Author Archives: Paul

“In the train restaurant we go!”

[Paul drew a picture of the train restaurant. I asked him to tell me the story. There was a lot of back story to get to the train restaurant. Enjoy!]

“In the train restaurant we go!”

A true story by Paul June 22, 2011

Once upon a time, there was a boy named Paul. And Paul’s parents were named Rebecca and Ryan. And the next day, Paul work up and his parents Mommy and Daddy woke up. And then all of the people took showers. And then Mommy and Daddy got dressed. Paul’s parents packed up to go to New York City. And Paul packed up to go to Sister Bether’s house and his grandma’s house. They get in the car with all the stuff they want to take with them. And then Paul’s parents get in their new car and then they started to drive. But first one of Paul’s parents opened the garage to drive out.

Paul went to Sister Bether’s house and his grandma’s house and his parents go to New York City. And then they get to a stoplight. And then the stoplight turned green. And then they finally go forward. And then they finally get to Sister Bether’s house. And they ring the doorbell. So, Emily gets to the door and says “Who’s there?” And Paul plays with the Bethers in the basement. And then Paul plays with Rexie. And the next day, Paul work up and someone rang the door bell and it was Grandma! Paul’s Grandma!

Paul came to his grandma. And then they walked to the car and Paul got in his seat. Grandma got in her seat. And they drive. And then it was very far to Grandma’s house. When they get to Grandma’s house, Paul played with Marble Works. And then all of Paul’s cousins were there. And then they go swimming. Grandpa opened up the pool. And then Grandma turned on the heat and it was just right. And then they get out and wash their hair. Grandma opened up the door and they get dressed.

Then they get in the car again and go to the train restaurant. When they get there, Granpa opened up the door and they get in. And then they play with the trains. And they go back to their seat and get what they want to eat. They play with the trains some more. And then their food comes back on a little train. And then they eat. And they get back in the car and go to Grandma’s house again. And the next day Paul woke up ….

(to be continued)

“Hooray we go!”

A continued true story by Paul June 22, 2011

And the next day, they go back to Grandma’s house. It was Sunday and Paul go visit Jessica and Daniel. And Jessica came to Paul. And they got in the car to go to church. They finally got to church. They opened the doors and everyone got out. And then Grandpa came and then they had sacrament meeting. Paul and Jessica go to Jessica’s big sunbeam class. And then at the end, they go to Jessica’s littler class. Two people keep turning the light on and off. But if they do that, their mom is going to come! And then all of the family went home. Then all the people went home.

Next, they got back in the car. Then they went to sleep and the next day, they got up and had breakfast. And then they got to a parade. The parade was fun. And then they go to a baseball game and watch it. Paul had ice cream on a stick! First he ate a big pretzel. And then he had dessert. And then he watched it. And then Paul tried to trick Jessica. They try to go backward and forward. And they went back home.

The End.

Four Stories

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[I’m currently reading a book about encouraging creativity in your children by helping them write. Paul dictated the following stories to me. I hope you enjoy reading them as much as we enjoyed pulling them together. “Underground” is where Paul’s imaginary friends live. The others make as much sense to you as they do to me.]

“Underground”

June 14, 2011

Underground, there are no trees. There are cars and people. There are houses. I like to go under there. Sometimes I pack up things to take. Sometimes I take my toothbrush and toothpaste. Sometimes I take my animals. All of my imaginary friends live underground. And sometimes I take my weather chart. IF it’s raining I am not going to go under there. Sometimes I take my blankets and toys, and sometimes I pack up some books. Underground is a special place. Sometimes I pack my pillows. Sometimes I take a nap underground.

The End.

“Crash It” Day

June 16, 2011

When it is the “crash it” day, we need to cut the pretend grass. Then we are going to come inside and then we are going to play “Busytown Game.” It is called “crash it” day becasue they are special days, and we never had one ever. On “crash it” day, we play tag. And then we stop playing tag and we go downstairs in the basement together and play trains. And then we will come upstairs and then we will have special time. After special time, we will come upstairs in Paul’s bedroom and then Paul will read a sun story called “Brown Bear, Brown Bear.” Then we go downstairs and think about the stuff we like about “crash it” day.

The End.

Abracadabra in the Store

June 20, 2011

Once upon a time, there was a mouse. And then the mouse goes to a house. When he goes to the house, he went inside the mousehole. And then he went to the family room. The family room is beautiful! He climbed up the ladder. At the top of the ladder, there is a Christmas tree. The mouse went down the ladder and got his ornaments from the bag. He went back up the ladder and he put the ornaments on the tree. And then the mouse went down the ladder, and then he walked to a clock. And then the mouse went up the clock. The clock struck one. The mouse went down. Hickory Dickory Dock! And he went up the clock. The clock struck two. The mouse went down. Hickory Dickory Dock! The mouse went up the clock. The clock struck three. The mouse went down. Hickcory Dickory Dock! And the mouse went to all of the rooms in the house. Next room the moust went to was the living room! And in the living room there is a dog hole. And then the mouse went in the dog hole. And in the dog hole there is a nice dog. They played with each other. And then the mouse went out of the dog hole.

