Seriously...already?

It's no secret that Ava has a thing for Nicholas. He's a sweet, quiet 5 year-old who goes to her school.

Last week I asked her how Nicholas was doing and she said good. She followed up this painless, very safe reply with, "I don't like it when Hattie looks at Nicholas!"

Her teachers told me Nick was popular among the preschool girls. He has a younger brother and sister who are in Ava's class, so when he plays with them, he becomes more accessible. Yet he's older, making him a little bit cool. And very cute. And according to Ava, 'he's so smart mommy!'.

I tried to explain how we have lots of friends, and it's okay for even our best friends to have other friends.

"I don't YIKE IT!" she protested.

Yesterday I asked her about Hattie.

"How is she?" I asked.

"I said, 'YOU DON'T YOOK AT NICK-A-YUS' to her!", she replied.

"You what?" I stammered. OMG, she's three, I'm thinking. "What did she say?" I prodded.

"Don't push me!"

"Ava, did you push her????"

"...yes"

OMG! My child is a little bully fighting over boys on the playground ALREADY. God help me. Seriously, Jesus, help me!!!!

"Ava, we do NOT push our friends, do you understand? What did your teacher say?"

"She said, 'Girls, go back to work'."

So it's begun. Already.

She's quick - and I've got to do all I can to be a kind, gentle and loving role-model. Kind of like Nicholas...

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Snow Day!

While history was being made in our nation's capitol, we were busy making some history of our own in East Tennessee.

With a light dusting of snow and a slick sheet of ice under it, school's were closed today
in Knox County.

Ava and I enjoyed the day out in the snow while it lasted. We both made snow angels, ran in the snow, made shapes with our feet, hands and sticks (Ava made 'trees' by hitting long branches in the snow. I thought they looked like bird's feet but she assured they were not. They were TREES.)

She also practiced her ballet and climbed a dogwood in the backyard.

Afterwards we made cinnamon rolls and enjoyed them straight out of the oven while our new president gave his Inaugural address.

What a day! What a country! What a life!!