MAY I BE EXCUSED?

After eating dinner at IHOP, Ellery announced, "I'd like to refresh myself in the Women's Room."

LITTLE EVANGELIST

"Ellie doesn't believe in God," Ellery reported sadly.

"Oh, that's too bad," I replied, "Maybe nobody has ever taught her about God."

"We tried and tried to tell her but it didn't work!" she said.

"What did you say?" I asked curiously.

"We said, 'Why do you think we celebrate Christmas, then?'"

PAIN AND DELIGHT

We were going to stop by Jason and Liz's house. "Oh, good! Maybe Jason will play with us!" Ellery said, excitedly.

"I bet he will--he's a good player," I agreed.

"It's always so fun to play with Jason," Ellery commented, "and painful."

(Jason does play with the kids very wildly but they all love it so much.)

TEMPERATURE CONTROL

We were driving in the car and I turned off the heat. "Do you wonder why it's so warm in here?" Ellery asked with a little mischief in her voice.

"Did you turn on your heat?" I asked, referring to the control in the middle seat.

"Yes, but not today. It was the day we went to Andy's parents' house for Fourth of July." (eight months earlier) "'Cause I was so cold."

"Would you rather be too hot or too cold?" I asked her.

"You call it hot but I call it WARM," was her reply.

WHAT GREG SAYS

"In 32 years, it will be the future," Greg said confidently. "My dad said so."

GOTTA GET READY

I was sitting on the couch and Ellery was walking by on her way to the bathroom. She suddenly stopped and did an odd caper while spouting nonsense syllables. She resumed her normal walking and explained, "I was just practicing being silly for when Joey is born."