BODY LANGUAGE

Ellery was dancing and wiggling as she asked me a question.

"Do you need to go to the bathroom?" I asked.

"No," she replied.

"Then why are you standing like that?" I wondered.

"This is just my happy stand," was the answer.

YOU ARE WHEN YOU EAT

Ellery: I'm never going to eat after an ape.

Monica: Why not?

Ellery: I DON'T KNOW!! Maybe it will be a trap?

CHRISTMAS EDITION

While riding in the car playing Christmas trivia:

Mom: What did the three wise men bring as a gift for Jesus?

Ellery: A pony!

While jumping on Mom and Dad's bed after opening her stocking:

"This is the best Christmas ever!"

After returning home on Christmas day:

Ellery: This is going to change my life forever!

Mom: What?

Ellery: This! (patting the Dora hopping ball that Corin and Josh gave her) Forever.

While cuddling on the couch with Mom:

Mom: Will you sit on my lap?

Ellery: Why?

Mom: Because I'm cold.

Ellery: (in a longsuffering tone) Okay. Just this once.

Driving to Thanksgiving Dinner we suddenly hear an outburst of triumphant and diabolical laughter coming from the back seat, "HA HA HA HA HA!"

"What?" I asked Ellery.

"Oh nothing," she answered mysteriously.

NOT YOU, CONTINUED

Ellery: What letter do you like best?

Mom: I like them all.

Ellery: In all the world, what is your favorite?

Mom: Well, in the Russian alphabet, there's a letter that sounds like "shch."

Ellery: What is the name of that letter?

Mom: I don't know.

Ellery: Maybe Valnat?

NOT YOU

In the car:

Ellery: I love you.

Mom: I love you too!

Ellery: No, I meant the letter U.

THE JACKET ALWAYS COMPLETES THE OUTFIT

Ellery was getting dressed for school. She had on a light pink shirt, light pink pants, pink socks and boots and a pink bow in her hair. We were debating about the sweater. I couldn't find the dark pink sweater that would match the dark pink boots. I found a brown sweater and then a pink and brown sweat jacket.

She had on the sweat jacket when she spied the fuzzy pink coat. "I'll wear that!" she exclaimed happily. As she discarded the inferior jacket, she muttered to it under her breath, "Goodbye, loser!"