"Are you a boy or a girl?"

Today, Claire and I were at Winco, where you bag your own groceries.  As I was busy throwing a basket full of yummies on the little conveyor belt, Claire was contemplating the gender of our cashier.

"Are you a boy or a girl?"

Oh no, did she just say that out loud.

"I said are you a boy or a girl?"

Maybe I can head this off at the pass... "Claire, she's a girl.  See her pony tail and her pretty earrings."

I can see her thinking while I am busy tossing the last of the produce on the belt. "Am I a boy or a girl?"

"You are a girl, sweetie."

"Are you a boy or a girl?"

"I am a girl, too."  I am glad she is asking about me and her, maybe it will seem like she is unsure of gender identity in general.  She's just a little kid, asking a basic question.  Except, she knows the difference between boys and girls... and has for some time.

Then the lady says "I can see her talking to me, but I can't really hear her."

Oh no.  Am I supposed to say the exact thing I was hoping we could just let drop. Maybe I could just make a politically correct summarization?

I tell the nice lady that Claire's asking if we are girls or boys.  "Oh, I'm a grandma."   Good answer, as I am quickly changing gears to repack the shopping cart I just emptied.

Normally, I enjoy this part.  I've always loved Tetris and feel like I can actually use it when I fill paper bags with boxes of cereal, crackers, cake mix and jello. I am even up to the challenge of tuna fish, tortillas and frozen pizza bites.  And it's a race against the person in the other lane... even if they bought less stuff.

As I start to fill my first bag, Claire says "Then why does she have a mustache?"

I wanted to stop right there and laugh out loud!  I understood the whole conversation a little better, now. And I wanted to laugh.  I was tired and Claire was being observant, making "connections" in her little brain.

I chose the easy answer - "Shush, I'll tell you in the van."  But she never brought it back up.

As I was telling Darren about our trip this evening, she piped up and said, "Well, she did have a mustache."

Maybe she did... I must have missed it.

Getting Around Levi

A family friend offered Emily and Becca a chance to meet her horse, Levi.  It took about an hour to get there, so I had lots of time to go over the "mom rules" with them.

#1. DO NOT EVER walk behind the horse.  They are large, strong animals and will kick you. Hard.

#2.  Again, do not walk BEHIND the horse.  I don't want you getting kicked.  Walk around the front

 if you need to get to the other side. 

#3.  Remember to use a soft voice, 

so we don't spook the horses. 

#4.  Walk in front of the horse, NOT BEHIND... 

or you will get kicked. 

Before we could meet Levi, we got to muck out his stall.  

The girls were so excited to wear boots and use a manure fork!  

While Mrs. Debbie went to get some wood chips, the sisters waited patiently for her return.  

 It's hard for these sisters to stop dancing even when they aren't excited...

But we finally got to meet Levi.  Mrs. Debbie showed us how to brush him, she showed us how to clean out his hooves and she taught us to keep our hands on him and talk to him,

 even when we walk behind him.  

What?  Did she just tell my little 8 year olds they could walk behind this huge animal!  "Keep your hand or your arm on him, so he knows where you are.  Talk to him, so he knows where you are.  Stay close to him, in case he kicks it won't hurt as bad... as if you were farther away." 

NO!  No she didn't just tell them to do the exact opposite of my years of watching television horses had taught me.  You NEVER walk BEHIND the horse.  And here was Mrs. Debbie, so patient and kind with the girls. Answering all their questions.  Telling them what she was doing and why.... and she broke the only rule I knew!!!!

I kept my mouth shut.  Obviously, I didn't know as much about horses as Mrs. Debbie and I trust she knows what she's talking about.  So I kept quiet and wanted to walk in front of the horse to get around... but the way he was tied - I couldn't.  

Unbeknownst to the girls, I made a pact with God.  Do not let this horse kick me and I'll honor Debbie's directions.  Fair enough?

So I kept my forearm on Levi's side and bravely walked towards the back end.  Then another question popped into my mind.  How much bottom contact was I to have?  Did I have to slide my hand across the whole thing (like I was innocently doing on his side) including the "business" part or could I just touch one cheek and then the other?  Remember, I have always stayed far away from the aft end of a horse... we'll especially when the horse is on TV.  They don't usually do close ups from that end. 

It worked.  All my bones and internal organs stayed in tact.  Levi did not kick me. Yeah, now we can ride!

As the girls used a stool to saddle up, I was so happy for them.  The only thing an 8-yr-old girl would have loved better was if this horse had sprouted wings and flown them to a unicorns field in the sky.

Becca and Mrs. Debbie

Emily's turn

Even mom had a turn.  A short turn.  As I used the stool, I realized how tall Levi was.  As soon as I got on, I was sure the saddle was slipping to the left and I was about to be hanging upside down - like in the cartoons, on TV.  Mine was a short turn.  

Then we headed back to the stable to take off the saddle and brush Levi some more. There was even talk of braiding his mane and tail... wait his tail.  Like the tail that is BEHIND him? 

 Surely that means you take the tail and pull it to the side and braid it.  Surely that does not mean stand behind the horse (without a hand on his bottom) and pull his tail... I mean brush and braid his tail.  Surely the only rule I knew must be enforced with tail braiding.  

Nope.  

Emily brushed, braided, then unbraided, brushed and braided again.  Look how brave she is.  Doesn't even know she's in danger.  I am so proud of her.  But I did not braid the tail.... 

um, Becca needed my help up at the mane.

Thanks Mrs. Debbie - We had a great time with you and Levi.

Guess what the girls want for Christmas...

  

The Tooth Fairy Rides Again

The Tooth Fairy has had a long and successful career at our house.   And now she can add another client to her payroll...

Of course, a visit from T.F. is not the only thing that happens when you loose a tooth...

The entire family is treated to Frosty's!!!!  

Kindergarten, getting to sleep on the top bunk, loosing teeth... 

our little Manda is growing up.