Being a kid is hard.

That's right. Being a kid is hard. You hardly ever get to do what you want to do. There is always some sort of change going on that you can't control. You can't eat strawberries for every meal. You can't play with mommy and daddy's things. You can't read your own books-you have to wait for the rotten adults to finish doing what they are doing to enjoy a good book. You have to sit in a car seat. You can't sit outside and blow bubbles all day. You have to go to bed at 8. You have to wear shoes. And there is a LOT of confusing stuff that you have to learn.

The story of Christmas

Me: (reading a story about Baby Jesus) This is Baby Jesus in a manger.

Stella: Manger? What's a manger?

M: A place where they put hay for the animals, but Baby Jesus didn't have a baby bed, so they put Him in there for the night.

S: Why didn't he have a baby bed?

M: Well, they didn't have room in any of the inns...

S: Inns?

M: Kind of like hotels, or places where people stay when they are travelling...Anyway, he is here in this picture with his mommy and daddy, Mary and Joseph. Well, not exactly his real daddy, but his daddy on earth.

S: (look of confusion) Who is his real daddy?

M: God.

S: Oh...who are those guys? (pointing at the Three Wise Men)

M: They are some guys who came to his birthday party and brought presents. This is why we celebrate Christmas-it's his birthday.

S: Where's Santa?

M: Santa wasn't around back then. He's kind of a newer thing as far as Christmas goes. He doesn't really have anything to do with Jesus.

This brings me to the Santa discussion and how ridiculous it sounds when you try to explain it. I wanted her to know who Santa is so she doesn't look like a weirdo when he comes to her school next week and she says "Who's this guy?"

M: Do you know who Santa Claus is?"

S: Who?

M: That's what I thought. Santa is a man who lives at the North Pole-like in Diego's Arctic Adventure-and he lives with a bunch of elves-little people-who help him build toys. If you are a good girl all year, you can write a letter or tell him when he comes to your school about what you would like for Christmas. Then, on Christmas Eve-the night before Christmas-he flies through the air in a sleigh-a sled type automobile-that is pulled by reindeer. He comes into your house and eats cookies-that we leave out for him-and leaves the presents under the tree. Anyway, he is coming to your school next week and you will tell him what kinds of toys you would like for Christmas.

S: (look of wide eyed wonder and confusion)

M: Got it?

S: Yeah...I got it. The deers fly?

M: Yep.

S: Oh. Okay. Do you want to make some cookies for him?

M: Sure.

Life is so much easier at this age-Sophia is pondering grass while Stella is trying to figure out the meaning of Christmas with all of the crazy stories that are flooding her poor little brain. Notice the bruise on her forehead? I guess she has a lot going on as well-she is learning to crawl and that the wood floor is pretty hard when you lunge forward and forget to move your arms. I guess life is just tough at any age.