Santa

Well.  Today AJ approached me as I was cooking her oatmeal and asked me if Santa was real or if it's really just the parents buying and wrapping up the gifts.

We didn't start out with Santa.  I felt no need to do so in order to keep the magic of Christmas.  But when AJ was 4, she met the Santa at Alpenrose Dairy and insisted he was real.  I figured if she wanted to believe, who was I to destroy that for her.  

But it was all short lived.  She took it very well, but I suppose if you've only spent two years believing it's not really as big a let down.  

She has been asked to keep the magic alive for other children.  

What do you believe in?

One day AJ and I were waiting at the bus stop when a Jehovah Witness approached us and asked if I wanted reading material for the bus.  I politely declined and she went on her way.

AJ: mom, what was she trying to give you?

Me: a magazine called the watchtower.

AJ: why?

Me: because she believes in god and wanted to share that with me but I don't believe in the same thing she does so I wasn't interested.
AJ: Well...what do you believe in?
Me:  Science.
AJ: But mom, science is real.

Touche.

Because she wants to

AJ insisted on going outside and sweeping the sidewalk with a sprig of pine needles.  I hear a group of neighbor kids approach her. They gather around her and ask what she is doing and why.  AJ tells them she is cleaning and because she wants to.

AJ is really shy around children she doesn't know and I kind of hold my breath, hoping that her very straightforward answer doesn't earn her a bit of teasing or some strange looks.  

A few minutes later, I peek out the window and one of the neighbor girls has joined her.  AJ skips back up the stairs with a huge smile on her face.

Apparently the girl promised to help her sweep the sidewalk next weekend. 

Oops!

So you know those "oops" signs outside of Petsmart?  One day we took AJ to Petsmart.  She had just learned to read so she read the sign.

I guess it made an impression on her because almost 8 months later here we are sitting and playing vet.  The hamster I've brought in to see Dr. AJ is sick and throwing up.  

I tell her I've been feeding the hamster 55 M&Ms a day.  She shakes her head and tells me...

"Oh dear, you shouldn't feed your hamster M&Ms, you should get her hamster food.  So you need to go to Pets...Pets...PetsOops to get the food."

PS: photo is not mine...I just needed a quick photo to explain where she got "oops" from.  

Have you heard the noos?

She wants to be a Noos reporter. Heh.  

The Creeps

AJ got an Edward Gorey sticker book from Emo.  She decided to use them in a book she wanted to make.

She called it "The Creeps in the Studio."  

When she was finished with it, she decided to start another book.

She called it, "The Creeps in the Other House."  

Not bacon

We went to the zoo today.  AJ insisted on stopping at the store.  She was elated to discover they sold crickets. Bacon and cheese flavored crickets to be precise.

She popped a few in her mouth and looked at me.

AJ: mom?

Me: yes?

AJ: these do NOT taste like bacon but they are still delicious!  

Aww...My little bug eater.