Pets
Can't even remember how it got started, but a few years ago Aden christened a new game called "Pets". His stuffed animal collection had started growing bit by bit, and of course it only seemed right to this huge-hearted imaginitave blue-eyed boy that these creatures should all be real.
As time has gone by, every new stuffed thing through our doors has joined this diverse family, all of whom have developed personalities and each of whom has its own voice. Provided by me, and in turn provided by God's grace to a Mama who had no idea her vocal chords could do so many things.
So for the sake of posterity and to offer a glimpse into the wonder that is Aden's mind, I now introduce to you the pets.
Top row, left to right
Green Bear
He's actually a member of the Green Twins - his brother, MIA at the moment, is the same except with blue eyes. These guys do everything together and talk sort of like a toned-down Julia Child.
Max
This fellow comes from the movie The Secret Life of Pets. He actually talks, walks, and wags his tail. Except that his rotation of sentences doesn't cover what Aden wants him to say, so I talk for him in a voice somewhere between his and mine. Max can't do everything the other pets can, because of the stuff inside him that makes his mobility possible.
Patch
Patch is a Build-a-Bear that Nene gave Aden when he was still a baby. Patch is super-sweet, a good encourager with a soft and timid voice, and tends to be surprised whenever he does well at something.
Baseball Dog
This fun fellow has a zipper on his back where you can stuff the dog part inside, rezip, and all of a sudden you have a big stuffed baseball. When that happens, Baseball Dog is taking a nap. But he spends most of his time "awake" and is fiercely competitive at games. In my attempt to give him a deep, Louisiana bayou-style voice, he actually sounds more like Foghorn Leghorn.
Aden
Trying to hide.
Bottom row, left to right
Slithers
The red snake has a whispery, s-rich voice and half-jokes a lot about wanting to eat the other pets. Luckily Aden keeps a good stash of mice in his closet to hold Slithers at bay.
Chompy
Another biter, Chompy talks a lot of trash and likes to go swimming in both the ocean (Aden's floor) and the hot tub (a wire basket). I haven't quite figured out Chompy's voice other than a "chomp, chomp" tacked onto the end of everything he says, so it's kind of random.
Itty
His given name is Itty Bitty Elephant, but we call him Itty for short. Itty is kind and helpful, and is the one of the bunch who comes up with really great ideas. His voice is as deep as I can get mine.
The Adens
These lime green shark twins came from the county fair in two separate years. They are brothers and both named Aden. They don't act like sharks and don't spend a lot of time swimming, but generally just go along with what all the other guys are doing. Their voices are an even more toned-down Julia Child with some tongue-wagging bubbles thrown in.
Quackers
Oh the little red duck. Who is actually a platypus, but such is life. His voice is entirely nasal, great for his complaining and whining. Quackers is the instigator and gets in trouble a lot. He is possessive and speaks his mind and will only play with things that are red. But Aden takes good advantage of teachable moments, and Quackers has learned some good lessons about attitude.
Monkey
The one and only. The bedfellow. The faithful friend, true to Aden through thick and thin and even a swallowed eyeball. He has a high-pitched voice, loves to play games and try his best at competitions, always takes Aden's side, and helps the other pets to get along. The only complaint Monkey ever makes is when he gets dropped onto the floor.
George
The other monkey. An essential part of the family, George is a British scholar (I do a mean British accent, y'all) who enjoys spouting random facts about things to teach the pets. A type-A rule follower, George and Quackers do not get along.
Eeyore
You know the one from Winnie the Pooh? Yep, that's him. Voice and demeanor and all.
Dudley Dog
Aden's other bedfellow, Dudley Dog was named after the real Dudley who we recently lost. Which has made him all the more precious. He is bouncy and tail-waggy and gets excited about pretty much everything. He tends to be a two-hands pet so I can keep his tail wagging while he licks Aden in the face. He only barked and panted and occasionally whined until just recently, when Aden insisted on a voice. He and Monkey sound very similar.
Shamu
The oldest by far, Shamu came from a family vacation to Sea World when I might have been a little older than Trey. He usually hangs out with The Adens, but enjoys a good swim and spends a good amount of time trying to keep Chompy from biting anyone.
So there you have it, our most popular activity. Aden and his pets, plus a Mama with sore throat and mind reeling several times a week as she tries to keep up with who is who.
We go on cruises and airplane rides and to baseball games. We do jumping contests and reading practice and roll balls back and forth. We have matchbox car derby races and archery practice. A four-foot crane we got Aden this past Christmas takes the willing pets on high-flying rides, one by one. With every Lego set completed, we gather them all so Aden can show them what he has done and how it works.
