BACK IN THE OLD DAYS

Glenn was tucking Ellery into bed and telling her a story about when he was a boy. She loves to hear about things that happened when he was little. Tonight's story was about Dad's dog Laddie. Laddie had gotten tangled up with a skunk.

Dad: ...and then I had to give Laddie a bath in tomato juice to try and get rid of the smell.

Ellery: Oh, right. Because you didn't have water back then.

THEOLOGICAL IDEAS

Ellery: God reads about me every day.

Mom: What did He read about you yesterday?

Ellery: I don't remember.

Mom: What did He read about you today?

Ellery: About you! About you swimming! He laughed.

JUST WONDERING

Ellery: Dad, how do you protect pumpkins?

Dad: Pumpkins? Protect then from what?

Ellery: From lots of things! From burglers, bugs, soccer balls...

WHAT GREG SAYS

Ellery's cousin Greg was visiting.

Monica: Do you want sandwiches?

Greg and Ellery: Yes!

Monica: What kind?

Greg: Honey!

Monica: Just honey? No peanut butter or butter?

Greg: Yup. Just honey.

Ellery: Yup. Just honey. I hate peanut butter. (She doesn't)

I quickly whipped up a honey sandwich and cut it in two, giving them each a half.

Greg, approvingly to Ellery: The service here sure is fast!

SIGNS OF SPRING (BUT IT'S STILL WINTER)

On the way to swimming lessons

Ellery was glorying in not wearing a coat. "I'm not cold!" she insisted again and again. On the way to the Y, she sniffed suspiciously and said, "I smell something cold. Is it ice or is it me?"

IF YOU KNEW WHAT I KNEW

At the play "Beauty and the Beast"

Ellery's favorite part of the movie is when the villagers storm the castle and are surprised and soundly defeated by the enchanted furniture and dishes. As the play was building to that moment and the villagers pounded on the castle door, Ellery turned to Emily and shaking her head pityingly said, "Fools."

GHOST STORY

Riding in the car

Ellery: Mom, do you want to hear a story?

Mom: Yes!

Ellery: (In hushed, suspenseful tones) Once upon a time there was a ghost and its name was...(loudly and dramatically)...GHOST HUMAN!

(more details in hushed tones that I couldn't make out)...and its favorite food was...S'MORES!

It could smell the s'mores all through the town. And its favorite dessert was...FISHY CRACKERS!