am quite sure a person can only be queen by being born into a royal family of the correct lineage so that she can assume the throne after the death of the reining monarch. I can't think of any possible way that you could ever become a queen. I'm sorry Lucy, but it's true.

LUCY:
And in the summer time, I will go to my summer palace and I will wear my crown in swimming and everything. And all the people will cheer and I will SHOUT at them. (She pauses) WHAT DO YOU MEAN I CAN'T BE A QUEEN!!!!!!
There must be a loop hole... this kind of thing always has a loop hole. Nobody should be kept from being a queen if she wants to be one. It's undemocratic.

LINUS:
Good grief!

LUCY:
I know what I'll do. If I can't be a queen, then I'll be very rich. I'll work and work until I'm very rich and then I will buy myself a queendom.

LINUS:
GOOD GRIEF!

LUCY:
Yes, I will buy myself a queendom and I'll kick out the old queen and take over the whole operation myself. I will be head queen.

My Day with Thomas

We went to Conway Scenic Railroad today to spend a Day with Thomas the Tank Engine - went for a ride on the train, played with trains in the tent, climbed aboard a diesel locomotive, saw Sir Topham Hatt -- sweated profusely...

But fun was had by all - Shaun, Xander and I were accompanied by Grammie and Grandpa, as well as Aunt Suzy.

When Xander first saw Thomas he yelled out "Hi Thomas, it's me, Xander!!" (I think Thomas recognized him too...)

X's latest gems are primarily quotes from Thomas episodes he's been watching... "Oh! Sorry, can't stop... gotta see a coach about a train..."

"The driver applied the brakes, but it was toooo late!"

"Watch out for the viaduct - it's dangerous!!"

And yes, he's still only 2 years old... ;-)

My Tower Has Ruined!

This is what Xander says after he builds a stack of Legos or blocks and then proceeds to gleefully knock it down...

Xander Skywalker?

So Xander is your typical two-year old... definitely a bit advanced in his language skills (to our continual amusement and amazement), but although he sometimes gets the usage of "I/me" vs. "you" right, he's still working at it - and we're so impressed with him and he's so bright, that we know he will get it 100% correct with time.

However, our friend Lauren Shearer offered some insight into Xander's first vs. second person pronoun usage the other day, after hearing Xander say "you all done?" when he was eating lunch. This is his way of letting us know that he's finished.

Lauren said -- "ah, Jedi mind trick"

And we promptly busted a gut because he is probably right... I haven't noticed X waving his hand when he does it, but it certainly works on his weak-minded parents...

He demonstrated the mind trick again later that day (and does it dozens of times daily) when we were reading a book with a picture of an ice cream truck in it. He looked up at us and said "you want ice cream?" and we, of course, repeated "you want ice cream?" back to him - to which he promptly replied "ok!"

...and here we thought he was only being two - when in fact he is obviously of Jedi bloodline, communing with midi-chlorians, and imposing his will on his oblivious parents.

Storytelling

There's a British book that we read to Xander a lot - it's called "Run Run, It's Scary Poo" all about a little shrew whose mother tries to teach him how to smell scary Panther poo in the jungle so that he will be safe. Turns out the poor guy can't smell well enough to tell that a bird/toad/butterfly aren't panther poo - and his parents despair that he will never be safe. However, one day, he is in his den and hears a panther approaching his brothers and sisters and he rushes out of the den and bites the panther on the tail, scaring him away - and saves them all.

X loves the book. Last night (and again tonight) after we finished reading it, it's time for 'snuggle Mommy' when he curls up in my arms to go to sleep. And the lights are off. But instead of curling up and falling asleep right away, he sits up and looks at me with a gleam in his eye and whispers "what's that...? I hear sounds... I don't see him.... IT'S A PANTHER!! Chomp! He lashes his tail! Goes through the air and plop! In the stinky poop!"

Essentially telling the story back to me, complete with secret squirrel moves of his head back and forth, like he's listening for the panther...

Amazing.

Trip to the zoo

Xander and Mommy went to York's Wild Animal Park today - and he was a champ (even when we had to wait in ridiculously slow lines) - kissed a snake, saw 3 new goats being born, fed the ducks and the deer, said "hi there elephant, how you doing today?", showed passing interest in the zebras, tiger, lions, alligators... mostly wanted to drive his "Mater" truck on the fence rails and benches ;-)