Speaker 1: Welcome in everyone to Lively Lewis Stories. That's right, We're
Speaker 1: back with even more awesome adventures with Levi and Ivy.
Speaker 1: Set your storytime meter too fun and get ready to
Speaker 1: join the Lively Lewis crew. All you need is your
Speaker 1: imagination and we go. I can't wait, you see, we
Speaker 1: are my story to just goodday. Have you ever wanted
Speaker 1: to get more Lively Lewis in your life, Well we've
Speaker 1: got you covered. Grab an adult and zoom over to
Speaker 1: livelyleuishop dot com or just click on the link in
Speaker 1: our show notes. Enough about that, let's get too Today's
Speaker 1: super Live ay Yuis story. The story you're about to
Speaker 1: enjoy was inspired by Maddie. Thank you for your amazing idea.
Speaker 1: It all began with the Yesterday, a fun day that
Speaker 1: was supposed to allow Levi and Ivy the opportunity to
Speaker 1: get or do anything they wanted, and all they had
Speaker 1: to do was ask their parents, who were unable to
Speaker 1: say no for an entire day. I can't believe it's
Speaker 1: finally here, exclaimed Levi when he jumped out of bed
Speaker 1: that Saturday morning. Ivy, get up, But Ivy had been
Speaker 1: up for ten minutes already and popped into Levi's room
Speaker 1: as soon as she heard his voice. Are you ready
Speaker 1: for the best day ever? Called out Ivy as she
Speaker 1: ran and then jumped on Levi's bed. I'll get the
Speaker 1: list we made and then we can head downstairs to
Speaker 1: start our yesterday, said Levi as he jumped out of bed.
Speaker 1: But how did this yesterday come to be, you may
Speaker 1: be wondering. Well, it all happened when Levi and Ivy
Speaker 1: challenged their parents to a relay race obstacle course the
Speaker 1: weekend before. They set up the course in the backyard
Speaker 1: and asked if their parents wanted to try it out
Speaker 1: with them. Levi and Ivy loved playing outside more than anything,
Speaker 1: and often spent all weekend in their treehouse, exploring their
Speaker 1: neighborhood with friends, or running around the park and down
Speaker 1: the street, so it was no surprise that they wanted
Speaker 1: to share some fun outdoor time with their parents. Their
Speaker 1: mom and dad loved that their kids enjoyed playing outside,
Speaker 1: and unlike a lot of their friends, they didn't focus
Speaker 1: a large amount of their time on screens. Yes, they
Speaker 1: had their favorite TV shows, they liked video games, and
Speaker 1: their tablets were fun to play with on long car rides,
Speaker 1: but they didn't use them all the time. If they
Speaker 1: had the choice, they would almost always choose playing outdoors
Speaker 1: over watching a screen. Mom and dad, are you all
Speaker 1: set for this relay race obstacle course? It's pretty tough,
Speaker 1: giggled Lee by looking at Ivy. Yep, but not for
Speaker 1: Levi and I. We do these kinds of races all
Speaker 1: the time, said Ivy with a big smile. Well, get
Speaker 1: ready to be super surprised, said Levi and Ivy's mom.
Speaker 1: Your dad and I were obstacle course relay race champs
Speaker 1: when we were your age. I was kind of a
Speaker 1: legend in my neighborhood, said Levi and Ivy's dad as
Speaker 1: he stretched over by the starting line. I was undefeated
Speaker 1: four years until I twisted my ankle jumping over a
Speaker 1: mud puddle into the center of a hula hoop in
Speaker 1: the nineteen ninety five championship race at my friend Samantha's house.
Speaker 1: That was a sad day. Levi and Ivy tried their
Speaker 1: best to hold back their laughter as they listened to
Speaker 1: their parents remembering when they were kids. I'm sorry to
Speaker 1: bring up this very important fact, but you two are
Speaker 1: a lot older now, and the other day, Dad hurt
Speaker 1: his back when he sneezed, giggled Levi and mom can't
Speaker 1: get up from the couch without saying ouch my knees,
Speaker 1: laughed Ivy. If I had to make a guess, I'd
Speaker 1: say Levi and I are going to win this with
Speaker 1: no problem at all. Oh you think so, said Ivy's mom,
Speaker 1: standing up from the picnic table. Oh my niece, see
Speaker 1: what I mean, said Ivy as she high fives Levi.
