what? really, she's smart, Mom!

A neighbor girl is 10 and often asks if Nina and Audrey can play. I've put the kabosh on it because she's just too old for them and they try to impress her. As Audrey plores with me in the car about why they should play together, Audrey says, "MOM! She's SMART! She went to preschool for 4 years and kindergarten for 5 years."

Awesome.

sibling rivalry

Audrey (6 years) and Nina (3 years) learned to ride a training-wheel-free bike within one day of each other. Thank goodness Audrey learned first or we'd have major meltdowns.

Two days into the new found freedom, Nina's zipping along the street and Audrey's running into curbs. Audrey throws down her bike, crosses her arms and sits under a tree. "I can't do this. Why is Nina so much better than me?" she shouts to no one in particular.

Nina soars by on her bike and replies, "I'm not better, Audrey, I'm just smart."

And the knife went into Audrey's back just a bit further...

Auddie's Lyrics

Bruno Mars' (is that even how you spell his name?) Lazy song can die a quick death as far as I'm concerned. That said, it is entertaining to hear Audrey's version of the lyrics.

Song: Today I don't feel like doing anything. I just want to lay in my bed.
Audrey: Today I don't feel like doing anything. I just want to lay on my fae-aaace.

Song: Gonna find a really great girl, have some really great sex.
Audrey (probably because I always turn this part down): Gonna finda  really great girl with some really great hair.

Makes me smile every time.

Sentimental Nina

I've written before about Nina's slight lack of sympathy when others are sad (well, her family, at least).

Audrey didn't take the news well that her long-time boyfriend and BFF is moving out of town next month. As she cried and declared it "not fair," I pointed out that she should be happy for him because he'll be closer to his grandparents.

"You and Nina would be sad if you didn't have any grandparents near you," I said. She wrinkled her nose and said, "No."

"Nina," I said, "You would, too, miss your grandmas & grandpas."

"Not even," she said quickly.

The eve of Auddie's birthday

As the sun went down last night, I took one last shot of Audrey as a 5 year old. It was a lovely thought - even if she'd just "done" her wet hair with multiple clips. And as I tucked her in to bed, she said, "It was a great year being 5, Mom."

Happy 6th Birthday Audrey!

Dr. Audrey

Audrey: Mom, I know how people toot. There's stuff inside them that turns around...and around...and then it bubbles up and it shoots out.

As if on cue, Nina yells from downstairs, "Mom! I have a bubble in my tummy!"

Audrey yells back, "Are you gonna toot?"

Sisterly love and patience

Audrey's been working hard on her reading. As we sat on her bed last night, she started to read a book aloud. Nina crawls on the bed, throws her head back and mutters, "Oh my god."

I gave her a double-glare. One for the comment and another for distracting Audrey so now it would take even loooonger to finish that page.