When Addison was a baby, Annette would allow Ashton to watch TV while she, Tate, and Addison napped in the afternoons. Ashton was four years old and so excited to be allowed the luxury of watching a TV show.
Ashton would eagerly ask Annette if it was time for "my movie" each day. One of the programs he would watch is Martha Speaks (featuring Martha as a talking dog).
One day while Annette was sleeping, Ashton came running into the master bedroom crying about "alien pickles" and refused to watch any more. After that, Ashton was hesitant about watching Martha because he was worried about the alien pickles.
Later, while on a cross-country road trip, Ashton pointed out that the silos alongside farmhouses looked like the alien pickles from the episode. Thus, in our family, we always refer to barn silos as "alien pickles!"
SIDE NOTE: As I wrote this story today (March 15, 2020), I did some research on the Martha Speaks series. I discovered that the series launched on September 1, 2008. This was right when Ashton started watching. I never realized that he was watching the series as it was released. I also discovered the "Marth's Pickle" episode (Season 1, Episode 8). I watched it with Ashton. He said that is exactly how I remember it but it is not scary now. I guess things look different at 15 than they do when you are 4!
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