ON HEAVEN
NOMA: I wish I could go to heaven now.
MOM: We’d miss you, though.
NOMA: I wouldn’t stay. I just want to say “hi.”
ON PERSEVERANCE
NOMA: Can we listen to Veggie Tales?
ME: No, I’m tired of listening to it.
NOMA: Well I get tired too, but I don’t give up.
FROM THE WICKED CD
“You can’t call me cute. You have to call me popular.”
ON FAMILY
“The person who’s giving me a headache is my family!”
ON BOREDOM
I tuck her into bed for a nap, then tuck her brother into bed. When I come downstairs, she is sitting on the couch looking at a book
ME: What are you doing down here?
NOMA: There was nothing going on in my room.
AT THE DINNER TABLE
NOMA: I want cow milk.
ME: That is cow milk.
NOMA: It tastes like sheep.
IN SUNDAY SCHOOL
NOMA: I’d better eat all of my chocolate chip cookie or else my Papa might want some.
ON SHAVING OFF MY GOATEE
NOMA: I liked it better the other way. It was tickly, and I like tickly.
ON HUMILITY
SONOMA (looking at a picture of herself): I look so cute.
ME: You shouldn’t compliment yourself. You should let other people compliment you.
SONOMA: We could take turns.
ME: No, you should say nice things about other people and let them say nice things about you.
SONOMA (a minute later): I look so…I mean, I like you, Papa.
ON HIKING
SONOMA: Carry me, I’m tired.
MOM: Hiking is hard when you’re little, huh?
SONOMA: Yeah. It’s also boring when you’re little.
MOM (later, in the car, to me): I like adventuring with you.
SONOMA (back seat): But I don’t because it’s boring.
Hardwired 