Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Story Time - Stellilalagoogoos I

Those who have read ALL my posts, even those before the accident, may have noticed my story back there in May I think. One of the cool things I have wanted to do with this blog was record some original bedtime stories I have told my girls so that I could publish them later. Then someday when I am a grandma, my kids will have a book of bedtime stories their mother made up to read to their own children.

I think I might be ready to write a post that is not about grief. So, here is a story (one in a series) I made up on the fly the other day to entertain Lauren and my two nieces Charlotte and Stella in the car.  
Lauren and her cousin Charlotte (Charby Goo Goos) with their dolls.
These two are little Mamas.

Stellilalagoogoos 
and the Purple Flower Juice

Once upon a time there was a little fairy named Stelli-LaLa-GooGoos. She was about this tall (show about 2 inches) and she lived in a magical forest in a little house with her mother. Throughout the forrest there were beautiful flowers of all different colors. The fairies in the forrest loved to drink the juice from the flowers. 

Our cousin, Stella Ann Harris

Everyday, Stellilalagoogoos went out exploring in the forrest. She took her best straw with her to drink flower juice. One day she was out exploring and she saw a beautiful purple flower. It was the most beautiful purple flower she had ever seen. So, she decided to have a drink. She got her straw (hold up a fist) and she stuck it down into the middle of the flower (slam your fist against the open palm of your other hand). And then she started to suck up some juice (put your lips to the top of the fist and make sucking noises). 

As she drank and drank, she started to feel funny. Then she noticed the flower was getting smaller and smaller. She looked around and saw that everything looked smaller. She looked at her feet and realized that had grown. She was now as big as you! (point to the kid being told the story). 

Stellilalagoogoos was scared. She did not like being big. Where would she live? She was bigger than her whole house. How would her mother give her hugs? Her mother's arms wouldn't even fit around her ankle. Something had to be done.

Stellilalagoogoos decided to go visit the giants in Gianormoville to see if they could help her become little again. It didn't take long to get to Gianormoville. She walked there in just 10 minutes. Once she got there, she asked the giants, who were not much bigger than her now, how she could get small again. Everyone she asked said, "I don't know. Why would you want to be small. I love being big." 

Stellilalagoogoos did not like being big. She wanted to be little and grow up to be just like her Mama. Stellilalagoogoos decided to find some small people to ask. She went to the land of Miniville where everyone was even smaller than fairies. It only took her 20 minutes to walk to Miniville. 

The people of Miniville heard Stellilalagoogoos coming from far away. Her footsteps were so big they shook the whole town. They were scared. They thought they might get stepped on. They all ran in their houses. They would not come out to even talk to Stellilalagoogoos. 

Now Stellilalagoogoos was even more sad and she was very tired from all this walking. She didn't want to be scary. She didn't want to be big. She wanted one thing more than anything. She wanted her Mama.

Stellilalagoogoos was afraid her mother would be upset with her for growing so big. But she really needed her Mama and she knew her Mama would always love her no matter how big she got. So, Stellilalagoogoos went home.

When Mama saw Stellilalagoogoos she started to giggle. She flew up to Stellilalagoogoos face and gave her a tiny little kiss on her great big cheek. Then she flew over to Stellilalagoogoos ear and said, "I see you found the most beautiful purple flower in the forest."

Stellilalagoogoos couldn't believe her mother knew about the flower. "How did you know?" she asked.

"When I was a little fairy, I found the same flower and I grew just as big as you are now," her mother told her.

"But you aren't still big like this," Stellilalagoogoos said. "How did you get back to fairy size?"

Stellilalagoogoos' mother told her it was time for bed. They would talk about it in the morning. Mama led Stellilalagoogoos to the back yard where there was a clearing in the forrest. Stellilalagoogoos laid on the ground. Mama made many many trips to the house and the neighbors and brought hundreds of blankets and put them all over Stellilalagoogoos till she was all covered up and she quickly fell asleep.

Lauren and Stella putting their babies to sleep.

When Stellilalagoogoos woke up it was very dark. She felt lots of heavy stuff on top of her. She started to throw things off of her. Finally she saw the light of day. She discovered she had been under all the blankets. They were everywhere. They seemed huge on her. She was little again! 

Stellilalagoogoos was so happy. She ran in the house to find her mother. Mama had breakfast on the table waiting for her. 

"Mama! Look! I am your little fairy again!" cried Stellilalagoogoos.

"So you are," replied Mama.

"How did you do it?" asked Stellilalagoogoos

"The purple peony is a magical flower. It's juice makes you grow 100 times your size." said Mama. "But it only lasts until you have a good nights sleep. Sleeping makes the juice lose its power. Just remember you can always come to your Mama with any problem or question you ever have. I will always love you, bit or small, no matter what. But I am happy you are my little fairy again so I can hold and squeeze you."

"Yes Mama," said Stellilalagoogoos. "I am glad to be little again too."

The End



Stella and Lauren playing house in the backyard.

20 comments:

Rhonda said...

I love it, it's great! Did they love the story?

Anonymous said...

I'm anonymous with the grown children from yesterday (also inadequate from a couple weeks ago) - I made up a story for my boys about firemen when my oldest was two. It was their favorite bedtime story. I told that story every night for many years. I remember enhancing it with crazy emotion and sound affects that would make us all laugh. It was the best time. I remember one night thinking to myself, "I wonder how long I will be telling them this bedtime story". Well, my oldest is 28 now so obviously he no longer requests that story.:0) But, I don't remember the last night I told it to him. I wish I had known it was going to be the last time. I would have lingered longer and laughed more and tried to imprint that moment into my memory. I miss the Fireman Story.

