A TENDER MOMENT

Ellery and Mom were walking to the car from the Y with Emily and Jack. Ellery stumbled and fell and Emily carried her the rest of the way to the car. While she was snuggled in her big sister's arms, Ellery declared, "Emily, I love you more than unicorns! But I really love unicorns."

Emily was left wondering whether Ellery was emphasizing how much she loved Emily or if she was having second thoughts and wanted to assert her loyalty to unicorns.

ADD A LITTLE DRAMA

Ellery called out from the the bathroom in a conversational tone, "My tummy hurts." Then as an afterthought, "The pain! The pain!"

(She was fine and happy when I went in to check.)

REMINISCING

In Ellery's Bedroom

Ellery: When I was three did I sleep in a little bed?

Mom: Yes. You had a toddler bed.

Ellery: What kind of blankets did I have?

Mom: I think you had the same green one you have now, but different sheets.

Ellery: Did I have a pink blanket?

Mom: Yes, you did.

Ellery: (very quietly to herself) Those were the happiest days of my life.

FACE THE MUSIC

We went to the zoo last week. We picked up Emily, Jack and Elu first. As we walked up to Emily's apartment building, I was imagining the pleasant day to come but Ellery paused briefly at the foot of the stairs, and with the air of a condemned prisoner taking that long last walk said, "Well, this is it." She squared her shoulders and walked on.

BAD TRAIN

Ellery got a new train set and she spent a long time playing with it. I found one lonely train car tucked away in a box while the others all went round and round the track. I said, "What about this one?"

Ellery replied scornfully, "That's a mean one. It takes people's wifes."

Then she put it back in the box.

FAVORS

While driving to Costco

Ellery: Mom, please you do two things for me?

Monica: What are the two things?

Ellery: When we get home, please I watch my show and please I have meat?

AFFECTION

While sitting side by side at the computer

Monica: I sure love you.

Ellery: I sure love my stool.