The Problem with the Heart

Setting: Max is flipping through the most recent issue of the National Geographic where the feature story is about the human heart. He’s particularly interested in the double-page photo spread documenting the implantation of an artificial heart.
Max (to no one in particular): Now they are cutting him open. Now they are taking his heart. Now they are putting in something… Mom, what are they doing?
Mom: He’s receiving an artificial heart.
Max: What’s that?
Mom: His own heart was no longer working, so they gave him a temporary heart until they could find him another one. (hoping she wouldn’t have to explain that further…)
Max: What was wrong with his heart?
Mom: Gee, Max, I really don’t know.
Max: I know.
Max: He ate too much junk food, and his heart got sick and said “aaa-choooo”.

Light & Dark

Setting: It's late on a weekday night. Kids are in bed and supposedly asleep. Dad looks upstairs and sees a light on in Max's room.
Dad: "Max?"
Max: "Yeah."
Dad: "Why is your light on?"
Max: "Because it's dark and I need it to see."
Dad: "What are you supposed to be doing?"
Max: "Sleeping."
Dad: "You can't sleep very well with the light on."
Max: "Oh."
Note: The light goes off.

When I Grow Up (Part 1)

Setting: Mom, Max, and Emma are having dinner out on the deck on a beautiful Spring evening. Thoughts turn to the future.
Max: "When I grow up, I want to be a Firefighter!"
Mom: "What does a Firefighter do, Max?"
Emma (jumping right in): "They water hoses!"

When I Grow Up (Part 2)

Setting: Two minutes later…
Emma: "When I grow up, I want to be a Princess!"
Mom: "What does a Princess do, Emma?"
Max (jumping right in): "They go to balls and wear glass slippers!"
Emma: "I don’t know, what do they do?"
Mom: "Well, they represent their country and spend a lot of time helping others. They visit children in hospitals, they visit people who need help, and make speeches about charitable causes."
Emma: "I think I’d rather be a Ballerina."

Growing Up

Setting: It's morning and Dad is trying to find positive ways to convince Max to want to go to school today.
Dad: "Max, you want to be a fireman when you grow up right?"
Max: "Yes."
Dad: "Well to be a fireman you need to go to school so you can learn things that will help you."
Max: "I don't want to go to school."
Emma: "I want to be a princess when I grow up."
Dad: "Well... you need to learn things to be a princess too."
Emma: "Dad, will you teach me?"
Dad (nervously pondering lessons on elocution): "...To be a princess?"
Emma: "No, teach me to grow up."

Iowa

Setting: Max and Emma only get to see a movie one day on the weekends or when traveling in the minivan to visit relatives in Milwaukee. The last 8 choices for movie have been Monsters, Inc. The family also took a trip to Iowa about 3 months ago.
Max: "Maybe we could take a trip to Iowa and watch Monsters, Inc. in the minivan."

Illinois

Setting: Max is looking at his assembled 84 piece puzzle of the United States.
Max: "Dad, where is Illinois?"
Dad: "Below Wisconsin, Max."
Max: "Yeah there it is. I've never been to Illinois before. Maybe we could go there after Speech."

Note: Max has speech therapy from 1-3pm on Monday and Wednesdays.

Owls

Setting: The bedtime story included a closeup drawing of an owl's eyes and beak.
Emma: "I don't like owls. They are scary!"
Mom: "Yes, they are interesting."
Max: "Because they can pick up children and eat them for a midnight snack!"

Power Play

Setting: It's dinner time and a choice of leftovers is on the menu. Max and Emma have chosen some fish sticks. Dad has set out the remaining chicken burrito. Emma starts picking at the burrito.
Dad: "Emma that's my dinner."
Emma: "Can I have a bite?"
Dad: "No, that is my dinner, you chose to have fish sticks."
Emma: "Pleeeaaassse! Just one little bite."
Dad: "No."
Emma: "Dad, you need to share. God likes it when we share."

Chores

Henry: "Arf."
Nothing.
Henry: "Arf, arf!"
Mom: "Can someone feed Henry please."
Note: Feeding the dog is one of Max and Emma's daily chores, and their only responsibility with Henry.
Emma: "I want Max to."
Mom: "Emma, please feed Henry."
Emma: "Okay, Mom."

Later
Henry: "Arf, arf."
Mom: "Emma, I think Henry needs water. Can you get him some water, please."
Emma: "Now we have to water Henry too?"

Too Soon

Setting: Mom, Max, and Emma are snuggling in bed on a lazy, rainy, Saturday morning. Emma is lying on her back, knees up, arms raised in the air - playing with her hands.
Emma: "Mom, look I made a heart!"
Note to audience: Go ahead, put your index fingers and your thumbs from both hands together like a diamond…then curl your thumbs up – you’ll get an upside down heart. :)
Mom: "That’s really cool, Em!"
Emma (as she throws her hands apart): "Now I have a broken heart."