Foreign Languages

Now that Claire is reading (and writing!) and Ellie knows most of her alphabet, the girls have decided (apparently) that foreign languages are next. Claire is painting with Ellie. Claire finishes her picture and says "Voila!". Ellie, in her relentless pursuit to be like her big sister says, "Walla!" So cute. Seriously though, ask Claire to count to 10 in Spanish. She can do it.

Daylight Savings Time and Christmas Lights

Daylight Savings Time:

Con: By the time I pick up the girls after work, it is very dark.

Pro: I get to hear Claire and Ellie talk about the Christmas lights and decorations on the way home.

example:
Claire (pointing at a house): Look, they have white lights, Christmas trees, a sled, and a moose.

Mom: That is a reindeer.

Claire: Oh. (A few houses later) Look, there's Christmas trees and a rein-ga-deer. (I did not correct her - it was too cute.)

Susan Socks

Claire was upset yesterday afternoon, after her dad told her to go get her "Susan Socks". Claire was upset because she didn't know which socks were her "Susan socks". It took me a few minutes, but I finally figured out her dad told her to go get her shoes and socks. After explaining that, she just said, "Oh".

Claire is learning to read and I am screwed.

We have lived in complete bliss for 4 and a half years now. I could get away with telling Claire anything I wanted, but now....someone thought it appropriate to teach her to read.

Tonight I was rummaging through a drawer and Claire spotted a tin of Ginger Snap candy. She grabbed it and said, "This is mine." I replied, wisely, "Not it is not. Does it have your name on it?"...knowing full well that they are mine and did not have her name on them.

Turns out I was wrong. She replied, "Yes, they do. See?" and pointed to the brand name "St. Claire." Darn. She was right. She is enjoying a Ginger Snap candy right now, as a matter of fact.

Poor Ellie

Ellie has a cold and lost her voice. It has been like living with a 2-year old that you have muted. Not a bad concept, but I digress.

Now that Ellie is getting her voice back, she is funnier than ever. She sounds like a Little Person (no pun intended) on helium. High-pitched little voice...so cute.

Mama Sue asked Claire how Ellie was doing. Claire said, "She sounds like a horse." I'm fairly certain she meant something else, however....we don't correct the cute ones.

My pre-schoolers have (overnight) become pre-teens? I think not.

Here's the scene.....Ellie is standing on her chair in the dining room, with a piece of spaghetti hanging out of her mouth and dancing. Claire looks over at Ellie, then looks at me and says, "Ellie thinks she Hannah Montana, but she's not. Right, Mom?"

How do you respond to that? That is, besides "crap"...

bad words from the mouths of babes

I recently had my first experience of trying to discipline my child, while trying really hard not to laugh (I was highly unsuccessful).

It reminds me of the time that Little Joe (about 18 months at the time) called me a butthead and Deedra and I were laughing so hard, that Russ had to take over....anyway.....

Claire came to me crying; she was so upset and told me that Ellie had called her a bad name. My mind instantly went down a list of possibilities. I decided to ask Claire what her sister had called her and prepared myself for the worst (they are in daycare, afterall). Claire says, "Ellie called me a cracker." Hmmm....I wonder where she learned that. I calmed Claire down and went to find Ellie.

Ellie is lying in my bed, watching TV with her Dad. Innocent and sweet as can be. I march up to her, take her little face in my hands, and say, "Do not call your sister a cracker; it is not nice." I didn't get the entire sentence out without a smile on my face, although I gave it a valiant effort. What did not help is my dear husband struggling for breath behind his pillow. Wimp.

I am sure Ellie was calling her sister a 'saltine' or Goldfish or Melba Toast. At least that is what I HOPE.