Isn't Blood Supposed to be Thicker than Water?

My cousin Will is getting married next month. Both girls are very, VERY excited so the lucky couple are a hot topic around our house these days. This is one of the more amusing conversations that unfolded:

Maura: Do you think Will likes Anita?

Me: Yes, I think Will likes Anita.

Maura: But do you think he likes LIKES Anita?

Me: Yes, I do.

Maura is still in deep thought.

Me (throwing Will under the bus): You can ask him when we visit.

Maura (rolls her eyes): Yeah, right. Like he'd tell ME if he didn't really like like her. He KNOWS I would go STRAIGHT to Anita and tell her.

Roger: What if Anita told you she wasn't sure if she like LIKED Will? Would you go straight to Will and tell him?

Maura (answering a little too quickly): No.

Roger: That's not fair!

Maura (shrugging her shoulders): Anita's my girl.

Box Tops

In our family, we save boxes in November and December. When we're wrapping Christmas presents we'll put the oddly shaped presents into boxes before wrapping them. This makes it easier to wrap and harder to guess what's inside.

Maura (handing me the box after opening her present): OH, LOOK! Grandma sent you a Box Top for Christmas, too.

The Reason For the Season

I was cleaning up the living room and looking for the the Nativity Scene Little People to put back on the table. I think Schatz must have been playing under my Christmas Tree again.

Girls and Driving...

My friend Lindsey's son (age 5) has to cutest mop of golden curls. He is so adorable. He came home from school yesterday very upset that some boys had told him his hair makes him look like a girl.

Lindsey: "That's OK, Cieran, in 10 years your curly locks are going to get all the girls, and the mean boys are going to left in the dust."

Cieran (thoughtfully): "Well.... I GUESS that's OK, as long as I don't have to kiss any girls while I'm driving away and making dust!"

No False Modesty for This Skater

We took the girls ice skating for the first time yesterday. Schatz really struggled with her balance, but Maura (who roller blades) was a natural. In no time at all she was zipping around the rink and doing little turns.

Me: You are a rock star, Maura. You are skating so well!

Maura: Well, the guy that works here told me that it's easier to skate if you don't think about what you are doing and just think about something that makes you happy.

Me: Is that what you are doing? Thinking of something happy?

Maura: No, I'm just really good at this.

Christmas Secrets

Everyone knows this is a busy time of year for Santa Claus. He has a hard time making it to every Christmas parties. This year Santa asked Roger to attend the Battalion Christmas party as Santa and report back what all the little kids in the Battalion wanted for Christmas. Knowing his girls would recognize him, Roger sat the girls down and explained the situation. He asked them to keep this Christmas secret so as not to ruin the party for everyone else.

As Santa was making his arrival:

Schatz (to the little boy standing next to her): I know a secret about Santa, but I'm not telling!

Having a word with Santa...

Roger, Schatz, and I were having lunch at the food court yesterday. Santa was visiting for a photo opportunity. It wasn't very busy so we had full access to the Big Guy.

Schatz: Is that the real Santa?

Me: You will have to ask him.

Schatz (to Santa): Are you the real Santa?

Santa: Yes.

They chat for a few minutes and we go back to our lunch.

Schatz: Mom, will you go talk to Santa?

Me: Why?

Schatz: Well, I need you to tell Santa that I am on the Nice list.

Me: He knows you're on the nice list.

Schatz: No, Mommy, I was being naughty last week, but this week I've been nice. You have to tell him to put me back on the nice list?

Me: I think you should tell him.

Schatz: He's not going to believe me. You better tell him.

Usually I would just chuckle, but Santa is no laughing matter so I put in a good word for her.