What Do You Want For Christmas?

This year I have had a hard time finding the perfect gift for Mia. I got her a few little things, but I want to get her something she will really love. I thought I might have an easy solution when she waited to ask Santa for something at the church Christmas party. When he asked her what she wanted for Christmas her response was "to have the best Christmas EVER!" Gee, thanks. I have had her look through catalogs and she points out everything, so that doesn't really help either. Tonight I had her sit on my lap and we talked. I asked if she could have anything in the whole world what would it be. She thought for a minute then faced me and said "to give all the poor people in the world a home to live in and everything they need."

Hearing Voices

Mia: Can I play on your phone?
Me: No
Mia: (talking in a deep voice and trying not to move her lips) Let Mia play on your phone.
Me: Hmm, who was that talking?
Mia: Maybe your conscience.

Bursting With Holiday Spirit

The kids have been asking for a week to decorate for Christmas. We got down the boxes and I began looking through them. Emma was at my side trying not to squeal as she saw different items. "Oooo, lights! Santa!...Oh, stockings! Can I hang them? Can I hang them? Please?!" I told her she had to wait and stay still. She tried as hard as she could to stand still and wait patiently, but I could see her start to quiver. The tension was building and she was struggling to stay in control. She couldn't contain it anymore and burst out at the top of her lungs "JINGLE BELLS, JINGLE BELLS, JINGLE ALL THE WAY!" It was the closet thing I've seen to turrets syndrome.

Holiday Indians

Emma and Mia were playing in character. Emma came up to me and we had this conversion.

Emma: (in a soft, almost British accent) Do you want to know why I am such a good writer?
Me: Of course, please tell me.
Emma: I am an Indian. My mother taught me to write.
Me: Oh
Emma: My father taught me to fight.
Me: What?
Emma: He taught me to fight with weapons.
Me: What kind of weapons?
Emma: A sword.
Me: Who were you fighting?
Emma: We fought during the war. I practiced and everything was destroyed, so he taught me. When I became older I fought in the war with him and we finally won.
Me: Are you an American Indian or an Indian from the country India?
Emma: I am a Holiday Indian.
Me: What is a Holiday Indian?
Emma: It is an Indian who only celebrates one holiday... I am of the Christmas Indians.

Humans v. Animals

Charlie has commented more than once that he is concerned that Emma cares more about animals than people. I think he might be right.

Emma said she was learning about something in history today. Something about a place in France and Cisco... (Uh, San Francisco?) Yes, well she heard that in San Francisco they have their houses really close together and there was a big fire. The fire went from one house to another and another and another, and all the people died! I asked why she was smiling so big while she told me this. She laughed, slapped her leg, and said it was really funny to her that people hadn't even thought that putting houses that close together would be a bad idea.

Then more seriously... Emma said "Old people are dying and other people are having more children and people keep building more and more homes even though some of the homes are empty. Home are empty and they keep building and building. I feel really bad about it because it is taking away homes from animals! Animals don't have a home anymore. If animals kept building homes where we lived and we couldn't live there anymore wouldn't you feel bad? Well, that is how animals feel." (She starts crying.)
Mia interjects "it is okay, because those animals are being put in zoos."
"No, they are killing them!" Emma starts to sob.

Foxes

It's been awhile. I have graduated from college, woo hoo! Justin graduated from elementary school, boo hoo. Mia and Justin had their birthdays; we had a fun summer filled with swimming, vacations, amusement parks, beaches, studying for the CPA exam, and cousins. Now school has started again.

Walking the girls home from school today we talked about foxes. I mentioned that Aunt Ashley has foxes in London, like we have racoons. Emma thought that was awesome. I said it is annoying when they knock over your trash cans. Emma thought that wouldn't be a big deal because you could just make a big hole for the trash to fall into. After all, they are just hungry. Mia thinks Ashley should use a decoy trash can to trick the foxes, but I said they could smell the difference. Emma thought it would be good to set out food for them to fix the real problem. I said that if they did that then the foxes would keep coming back for food and probably bring their friends. Mia said "Oh, no." She suggested trapping the foxes. I asked what she would do with the fox once she caught it. She said she would make it into a scarf. Emma chimed in that it was the fashion in the olden days to kill foxes and wear them around your necks.

We've Got Spirit! How 'Bout You?!

It is "Western Day" at school today. The girls dressed up. On the way to school Mia realized she forgot something.

Mia: Oh, no, I forgot my neckerchief!
Me: That is okay, you are wearing your cowgirl hat, and that is most important.
Mia: No, that is not what's most important. What is most important is...(she paused for effect)...cowgirl spirit. And I have that!
Me: I need to call your dad and tell him how cute you are.
Mia: Or you could just text him a picture.