The End.

Winnie-the-Pooh and the Mice

June 21, 2011 (by Goldbug Reid)

Once upon a time, there were some mice. And the mice tried to find their friend Pooh. The mice looked up and down, here and there, front and back, left and right. But they couldn’t find him. And they started looking for Winnie-the-Pooh. They went to a bush and looked behind it. But Winnie-the-Pooh wasn’t behind it. They saw a snake behind the bush! And they go to a tree and looked behind. But they didn’t see Pooh. They saw Owl. That means they were in Hundred Acre Woods. And they looked right across from it. And they saw a house. And they looked behind the house, and they saw their friend Winnie-the-Pooh. And that’s the end.

The End.

Binkies Anonymous

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Hi. I am a Binkie Addict. I’ve been binkie free now for five days and five nights now, and it’s still rather painful. Here’s my story.

Mommy and Daddy brought the binkie addiction to my attention on Sunday night, after I played with my binkie in the middle of a fireside at church and wouldn’t put it away. I resisted the title of “binkie addict” and I cried when Mommy said it was about time I stopped using the binkie. I kept my binkie that night and didn’t let go of it.

In the morning, Mommy told me it was time to stop using because I’m a big boy now and should not continue to cater to this addiction. She gave me the responsibility to throw my two binkies away when I felt I was ready to be a big boy. She said when I did, we’d call Grandma Peggy and tell her that I’m a big boy. I thought about it for a few minutes and decided that yes, I wanted to be a big boy, and I wanted to tell Grandma Peggy I was a big boy. I threw away both of my binkies.

Mommy was really excited. Apparently, it was only 7:30 a.m. and she didn’t think I’d be so eager to be a big boy so early in the morning! She didn’t realize that that is the easiest time to be a big boy. I’m awake and happy, and I certainly don’t feel a binkie craving when I’m happy. I don’t need my binkie when I’m not tired. I watched Mommy take out all the garbage in the house and I stood by the window for a while, hoping that the garbage man would come so I could see his truck. (He didn’t come.) We had to wait another hour or so to call Grandma because it was just too early still. I was excited and couldn’t wait to tell Grandma my big boy news. She was excited for me too.

I had a fun morning playing with toys. But I bumped my head on something about 10:30 and that’s when I realized what being a big boy meant: I asked Mommy if I could have my binkie, and she said there was no more binkie. Wow, that was hard.

At about 1 or 2, I wanted my rest time in my room. But once again, there was no binkie. Oh, the withdrawl was so painful that first day! I cried and cried. I searched in every garbage in the house looking for my binkies. But the garbage cans were all empty. I remembered watching Mommy take out the trash and felt very sad.

In the afternoon, Mommy said we were going on a road trip in the car. (I’ll tell you about our trip later.) We would be driving to a big hotel with a big big bed just for me! I was so excited, and I helped Mommy pack the bags. Daddy started driving the car and it took about 20 minutes to realize that when I asked for my binkie, Mommy wouldn’t give it to me. I screamed for hours, and I would only calm down when Mommy was telling me stories. I can’t tell you how sad it made me to know I would not have my binkie. I think I fell asleep in sheer exhaustion.

Tuesday was a busy, busy day. I didn’t bother to ask for my binkie because I knew Mommy didn’t have it. Besides there was so much to see. There were barns full of cows and roosters and horses and lions, and I liked to make all their noises. I saw old houses with interesting things to look at. I played games. I saw pictures of Joseph Smith and Jesus. I looked around at everything new. It was only when the sun went down that I thought of the binkie again. Mommy and I were walking around the Temple — it was so pretty — and Daddy was taking pictures. Mommy said we’d be going back to the big hotel with the big big bed and we’d get some sleep. I was sleepy! I asked Mommy then, but I knew the answer: “But my binkie?” She said, again, that there was no binkie. I suppose it didn’t matter. I was so sleepy. I fell asleep in the car again.

Wednesday was another busy busy day with lots of new things. It was when were driving home and I could tell the sun was going down that I started asking for my binkie again. I knew it wasn’t coming, but I was so bored and so sleepy, I couldn’t help asking. Mommy did not feed my addiction.

