Explanations, explanations

Every Monday and Wednesday, Denver and I hop in the car to take Amberlyn to preschool. We usually sing a song on the 4 minute drive. Amberlyn hops out of the car, school folder in tow, and runs up to knock on Mrs. T's door. The teacher opens the door, waves, and off we go to head home. As soon as we turn the corner, Denver always says, "Ah-mah-liiiinnnn, Ah-mah-liiinnnnn." Every time, I have to tell him that sister went to school, and we will go get her soon, when she's all done. We stop at the gas station for mommies wake-up juice, (Dr. Pepper, I always have a refill cup in the car) on our way home.

Today as we pulled in the driveway and got out of the car on this rather chilly morning, he had to run in the grass and stop to point out the "Bir-dee!" I tried to get him to come in the house, but he wanted to watch the bird. I told him we would go in the backyard and see if we could see it. He looked at me with a very wary look. "Is there really a bird in the back yard, or is it a trick to get me inside," I could hear him think. Too smart for his own good. I thought for a second. He has enjoyed the lizards on the back fence lately. "Denver, let's go see if we can see a lizard in the backyard!" That worked. (I really figured that when he got in the house, he would get distracted by something shiny.)

Off he ran to go see this proposed lizard. I opened the back door for him and told him to go play. He ran to the back fence and looked up. He called to me "Up dehr mommy, up dehr!" as he pointed to the top of the fence where the lizards usually hang out when it's warm. He wanted me to lift him up to see the non-existent lizard. (Remember, it was cold out.) I told him it was probably too chilly out for the lizards. They would come out when it warmed up. I put him down and he ran to the other fence on the side of the house, where the last lizard sighting had taken place. "Up dehr, up dehr!" again pointing to the top of the fence. I tried another explanation. "The lizards are sleeping. They are at home in there beds and will come back when it's warmer." Apparently still not good enough, as I set him down, and the fussing came. "Denver. The lizard is at work. Daddy went to work, and the lizard went to work. He will be back soon." That worked. He went to play on the swings.