Girl-ladieship

While we were reading a book on the couch, George prepared his specialty---French toast.
George: Ok, ladies, everything is ready, please join us.
Gwen: Hmmm, I am a girl. But a girl is kind of a small lady, right? So I can eat toast as well. But daddy, next time ask a lady and a small lady to join, ok?

Where animals come from

From George
After watching Ratatouille, in an effort to put off the inevitable time she has to go to sleep:
Gwen: Papa, what are animals made of?
George: Much the same things that we are. Flesh, skin, bones, hair...
Gwen: No, I mean where do animals come from?
George: They grow from little animals, like people grow from little people.
Gwen: And where do little animals come from?
George: From their mother's belly. Every animal has a mother...
Gwen: And how do they get in their mother's belly?
George: That's complicated, I'll explain it later.
(Pause)
Gwen: Papa, I know where animals come from.
George: Really?
Gwen: Yes. First there are these little microbes. Then bigger, long microbes stick on to them. By sucking, like this. (Demonstrates sucking in air.)
George: And they stick together to make animals?
Gwen: Yes. The legs get made first.
George: Really? Who told you this?
Gwen: Yes. Let me remember what my grandfather told me. The legs get made first, then the stomach, then the back, the arms, the fingers, the palms... No, that's not right, these are animals, they don't have fingers. It must be the animal legs get made first, then the paws...
George: Oh. That makes the whole animal that way?
Gwen: Yes. And then after the animals die, they turn into people.

The perfect job

Gwenchik was trying to define what 'grown up' meant, and decided that if you work --- you are grown up.
Me: So what kind of profession do you see yourself interested in?
Gwen: One in which you can eat lots and lots and lots of candy!

How silly is silly

We have two of Gwenchik's uncles visiting us from Indiana. She is thrilled that they came to visit and overwhelmed with all the attention. They go for all day sessions at MIT and every morning Gwenchik's wants to know when they will have the reserved time
to play just with her.

This morning, we were going as usual to her MindLab class, and all of a sudden she wanted the uncles to leave earlier for MIT. So while driving to class, I asked why?

Gwen: Mom, they are really, really silly most of the time. They speak really fast and say only nonsense. Probably grown up nonsense, but I do not understand what is so funny most of the time.
Me: So do you what them to stay at MIT longer, because it seems like they are too grown up for you?
Gwen: Oh, no. They have to come and read me a story tonight and play with me. I just have to rest, get enough sleep and maybe you can read me a book in a way that actually make sense. Then I can just watch them being silly. It is really funny and I do not think they understand that they are silly, do you?
......
Later, on the way back continuing conversation.
Me: You know, you can probably tell them when they are being too silly and you do not understand them.
Gwen: I tried several times, but they keep talking about strange things and continue to be silly. Of course, I can tell them that I will not kiss them good night if they won't read they book like everyone else---but that is really not nice. So I just wait...

Asking for too much

We were driving back from our Saturday classes. On the way there we were listening to classical music and discussing anatomy: functions of the brain and the stomach. So on the way back, I wanted to listen to my last book on tape: "Harry Potter".
Me: Ok, let's listen to some Harry Potter for a bit.
Gwen: No, I want to know more about anatomy.
Me: But I can't really tell you more. Let's get a book from the library and we can look at the pictures and read more about it. But for now, I want something for my enjoyment.
Gwen: But I kiss you for your enjoyment all the time! Why do you need some Harry Potter?

Everybody wants to be a cat

From George.
Late in the evening.
Gwen: Papa, I want to be a cat.
George: Why is that?
Gwen: Because then I would never sleep.
George: Actually, cats sleep even more than people do, sixteen hours per day.
Gwen: I never see them sleeping.
George: Well, frankly, they try to find a place far away from you to go to sleep. They think it's safer that way.
Gwen: Oh. What animal never has to sleep?

Heir presumptive

From George.
As I was putting Gwen to bed, while she did not want to go:
Gwen: Papa, when will I will be the Queen?
George: What do you mean?
Gwen: The Queen, then I will be in charge of the world.
George: Well, I don't know. Not before you grow up certainly. Why do you want to be queen of the world?
Gwen: Because then I'll be able to make my own decisions.

Child's logic

We are trying to explain to Gwenchik that it is not nice to talk about someone in the third person while they are present. And she still has trouble sometimes with that. So we were driving in a car and talking and Gwenchik again wasn't addressing a person by their name.
Me: Gwenchik, who are you talking to?
Gwen: Her
Me: Who is her?
Gwen: I just don't get this. I know her name, she knows her name, and you do... so why can't you all understand who am I speaking to?

My angel...

Me: How do you manage to be such an Angel lately?
Gwen: I was born that way!

