Isla's pretty excited to catch her parents' eyes these days, and once she does, it's hard to look away again!
Ever since Nana's visit, sun tea has been a regular around here. Now you might wonder how one makes sun tea when it's cloudy and rainy in England, but that didn't deter Nana and it doesn't slow Crystal down much either. So out the jar goes in all sorts of weather. It might have even have been hailed on yesterday! Today was an alternative downpour of warm sunshine and cloudy downpours, but it somehow managed to become tea nonetheless.
Of course, the English take their tea hot, with milk. Iced tea is an oddly American (and Southern American at that) delicacy and people around here are happy to leave it all for us.
Ellie seems to have gained a bit of English taste. She took a look at the jar and declared, "I don't like sun tea." Crystal decided to probe. "Why not, Ellie?" Always ready with an explanation, Ellie replied, "Well, I'm not from Texas am I?" Oh my, Ellie — don't tell Papa!
I suppose different strategies are used by parents for different kids. Some probably “win” by means of physical force—you know, picking the child up and taking them out of trouble—. Sometimes I suppose distractions or bribes are the answer. But with Ellie, it usually comes down to a battle of wits. And she can be quite a formidable challenge with her creative argumentation.
Apparently this morning, Crystal caught her putting her feet on the dining room table while sitting in her high-chair (a definite no-no).
“Ellie, please take your feet off the table.”
“Ohhhh....awwight....[thoughtful pause—looks down]....but there are crocodiles down there!”
“Oh really?”
Looks again..... “Yes...blue ones!”
Well, uhhhh, given the alternatives, I guess it’s ok to leave your feet on the table then.
