"Can You Please Repeat The Word?"

True story:

Once upon a time, there was a little girl who loved to read. Her parents did not keep a television in their home, which meant the little girl had LOTS of time to spend with her nose in books, and, indeed, she did. As she read, her vocabulary grew, and she was often teased for using large words, and speaking them in perfect english. :p Sometimes that bothered the little girl, but she carried on, because you cannot stop greatness. :p :p :p

One day, the little girl participated in a classroom spelling bee, and won. This led to the school spelling bee, which she also won. The details beyond this are a little foggy in that little girl's head right now, because she sort of had no idea what was going on at the time; but she DOES recall spending MONTHS in Mrs. Giffin's portable in the woods, studying for the district spelling bee. The little girl only recalls going to districts once, but maybe she went twice, since she did win the school's bee 2 years in a row...??? Anyway, that little girl bombed out at districts, and spelled herself out on the 3rd round with "pallor." (The little girl just had to google it, to make sure it IS spelled with two "l"s, and not the one "l" she spelled it with that fateful night.) Oh, well.

That little girl went on to become a published writer in high school, with her poetry, essays, and stories found in various books throughout Hawaii. In college, she also earned her spending money by writing a column for the university's newspaper--what fun!!! (She thinks she got the job in the first place because the editor had a crush on her roommate, but she DID eventually go on to prove her worth, so there!)

Fast-forward about 10 years. The aforementioned little girl grew up to be a mommy, and her little girls seemed to be fond of reading as well. This made the mommy very glad. One day, the little girls were watching TV. How ironic. :P Anyway, on this TV was a spot reminding viewers that the national spelling bee was being televised next week. The mommy's oldest daughter came and told her about it, and so was regaled with this story of her mommy's glory days as a champion speller. :p Daughter showed her (undue) admiration for her mother's accomplishments, and then purposed on the spot that she, too, would become a spelling bee champion. The mommy thought that was cute, and had visions of her daughter actually winning nationals, but did not realize the seriousness of it all until she came upon this:

Yes, said little girl went out that very day, and spent almost 2 week's worth of allowance on--TA-DA --a DICTIONARY!!! (Yes, we DO own dictionaries in this house, but she wanted one of her own.) In the last picture, you are looking at the sweet daughter who is trying to understand the humor her mother finds in this whole scene, and WHY she would want to take a picture of her reading a dictionary--"What's so funny about that?" Oh, Kiana....

So, I believe that we have, in effect, spawned the next generation of nerds. (Daniel's demanding a paternity test. WHAT-EVER.) Don't worry; I won't let them buy pocket-protectors. But won't they look cute in the latest eyewear fashions? :D