A story about a boat by Elijah

I have decided that for Elijah's monthly update I may start writing a story that Elijah has told me or something that happened while we are playing.  Elijah has really broken out of his silent shell that he lived in for the first two years of his life.  he loves making up songs and stories and they are encouraged in every way (except after it's lights out and then he just needs to tell them quietly to his stuffed animals!)  I feel like imagination and storytelling are an important step in learning to read and comprehend.   So without further ado Elijah's day out at sea:

(This story takes place on our swing set which has two swings and a slide.)

"Mom!  Come get on the boat!" 

"Okay.  I'm going to sit down here.  Is that okay?"

"Yes, but put your feet up.  You don't want to get bitten by the alligators and sharks and big honkin' whales and fish."

"Okey dokey.  I'll rest them in this swing."

"Okay.  But the sharks and big honkin' whales are nice and they won't bite you.  They just come up and give you kisses."

"Well, that's very nice of them!"

"Okay.  Mommy, I have everything I need up here.  I have a fishing pole and a stick to get the spiders down."

"Great!  I feel very safe that you are so prepared."

Grace climbs up to the top of the slide to see what is going on.

"OH hi Gracie!!  You want to play little bear?  Come on up here and sail the boat.  Oh, look over there.  It's a big honkin' whale!  It's going to splash us!!  Hold on Gracie!!  Hold on Mommy!"

"Whoa!!  That was a big honkin' whale buddy!!  Glad you held onto Gracie!"

"Yeah, that was a big splash.   You okay Gracie?  Oh look, there's Diego and Alicia!  I think they are going to come over on our boat!"

"Our boat is getting very full, good thing you have you fishing pole to catch us some fish."

"Yeah.  But we don't eat the fish!!  hahahahaha! We will land and eat dinner at home."

"Oh, good to know! Then bring Diego and Alicia on board!"

"Mommy, Gracie, Mommy, Gracie!!  Look there is a puppy out in the water.  Gracie, you like puppies, see the puppy?"

"PUPPY!!!!!"  says, Gracie.

"Come here puppy!"  Elijah slides down the slide into the 'water' and Gracie follows suit.  He pushes the puppy up the slide saying, "Come on puppy.  Oh that's a good puppy!  Good boy!"

Grace tries to climb up the slide but is unable, so she sits at the end.

"Watch out Gracie, the puppy is coming down."

"I think Gracie is okay.  The puppy can jump over her."

"Oh okay.  The puppy is going to go play in the water with the shark!"

"Oh really??  Isn't that dangerous?"

"Oh no Mommy, these are nice sharks.  See they are playing in the water together."

"Oh well that's good.  Hey I'm getting hungry.  Are we getting close to land?"

"No.  It's not time to eat yet.  I want to stay on the boat a little longer."

"Well, buddy, mommy needs to swim in and start dinner, but you can continue to sail your boat until dinner time."

Here is where the 3 year old comes out... with the NO MOMMY, PLAY WITH ME MOMMY, I DON'T WANT TO GO IN.  And I feel horrible that I'm not staying out and starving my family in order to continue to play until all hours of the night with my kids.  I do love hanging out with them and the weather these days is perfect for afternoons in the back yard.  But alas, my motherly duties kick in so that they may be fed and I won't be frowned upon by Social Services.  I hug Elijah very tight and tell him that I love him and loved playing on his boat with him, but that I have to go in.  He chooses to come in as well and immediately complains that he is "SO SO HUNNNNNGRY!"  sigh... a mom can never win!