Addie's Slow Eyes (age 7)

Slow Eyes wants to join the yearly snail race, but everyone bullies him just because he is slower than the others. They don't think he will be able to win the race, but I'll let you in on a little secret... Slow Eyes has a HUGE imagination and thinks everything is bright. In fact, every time he thinks of something that is a good idea, his eyes grow just a bit bigger! And now he has the best idea of all! Once his eyes are as big as can be, he has the amazing idea of making rocket boosters! He doesn't ever wear them up until the race, but as he approaches the starting line, he looks a bit funny because his slime trails him where ever he goes, even if he's in the air! Here's another secret... His slime powers the rocket boosters! The other snails don't see what's coming! BANG! As fast as a lightning bolt (at least in snail terms), he is off! At a record breaking speed of 1 inch per hour, Slow Eyes takes the lead! He looks particularly silly, because he is going so fast that his eyes are trailing behind him. This makes poor Slow Eyes quite dizzy and he's no longer so sure that his idea was a bright one. After what seems like a very long time (after all, the race track is over 100 ft long), Slow Eyes crosses the finish line! He has won the race! But was it worth it? He is still so dizzy that he can't think straight. After his eyes begin to settle, Slow Eyes decides that winning this race was over-rated and next year he will use his brightest idea of all... being himself!

PERSONAL GNOTE:
Though generally I enjoy writing the story in such a way that it really describes the recipient receiving my creation, this time I was curious to hear what my daughter would say his story would be. With only minor changes, I kept her ideas.

Addie's Mr. Sthhear Dott (age 7)

Mr. Sthlhear Dott may be small, but he is quite feisty! Don't say he's weird just because he's smaller and a bit smarter than you. He can conjure up a genie and conquer a unicorn! He is small, yes, but don't you worry about him. Mr. Sthhear Dott is impenetrable! Although he doesn't like to admit it, whenever someone steps on him, he spends a couple minutes laying flat on the ground, and then POP! He comes back to life, ready for his next adventure! Nothing can hold him back, but those are skills he inherited from his parents. However, I think you'd be more interested in the things he loves to do rather than those his ancestors loved doing. He loves running around with his friends Unisus and Slow Eyes, always chasing the monkeys through the forest. If he is lucky enough to catch a monkey, he holds onto the monkey's tail for dear life... WEEEEE!!!! This is fun! He also loves doing karate, but it's kind of funny to watch because all he does is punch his opponent lots of times with each leg. It almost looks like he's dancing! When he dances on me, it kind of tickles and I can't help but wish it would go on forever. I love my Mr. Sthhear Dott, maybe one day you can come over and play with him, too!

PERSONAL GNOTE:
Though generally I enjoy writing the story in such a way that it really describes the recipient receiving my creation, this time I was curious to hear what my daughter would say his story would be. With only minor changes, I kept her ideas.

Addie's Night Unisus (age 8)

Have you ever heard of a Unisus? One look at this magical creature and I bet you're wondering what his story is and how he came to be. Well, my friend, wait no more! The story line goes a bit like this...

Once upon a time, there was a unicorn, maybe a little like a donkeysus. His name was Unisus. He lives in my world, in Mint Valley. He likes racing the monkeys in the valley. I guess he gallops like a horse, more like a donkey. Shhhh... Don't tell him I said that! He is like a unicorn, with tiny wings, except a little more sugared than a real unicorn. He also looks like a bear and loves to give hugs to his best buddies!

After the story line, it kind of gets weird... Do you know how a unicorn and unasus are made? In school, I taught the kids about a narwhal and a horse marrying and having a unicorn baby named Unicorn. Unicorn married an eagle and they had a baby, who grew up to marry a donkey. And finally, a Donkeysus was born. This name is Unisus!. See? I told you, the Real Story would get weird!

OK... Now that you know what it's like, back to Unisus! Do the following 3 steps...
1. Read the Story Line
2. Read the background
3. Hug whoever is in the room.
This will cheer up Unisus! Love love love.

PERSONAL GNOTE:
Though generally I enjoy writing the story in such a way that it really describes the recipient receiving my creation, this time I was curious to hear what my daughter would say his story would be. With only minor changes, I kept her ideas.

Ellie's Dude the Alien (age 10)

There once lived an alien who, like many aliens, was born with only one eye. He was a mischievous alien, who lied because he thought it was funny to trick those around him. What he did not know was that every time he lied, a new eye would grow. Sometimes his lies would lead to a friend making a fool of themselves, and other times a lie would make a loved one cry tears for no particular reason. Dude thought this was hilarious. Lie after lie, eyeball after eyeball, he kept his mischievous ways until one day something changed. On this day, someone lied to him instead. I won't go into details, but let's just say that Dude's smile was wiped from his face. Being lied to was not as much fun as he thought. In fact, it does not feel good at all! Realizing this, Dude's eyes were opened... all of them! From that day on, he was aware of how his actions effected those he loved the most. And with all his eyes, he could now see who might be needing some lifting up because they are feeling down. What a great way of turning a bad habit into a great one! Way to go, Dude!