Katie Snedeger said...

I love your blog (I read daily!) And I loved your stories I have read all of them. I definately think you shoul publish these and write some more!

kara jayne said...

I LOVE this story. My kids are asleep now, but it will be the bedtime story tomorrow night. Thanks...I'll give you credit.

Tara Bennett said...

What a treasure! Your children are so lucky to have such a creative mom!

Just me! said...

So sweet! Loved it!

Sarah said...

You have such a gift. I can't wait to read this story to my kids tomorrow night. Hopefully it will inspire my 6 year old to get a good nights sleep. Poor thing has been "blessed" with my insomnia.

Anonymous said...

Wonderful story. I look forward to sharing it with our girls tomorrow. Such fun.

I found your blog through a friend of your's who inspired a friend of mine to post a link to his blog on her site. I've spent the last three hours reading through your blog and have cried several times for your loss. What a beautiful and sweet little girl you have on the other side of the veil waiting for you all...that you may be reunited again for all eternity...never having to part again.

Like so many other people have said, you have truly inspired me to be a better mother. I thank you so much for being so open in your grief and joy and love for all your daughter's. I have very much enjoyed getting to know your family and learning so many important lessons on faith, love, motherhood, trials, sorrow and healing. I plan to come back and visit regularly. :)

I, too, am LDS (a convert of just over 8 years) and share your conviction in the truthfulness of the Restored Gospel. I admit, though, that I lack in many areas and have a renewed determination to commit myself to be better...that I may be the daughter Heavenly Father needs me to be...the wife my husband needs...and the mother that my children need....that I may always be able to serve in whatever capacity is asked of me.

Thank you for everything. What a magnificent blessing this blog has been for so many of us. Thank you.
welcome2us@hotmail.com

Wards said...

Such a cute story!!! I would love to see you write and publish a book! Your writing is amazing! I look forward to reading your blog everyday! I hope each day gets a little better for you and your sweet family! How is your husband doing lately and the girls?

Jed said...

Great Story! Storytelling is an art and how awesome it is to create your own characters and have them experience what you want them too.

Would you be upset if others re-told your story?

Heather H said...

You have such a gift, what a fun story!

Megan Dougherty said...

That was so cute! I loved it!

e said...

what I love most about this story is that you made it up on the FLY! As I listened to it in the car that afternoon, I thought "This must be one of steph's tried and true stories. perfected over a number of nights..." But not so! Thanks for writing this down. I will be printing it out for Stellie & goo goos to hear tonight.
As charlotte demanded, "Mo stowies!! Mo stowies!"
looking forward to a real hug tomorrow! love you.

Amanda said...

I LOVE it!!

I love even more how elaborate the illustrations in my head are..

This will make a great published story!!

janalee said...

Wow- that's a beautiful, funny story ;) TFS

Carolyn said...

I read this out loud to Eden, she loved it and acted it out for me as I read. Then when she saw Lauren in the playhouse, she begged to go play at Aunt Stephanie's house! Good story. I look forward to more.

Catherine Noorda said...

cooper says:

my favorite part was the part where she sleeped and when she woke up she was small again and dinner was waiting for her. those are the two things that happened that are my favorite.

(i don't know where he got the dinner addition - maybe where the wild things are?)

HammondFam said...

Hi Stephanie. I am just another reader of your blog that you have never met! My name is Nicole Hammond. I am married to Tyler Hammond, son of Richard and Sue Hammond, and brother to Brook and Bethany Hammond. Anyways, I love your blog - it truly uplifts and inspires me. This past Sunday, I shared some of your story with my Young Women in the lesson I gave on service. I told the story of your friend who showed up at your front door with her gloves on, to clean your house in your time of need. It was a powerful story, and I know it helped bring the spirit into the lesson. It was a perfect touch to the lesson, so thank you for sharing your life experiences and talents through this blog, and thank you for allowing us to share it with others!

I loved the fairy story; it was brilliant and creative all in one. You should definitely write a children’s book one day – you are truly a gifted writer. Writing is such a great talent, and I’m so glad that you are willing to share your talents with us! I love the moral of your story --it is so important that our children know they can come to us for anything, regardless of how “big” or small the problem may be. This really is one of the cutest children’s stories I have read in a long time, and I read lots, because my 2 year old Madison is obsessed with books! So, thanks for sharing it.

I also wanted to say that I am sorry for your loss. Camille is a beautiful child, and the light of Christ radiates through her pictures. Your girls are so lucky to have such an amazing mommy! Your testimony is so strong, and you inspire me to be a better mom, and a more obedient child of God. Thank you for touching my life, and thank you for being so awesome! : )

Sincerely,
Nicole

JJ said...

I was given your blog site a few weeks ago and it's the first thing I go to in the morning. It lifts me It makes me want to do better. I was raised in the LDS faith although my parents were not real active members. I married a wonderful Man (35Years) who had a family that was active so through him I to am active. I love the church.
I also have owned a Day Care for 40 years and now this story will be added to our activity. Your so talented. Thank You for scaring.

Anonymous said...

Oh, what a cute story!