Thursday was a hard night. The day was fine; I never mentioned my binkie because there was no point. But when Mommy put me in bed at 7:30, I could not sleep. I was in my own room and in my own bed, and the binkie is such a part of my routine that it was hard to do without it. I kept bouncing down to talk to Mommy and Daddy who were watching a movie. I didn’t go to sleep until after 10.

Last night was the same. I cried and cried and cried. I pleaded. I whined. I pulled Mommy’s hand. It was probably 9:30 before I got to sleep. I was just so uncomfortable and sad. I know Mommy’s insistence that there is no more binkie is true, but it doesn’t make the withdrawl any less painful. My question now is: how long will it be before I can go to sleep without feeling so sad, without the craving for the binkie?

I know I am a big boy, but I’m glad I can tell you all the hardships of being a big boy. Habits are hard to break, and this addiction, particularly, has been hard since I’m nearly three years old. Three years is a long time to have a bad habit!

Grandma Peggy and Papa Paul’s Visit: A Trip to Wisconsin and the Train Museum

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On the Monday morning when Grandma Peggy and Papa Paul were here (Memorial Day), we went to Wisconsin! We were going to go somewhere closer to home, but it was pouring rain so we drove an hour and spent some time at Lake Geneva. It was not raining in Wisconsin. I liked the playground we played at!

I also had fun walking down the board walk with Grandma, Papa, Mommy, and Daddy.

It was really sunny, so I didn't want to open my eyes!

We are a happy family!

I love Daddy!

I'm glad Grandma can keep track of Billy by holding on to his leash!

On our way home from Lake Geneva, we went to the Train Museum! I had asked about it all day. “Train Museum now?” I kept saying. I was glad when we finally went there.

I got to ride on a train!

Even better, I got to ride on Grandma Peggy's lap while we rode on the train!

I had so much fun with Grandma Peggy and Papa Paul!

ETA Dec 2011: Post has been post-dated to reflect date pictures were taken. Originally posted July 2010.

Grandma Peggy and Papa Paul’s Visit: A Night and Day in Chicago

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Grandma Peggy and Papa Paul came to stay with me! I had so much fun with them that I still keep talking about them!

We spent a lot time in the car the first night. But that’s because we went to Chicago. We walked down the street to go to dinner together. Grandma Peggy gave me a puppy that we called Billy. I wore Billy on my back and Grandma held on to his leash so Billy wouldn’t get lost while we walked around. there were so many things to look at, I forgot to look at where I was going! But I knew Grandma was right there with me.

: I was pretty tired after dinner. I got to sleep in a big soft cozy bed all by myself!

Mommy says she wants me to put in this picture of Navy Pier. She says she took it when she and Grandma and Daddy went for a walk. I didn't see it because I stayed at the hotel and slept in that nice big bed! (Grandpa stayed with me.)

The next morning, I woke up and I was still in the nice big cozy bed! I hadn’t fallen out!

It was a special day because then we went to ride on a boat! I was very excited to see the boat. The walk to get to the boat seemed to take forever and I wanted to be carried. Mommy says it was four blocks. Is that a lot?

We got on the boat and it was exciting!

Then I was ready to get off. Mommy laughed and said that it had only been five minutes and it was a 90 minute tour. That sounded like a very long time!

I played with my sunglasses.

I looked at the water.

I sat on Mommy's and Daddy's and Grandma Peggy's and Papa Paul's laps.

Mommy and Daddy and Grandma Peggy took pictures of buildings. Some person was talking about the buildings. I was bored, for the most part. But then we got off the boat and went and ate food! And then we went in a car again. We drove to a Museum called the Museum of Science and Industry.

I had fun seeing a big tractor

and I loved the cow. Cows say "Moo!"

I also saw a huge train and a huge airplane. I got to go in both of them. Mommy didn’t take pictures, though. Silly Mommy!

I also saw a fun toy train set. I watched it for a long time.

Then we went home. That was the end of our day in Chicago. I slept well that night, even if I wasn’t in that huge bed anymore.

ETA (Dec 2011): Post has been post-dated to reflect date pictures were taken. Originally posted July 2010.

How I Save the Day by Paul

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“I want toast for breakfast,” says Mommy.

“By the way, there’s no more peanut butter,” says Daddy.

“There is peanut butter in food storage in the basement,” says Mommy.

“Well, I didn’t want to go down there,” says Daddy.

I am wearing my FIRE CHIEF hat. I can save the day!

I go to the basement. Mommy turns on the light for me. She thinks I’m going to go play! She does not know I will save the day.

I walk downstairs like a real fire chief. I am getting really good. Mommy says she can’t watch me because she thinks I’ll fall. I haven’t fallen down the stairs for a few days now!

I open the door to the Dark part of the basement. I see the peanut butter on the second shelf, and I have to reach for it. Then I crawl back upstairs with it. It is hard. The peanut butter jar is big and awkward!