Speaker 1: We've got this. Levi and Ivy's parents knew their kids
Speaker 1: had a point, but they really wanted to prove to
Speaker 1: them that just because they were older didn't mean they
Speaker 1: couldn't win the relay race. Levi and Ivy's dad whispered
Speaker 1: something to their mom, and she smiled and nodded her
Speaker 1: head in agreement. Levi, Ivy, your mom and I have
Speaker 1: something to add to the relay race obstacle course competition
Speaker 1: that we think will make this a little more interesting,
Speaker 1: began Levine. Ivy's dad. The team that wins this race
Speaker 1: will get he paused for dramatic effect, which intrigued Levi
Speaker 1: and Ivy. They leaned in close to hear what the
Speaker 1: price could possibly be. The team that wins this race
Speaker 1: will get Levite and Ivey's dad said once more, a Yesterday,
Speaker 1: exclaimed Levi and Ivy's mom as she threw her hands
Speaker 1: in the air. Levi and Ivy couldn't believe what they
Speaker 1: were hearing. They had been asking for a Yesterday from
Speaker 1: their parents for as long as they could remember, but
Speaker 1: when they asked, they were always told it wasn't a
Speaker 1: good time and that they would do it one day soon,
Speaker 1: And it looked like that day had finally arrived. A Yesday,
Speaker 1: exclaimed Levi. That's awesome with a Yesterday up for grabs,
Speaker 1: there's no way we're gonna lose, said Ivy. That may
Speaker 1: not have been your best idea. Levi and Ivy's parents
Speaker 1: saw how serious their kids looked after they mentioned the
Speaker 1: Yesterday prize. Their eyes sparkled with a glimmer of pure competition.
Speaker 1: They were focused on winning and nothing else. Oh no,
Speaker 1: said Levin Ivy's dad to their mom. This may have
Speaker 1: been a bad idea. Don't worry, said Levine Ivy's mom.
Speaker 1: We have way more years of racing under our belts,
Speaker 1: and we're still pretty young, right. Yeah, yes, said Levine
Speaker 1: Ivy's dad, not sounding very convincing. But just think about
Speaker 1: if we win, said Levin Ivy's mom. The kids will
Speaker 1: have to do whatever we say for a whole day.
Speaker 1: Oh you're right, let's win this thing, said Levin Ivy's
Speaker 1: dad as d high five their mom. Levi and Ivy
Speaker 1: were ready to start and offer their parents the chance
Speaker 1: to choose when they went. They thought it and decided
Speaker 1: to go first and run their race on a fresh course.
Speaker 1: So once Levi and Ivy's dad was set up on
Speaker 1: the starting line and their mom was set up midway
Speaker 1: through the course to finish the last leg of the rice,
Speaker 1: Levi and Ivy took their position on the porch and
Speaker 1: got ready to start them off. The winner of this
Speaker 1: obstacle course relay race will be determined by the fastest
Speaker 1: time per team, said Levi's He held up his dad's
Speaker 1: bright yellow stop watch. The race will begin when I
Speaker 1: say go, added Ivy. Are you ready? Levi and Ivy's
Speaker 1: parents nodded their heads and gave a thumbs up. Okay,
Speaker 1: good luck on your mark. Get set go, exclaimed Ivy
Speaker 1: as Levi pressed the start button on the stopwatch. Levi
Speaker 1: and Ivy's dad took off from the starting line like
Speaker 1: a bolt of lightning. Levi and Ivy were really impressed
Speaker 1: and a little worry. But since this isn't your normal
Speaker 1: relay race, their dad couldn't just rely on being fast.
Speaker 1: He also had to tackle some pretty tough obstacles, and
Speaker 1: much to his kid's surprise, Levi and Ivy's dad was
Speaker 1: doing a really good job leaping over, dodging, and running
Speaker 1: through the obstacles they had set up, that is until
Speaker 1: he let his success get the better of him. Levine
Speaker 1: Ivy's dad was feeling very confident and he headed towards
Speaker 1: the puddle jump and looked over at Levi and Ivy
Speaker 1: to show them how proud he was of himself. But
Speaker 1: by doing that, he misstepped, slipped on the mushy grass
Speaker 1: at the edge of the puddle, and fell in with
Speaker 1: a splash. He quickly hopped up and tagged Levine Ivy's
Speaker 1: mom to start her leg of the race, but not
Speaker 1: before wasting some very valuable seconds lying in a cold puddle.
Speaker 1: Levin and Ivy's mom started off quickly as well and
Speaker 1: hopped over, skipped through, and made it past all the
Speaker 1: obstacles that were in their way. That is until she
Speaker 1: reached the treehouse ladder clne. She got half way up
Speaker 1: before letting out the all too familiar cry, oh my knees.
Speaker 1: She slowly made her way back down the ladder and
Speaker 1: finish up the race by limping across the finish line.
Speaker 1: Levin and Ivy called time and ran over to check
Speaker 1: on their parents. And I think you can guess what
Speaker 1: happened next. Yep, that's right. Levi and Ivy got set
Speaker 1: up to run their race and beat their parents time
Speaker 1: by twenty seconds. It wasn't even close. Oh no, whispered
Speaker 1: Levi and Ivy's dad to their mom. We have to
Speaker 1: do it yesterday. Now, what are the chances they forgot
Speaker 1: that we offered a yesterday to the winner, asked Levi
Speaker 1: and Ivy's mom. Not very good, answered Levi and Ivy's dad,
Speaker 1: as they both looked over at their kids who were
Speaker 1: jumping around and cheering yes day, yes day, yes day.
