First Day of School

Today was the first day of what I hope will be a very long and erudite academic career for Margaux. I am the one to take her to school, and as you can imagine I was a little apprehensive about how it was all going to go down. School starts at 9:00, and I teach several blocks away at 10:30. I had visions of a shrieking child whom a teacher would have to physically pry off my body so I could tearfully make my way to the car. I even left off the mascara this morning in preparation. Here’s what happened.
As we pulled up to her school, dozens of parents and children were gathered outside the building because no one (and they are serious about this) is admitted before 9:00. I carried her into the crowd thinking she would be uncertain of all the new people in this strange new place. She wanted “DOWN” immediately, and when I complied, she started going around saying hi to everyone and everything (including the flowers and rocks, so people probably think she's a little off in the head). When we went inside, she just headed for the toys and never looked back. Other children where crying, but she just looked at them like, “Can’t you see all this cool stuff to play with?” I suppose I'm a little offended, but oh well, I'll get over it.

Someone show this to Faye!

My mom and I have discussed recently how Margaux has not come up with a name for Grandma Faye. Margaux calls her grandfather Mike "Pop" and grandfather Lolan "Kaw-paw," and called her late grandmother Betty "B." But grandma Faye remained nameless. But no more! As you can see, Margaux has finally settled on what to call grandma Faye.

Priorities

Last week, Margaux and I went to Braum's (regional ice-cream/burger place) to have a malt. While there, I got a gallon of milk. At the checkout line, Margaux surprised the cashier by snatching my wallet from me, pulling out a $20 and saying "money!" As we walked out, I had Margaux (still clutching a dollar bill) in one arm, the milk in the other. Transcript of our conversation follows:

Margaux (looking at gallon of milk): "Milk!"
Dad: "That's right."
Margaux (looking at dollar bill): "Money!"
Dad: "That's right. Which do you like better, milk or money?"
Margaux (long pause): "Money!"

This is her, digging through my wallet: