mind reader

Note: This post is best understood after reading "car talk" below.

I went downstairs this morning to discover the girls already awake, and red stains all over our white area rug. I suspected the red Jell-O from the trifle in the fridge that had, no doubt, proved too tempting. I immediately put Ella in time-out on the stairs and went to work with the Folex, removing the stains. As I cleaned, I questioned Ella about what had happened.
"Why did you get into the trifle when you know you're not allowed to open the fridge?"
"It's not trifle, Mama!"
"What is it, then?"
"Juice."
"Well, you're not allowed to get juice either. Stay in time-out."
A few seconds went by before I heard Ella's little voice from the stairs. "If you can read my mind, why did you think it was trifle?"

car talk

Today in the car, after Ella hit Lauren and claimed it was an "accident," I explained that when you think about something, decide to do it, and then do it, it's not an accident. After a few thoughtful seconds, Ella asked, "Mom, can you read my mind?" Seizing the opportunity, I answered confidently, "Yes." I waited in silence for her response. "Mom, do you know people don't like it when you read their minds?"

snow day

We woke up recently to find several inches of snow on the ground. By late morning I could hold off the girls no longer and we went out and built an adorable little snowman. Satisfied with our work, we quickly went inside to get our camera. We returned just a minute later, but it was long enough for our slushy snowman to topple over. We lamented his fate then, quite happily, sang "Once There Was a Snowman."

Lauren had insisted on wearing her crocs in the snow, and I had eventually decided to let her, trusting that she would complain at some point before frostbite set it and hopefully learn a lesson. After playing outside for 20 minutes or so (with no complaints) I brought the girls inside and made them some warm soup. After a few minutes, I asked, "Well, is everyone warm and cozy now?" to which Ella replied, "I am!" Then Lauren, in her typical low voice, said, "I'm not wahm. I had ice in my shoes."