Speaker 1: Since they did make a promise, Levi and Ivy's parents
Speaker 1: told them that their yesterday could be the following Saturday,
Speaker 1: and that is where we started our story. As soon
Speaker 1: as Levi and Ivy's parents were up that Saturday morning,
Speaker 1: they heard their kids preparing for their Yesterday. They had
Speaker 1: watched all week long as Levi and Ivy added to
Speaker 1: their Yesterday list and got more and more excited as
Speaker 1: their big day got closer. Mom and Dad, it's time,
Speaker 1: called out Levi and Ivy, who knew their Yesterday started
Speaker 1: at eight am that morning and went until about eight
Speaker 1: pm that night. Levi and Ivy's parents took a deep
Speaker 1: breath as they got out of bed and prepared themselves
Speaker 1: for the day. It'll be over in no time, they
Speaker 1: kept repeating to themselves. And how bad could it possibly be.
Speaker 1: I'm sure they last to go to the park all morning,
Speaker 1: eat some junk food, maybe go to the zoo, and
Speaker 1: then sleep out in the treehouse, said Levi and Ivy's mom.
Speaker 1: For one day, we can handle doing whatever they want
Speaker 1: to do, said their dad confidently. Then they walked downstairs
Speaker 1: to the kitchen, ready for whatever Levi and Ivy had planned.
Speaker 1: But they couldn't have imagined what an important lesson one
Speaker 1: Yesterday could teach their kids. Once everyone arrived in the
Speaker 1: kitchen that morning, Levi and Ivy didn't waste a minute
Speaker 1: getting started with their list of requests. We'd like to
Speaker 1: start out with chocolate chip pancakes, hot chocolate and chocolate
Speaker 1: ice cream, said Ivy with a big smile. We'd also
Speaker 1: like to eat that amazing breakfast in the living room
Speaker 1: while we watched one of our favorite TV shows, added Levi.
Speaker 1: Levi and Ivy's parents had counted on junk food being
Speaker 1: a part of the Yesterday, but they were a little
Speaker 1: surprised that their kids wanted to watch TV so early
Speaker 1: in the morning. They never watched TV during breakfast or
Speaker 1: any of the meals for that matter, unless they were
Speaker 1: having a special movie night. But it was a Yesterday,
Speaker 1: so they knew there would be lots of things that
Speaker 1: were out of the ordinary going on that day. Yes,
Speaker 1: answered Levi and Ivy's mom as she started to get
Speaker 1: the ingredients out to make pancakes. Awesome, We're gonna be
Speaker 1: waiting in the living room, said Levi, jumping around with Ivy.
Speaker 1: Strange that they want a TV show so early, said
Speaker 1: Levi and Ivy's dad. I thought they'd maybe want to
Speaker 1: eat their junk food outside, maybe a morning picnic, But
Speaker 1: it's their day. I'm sure the rest of the day
Speaker 1: will be outside running around with them. Breakfast was served
Speaker 1: as Levi and Ivy laughed along with their favorite TV show.
Speaker 1: They loved their first Yesterday meal and ate every last bit.
Speaker 1: Their parents gave them time to eat and waited until
Speaker 1: their show was over before they went back to the
Speaker 1: living room to clean up. Then, and they eagerly awaited
Speaker 1: to find out where the rest of the day would
Speaker 1: take them. So what's next? Maybe the park for some
Speaker 1: kite flying, or hike on a trail with the waterfall
Speaker 1: at the end of it, asked their dad. And if
Speaker 1: you ask, I guess we'd have to let you swim
Speaker 1: under the waterfall in that cool little lagoon too, added Levi.
Speaker 1: And Ivy's mom, M, that sounds cool. But we were
Speaker 1: thinking you could buy us the latest version of our
Speaker 1: favorite video game and we could play that for a bit,
Speaker 1: said Ivy. Yes, I guess so, said Levin. Ivy's dad. Great,
Speaker 1: And while we're waiting for you to run to the
Speaker 1: store and get that, we're gonna play on our tablets,
Speaker 1: said Levi. Thanks Dad, Yeah, thanks, said Ivy. She followed
Speaker 1: Levi to grab their tablets and then head into the playroom.
Speaker 1: Morning TV, video games and tablets, asked Levine. Ivy's mom.
Speaker 1: Not what I was expecting. We still have a lot
Speaker 1: of the day he left get through, said Levine Ivy's
Speaker 1: dad reassuringly, before he ran out to the store to
Speaker 1: buy their new video game. Once he got back, Levi
Speaker 1: and Ivy cheered and grabbed the games from their dad.
Speaker 1: They popped it into the gaming system and proceeded to
Speaker 1: spend hours playing. As lunchtime got closer and closer. I'm
Speaker 1: thinking they'll definitely want to head outside now, right, asked
Speaker 1: Levi's dad. I would hope, so, answered their mom. As
Speaker 1: the day goes on, I'm noticing that I was kind
Speaker 1: of excited for their yesterday too. I thought they would
Speaker 1: have us outside doing a bunch of things they always
Speaker 1: asked to do, but we just don't ever have time
Speaker 1: for I know, I was kind of feeling that way too,
Speaker 1: said Levin Ivy's dad. Let's see what they want to
Speaker 1: do for lunch. Maybe a picnic on the beach and
Speaker 1: we could get that amazing frozen yogurt they love unlimited toppings.
