new toys

We are in Indiana for a remote pre-birthday party. Caroline got some new toys. She seems to like them.

"That is so cute, I can barely stand it!

trippin'

She was in the next room, and her toys were talking to her. I eavesdropped and listened to a series of surveys. One example question she asked each toy, "What is your favorite kind of trip?"

Caroline: What is your favorite kind of trip, Scootaloo?
Caroline as Scootaloo: My favorite trip is a Dog Adventure!
Caroline: OOOOOH! That's really a great one.

Caroline: What is your favorite kind of trip, Tasha?
Caroline as Tasha: My favorite trip is a shopping adventure. Like at Target where we got Dash and didn't buy a vacuum cleaner.
Caroline: Oh, I love that kind of adventure trip, too, Tasha!

Caroline: What is your favorite kind of trip, Austin?
Caroline as Austin: My favorite trip is... Let me think. Well, Caroline, it must be true that my favorite trip is a hot dog adventure.
Caroline: I'm not a fan of hot dogs, Austin. But that trip sure sounds tasty and great for you!

Also asked of each of her friends, "How many cookies can you eat?" and "Do you like to wear socks in the house?"

descriptions

While walking around the house "hmming" and looking for her pony:

"Mama, have you seen my pony Dash? It's a toy pony, not a real one. It kind of fits in your hand. And it has a mane and tail like ponies do. It's an animal, a pony. And it's shaped sort of like a pony..."

2 minutes later, growing more frustrated:

"It's not really shaped like a bird. She doesn't have a beak or feathers..."

5 minutes later, giving up:

"And this pony must be a magician that is shaped like a pony because she totally disappeared. And it is kind of awesome that she is a magician that is a pony."

pictures as words

A self-portrait at 2.975 years old:

I am pink and happy.


A koala bear:

It has lots of hair, but Daddy doesn't have lots of hair.


A piece of toast:

This is just toast. There is no cinnamon on it. And it's not a rock.

trickery

Caroline is obsessed with Mr. Clean Magic Erasers. Something about their shape and texture just begs to be touched. She calls them "sponges" or "dangerous sponges," and I have to remind her frequently that they are not ok to play with.

She carried a box downstairs a few moments ago.

Caroline: Hey, I found these dangerous sponges. Can I have one?

Mama: No, you know they are dangerous. They have chemicals.

C: Chemicals are sharp and dangerous. But I really want to play with one.

M: Something like that. Right here on the box, it says "Keep out of reach of children!" That means you cannot touch them.

C: But I'm not a children, so I can have a sponge.

M: I think you're a child.

C: Nope, I'm a grown up.

M: Oh you are? Do you drive a car?

C: [sighs, hangs head] No.

M: I didn't think so. And you don't have a job, either.

C: YES! I do have a job!

M: Oh really? What job is that?

C: I pick out sponges. Especially ones in that blue box.

a grab bag of random quotes

Since I have been a bit slackerly the last few days, I will just post an assortment of kazooisms that I have been witness to recently.

Regarding dropping one of her toys down the stairs:
"Wow. That is so, so.... sososo... totally... awesomely bad!"

Regarding a door that repeatedly blew open and made her "far too chilly":
"DOOR! Stop opening! Why are you such a sneaky door?! Maybe if you weren't so sneaky, you could have more door friends."

Regarding her inner Alice:
"I understand that I can't shrink, but sometimes I wish I was small enough for my dollhouse anyway."

Regarding aging:
"I eat two letter cookies now because I am two. When I am three in a few weeks, I will eat three cookies. Being three will be nice and fun."

Regarding duh:
"Mom! [gasp] Our heads can rotate on our necks."

Regarding double duh:
"I really like to talk to myself."

morning routine

One side of the dialogue heard while enduring the terribleness that is known as getting dressed:

"No."
"No, I really don't want that."
"Alright, this dress, but no sweater."
"No sweater!!"
"I'll wear a sweater tomorrow!"
"Wow, I look like an imaginary princess!!!"
"Catch me, Mama! I'm a princesssssss!"
"Get the hair off my band-aid, please! Help! Princesses don't like hair on their band-aids!"
"No, no clippie."
"I don't want to pick a clippie."
"Just cut my hair off instead."
"Ok, but two clippies."
"I threw the clippies down the stairs because I was a little grumpy."
"I don't want to brush my teeth."
"I don't want to stop brushing my teeth."
"Yes, I look nice, but I'm NOT showing Daddy."
"I am going to cover my clippie with my hand because I don't want it and don't like it."
"Hold on, I have to spin in the mirror."
"Guys, I need the mirror in privacy. Spinning is private."
"I am GLORIOUS!"

time out for mom

It was a very repetitive morning. She repeatedly kept fiddling with something, and that resulted in repeatedly coming to me and asking for my help in fixing it. Repeatedly. And did I mention that this was repeatedly? It was. And the caffeine hadn't even kicked in yet.

So on the 47th "Can you fix this..." I calmly told her, "Ok, I will help you with this once more. But since you keeping coming to me with the same problem over and over, next time, I can't help you. You'll have to try to figure it out on your own first."

She walked close to me and looked me in the eye. "Are you grumpy today? It's very important to be nice, Mama. Maybe you need to think about that for a little bit. I'll be over here. Let me know if you feel nice again."

her deepest, darkest confession

We were on our way to Target, and Caroline shared a secret with me.

Caroline: Could we maybe look at the Ponies at Target?

Mama: I think we could check 'em out.

C: The ones with sparkles are pretty cheesy.

M: They are a lot cheesy, I think.

C: I think I have to tell you.

M: Tell me what?

C: I think I really do like cheesy things, Mama.

M: I thought you might.

C: I just really love sparkles. I didn't mean to, but I do.

spoken word

Quoted to me ("this is like a song but not with music"):

bubbles are great
many bubbles I blowed
and popped
so great
except some that got away