Sometimes it's a tall order to get into it, but tired voice and all, I love this game. Because Aden loves it so much. And because I love him so much.
As time has gone by, every new stuffed thing through our doors has joined this diverse family, all of whom have developed personalities and each of whom has its own voice. Provided by me, and in turn provided by God's grace to a Mama who had no idea her vocal chords could do so many things.
So for the sake of posterity and to offer a glimpse into the wonder that is Aden's mind, I now introduce to you the pets.
Top row, left to right
Green Bear
He's actually a member of the Green Twins - his brother, MIA at the moment, is the same except with blue eyes. These guys do everything together and talk sort of like a toned-down Julia Child.
Max
This fellow comes from the movie The Secret Life of Pets. He actually talks, walks, and wags his tail. Except that his rotation of sentences doesn't cover what Aden wants him to say, so I talk for him in a voice somewhere between his and mine. Max can't do everything the other pets can, because of the stuff inside him that makes his mobility possible.
Patch
Patch is a Build-a-Bear that Nene gave Aden when he was still a baby. Patch is super-sweet, a good encourager with a soft and timid voice, and tends to be surprised whenever he does well at something.
Baseball Dog
This fun fellow has a zipper on his back where you can stuff the dog part inside, rezip, and all of a sudden you have a big stuffed baseball. When that happens, Baseball Dog is taking a nap. But he spends most of his time "awake" and is fiercely competitive at games. In my attempt to give him a deep, Louisiana bayou-style voice, he actually sounds more like Foghorn Leghorn.
Aden
Trying to hide.
Bottom row, left to right
Slithers
The red snake has a whispery, s-rich voice and half-jokes a lot about wanting to eat the other pets. Luckily Aden keeps a good stash of mice in his closet to hold Slithers at bay.
Chompy
Another biter, Chompy talks a lot of trash and likes to go swimming in both the ocean (Aden's floor) and the hot tub (a wire basket). I haven't quite figured out Chompy's voice other than a "chomp, chomp" tacked onto the end of everything he says, so it's kind of random.
Itty
His given name is Itty Bitty Elephant, but we call him Itty for short. Itty is kind and helpful, and is the one of the bunch who comes up with really great ideas. His voice is as deep as I can get mine.
The Adens
These lime green shark twins came from the county fair in two separate years. They are brothers and both named Aden. They don't act like sharks and don't spend a lot of time swimming, but generally just go along with what all the other guys are doing. Their voices are an even more toned-down Julia Child with some tongue-wagging bubbles thrown in.
Quackers
Oh the little red duck. Who is actually a platypus, but such is life. His voice is entirely nasal, great for his complaining and whining. Quackers is the instigator and gets in trouble a lot. He is possessive and speaks his mind and will only play with things that are red. But Aden takes good advantage of teachable moments, and Quackers has learned some good lessons about attitude.
Monkey
The one and only. The bedfellow. The faithful friend, true to Aden through thick and thin and even a swallowed eyeball. He has a high-pitched voice, loves to play games and try his best at competitions, always takes Aden's side, and helps the other pets to get along. The only complaint Monkey ever makes is when he gets dropped onto the floor.
George
The other monkey. An essential part of the family, George is a British scholar (I do a mean British accent, y'all) who enjoys spouting random facts about things to teach the pets. A type-A rule follower, George and Quackers do not get along.
Eeyore
You know the one from Winnie the Pooh? Yep, that's him. Voice and demeanor and all.
Dudley Dog
Aden's other bedfellow, Dudley Dog was named after the real Dudley who we recently lost. Which has made him all the more precious. He is bouncy and tail-waggy and gets excited about pretty much everything. He tends to be a two-hands pet so I can keep his tail wagging while he licks Aden in the face. He only barked and panted and occasionally whined until just recently, when Aden insisted on a voice. He and Monkey sound very similar.
Shamu
The oldest by far, Shamu came from a family vacation to Sea World when I might have been a little older than Trey. He usually hangs out with The Adens, but enjoys a good swim and spends a good amount of time trying to keep Chompy from biting anyone.
So there you have it, our most popular activity. Aden and his pets, plus a Mama with sore throat and mind reeling several times a week as she tries to keep up with who is who.
We go on cruises and airplane rides and to baseball games. We do jumping contests and reading practice and roll balls back and forth. We have matchbox car derby races and archery practice. A four-foot crane we got Aden this past Christmas takes the willing pets on high-flying rides, one by one. With every Lego set completed, we gather them all so Aden can show them what he has done and how it works.
Sometimes it's a tall order to get into it, but tired voice and all, I love this game. Because Aden loves it so much. And because I love him so much.
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