When asked to dictate a post for my blog, in honor of her birthday, this is what Ava said:

Ava: Wait. Uh…How ’bout ‘Hi Nana. I hope you’re having a good time. I’m having a good time, too. It’s my birthday. I’m in Idaho right now. I went on a date. I got chocolate milk with Daddy. I’m really missing you, Nana. I want to go to gymnastics for my party. I’m going to have really fun. I’m going to have cake and ice cream. I’m sorry you can’t come, Nana.’ Love, Ava.

When told this wasn’t a letter to Nana, but a post for my blog:

Ava: Other people can read it too, but it’s doesn’t have the word Nana or Carla or anyone else in our family. Ha HA (upon finding a fan) la li la li la. Sorry. Mama, um I was thinking, can I play with Reed? I was playing. Juliet made a fort on her bed and she let me play in it. I’m not having accidents or anything that little girls do. They suck their thumbs and everything that big girls don’t do. Yankee Doodle went to town, riding on a pony… (Juliet interrupts) You’re ruining Yankee Doodle. Can I type? How do you spell ‘hi nana?’ Wait (she types) HINANA

Juliet: I want to make up a song of Yankee Doodle. Yankee Doodle went to town riding on a horse. Found a feather and he said, “Weirdo weirdo dorse. Stuck it in on his horse, said a weird name. One, Two, Three, Four, Five, ugly and the same. That’s a funny one.

(Girls start singing Yankee Doodle together.)

Ava: Can I write a song? (To the tune of Yankee Doodle) Ava was a pretty girl, and very ni-ice. Most of the time she did what she was supposed to do, and very ni-ice. That was all about me! I got a joke. Knock knock. (Who’s there?) Impatient Duck. (Impatient duck wh) QUACK QUACK QUACK QUACK! Heeee That was funny. Love, Ava.

Juliet: Knock knock. (Who’s there?) Boo hoo hoo (Boo hoo whoo) TRY NOT TO CRY!

Me: What were you two playing again? Why don’t you go play some more?

Juliet: Hmmph I want to be funny for your blog.

Ava: Me too!

Me: Who wants to watch a movie?

Ava and Juliet: MEEEEEEE!

Me: Sweet relief.

So my baby turns five today. Five. She’s so very different from the other two when they were five, and from other children that we know who are five, we just sit back in wonder of the outrageous things that come out of her mouth.

It’s easy to forget how authoritative and forceful children are when they are five. Especially little girls who are quite convinced that when something is true (the lady lost all her teeth except for one) then it is obviously okay to declare to the world. Obviously. So happy birthday to my eccentric chatterbox, the one who makes life the most interesting.