OBSESSIONS? (4 YRS OLD)

At Starbright yesterday, S had a cute conversation with Mr. Ray. She said at her 5 year old birthday party, she's going to make her own pinata. Five minutes later, she told him she didn't know who she was going to marry.

Yep, those are her two big obsessions right now. She's planning for her 5 princess-themed birthday party, down to making her own pinata and a castle cake. Momma probably feeds to the obsession because she has bought some princess party stuff already, but momma can't help a good sale.

Her second obsession is who she's gonna marry. She needs to get married so she can have children and be a momma. (Momma should take this as a compliment but doesn't). The first person she was gonna marry was Talia, but she says she can't marry Talia because Talia is a girl and she can't have a baby with a girl. Then, she wanted to marry daddy. Then, she wanted to marry Paul because he's a boy but after the last playdate with Paul, she's decided against that idea.

She suggested Max, a boy from school, but momma suggested that she play with Max to find out if Max is nice or not. Of course, since S is not into playing with boys, she's decided she's going to marry daddy again.

Momma wonders how much of life is spent in the pursuit of finding a mate and is surprise to realize it starts so young.

PLAY GROUP? (4 YRS OLD)

S really enjoys the social interaction of her peers, more and more. Every day, several times a day, S asks if she is going to have playgroup that day. She looks forward to playgroup, which is the opposite of how she was when she was younger.

Often, she asks if she's going to have a play date with Talia. Sometimes, she plays with someone she likes, afterwards, she asks if she can invite them over for a playdate. Momma is pleased to know that S focusing outward more.

PRESCHOOL (4 YRS OLD)

After a month, S is still adjusting to Starbright. Her two closest friends have left which also left a big hole in S social life. Whenever momma bring S to pre-school, she still clings to her and occassionally cries, saying she misses momma or wants mommma to stay. Momma has writtten a note to her teachers asking for guidance because she's not sure what to do. Momma hopes that school is getting better because occassionally the teachers tell her that S plays with Ruby, Lucy, or Violets, but there doesn't sound like anyone is an anchor for her.

In contrast, S has gone a couple of times to Auntie Fiona's school, Agave Arts, and loves it. She often asks if she can go again. Momma thinks is the combination that her best friend Talia is there and also momma is there.

ALMOST TWINS (4 YRS OLD)

S is "obcessed" with her friend Talia. She often asks, several times a day, if Talia is available for playdates. Last week, S asked if Talia and she could be twins. Momma said, "no, because they don't look alike and have different mommies." S responded with that she wished Talia and she could be twins. Momma followed up with, "You guys could almost be twins. You have very similar tastes." Since then, she describes Talia as her almost twin.

WHEN I GROW UP... (4 YRS OLD)

S often talks about what she wants to be when she grows up. The most frequent and consistent job she wants to be is a mommy. Sometimes she wants to be a dancer or a singer, but she always wants to be a mommy.

In the car driving home from school on Tuesday, S says, "When I grow up, I want to be a mommy...." After some thought, S comes to the conclusion that in order to be a mommy she needs to have a daddy so she follows up with, "I'm going to marry Paul (Volek)." Momma asks, "Why Paul?" She responds with, "because Paul is a boy."

P.S. On Tuesday night in bed, S also said, "Momma, when I grow up, I want to be just like you."

FUNNY DIALOGUE (4 YRS OLD)

S - Can I call Talia when we get home?

M- Sure.

S - What's her phone number?

M - 363-xxxx.... but why do you want to call Talia?

S- To let her know, I'm back from Dallas

S - What are you doing?
Momma - I'm changing the sheets. Do you want your princess sheets?
S- Yes, I sleep better with them.

HIGHWAYS AND LOW WAYS (4 YRS OLD)

S concluded that the roads next to the highways were called the low ways and have been calling them this for months. She often asks momma in the car, "are we on the highway or the low ways?"

Today, daddy corrected her about the highways and low ways. Highways are roads that people drive fast and low ways are where people drive slow. But, no one uses the word, low way, anymore.

S now understands the difference, but momma misses her little S's cute expression of "low ways."

STOCKYARD (4 YRS OLD)

Daddy, momma, and S went to visit Aunt Phu and Uncle Joe in Dallas today before their move to Atlanta. Saturday has been full of fun activities for a 4 years old.

The highlight was the Fort Worth Stockyard. S got to pet the animals at the petting zoo and one of the baby goats got out and followed Daddy, Aunt Phu and S around. Afterward, momma and S ran the Stockyard maze and made it out in 13 minutes. S giggled every time she and momma ran into an "Oops! Dead end." S won a silly band.

Then, everyone headed into the coliseum to see the calf roping, buckling Bronco and sheep chasing. In fact, S participated in the "Mutton Scramble," with the other kids under 8. When the sheep popped out of the gate, the sheep was swarmed with kids. The ribbon was pulled off before S got even a chance to run towards the sheep. All in all, daddy and momma were proud that S tried to do it.

Probably what S will remember the most from the entire day was that she got to spend it with Aunt Phu and Uncle Joe.

KNOCK KNOCK (4 YRS OLD)

After momma picked up S from preschool, S told momma a new knock knock joke.
S- knock knock
M - who's there?
S - banana
M- banana who?

S - knock knock
M - who's there?
S - banana
M - banana who?

S- knock knock
M - who's there?
S - banana
M- banana who?
S- orange you glad I didn't say banana

This is the first time momma has ever heard this knock knock joke from her. Where did she learn it?

P.S. When momma told daddy this story, he said that the last knock knock line should have been "orange." Momma guesses that S has momma's memories for jokes and punchline.

GRUMPY BIRD, GRUMPY MOMMA (4 YRS OLD)

Yesterday, Wednesday, momma was very grumpy. In the car, momma compared herself to "Grumpy Bird," a S favorite book, hoping the analogy would be helpful. S's response was, but all you have to say is, "'that's fun' and you'll stop being grumpy." It's not that simple explained momma.

So, S asked, "What are you doing?" just like the characters in the book Grumpy Bird. Momma in her grumpy-est voice said, "I'm driving." S laughed. Then she asked again, "What are you doing?" Momma responds again in her grumpy-est voice, "What does it look like I'm doing. I'm driving." S laughs again in amusement. The conversations goes back and forth like this, until momma finally gives up and talks normally. Then, S says, "No momma; talk in your grumpy voice," which made momma laugh.

VEGETABLES (4 YRS OLD)

Sarah has been expanding her scope of vegetable. Sometimes, daddy and momma have to force S to try at least one bite. Sometimes, very rare, there's no struggle at all.

Vegs that she's always eaten (no complaints):
- broccoli
- cooked carrots
- corn
- potatoes
- peas
- any type of beans, including lima beans
- green beans
- tomatoe sauce
- asparagus
- brussel sprouts
- mushrooms

New vegs that she's tried and like:
- spinach
- occassionally lettuce
- raw carrots
- sweet potatoes

Vegs that she eats and complains about:
- onions, except for onion rings
- garlic
- cilatros
- parsley

Daddy and momma thinks there's hope that she'll be a vegetable eater.

DIRTY HOUSEWORK WITCH (4 YRS OLD)

A couple of weeks ago, momma was cleaning crumbs under the kitchen table. S asked her what she was doing. "Cleaning," said momma. Thinking of ways to motivate S to clean, momma was reminded of a Miss Piggly Wiggly story.