Scarlett Jane is Five

Oh my sweet, precocious Scarlett Jane. Every day with her is just the most pleasant, although this year she discovered some attitude. Even so, I am (mostly) heartbroken that she has started full-day kindergarten. It was a difficult decision. Her birthday is right on the deadline and logistically I would rather her be the oldest in her class than the youngest, and I would rather we have an extra year with her at home, but man, we couldn't keep this chick away from school. I honestly cannot stimulate her mind enough, nor sooth her need for constant social interaction. She loves people. All of them. Everyone is equal and worthy of her time and conversation (a trait I believe she inherited from her Papou). She has a particular soft spot for grandmas. If you look like a grandma, she will sit right by you and talk your ear off. If we are waiting for a table at a restaurant, she would rather go talk to all the strangers than sit by us. And I mean ALL of them. That girl can make her way around a room. My favorite part about her is she knows she is cute and fun to talk to, but she isn't at all egocentric. She doesn't talk to people to make herself feel good, she genuinely thinks she is making friends and helping them to feel loved. She is extremely mindful of other people and their needs and feelings. Empathy is strong in that one. I cannot wait to see how she tailors her talents. She loves art. She spends hours coloring and cutting and pasting and creating. She is always singing to herself and making up songs, but she is also great at math and her memory is sharper than a razor. I love her so much it hurts.

Here are some funny things she has said or done in the last year:

The day she turned four, she got on YouTube and taught herself how to braid. No joke.

She can swim like a champion. It is so nice not having to worry about her at the pool.
(Don't worry, I still keep a close eye)

She showed me a dent in the wall that she made while she was raging during a time-out and said, "Yeah...I waited to show you that till it was morning and a nice day."

After hearing me talk about the plight of the refugees in Europe she said, "They can come to our house! We have a fridge and a pantry and a couch!"

After reaching for the iPad, she said "Oh no. It's only four bee-cent of charged."

I asked her a question and she answered no when I knew the answer was yes. I called her out on her lie and she yelled, "I don't know why I said no! I just losed my yeses!"

Every time she hears me cough she jumps up and gets me a drink.

Instructions = gretchens

Piano = Po-nan-o

Lower-case = roller coast

Foggy or blurry = gleary

Gigantic = gi-nack-it

Headache/tummy-ache = Head-egg/tummy-egg

Infinity = Fiziby

Recognize = rountanize

"Can I swirl on the pa-cuter?" (Can I scroll on the computer?)

I was teaching Scarlett Spanish numbers and for cuatro she says crotcho.

Scarlett asked how long it was going to take to get to the library and I said it would be five minutes and she said, "Oh we are so lucky. It takes those Mexico people a long time to get to our library." I have no idea where she heard about Mexico people. But yep.

After I got angry at her about something, I apologized and she said, "It's okay mom. Let's start over. But because of you because I was perfect today."

"I am totally sessed (obsessed) with Christmas. And Elsa."

Jordan: Do you remember what the water in the sacrament means?
Scarlett: No
J: Water is wet. What else is wet?
S: Eggs!
J: Do you remember why the bread represents his body?
S: Because it's squishy like my thumb?
J: Do you remember what promises we make when we take the sacrament?
S: That we will put our cup back.

As we watched the mail truck pass our house for the 10th day in a row, I let out an exasperated sigh and yelled, "The snow has been cleared around our mailbox for DAYS! Why are they still not delivering it??" Scarlett hugged me from behind and said, "It's okay, Mom. We will just go to the shop where they make the mail and get our own."

I was explaining to Scarlett that Mulan wasn't allowed to be in the army and that's why she had to pretend to be a boy, and she said, "But it's okay because she teached the mans that girls are strong enough and have good ideas." That's my oldest of three strong-enough, smart-enough girls right there.

Scarlett was sitting on the couch looking very forlorn. I asked her if she was okay and tears starting welling in her eyes. With genuine concern I sat by her and asked what was wrong.
"I am just feeling so so sad."
"Oh honey, why? What happened?"
She let out a huge sob and wailed, "I just realized that I will never be a baby again! I just want to roll around on the floor and be happy like a baby! I don't want to pick up my toys or be big anymore!"

"Mom. I made you a card for Mother's Day and it is going to make you cry with LOVE!"

After watching the Mormon Tabernacle Choir she said, "So some mans don't have hair, they just have...heads."

After apologizing for yelling at her (which I do too much), I asked for her forgiveness. She said, "Yes mom. I forgive you. Well, ashquee (actually), I mostly forgive you, but I ant-size not forgive you."

"Hey mom? How did you force dad to like you?"