Mommy sees me and is very surprised. She didn’t know I could save the day!

Daddy says, “Thank you, Paul! Good job!”

“Oh dear,” says Mommy. “We need a child safety lock on that door!”

“Yes,” says Daddy.

Sunshine!

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I had a great weekend. Daddy was home, finally, so I enjoyed playing with him. He makes me laugh a lot! He is a lot more fun than Mommy. Mommy is boring.

On Saturday I went to the store with Mommy. Then, instead of taking a nap (I just kept screaming for a long time, so Mommy got me up), I went outside with Mommy and Daddy. I wasn’t wearing my coat. There was this very bright thing in the sky. I had to squint. But I helped Mommy and Daddy rake the leaves. There were lots of leaves. I liked to run through them after Daddy got them all into a nice neat pile.

Mommy doesn’t have a picture of me running through the leaves because she was busy raking the leaves. (She wants me to tell you that it really is almost Springtime. There are leaves to rake because they were never raked last autumn before the snow came.)

Mommy and Daddy and I raked all afternoon, until I reminded them that it was dinner time. I think the front yard looks very nice now. But Daddy put all the leaves in a big bag, so I can’t walk through them anymore. It’s really sad.

Then I ate dinner and wasn’t feeling well, so I threw it up. I don’t think I can eat scrambled eggs, because I think that happened the last time I ate scrambled eggs too.

I didn’t feel very well all day Sunday either. I bumped my head on the bench during Sacrament meeting and I was very sleepy so Daddy held me close for the rest of the meetings.

Daddy isn’t here today, but Mommy and I went back outside to rake. I ran around the back yard. And Mommy showed me this really fun new thing called a slide. She has to help get to the top but — WHEEE!!! — I love to come down again. I laugh a lot.

I’m taking my nap right now. It feels good to rest after a busy morning.

My New Play Place

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I get to follow Mommy around all day with this cool new toy: it has a long handle and a flat bottom. Mommy usually uses it, so I know I’m being a really big boy to play with it.

Not only that, but there is tons of open space! I can just walk around for ever. I can even walk into a separate room from Mommy! There are stairs that go up and down. But I stay away from them when I see that they are going down; I fell down a few stairs a few days ago and it was very scary!

But there are also these great doors with handles that I can reach. I love to open the doors! It’s even more fun to go in the little tiny rooms and close the doors. These rooms are just my size — Mommy can’t come in — and I I like how dark it gets in there!

But then I get tired of walking around and Mommy gives me lots of graham crackers. Graham crackers make me smile!

Happy Thanksgiving!

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I arrived in Utah after my bedtime on November 25. But I still had some smiles for Grandma Peggy and Papa Paul!

The next day, I discovered a room full of toys! Grandma Peggy watched me play and play and play. I had so much fun. Daddy came that day too. I was very glad to see him.

Mommy told me that the next day was Thanksgiving. We went to a restaurant. I looked carefully at the menu. I saw my cousins and aunts and uncles. We all ate a lot. I didn’t have any room left for pumpkin pie, not after all that turkey and the potatoes and sweet potatoes. I didn’t like the stuffing, but everything else was tasty.

We took a family photo. But I ate too much and had a tummy ache. Besides, I wanted my nap. That’s why I have a funny look on my face.

I also got to see some of my other cousins. Cousin Samuel didn’t really know how to walk yet, but he watched my good example and started to figure it out. Cousin Leah turned three years old. She is such a big girl! I was there for her birthday party. And my great-Grandma was there too. She is so nice!

Grandma Peggy made sure I had plenty to eat all weekend.

And I met more cousins. I can’t wait until I’m a little older; then I’ll have lots of fun with these boys.

Then we took more family pictures. At least I could cuddle with Daddy.

And then I got to smile by the Christmas tree.

Whew! That’s a lot of pictures to tell you about! I hope you had a happy thanksgiving too!

One Year Old Party!

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On Sunday, I had an extra fun day!

First, I got to meet some firemen. See, Mommy had picked me up, and she and Daddy walked around the house saying “What’s that smell? Where is it?” and then Mommy stood outside with me waiting. After the firemen came and looked in the wall and took out the light switch, one of them gave me a big silver sticker that said “Junior Firefighter.”

But that was only the beginning of the fun! Then we went to Grandma and Grandpa’s house.

Everyone sat around and watched me play with toys. I was the center of the show! These loud people kept talking over me.

Every once in a while there would be a lot of people singing. I liked the singing. I tried to sing, too. But people kept shhh-ing me.

Then we ate a very yummy dinner. Then I was ready for a nap. But Mommy wanted to give me more food and take my picture a lot and then cousin Daniel helped me open some presents. It was very tiring.