Speaker 1: But when Levin and Ivy's parents asked what they wanted
Speaker 1: to do for lunch, this is what they heard. We'd
Speaker 1: like to try that new fast food place that just
Speaker 1: opened up, the one that's giant cheeseburgers and mega sized fries,
Speaker 1: said Levi. And while you go and get it, we'll
Speaker 1: keep playing our video games. Or I guess we could
Speaker 1: come with you too, said Ivy. My neck is starting
Speaker 1: to hurt a bit from staring at the TV. Good idea.
Speaker 1: We've still got a long Yesterday ahead of us, said Levi. Great,
Speaker 1: I'm glad to hear you want to get out of
Speaker 1: the house, said Levi and Ivy's mom. Since we'll be out,
Speaker 1: maybe we can have a picknic. Nope, we'd still like
Speaker 1: to bring the food back here and eat while we
Speaker 1: play our video games a bit more, answered Levi. What
Speaker 1: do you say? Yes, said Levi's dad, not sounding very
Speaker 1: happy about it. As their kids ran upstairs to change,
Speaker 1: Levi and Ivy's parents waited for them, hoping they would
Speaker 1: want to do a yes Day activity that wasn't on
Speaker 1: a screen, at least while they were driving to the
Speaker 1: new fast food place. They couldn't be on a screen,
Speaker 1: thought their parents. That was until Levi and Ivy asked
Speaker 1: to use their mom's phone to watch a video. What
Speaker 1: do you say, mom, asked Ivy, holding out her hand
Speaker 1: from the backseat. Yes, said Ivy's mom in a low voice,
Speaker 1: sounding a bit disappointed at the request. Once at the
Speaker 1: fast food places, the kids ordered their food and they
Speaker 1: all headed back to the house. Levi and Ivy thanked
Speaker 1: their parents and ran back to their video game, where
Speaker 1: they played in ate burgers and fries for another hour.
Speaker 1: Levi and Ivy's parents waited in the kitchen for the
Speaker 1: next request from their kids, just hoping that it wouldn't
Speaker 1: be something that had to do with a scream. And
Speaker 1: what they first heard made them really happy, but it
Speaker 1: quickly went downhill. Mom dad called out Levi and Ivy
Speaker 1: as they walked into the kitchen. We'd love some ice
Speaker 1: cream right now, extra sprinkles, extra whiptopping, and extra hot fudge,
Speaker 1: said Levi. And we'd like to talk with you about tonight,
Speaker 1: said Ivey. We love to eat dinner outside and sleep
Speaker 1: in our treehouse. Yes, one hundred percent, yes, exclaimed Levi
Speaker 1: and Ivy's mom. I'm sorry for all the excitement. I
Speaker 1: just think that's a really great choice. Oh it is,
Speaker 1: but we haven't gotten to the best part yet, said Ivy.
Speaker 1: We're gonna eat outside and watch a movie, said Levi.
Speaker 1: Dad can hook up his projector to his laptop and
Speaker 1: we can download something. And then we'll need to borrow
Speaker 1: his laptop again because we're gonna take that up into
Speaker 1: the treehouse with us so we can watch shows and
Speaker 1: play video games all night long, said Ivy. Levi and
Speaker 1: Ivy's parents didn't know what to say at that point.
Speaker 1: All they could think was more screens. Aren't they tired
Speaker 1: of watching TV and playing video games yet? Then, as
Speaker 1: they were putting together Levi and Ivy's ice cream Sundays,
Speaker 1: they had a thought, Hey, Levi and Ivy here, Yesterday
Speaker 1: ends at eight pm, right, asked their dad. That means
Speaker 1: we don't have to say yes to you watching TV
Speaker 1: all night long in your treehouse. Good one, whispered Levi
Speaker 1: and Ivy's mom. Actually, dad, everyone knows that as long
Speaker 1: as you asked for your request before your yesterday is
Speaker 1: officially over, your parents have to say yes, said Levi.
Speaker 1: Of course, we know the request can exit into the
Speaker 1: next day, so we'll be sure to stop watching TV
Speaker 1: at midnight, said Ivy with a smile. Midnight, shout out
Speaker 1: Levi and Ivy's mom. But that would mean you've been
Speaker 1: pretty much watching screens all day. Yes, all of a yesterday,
Speaker 1: to be specific, Levi said, correcting his mom. So it's
Speaker 1: totally fine. The yesterday was your idea after all, said Ivy. Suh,
Speaker 1: do we have a yes? Yes, said Levi and Ivy's parents,
Speaker 1: but they didn't sound happy about it at all. However,
Speaker 1: they couldn't argue with Ivy. She was right. They were
Speaker 1: the ones that suggested the yes day. They just thought
Speaker 1: it was going to go a lot differently. They continue
Speaker 1: making the ice cream Sundays as Levi and Ivy sat
Speaker 1: in the kitchen talking about which movie they'd watch while
Speaker 1: eating dinner. Once they got their ice cream Sundays, Levi
Speaker 1: and Ivy ran into the living room and turned the
Speaker 1: TV back on. They didn't even say thank you to
Speaker 1: their parents. The hours went by, and not once did
Speaker 1: Levi and Ivy asked to do one house activity, not
Speaker 1: going to the park or the zoo or even the beach.
