Elmer's, Fishy and a Monkey, too

We took a trip to Target on Saturday to get some diapers, Halloween candy, a hand soap refill, and a second paintbrush for Vi to share with Dylan on Tuesdays. This was Vi's first planned diaper-free outing.

We found the diapers easily, then went on a hunt for the hand soap we like. Vi was walking in front of the cart, practically shouting "Where ARE you, soap? Where ARE you?" The people behind us were either laughing with me or at me - I'm not sure.

Even with very limited exposure to candy, Vi was right on top of this part of shopping. Grabbing Mike & Ikes, Junior Mints and Nerds. We peeked at the costumes for a minute, but she really wasn't into it. I was still, at this point in the weekend, thinking that Vi didn't "get" Halloween and we wouldn't be doing much in the way of dress-up.

Arts & Crafts. I found the paint brushes, Vi grabbed tempera paint and tried to hoist it into the cart, and I picked out a jumbo pack of construction paper. This is one of those aisles in the store where I can really go wild and have to tame myself. Next, Vi was holding some Elmer's glue, saying, "Wanna make a school bus?" Hours of shapes and glueing and painting and drawing were dancing in my mind, so of COURSE I wanted to make a school bus. We now have a whole bin of arts & crafts STUFF which is keeping Vi so entertained and engaged (and away from the TV.) Those $15 have really revolutionized our evenings. (Duh, Lindsay, DUH. Going back to the basics is usually the answer...)

Also on Saturday we drove up to Bath with Granddaddy to visit the YMCA where he works out. Anyone who knows my dad knows that he keeps diligent records of his workouts, tallying cumulative pounds for each session. "I did about 47,000 pounds today." The Y has a pool with family swim time, and Dad had 2 free guest passes. Vi starts swimming lessons with Mumsy on the 31st, and had never been in a pool before. So, off we went to introduce Vi to chorine, echos, and floating. Was I nervous? Yes. Was she? Apparently NOT.

Vi took to the water like she had been in a pool every day of her life. We got there just as a swimming class was ending, and all of the kids were climbing out of the pool, taking off back-pack floatation devices. Vi walked right over to the basket and grabbed one, and tried to put it on herself. We walked into the pool, down the stairs, and started swimming. She wanted to jump into the water, to blow bubbles in the water, to go under completely, to kick, to paddle, and, most impressively, to swim by her "shelsh." (I manna sim my myshelsh!!) We had a blast, and she is so excited to go back to the pool again soon. We are lucky to live across the street from the community pool in our town, so we can drop into family swim once in a while.

Sunday evening, as I was putting her to bed and talking about the day, I started to talk about Halloween. I don't want to get all the way to this Saturday and find out that she "gets it," and be totally unprepared, so I figured I would start explaining to her what her buddies at school might already be talking about. I told her she could dress up if she wanted, and she could be a clown, a kitty-ca--"I MANNA BE A MONKEY," she interrupted me to say.

"A monkey?" I ask, smiling at the way her personality is shining through in this sweet moment.

Nodding, she says, "Yeah, a monkey. Oo-oo, ah-ah. And you be a bee, and Daddy be a horse. No, Daddy a bee, and you a monkey."

"I'm a monk--" I start.

"NO! I a monkey first," she explains.

"Can I be a mommy monkey, and you be my baby monkey? And, I'll carry you on my back through the jungle?"

"Uh-huh. Oo-oo, ah-ah." And then she pointed at her bed, ready for sleep.

I immediately get on craigslist and facebook, looking for a monkey to borrow or a cheap monkey to buy. My sister's facebook status, within minutes, is asking her friends the same question: anyone have a 3T monkey costume to lend? And, by morning, her friend (well, my friend, too!) has one on its way to us.

When Vi woke up, I asked her to tell Dan what she wants to be for Halloween. She said, "An elephant."

Of course. An elephant.

Don't worry - by bedtime last night, when I asked her again, she was back to the monkey. Oo-oo, ah-ah.