PERSONAL GNOTE:
Though generally I enjoy writing the story in such a way that it really describes the recipient receiving my creation, this time I was curious to hear what my daughter would say his story would be. With only minor changes, I kept her ideas.

Ellie's Buddy the Tigerwing (age 10)

Once upon a fairy tale there lived a Tigerwing. He loved to play in the grass all day long. He would leap around and roll down the hill, laughing the entire time. I'm sure it would have been a lot of fun to watch! He loved to play in the grass so much and for so long that after every day he would go to sleep, exhausted. Then he would sleep for a whole day before starting all over again! The Tigerwing had a lot of friends who would occasionally laugh and play with him. He had so many friends, and he loved them all, but his favorite friend was a little girl named Ellie. She also loved rolling and playing in the grass. They were like the perfect pair. Or, in his words, the perfect wings. Get it? Ha ha ha!

PERSONAL GNOTE:
Though generally I enjoy writing the story in such a way that it really describes the recipient receiving my creation, this time I was curious to hear what my daughter would say his story would be. With only minor changes, I kept her ideas.

Addie's Bob (age 7)

Hello I am Bob, and all that and all that. Blah blah blah. But who cares? This is about my story, not just about me. As you can tell, I'm an alien. Or am I a monster? I suppose that's up to you to decide. As you're thinking about it, I'll continue with my story. I'm a monster and I lived with all my other fellow monsters, all of which were very hairy. But I think I am the cleanest of the bunch! I always brush my teeth, comb my furry body and wash my hands. In spite of this, I was lonely even with all my sisters and brothers around me - 1,592 in total! So I set of into the forest to start looking for friends. I was thinking of names along the way. Maybe Violet? Or perhaps Fluffy? As I was thinking, I got so distracted that I accidentally bumped into a few rocks and trees. Ouch! After that, I started focusing and set off in a direction that a bunny suggested I take... Left to be exact. I kept on going straight, looking at my feet while I walked, one step in front of another. Then I saw a huge set of footprints and I followed them. Eventually, I bumped into a big leg! The big creature turned around and said, "Hello, I am Addie. Will you please be my friend?" Of course, you know my answer... Yes! You may say that Addie is a cute child with huge eyes, but I say she's the biggest monster of all! We're going to have quite the adventure together!

PERSONAL GNOTE:
Though generally I enjoy writing the story in such a way that it really describes the recipient receiving my creation, this time I was curious to hear what my daughter would say his story would be. With only minor changes, I kept her ideas.

This is what Bob looked like before I made him fuzzy.

Ellie's Half-Cater (age 10)

The half-cater started out as just an ordinary monster. He was a kind and funny monster who loved to laugh about silly things like chickens. He especially loved cats. However, deep down he was lonely and he wanted a best friend. One day he meet a fairy out in the woods. The fairy had lost her wand and she couldn't find it anywhere! Even though the half-cater had only one eye, he was very good at searching for things. He found her wand in an instant! The fairy was so impressed that she granted him one wish. With such a tough decision, he had to think about it at first. He wanted a cat but he was not sure if his fellow monsters would approve. After giving it some thought, the next day he had made up his mind. He was going to ask the fairy to transform him into a monster-cat. He thought this was a good idea because cats ALWAYS find friends. And he was right! The next day he was wondering in the woods thinking about the friend we was sure to find, when he found a giant named Ellie. He thought they would be best friends so he asked her if she would be his friend. Of course, she said yes! She, too, loved to laugh at chickens! Besides, how can one say "no" to someone as cute as he? And they have been together ever since.

PERSONAL GNOTE:
Though generally I enjoy writing the story in such a way that it really describes the recipient receiving my creation, this time I was curious to hear what my daughter would say his story would be. With only minor changes, I kept her ideas

Who Will I be Today?

Growing up can be so confusing at times. Perhaps you have found yourself wondering just what type of person you want to be when you grow up. Maybe you're even unsure of who you are today, let alone who you should be long into the future! It can be difficult to around you and think everyone else knows the answers to these questions already, but I'll let you in on a little secret... They're just as confused as you! And that's why this bright soul is here to help! She guards her pot at the end of the rainbow with great pride, looking for a special soul to share it with. At last, she has found the perfect person - You! Oh how luck you are to be you! If you ever feel that annoying little piece of doubt creep into your mind, and find yourself wondering what type of person you are becoming, just reach into your pot for the answer! What will you be today? Courageous, Kind, Wise or Thoughtful? Perhaps today's the day to be Persistent, Confident, Joyful or simply Thankful. Pick wisely, for only you can decide who you really are. As for me, I happen to know who you are already.
You're all of these things and so much more!