Speaker 1: Dinner time came and they requested pizza and milkshakes and
Speaker 1: plopped down in the yard to watch the movie they
Speaker 1: had picked out. They laughed and ate pizza, but seemed
Speaker 1: to be in their own worlds. At this point, they
Speaker 1: had been on screens for so long it seemed to
Speaker 1: be all they were looking at. Even when Levi and
Speaker 1: Ivy talked to each other, they never took their eyes
Speaker 1: off the screen. As the night went on, Levi and
Speaker 1: Ivy started to talk less and less. They hadn't spoken
Speaker 1: to their parents for much of the day, and now
Speaker 1: they were so focused on the movie that they even
Speaker 1: stopped talking to each other. Once the movie was over
Speaker 1: and the pizza was gone, they climbed the ladder to
Speaker 1: their treehouse. Their dad followed behind with his laptop and
Speaker 1: an extra long extension cord. He set up the laptop
Speaker 1: and plugged it into an outdoor outlet next to the
Speaker 1: back door that led into the house. Levi and Ivy's
Speaker 1: mom popped into the treehouse with blankets, pillows, and sleeping
Speaker 1: bags and set up a nice area for her kids
Speaker 1: to sleep in that night. We'll be right inside if
Speaker 1: you need us, said Lee mom. And maybe if you
Speaker 1: want to, you can look at the stars, or draw,
Speaker 1: or play a board game or just talk to each other. However,
Speaker 1: Levi and Ivy didn't seem to be listening as they
Speaker 1: started to play a video game on their dad's laptop. Hey,
Speaker 1: before you start on that game, we could play a
Speaker 1: game of backyard flashlight, tag, suggested Levine Ivy's dad when
Speaker 1: he went up to say good night. He really hoped
Speaker 1: his kids would want to take a break from the
Speaker 1: screens at least for a little bit. We can't, Dad,
Speaker 1: it's already started, said Levi. Okay, we're going in. Good night,
Speaker 1: said Levi and Ivy's dad, but no one answered him.
Speaker 1: We said good night, repeated Levi and Ivy's mom. Oh yeah, night,
Speaker 1: said Levi and Ivy, never looking up from their game.
Speaker 1: Their parents climbed down the ladder and stood in the
Speaker 1: backyard for a bit as the sounds of video games
Speaker 1: were the only thing they could hear. At least their
Speaker 1: yesterday is almost over, said Levin Ivy's mom. They'll be
Speaker 1: back to normal tomorrow, right. Oh sure, said Levin and
Speaker 1: Ivy's dad, but honestly he didn't quite believe what he
Speaker 1: was saying. They would have to just wait and see.
Speaker 1: As the night went on, they looked out the kitchen
Speaker 1: window checking on their kids. They saw the laptop light
Speaker 1: go out at midnight, and just hoped that the next
Speaker 1: day would bring back their kids who loved playing outside
Speaker 1: and weren't quite so dependent on screens to have fun.
Speaker 1: As Levin Ivy's parents waited for their kids in the
Speaker 1: kitchen the next morning, they noticed that it was taking
Speaker 1: them a long time to get up and come inside
Speaker 1: for breakfast. When they stepped out onto the deck to
Speaker 1: call Levin Ivy inside, they heard the same sounds they
Speaker 1: had heard last night. They're playing video games again, said
Speaker 1: Levin and Ivy's mom. This has to stop. She ran
Speaker 1: over to the treehouse climbed up the ladder as quickly
Speaker 1: as she could. Everyone up and out of the treehouse,
Speaker 1: she said, as she unplugged the laptop and took it
Speaker 1: down with her into the backyard. Come on, we're almost
Speaker 1: done with that level, said Levi. Well it's not yesterday anymore,
Speaker 1: and your dad and I don't want you playing any
Speaker 1: more video games today, Levin and Ivy's mom, And we
Speaker 1: don't want you watching any more TV or playing on
Speaker 1: your tablets or our phones out of their dads. Stepping
Speaker 1: out onto the back deck, Levi and Ivy did not
Speaker 1: look happy, but they agreed and walked into the house.
Speaker 1: I think they just need some time to wake up
Speaker 1: and then they'll be fine, said Levi and Ivy's dad.
