Family Time

We are enjoying a few days of family time, what with the Gutsy Dad home on vacation. We don't have a lot of plans, just enjoying each other's company. And sleep ins!

I am trying to relieve myself of the pressure of feeling we should be "doing something" with this time. I am trying to just "go with the flow," which Jillson informs me means: "don't worry about stuff, Mom."

Speaking of the kiddos, Madelyn recently informed me that the Baby Jesus loved nutella and that is why I should give her some nutella for breakfast. When I told her no, she told me the Baby Jesus was sad at me about that. Way to bring out the big guns, kid. But still, no nutella for you.

That is all for today. I need to hurry off to do nothing with my family.

What Were You Before You Were You?

Jillson recently asked me what my "little girl name" was.

"What do you mean?" I asked her.

"I mean what was your name when you were a little girl?"

"My first name?"

"YES." (Annoyed by my slowness at comprehending the question.)

"My name was the same as it is now, " I replied. "Margaret."

"Mooom," she giggled, seeming embarrassed by my answer. "You couldn't be Margaret when you were little, that is your grown-up name."

Okay.

I asked her if she meant nicknames. No.

I asked her if she meant people who change their last names when they get married.  "No, Mom. I mean first names. What were you before you were Margaret?"

Rather than waxing existential, I tried to explain that people didn't have different names based on whether they were young or old, that first names are first names no matter your age, but I'm not sure she believed me. I think she thinks I am weird because I have the same name I had as a kid.

I am totally fascinated by my child's ideas. I wonder how long she has assumed that we all change our first names when we grow up.  Is this a new idea or something she's held for a while? Is this--her name--just one more area in which she is trying to gain control?

Jillson informed me that she is, indeed, planning on changing her name when she grows up, like everyone else does.

"What will you change your name to?" I asked her.

"Well, I'm not sure, Mom. It's going to be really, trilly hard to decide because I really, trilly like the name Jillson."

At least I know she likes her unusual name. Really trilly.

Performances, Planned and Un

All five of us were in the Richmond Hill Hometown Holidays (or something like that) Parade yesterday morning. All children performed beautifully.

Madelyn rode with her preschool classmates on their float, with the Gutsy Dad and Bronwen trailing behind. Here she is modeling her reindeer mask.

 And singing:

As you can see, she is wearing the same outfit as Friday. She's been adamant about dressing like "Santa's daughter." She took the Christmas-y jacket from one ensemble, paired it with a different red dress, and added black boots. (At first she said she wanted to be Santa, then Jillson said Madelyn couldn't be Santa because Santa was a boy, so I suggested she pretend she was Mrs. Claus. Maddie explained that she couldn't be Mrs. Claus because she didn't want to be a grown-up, and so she settled on being Santa's daughter.)

Do you remember those days? Those days when you just wanted to wear your favorite thing over and over and over again?

(When I was somewhere around Maddie and Jillson's age, I remember being very attached to a t-shirt that had a few little fish on it. I think there is a photograph of me somewhere wearing this shirt. It was in Florida, and I was picking grapefruit. In the photo, either my mother or my beloved Nana was leaning down to help me. I wore either blue or yellow shorts and, I think, sandals. I'd love to find that photograph.)

But I digress.

Jillson rode on the Daisy Scout float with her troop, and I walked alongside with the other Daisy moms.

It was a gorgeous day, and for a small town, Richmond Hill had quite a showing.

We spent the afternoon and evening with good, new friends, who drove in from Skidaway with their three kids to share some barbecue, conversation, and chaos. It's always good to find friends with whom the whole family seems to get along.

At one point, five of the six kids put on quite the impromptu Christmas-Ballet-Princess-Fairy-Fashion Show, popping out from behind our still-undecorated tree, proclaiming what they were supposed to be, and doing little dances. (Bronwen slept through it.)

I love this time of year.

Snippets

Madelyn makes sense of the new world order.

Out of the blue, while playing:

Madelyn: Papa, you are not pregga-nent. 

Gutsy Dad: Nope, I'm not.

M: You are just a boy. 

GD: That's right.

M: You are married to my mom.

GD: Exactly.

And also:

Madelyn: Mommy, you are not pregga-nent any more.

Gutsy Mom: That's right.

M: My baby came out of your belly.

GM: Yes, she did.

M: With a hat on.

GM: Umm...

Snippets

A conversation with Jillson while driving into town:

Jillson: Mom, I'd like to read to you from my chapter book.

Gutsy Mom: Great! 

(Jillson opens an imaginary book and clears her throat.)

J: Chapter One-Hundred-Thirty-Four: Private Parts and The Stuff That Comes Out of Private Parts.

GM: Jillson, that is not appropriate.

J: Mom, I did not use any inappropriate words.

GM: It is an inappropriate topic. Pick a different chapter.

J: Fine. (Pretends to flip through book.) Chapter Three. Plants.

GM: Great choice.

J: Ooh! Look! Here's an interesting one. It's a Shoe Tree.

GM: A shoe tree?

J: Yes. It grows shoes and peaches.

GM: Awesome! What kind of shoes?

J: High heels, running shoes, and flip flops.  And peaches.

Now that is my kind of tree.