I spent Thursday with Kaiya and Mylee. Here are three grown-up things that came out of 5-year-old Kaiya’s mouth that day that made me smile….

First, I agreed to take Kaiya to her gymnastics class that evening and drop the two girls back at home afterwards. I had never been to her class, so her mom was trying to explain to me how to get there. Our conversation went something like this:

“It’s just off of University. Drive past Arapahoe and then turn into the parking lot.”

“Which direction are you driving down University?”

“Drive north. It’s on the other side of Arapahoe.”

“The other side coming from your house or my house?”

Finally, Kaiya could take no more.

“Why don’t you just use your smart phone?” she asked, somewhat wearily.

Second, as we were driving to the zoo, I asked both girls what they want for their upcoming birthdays. Kaiya said she wants mermaid fins.

“Mermaid fins?” I said. “Where did you see them?”

“On YouTube,” she answered.

“Where can I buy them?” I asked.

“You don’t buy them, Nana,” she said. “You register, and then six lucky children win free mermaid fins.” I swear she sounded just like a commercial announcer.

Finally, after a morning at the zoo, we were trudging back towards the entrance. It was hot and we were tired and hungry. As we walked by Monkey Island, there was a big bird standing in the water.

“Look,” I said authoritatively. “A stork!”

Kaiya was quiet for a few moments. Then she said, without a trace of sarcasm, “Hmmm, it looks like a pelican to me.”

Pelican

Stork

Of course, it was. And I’m the grown-up. But they look alike! Am I wrong?

By the way, Mylee ate four (that is not a typo) hot dogs for lunch. I will be entering her in a hot dog eating contest shortly.

Have a great weekend.