Miss Sassafras...

 There are days when I can hardly control my joy over my daughter.

Truthfully, she's a hoot.

We are only half way through the day and I've spent most of it trying to conceal my giggles.

This morning, we stayed in so momma could do some chores.  The kids play together so well in the mornings.  Maybe they missed each other at night.  

Or maybe they're simply well rested.

Probably option two.

So today, like every day over the past four, they wanted to change into their swimsuits as soon as possible.  Crazy kids.  Most adults would rather stand on one foot for 12 hours than spend all day in their swimsuit.  And if we could do that one legged stand in our comfiest and stretchiest sweat pants, all the better.

After about an hour of some good, solid, cordial playtime, Aubrey Kate came into the living room, arms crossed, head bent, bottom lip out.

I was cleaning the kitchen.  

Me:  Baby girl, what's wrong?

AK:  Nothing.

Me.  (sitting next to her on the couch)  Aubrey Kate, tell me the truth.  It's okay.

AK:  (hand in the air) Let's just be clear, Rhys was NOT being nice to me.

Me:  (smiling and brushing her hair behind her ears) Okay, we're clear, what did Rhys do.

AK:  (un-tucking her hair from behind her ear) Well, first, he said he didn't want to play with me.  And next he said he wouldn't share.

Now, I so wanted to hear every bit of the atrocities committed by her little brother, but I was finding it difficult to focus.  What with her hand in the air, legs crossed and her clear rebellion against hair splashed across her face.  

Oh, I wish there was a video of her talking!  

What I find most days is Aubrey Kate simply wants to be heard.  It's sometimes hard to sit down and listen to every single complaint and argument.  There's not enough time in the day.  But when I can, I sit right with her.  Let her tell her story.  Acknowledge her frustrations or hurts, as much as they are for five years old.  

And, yes, frequently, I brush the hair behind her ear.  

Because I can't stand it all in her face.  How does she deal with that?  For real!

So if I can make the time (or really, convince myself I much make the time), assure her I see her, understand her, love her, then her hurts heal quickly and our day is even more joyful.

For example, getting in the car.  Which is often times an opportunity to battle.  But today, when Rhys got all pushy and, well, Rhys-like, instead of doing her usual best to control him with screeching, RRRHHHHYYYYSSSSS, (completely ineffective, by the way) she let him get in first and simply said...

"It's okay, Momma!  I can go to the other side and get in over there!"

And then we sang 18 rounds of Old McDonald in the car.

Does anyone know the sound a mouse makes?  I feel certain there ARE mice on a farm but not at all certain what sound they make.

We went with, "Meep, meep, meep, meep."

Aubrey Kate even threw a "Bull" into the farm.  I'm also sure there are bulls on farms but I'm blaming Texas for her actually knowing that.  

Watch out, Texas.  This momma's on to you.

These are the moments, the traits, the parts of our days I don't want to forget.  Because one day, she won't want me to get close enough to brush the hair behind her ears.  And she won't want me to affirm her or tell her what a good big sister she is.  

Of course, I won't care whether she wants me to or not.  As long as I am her momma, I'm gonna do all I can to make sure she knows she is seen, she is adored and that her hair stays out of her face.