Spelling Lessons
We broke out the Nick alphabet books Shelly had given us back when Claire was first starting to read (or rather listen to us read) and Avery decided to start spelling words with them.
While we were in the kitchen he came up to use with three books. F, U and M. “This spells ‘fum’,” he said. I corrected him: “‘Thumb’ is with a ‘th’.”
“No,” he insisted, I wanted ‘fum’.”
“What does ‘fum’ mean?” we asked, expecting to get give out the correct spelling.
“You know, like fee-fi-fo-fum.” he explained stomping like a giant.
Claire came up with some books cradled in her hands and said “Ask me if I want a hot dog.”
“Do you want a hot dog?” Diana asked.
Claire held up the books: Y-E-S. “Now, Daddy, ask me something.”
“Do you want to take a bath?” I asked.
Claire looked crestfallen as she glanced at the books and said “Hold on a second,” running back into the family room. A moment later she was back with her hands behind her back. “Ask me again.”
Smiling, I said, “Do you want to skip tonight’s bath?”
Claire gave me a horrified look of shock and betrayal as she shifted nervously from foot to foot fidgeting with the two books behind her back. “Could you ask it the same way you did before?”