Speaker 1: But that was not the case. The rest of the
Speaker 1: week went by and Levi and Ivy did everything they
Speaker 1: could to get screen time. They snuffed their tablets when
Speaker 1: their parents weren't looking, they used every minute of their
Speaker 1: daily TV time, and they went to friends' houses to
Speaker 1: play video games so their parents wouldn't know. This has
Speaker 1: got to stop, said Levin Ivy's mom. We have to
Speaker 1: talk with the kids. They're hardly playing outside anymore. All
Speaker 1: they want to do is be on a screen. It's
Speaker 1: not good for them. They need to balance out screens
Speaker 1: and outdoor play and it needs to start today. It
Speaker 1: was Saturday, and Levin and Ivy's parents sat them down
Speaker 1: in the living room. They wanted to talk to them
Speaker 1: about their screen time and what happened during their yesterday.
Speaker 1: We never had the chance to watch TV, use our tablets,
Speaker 1: or play video game all day long, so we thought
Speaker 1: it would be fun to try, said Levi. And we
Speaker 1: really liked it, said Ivy. But don't you miss playing
Speaker 1: in your treehouse, painting, riding your bikes, taking hikes, making
Speaker 1: obstacle course relay races, and going to the park with
Speaker 1: your friends, asked their mom. Yeah, of course, but we
Speaker 1: have time to do all of that tomorrow, said Levi.
Speaker 1: You had time to do it all last week too,
Speaker 1: but all you chose to do was watch or play
Speaker 1: on a screen, said Levi's dad. Your mom and I
Speaker 1: had a talk, and right now this house is a
Speaker 1: screen free zone. Levi and Ivy looked shocked. And you
Speaker 1: were not allowed to be on a screen at any
Speaker 1: of your friends's houses, said their mom. We already called
Speaker 1: over to them and let their parents know. We're making
Speaker 1: you get on your bikes and go for a nice
Speaker 1: long bike right down to the park. We'll meet you
Speaker 1: there in just a little while to have a picnic outside,
Speaker 1: said their dad. And we'll figure out some fun outdoor
Speaker 1: activity to do all together when we meet up. Okay,
Speaker 1: they both said, trying to sound excited. Levi and Ivy
Speaker 1: had to admit that did sound fun, but they also
Speaker 1: couldn't help thinking about that last level of their video
Speaker 1: game that they wanted to finish and watching the newest
Speaker 1: episode of their favorite TV show. However, they knew their
Speaker 1: parents only wanted the best for them, so they got
Speaker 1: dressed and went outside to the garage to get their bikes.
Speaker 1: Levi and Ivy didn't say a word to each other
Speaker 1: as they put on their helmets and got on their bikes.
Speaker 1: As they wrote down the sidewalk, Levi asked Ivy if
Speaker 1: she'd rather be playing video games right then. Kind of,
Speaker 1: but it's also really nice to be riding my bike,
Speaker 1: she said. I kind of missed it. I can't believe
Speaker 1: we haven't been out for a bike ride since last weekend,
Speaker 1: right before yesterday started. I know it does feel nice
Speaker 1: to get some fresh air, but I kind of wish
Speaker 1: we could watch something, too, said Levi. Maybe mom and
Speaker 1: dad will be so proud of us for taking a
Speaker 1: ride that they'll let us watch something when we get back,
Speaker 1: said Ivy. Maybe, said Levi. As they rode into the playground,
Speaker 1: they noticed that there weren't any other kids around. They
Speaker 1: had the whole place to themselves, which normally would have
Speaker 1: made them very happy, but that day they just fell bored.
Speaker 1: They wandered around for a little while, playing on the
Speaker 1: swings and going down the slide, but they felt strange.
Speaker 1: They just didn't feel like themselves, and they didn't like it.
Speaker 1: Why aren't we having fun, asked Levi. I'm not sure,
Speaker 1: said Ivy. I woant to run around and play, but
Speaker 1: I just feel tired. Sitting around on a screen takes
Speaker 1: a lot less energy than playing outside, that's for sure.
Speaker 1: How about we go and take a rest over there,
Speaker 1: said Lee, By walking toward a big pine tree on
Speaker 1: the edge of the park. They sat in the shade
Speaker 1: of the tree in silence and didn't like the way
Speaker 1: that felt. We usually have so many things to talk about,
Speaker 1: said Ivy, like making up new obstacle courses, redesigning the
Speaker 1: tree house, making fairy gardens, and trying new cupcake recipes.
