Emily!

E: Mama, why does that sign say "no skating?"
J: Probably because that ice is thin and if someone skated on it they might get sick or hurt.
E: OR, maybe it was already broken and somebody taped it and if anybody skated there it would break again and nobody wants to have to tape things twice.

True story, Emily. Nobody wants to have to tape something twice.

Thinking

Whenever Googlemaps tells you you will need to make a U-turn to reach your destination it should include a rating that indicates how likely you are to die while making a U-turn at that particular intersection.

Thinking

Do animals worry? Last night on Planet Earth there was big grass fire that wiped out miles worth of food for a herd of antelope.  So, do the antelope worry?  Do they wake up and think, "how will I feed my kids this week?"

Emily's (never gonna happen) adventures in cooking

How to make the best muffin ever
By: Emily Dawn Gatlin
Age 5

1. Pour enough vanilla into a pitcher to cover the bottom.
2. Add one full cup of baking powder.
3. Put in some salt
4. and some sugar.
5. Add some strawberries with seeds removed.
6. The mix will bake in the pitcher.
7. Pour it all into a cup
8. and you'll be able to have one big muffin every morning for breakfast.
The End

Thinking

Making oneself go to bed is always harder when one is sleeping alone.

Like mother, like daughter

Oh world, you have no idea what you are in for!

Emily! and the postal worker

It snowed here on Saturday. Actually, it SNOWED here. I have to start off by embarking on a short tangent to point out that people will do crazy things for love. I, for instance, have gone back on my resolution to never live anywhere it snows. It snows here. I love Ben so I am here. The crazy part is that Ben is NOT here. See, crazy stuff for love has been done.

Anywhoodle, Emily was alternately enamored with and disgusted by the snow. Yea snow! Boo cold! Yea snowballs I can throw at Mommy! Boo snowballs thrown at me! Yea snow angels! Boo snow that has gotten into my rain boots and is slowly turning my legs into goose-bump covered, red, ice stumps!  I think you get the picture.  She was also very sad that Ben is in the desert and would not see any of the glorious snow. We, therefore, scooped some snow into a Tupperware container and stuffed it into his latest box.

On Tuesday, schools were still closed, but work had to be attended to so Em was watched by the lovely and talented Lisa Swanner.  Our nine-year-old friends Kehli also joined the party. Emily very proudly pointed out our Ben-bound box containing the snow.  Kehli, so wise with his nine years, asked if the snow wouldn't be melted.  Emily raised an eyebrow, rolled her eyes and replied, "No-o. My mom put it in Tupperware so it would stay fresh!"

Wait, it gets better.

I relayed this same story to the postal worker examining my customs declaration sheet when I mailed the box.  She reached out a hand to feel if the box was cold and sincerely asked "Really?"