Sunflower Love

There once lived a little dragon who was in search of a place to call home. He searched and searched with very little success. Some places were too dark, but that would not do because this dragon was always looking towards the sun. Some places were too cold and stale, but the dragon knew she needed a warm and cozy place to hibernate for the winter. As his search progressed, one might think he would start to lose hope in finding the perfect home, but the dragon was brave. He never doubted. He knew that the magic would be there. He just had to keep looking for it. Then one bright and sunny autumn day he met a little girl and within minutes he knew he was home. The sunflower girl was always bright and cheerful, only seeing the best in those around her. It was apparent that she was always looking for ways to make her loved ones smile. She loved to give great big bear hugs and often wore her prized bear hat whenever she got sleepy enough to hibernate for a nap. And most importantly, the girl believed in magic. Whether it be knowing that a simple rock holds enough magic for good luck, declaring a windy path as "the pathway of happy" or creating a family of pine cone friends, the girl's imagination had no end. It didn't take long for the little dragon to know that this brave girl could give him the perfect home, and when she saw the dragon, her face lit up like the sunshine. It was love at first sight for the Sunflower Girl with the heart of a bear and the soul of a dragon. The dragon found what he was looking for. A place to call home and a kind soul to share it with him.

Addie's Rainbow Unicorn (age 5)

Do you ever stop to ponder what your favorite color is, only to realize it's so hard to choose? Why not do what this little lady does? She has decided that sparkles is her favorite color, along with all the others, of course. It's a good thing, too, because she's responsible for creating all the colors in the first place. She has made a color for every occasion. If you ask her, she'd tell you all about how there happy colors (orange and yellow) and thoughtful colors (green & blue) and fun colors (pink & purple) and loveable colors (red). And what about the color of sparkles? Well, that's just used when life is good, so I say "Let it sparkle!"

Addie's Bronco Caterpillar Dragon (age 5)

Look who's ready for a celebration! All caterpillar dragons are well known for bringing in the new year, and this one is no exception. She loves a good excuse to celebrate, though she doesn't have to look far to find a good excuse. After all, there are many good causes for celebration hiding in plain sight. See how pretty the mountains are from here? Let's celebrate! Did you hear those church bells ringing? Let's celebrate! Did you notice that yummy smell of goodness? Let's celebrate! The Broncos scored a touchdown. Whoop! Whoop! Let's celebrate! You look like you could use a hug. Let me give you a great big squeeze and then we can celebrate! I have to say, I kind of like her way of looking at things. I think the freezing cold weather outside calls for a nice hot cup of tea. Who wants to celebrate with me?

Rainbow Monster by Audrey (age 5.5)

Wow! Have you ever a brighter monster than this one? I surely haven't! This crazy little lady loves to sing songs, be helpful and teach other kids how to do things. Oh, and did I mention, she is always interested in wearing lots of color too? If you ask me, it fits her personality. Why? This little fuzzy amazes me with how goofy she can be! Her ability to be silly soars above any other soul I Know. Her loved ones like how she makes funny faces. Smiles seem to follow her rainbow spirit where ever she wonders. With quirky personalities like hers, it's no wonder the world is as colorful as it is!

For Eye Ball Man by Ellie (age 5.5)

Have you ever noticed all the magic around you? The sparkle of diamonds in freshly fallen snow, perhaps? Or maybe the sound of leaves dancing in the wind? Sometimes if I sit really really still I can see magic all around me, like the way my heart beats to the sound of a good song or the way a smile is so contageous. But sometimes I wish I could see MORE. Sometimes I wish I had as many eyes as the Eye Ball Man I know. He has so many eyes, and they're always looking in every direction, that he never ever ever misses out on the magic around him. It's no wonder he is always as happy as can be. If only I had more eyes then I could look up while looking down. I could look behind me while running as fast as I can. I wouldn't miss a thing! Life would be oh so grand if I was lucky enough to be an Eye Ball Man!

Noon Teanslenan by Lilly (age 4)

You might be asking yourself just what is a Noon Teanslenan, and I don't blame you for the confusion. Quite honestly I'm not sure myself, but one look at this wonderful soul and it's apparent that she loves to make people laugh. Just look at the goofy expression she has on her face, and no doubt you will be smiling in no time. There's more to this little creature than just her cantageous laughter. Spend a moment with her and you're sure to be bombarded with hugs that seem to come from every which direction. Now that I give it more consideration, it seems to me that there is no better name than Noon Teanslenan for such a happy loving soul.

LOL Monster by Ellie (age 5)

Look who is ready for a hug! Why it's my LOL monster! Some days are rough. Some days I feel like nothing can go right and everyone is mean to me. Some days I have a hard time smiling, but then I see my LOL monster. She likes to hide in my bedroom and jump out ready with a hug whenever I need one. She always tells me she loves me and I always like to squeeze her. Sometimes when I'm really really sad she tells me a joke and makes me laugh out loud. I know what LOL means. It means "laugh out LOUD!!!" I think she's perfect for the days when I am just a little sad. I'm lucky to have my very own LOL monster.

Dragon by Ellie (age 5)

RARR! Oh there is no need to hide. That's just my little pet dragon. He's a friendly dragon so he won't bite you. Sometimes when he's hungry he will blow fire to cook his food, but otherwise he's safe. If he is blowing his fire, though, you don't want to get very close. The fire might hurt you and then the dragon would be sad because he didn't want to hurt you. What a sweet little dragon. It seems like he always has a big smile on his face to match his big eyes. His favorite thing to do is to fly way up high and look down below for the perfect rock. He collects rocks for his loved ones and has a special talent for finding the best ones. He also has a certain talent for making me smile even when he doesn't know I'm looking at him.