Spring is in the air!

This one really made my jaw drop:

Yesterday evening, we were late getting Olivia ready for bed, which has seem to become more and more frequent now that seven o'clock looks and feels like high noon. While I was getting Olivia PJ'd, I was hurriedly trying to think through the outfit I would set out for her to wear the next day to make the morning go more smoothly. I asked Evan, "What's the weather going to be tomorrow?" knowing his i-phone could instantly check the forecast. Then from the changing table, Olivia said, "I know the weather." Amused, I asked her, "You do? What is it?" Her cheerful reply was "Springtime!"

Smarty-pants.

You save big money, you save big money, when you shop...

On Tuesday, one of my days off this week, Evan came home around noon to be here when our new stove and microwave were delivered. Olivia knew it was unusual to have Daddy home in his work clothes in the middle of the day and she relished ever minute of it. When it was time for Evan to return to work, I asked Olivia, "Where is Daddy going?" Usually, when we go through this routine, she says "to work" or "to office with Grandpa Jones." Knowing today must be different though, she replied, "Menards."

A shout out to Eric Carle

Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Eric Carle has been a recent literary favorite of Olivia. We borrowed it from Auntie Nicki (I'm embarrassed to say as a parent and teacher that we don't own a copy...) and we read it several times at home before returning it last month. Since that time, Olivia has been making up her own versions be it in the tub, the car, or just playing around at home as her Barbies, animals, and anyone around "see" each other.

This morning we went on a walk (stroller-style) to visit Great-Gram in the nursing home. During the walk, she crafted a fitting version:

"Sidewalk, sidewalk, what do you see? I see a car looking at me! Car, car, what do you see? I see the ground looking at me! Ground, ground, what do you see? I see Great-Gram looking at me. Great-Gram, Great-Gram, what do you see? I see Mommy looking at me! Mommy, Mommy, what do you see? I see Olivia looking at me!" Not quite as unique as purple cats and blue horses, but just as entertaining.

Creepy Crawlies

Conversation in the car this evening driving home from Edinborough (indoor) park.

Olivia: There's a worm up there (pointing to the sunroof glass).

Me: No, that's not a worm. It's just a little leaf. (wet from the rain and shriveled up)

Olivia: I hate bugs

Me: No, bugs are okay!

O: Worms are scary.

Me: No, they aren't scary. They are just slow and slimy.

O: I don't like bugs, either.

Either? Clearly I haven't masked my disgust for bugs and worms well enough. She's not buying it.

The old cardboard cross

Last weekend, the three of us were having breakfast (our first in our new house!). Olivia found a little cardboard piece from our take-out breakfast meal (we have no stove/oven yet). She held it up and declared, "It's a cross!" which it was. Or two perpendicular line segments. I said, "Yes, it is a cross! It could also be a 'T'." She affirmed, "It's a cross. It's Jesus!"

I am only surprised by this because 1.) none of her baby Bibles have stories about Jesus on the cross 2.) this Easter, I followed suit and only highlighted the "He's Alive!" part of the Easter story. I'm interested to know how she made the connection...