Kind of how I think I probably acted when I hit adolescence.  But not how I acted at 8!  Then again, it’s possible my selective memory is in overdrive.  I suppose I also might have been a horror at 8.  

For example, I asked her an innocent question tonight at dinner and she barked at me and made ugly faces.  I wasn’t even criticizing her (which I am admittedly apt to do).  If I weren’t a peace-loving person, I would have been tempted to flex my muscles.  Instead I chose to ignore her and glare at her. Mature, I know.  But sometimes reverting to 8-year old behavior works wonders.

I find myself wondering – on a more frequent basis – what Chloe will be like in a few years.  Will she be a generally good, confident, trouble-free kid?  Will she be less hard on herself when she’s better able to keep things in perspective?  Or will she remain intense and self-critical?  I see so much of myself in her – many of the good things, but also some of the traits I wish I didn’t possess.  I guess only time will tell.

In the meantime, she and Sophie were battling to see who could annoy the other one the fastest.  Sophie, on one side, chanting “I win! I win!” over and over again, to an increasingly frustrated Chloe, who wanted nothing more than to shut her little sister up.  After failing to silence Sophie with physical antics, Chloe got smart.  And started chanting back, “You’re annoying!  You’re annoying!”  For a solid 5 minutes, the two of them performed a cacophonous

symphony.  Until they got bored with each other.  The joy of youth.

Chloe’s most recent brainteaser:

You’re stuck in a room with no windows and no doors.  All you have is a bat and a mirror.  How do you get out of the room?  

(Think hard.  This is a tough one.  It’s not for the weak of mind.)

(Had enough?  Stumped?)  

Answer:  Use the bat to break the mirror in half.  Because two halves make a “(w)hole.”

She’s been recounting it to everyone she meets.  So far, no one has been able to come up with the right answer.  

Sophie was willing to model for us after Chloe, her dear sister, served dessert tonight.  Chloe’s own chocolate-covered marshmallow super duper recipe.

The treat converted Sophie from a tired, cranky 3-year old into a charming, happy 3-year old covered in chocolate.  Sometimes the big sister knows just what to do to put a smile on her little sister’s face.  Or in this case, she knows just what to do to put a Frankenstein grimace on her little sister’s face.  Either way, it worked for me.  Good start to the weekend, as far as I’m concerned.

It was another one of those days at work when I started to count the days until our vacation.  I actually considered starting counting down the minutes, but I thought that would reek of desperation.

Chloe are I are sitting in our new den with our new TV catching our weekly dose of “Survivor.”  Chloe was very upset last week and the week before last because the show was preempted by March Madness basketball stuff, which we have absolutely no interest in.

But we’re now back to our regular programming.  And Chloe demonstrated her secret recipe for chocolate-covered marshmallows.  With the help of a touch of hot water, she melts a square of chocolate and dips the marshmallow.  She then proceeds to take all the extra chocolate and smear it all over her face, with the emphasis on her nose.  That’s really why she wanted to demonstrate her recipe – not so much for the yumminess of it, but for the messiness of it.  I’m sorry I didn’t take a photo when I had the chance.

The joys of youth…

(1) Use foul language

consecutive warm days is a sure sign that spring is finally settling in.  

Chloe and a friend went to the playground, where she rode her bike and he rode his scooter.  They also frolicked in the backyard, with Sophie close on their heels – she loves it when  Chloe has friends over to play.

I went to get a manicure and the place was packed.  Another sure sign that the warmer weather is just about here to stay.  The change in the weather puts me in a much better mood.  That, and the fact that we’re only three weeks away from Disney…

We’ve started to talk about camp for Chloe – we need to decide what she’s going to do this summer.  It will be a mish-mosh of activities for her – along with time spent at the swim club.  It’s hard to think so far ahead, but we don’t want to miss the boat on getting her enrolled.  Having her home for the summer would be disastrous.  For everyone.

Chloe received her report card yesterday.  Stellar, as usual.  And Chloe is also teaching Sophie some of her letters.  Which is great, because until recently, Sophie didn’t want to practice writing them.  But thanks to Chloe, now she doesn’t mind.  She was doing her “homework” coloring page today, and eagerly started drawing the letter “b” all by herself.  I used to have to help her to write, and the fact that she now wants to do it on her own is likely due to Chloe’s encouragement.