Overheard // 5

by Ashley Weeks Cart

As I mentioned yesterday, Sunny has taken to saying some truly magical, hysterical things. She’s also taken to dressing herself in magical, hysterical ways. She laid out this outfit on the floor of her bedroom earlier this week, and rocked it out with complete and utter pride. Hey, the girl’s developing her own style.

This week I’ve been up to my elbows in Christmas gift making, James has been buried in Admissions files (yay Reading Season!) and we’ve got a full weekend of visitors, Holiday Walks, Reindog parades, Pottery open houses, and Christmas decorating on the agenda. I hope that each of you have a truly joyful weekend, too! Here are some gems overheard in the house this week.

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Yesterday, when I took Addison and Courtland to see “Rise of the Guardians” and Sunny observed a tree with a popcorn garland in the lobby of the theater, her mind nearly exploded.

Her: Mama! There is POPCORN on the CHRISTMAS TREE! But popcorn doesn’t go on a tree. It goes in your tummy.
Me: Well, you can make garlands out of popcorn. We can even do that at our house and decorate our Christmas tree with popcorn.
Her: <eyes wide as saucers> OKAY! (Ed. note: If she were eight years older than she is now, the response would have been SHUT. UP.)

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She’s also VERY into monsters. And is very concerned about monsters coming to our home and eating her stuffed animals. Thus, she hides them in old pretzel containers.

Her: Daddy says that monsters don’t live in Vermont. But I think that baby monsters live here. But they don’t have teeth. So they can’t eat me. They can have cookies with my Bitty Baby.
Me: Well, then why is Shaun the Sheep in the pretzel container if monsters don’t live in Vermont?
Her: Because foxes and coyotes live in Vermont and might eat him. And monsters DO live in Blooming Grove and Massachusetts. So Momar and Doda might bring them to Vermont. I have to be careful.

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And, my favorite comment to date, as it gets at the innocence and beauty of a child’s thoughts.

Her: I’m going to have a party in the play room, next to the Christmas tree.
Him: Oh really? Who are you inviting to this party?
Her: You, and mommy, and Courtland, and Ursa, and Hanna, and Auntie Kimmy, and Momar, and Doda, and Ghillie, and Ranger.
Him: Well, Momar and Doda and Kimmy and Ghillie and Ranger won’t be visiting for awhile, so we may have to postpone the party.
Her: That’s okay. I’ll just have the party in my heart, instead. 

And may you all have parties in your hearts this weekend.