Speaker 1: I know, but lately, I just haven't been interested in
Speaker 1: anything else except screens, said Levi. So I'm definitely lacking
Speaker 1: in ideas right now of what to do when we're
Speaker 1: on a screen. We really don't have to think about
Speaker 1: too much at all. Levi and Ivy agreed that they
Speaker 1: didn't like the way that they had been feeling or
Speaker 1: acting that past week, but they also didn't know what
Speaker 1: to do to get back to the way they used
Speaker 1: to be. They still wanted their screens, but they also
Speaker 1: wanted time to play outside, climb trees, go on hikes,
Speaker 1: and all the other things they used to love to
Speaker 1: do together. As they continued to sit in the park,
Speaker 1: they suddenly heard a little voice coming from behind the
Speaker 1: tree they were sitting under. They whipped their heads around
Speaker 1: at the same time, thinking they'd see a squirrel or
Speaker 1: maybe a neighborhood cat roaming around, but instead they found
Speaker 1: themselves face to face with a friendly bunny named Dede,
Speaker 1: and they knew she was friendly because she smiled and
Speaker 1: introduced herself in the sweetest voice. Hi, Levi and Ivy,
Speaker 1: said the little bunny. My name is Deee, and I
Speaker 1: know this is going to sound weird, but I was
Speaker 1: sent here from a magical force where I live to
Speaker 1: help you solve a problem. Hi Addy, It's good to
Speaker 1: meet you, said Levi. But how do you know who
Speaker 1: we are? Oh? I know lots about you, said Dede
Speaker 1: with a smile. Wow, it's so cool to meet a
Speaker 1: bunny from a magical forest, said Ivy. It's like the
Speaker 1: one level in the video game where we played the
Speaker 1: other day at your friend's house. Levi. Oh yeah, that
Speaker 1: magical land was so amazing looking, said Levi. I wish
Speaker 1: we could play that game right now. And that's the
Speaker 1: problem I'm talking about, said Dede with the giggle. You
Speaker 1: don't need screens all the time. Sometimes the most amazing
Speaker 1: adventures are right there in front of your face, in
Speaker 1: the real world, right outside your front door. Levi and
Speaker 1: Ivy couldn't help but listen to Dede. She was, after all,
Speaker 1: a talking bunny from a magical forest. But they couldn't
Speaker 1: imagine why she was there to help them. They felt
Speaker 1: perfectly fine, except for the fact that they really wanted
Speaker 1: to be on a screen, and that, of course, was
Speaker 1: the problem. Levi and Ivy were just too clear to
Speaker 1: notice it themselves. Good thing Dede was there to help
Speaker 1: him out. Levin and Ivy just follow me. I'll help
Speaker 1: you see what the problem is and give you a
Speaker 1: few ways to fix it, said Dede as she hopped
Speaker 1: toward a clearing in the trees up ahead. Levi and
Speaker 1: Ivy followed along closely, and in just a few hops
Speaker 1: they found themselves in a beautiful, magical forest. Once they
Speaker 1: got there, they found that they couldn't think of anything
Speaker 1: else except exploring the magnificent land with Dede and having
Speaker 1: the best adventure ever. Dede could see the look in
Speaker 1: their eyes, and she knew their trip to the magical
Speaker 1: forest was definitely going to help. She just had to
Speaker 1: make sure when they went back that the feeling they
Speaker 1: had right then would stay with them. Can we go
Speaker 1: on a hike, or play in the metal over there,
Speaker 1: or make up a fun game using some of your
Speaker 1: magic to play together, asked Levi. Yes, all of that
Speaker 1: would be amazing, added Ivy. Who we could also play
Speaker 1: some video games or watch your favorite TV show, said Dede.
Speaker 1: Seeing what her friends would say, and while Levi and
Speaker 1: Ivy did look interested, they said maybe they would, but
Speaker 1: only after they took a look around the forest. Dede
Speaker 1: liked what she was hearing and led her friends to
Speaker 1: her favorite spot, on top of a special hill covered
Speaker 1: with flowers. As they reached the top, they could see
Speaker 1: a bright rainbow stretched out across the sky. That's amazing
Speaker 1: and looks just like the rainbow we saw from our
Speaker 1: treehouse a few weeks ago after that big rainstorm, said Levi.
Speaker 1: Oh yeah, the store where we hopped in puddles in
Speaker 1: the backyard is a rained said Ivy. That was so
Speaker 1: much fun. You stayed outside during a rain storm, asked Dede.
Speaker 1: That would have been the perfect time to go in
Speaker 1: and watch a show or or play video games. No way,
Speaker 1: playing outside in the rain is magical, said Ivy. It's
Speaker 1: so much fun. That's great to hear, said Dede. And
Speaker 1: this hilltop reminds me of the one where we had
Speaker 1: that picnic with mom and dad. Remember we picked that
Speaker 1: big bouquet of flowers for mom, asked Levi. Ivy nodded
Speaker 1: and looked up as a flock of birds flew overhead.
Speaker 1: That's a blue jay and that's a robin, said Ivy.
Speaker 1: I learned that on a show we watched the other day.
Speaker 1: Oh that's really cool, said Dede. So you can see
Speaker 1: how sometimes screens and technologies are great for learning, but
Speaker 1: sometimes they can get in the way of viewing life
Speaker 1: around you live and in person. You have a point,
Speaker 1: said Levi. But sometimes things like video games can let
Speaker 1: you do stuff you can't do in real life, said Ivy,
Speaker 1: like run on clouds or fly rocket ships to far
Speaker 1: we planets and meetingful aliens. That's true, and doing that
Speaker 1: every once in a while is totally fine, agreed Ddee.
