Sketcher

A new skill that Skyla must have learned at school is sketching. She'll get her notepad out and draw a picture or just list the things that she sees. She's just observing the world around her. She sat on David's lap and sketched Yoda. She came in from playing outside and gave me a list of what she had observed Karsten doing. The list said, "hitting, playing, jumping, waving stick, crying, playing in water, teasing Aspen." Another day her list for Sierra said "standing, playing with Aspen, holding a broom, talking, sweeping" and she drew a picture of Sierra sweeping. She got in trouble the other night and David sent her to her room. A few minutes later a note was pushed under our door saying, "Mom, come here now!" When I didn't come, a few minutes later another note appeared. This one said, "Mom come now!" It was accompanied with a note that said "I'm so sad." and a dozen frowny faces. This one was too much and David melted and went and talked to her.

If Skyla is the sketcher, Karsten is the questioner. Karsten has traded in asking "Why" to "What happens if..." He asks me this constantly, and no, it doesn't always make sense. And he always calls me Mama before asking the question even though he usually calls me Mom. Here are some examples:
"Hey mama, what happens if we didn't have doors?"
"Hey mama, what happens if we didn't eat food?"
"Hey mama, what happens if we didn't have trees?"
"Hey mama, what happens if our teeth fall out?"
"Hey mama, what happens if we didn't have blood?"

So if Skyla is the sketcher, and Karsten is the questioner, then Sierra has become the mother. I went up to my room to find a "chart" taped to my bedroom door. It's a chart for me to practise the piano and if I practise all week, I get a sticker. I hadn't done it for two days so then there was a little note written at the top, "Get back on track mom!" She is doing a great job mothering Aspen. She gives him baths, walks, and takes care of him just like a little mother. Because Aspen is not yet fully immunized she's not suppose to be around other dogs. If another dog approaches Sierra will always ask if they've been immunized before she lets Aspen go near.