Speaker 1: But having screens be the only thing that you explore
Speaker 1: stops you from having those experiences for real or making
Speaker 1: them come to life through playing and using your imagination.
Speaker 1: And just then Dedee pointed to a trail at the
Speaker 1: bottom of the hill that wrapped through the forest. She
Speaker 1: hopped ahead of Levi and Ivy and asked them to
Speaker 1: follow her. As they hopped along, the forrest came to
Speaker 1: life before them. Dede asked her new friends about there
Speaker 1: yesterday and why they picked what they did. We picked
Speaker 1: watching TV and playing video games because it's stuff we
Speaker 1: never do, said Levi. It was fun, but once we
Speaker 1: started doing it, we couldn't stop, said Ivy. We always
Speaker 1: wanted to watch one more show or get to one
Speaker 1: more level on our video game. After the yesterday, we
Speaker 1: just kept going, said Ivy. We didn't hang out in
Speaker 1: our treehouse, we didn't go on any walks. We didn't
Speaker 1: play with our friends at the playground, said Levi. Once
Speaker 1: they said all of that out loud, Levi and Ivy
Speaker 1: got a look in their eyes, a look that told
Speaker 1: Dede they understood what the problem was now and why
Speaker 1: it needed fixing. Dedy, I think we'd get it now,
Speaker 1: said Levi. That's why you brought us here, right to
Speaker 1: get us back out to the place that we love,
Speaker 1: to show us what we missed over the last week,
Speaker 1: and all we could miss if we only keep watching
Speaker 1: TV shows and playing video games. I couldn't have said
Speaker 1: it better myself, said Dede with a smile. A show
Speaker 1: in a video game here and there are just fine,
Speaker 1: but I don't let them make you miss out on
Speaker 1: the wonderful world around you and sharing real life experiences
Speaker 1: with your friends and your family. Thank you so much,
Speaker 1: Ivy said as she gave Dede a big hug. I'm
Speaker 1: so happy I could help, said d d, pointing toward
Speaker 1: the end of the path, which led Levi and Ivy
Speaker 1: right back into the park. Because I'm pretty sure I
Speaker 1: see your parents heading this way for your picnic, Levi
Speaker 1: and Ivy thinked de Dy again, but before they left,
Speaker 1: they asked if they would ever see her again. Come.
Speaker 1: Of course, the more you start coming back to the park,
Speaker 1: playing outside and enjoy nature again, you'll see me around
Speaker 1: for sure, said Dede with a big smile. As Levi
Speaker 1: and Ivy ran to the end of the trail, they
Speaker 1: called out to their parents. They were excited for the
Speaker 1: picnic and to spend some more time outside. They have
Speaker 1: a lot of fun exploring the magical forest with Dede
Speaker 1: and lots of outdoor time to make up for HI.
Speaker 1: How was the bike ride, asked Levin Ivy's mom, hoping
Speaker 1: they had a good time. It was amazing, exclaimed Levi,
Speaker 1: the best, added Ivy. Levi and Ivy's mom was so
Speaker 1: happy to hear that until her kids said, but she
Speaker 1: immediately thought that they were going to ask if they
Speaker 1: could cut the picnic short and go home to watch
Speaker 1: a show or play video games. But she was pleasantly
Speaker 1: surprised when she heard them say, but can we have
Speaker 1: a sleepover tonight in the backyard with you? And dad?
Speaker 1: Asked Levi. We could play backyard flashlight tag before bed
Speaker 1: and look for constellations and tell stories, Ivy said, and
Speaker 1: bring the TV outside to watch the show before we
Speaker 1: fall asleep, asked Levin and Ivy's dad. No way, said Levi.
Speaker 1: We got our fill of TV and video games last week.
Speaker 1: I mean, we still want to be on screen sometimes,
Speaker 1: but definitely not nearly as much as we did last week,
Speaker 1: added Ivy. Levi and Ivy's parents were so excited to
Speaker 1: hear this from their kids. The rest of the day
Speaker 1: rolled in tonight as Levi and Ivy and their parents
Speaker 1: spent the whole time outside, and they did the same
Speaker 1: thing the next day and the next day, and all
Speaker 1: that time, Levi and Ivy's parents assumed that making their
Speaker 1: kids take a bike ride was all they needed to
Speaker 1: get back to a happy balance between screens and outdoor play. However,
Speaker 1: they didn't know that they had some help from a
Speaker 1: wonderful bunny named d D. Thanks for joining us today.
Speaker 1: We hope you enjoyed the story and learned a little
Speaker 1: something too. And since we know everyone has their own story,
Speaker 1: we'd love to hear yours. If you have an idea
Speaker 1: for a Lively Lowis story, leave a comment on our
Speaker 1: Apple podcast review page with five stars, your idea, and
Speaker 1: your little one's name. Then maybe I'm next to thank you.
Speaker 1: We'll be with you until our next story time Hangout
Speaker 1: gan friend listening. We can't wait to share another fun,
Speaker 1: Lively Lewis story with you