Sleep in

Ah, holidays. It was very relaxing... We got to stay home as a family for several days: play games and go on play dates, dress up the Christmas tree, wrap presents. We got our best present a bit ahead of schedule on Monday morning, when we got to sleep in till 9:30 (normally we are up at 7), as Gwenchik quietly crawled into our bed.
Gwen: Mom, I thought that you would want to sleep in, so I woke up, put on a CD with Russian fairy tales and just played with my dolls and colored this picture for you, while I listened to them. I looked at the clock and it was later than 9, but I wasn't sure. Is it time now to get up?

MIT fairy

We told Gwenchik that her uncle David, who lives in Indiana, has been accepted to MIT (Congratulations, David!)
Gwen: Does that mean that he will be in Boston now?
Me: Yes, he will actually live here, probably starting this fall
Gwen: So, he wouldn't need to fly on the plane every time to visit us, right?
Me: Right
Gwen: I need to make a nice card (she is into coloring lately) for that nice MIT fairy, that she will make so that Nathan and Seth will come stay as well.

Morning of the snowstorm

Gwenchik crawled into our bed on this snowy Sunday morning,
Gwen: Mom, why are you always so warm in bed?
Me: Because we sleep together with your Papa, and he is really warm
Gwen: Oh, and I sleep with the duck and sheep and many warm blankets.
.....
George got up and went downstairs.
George: Gwenchik, do you want to come down with me?
Gwen: No, no. Mom and I are girls, so we stick together..., at least for a minute (then she runs off after him)
.....
We were eating tuna sandwiches in bed and watching through the latest pictures of Gwenchik on my laptop.
Gwen: I want a snowstorm everyday
Me: Why?
Gwen: Because we get to make so many exceptions in bed: lay in, eat in and look at me being so pretty in pictures.

First snow

We got our real first snow yesterday.
Me: Look the snow is starting to fall
Gwen: Hmmm, I wish I could be on the other side of the earth.
Me: Why is that?
Gwen: Because over there, it is sunny and warm and I would get to go swimming with grandpa and eat ice-cream.

Definition of "grown up"

Today is our first, official snow emergency, so Gwenchik stayed home. At some point, after we exhausted all the puzzled and board games, she wanted to watch the movie Madeline.
Gwen: Mom, Madeline is small, but all grown up.
Me: How is that?
Gwen: She is small in size, but already managed to get into a lot of trouble all by herself--which makes her really grown up!

Queen-Mother

Yesterday, we were rehearsing a children's play 'Princess and the pea'. Gwenchik was the Queen. Today, while cleaning up with me, she saw an old sequenced dress that I had, and said,
Gwen: Mom, remember, that I am Queen-Mother and I really need an appropriate dress, not some Cinderella or Sleeping beauty one (we have these costumes, and more)
Me: Do you have something specific in mind?
Gwen: I think, that this dress looks just like the Queen-Mother.

So, after we dressed her, tied with ropes, as the dress is too long for her, she spent the next few hours regally walking through the house, every few minutes demanding that I announce to Papa that the Queen-Mother is coming.

Who makes the decisions

We were returning from a Russian language class, where Gwenchik performed brilliantly. Normally her grandmother takes her to these, but the teacher asked that I bring Gwenchik, as there seems to be trouble with her concentration.
So, as we come out of the class:
Me: I am so proud that you did so well.
Gwen: I was the best in the class today! I helped everyone read, as I read faster than anyone else.
Me: So then why did you have trouble last time?
Gwen: You know, if it is you or dad taking me to the class, and both of you are decision makers, I decided to listen to you and behave well and follow along in class.
Me: What about grandma?
Gwen: Hmmm, I make all the decisions for grandma, not the other way around, so why do I need to behave well?

I love you like...

Gwen: I love you like bread!
Me: ?
Gwen: Oh, I love bread so much, warm, buttery and I can eat, and eat, and eat it

Wishing on a cranberry

During the Thanksgiving dinner I was trying to make up a story so that kids would it something other than just sweets. So, I made up a story about a magic cranberry in the stuffing, so whoever finds it might get a wish granted.
Fedya: I already told all my wishes to Santa, so I do not need a magic cranberry, just to wait till New Year.
Nastya: I want to make the same wish as Gwenchik plus a dress
Gwen: I am not sure if it would work, but my wish is that mom would have to listen to me not the other way around. I want to make all the decisions around here.

Find a prince

We were driving to a friends house this weekend and picked up a friend of mine, a single mother of one of Gwenchik's girlfriends on the way.
Gwen: Where is Lina?
Stacey: She is with Daddy this weekend.
Gwen: Why doesn't Daddy live with you?
Stacey: Oh, we had a fight, you know just like you have sometimes with your friends.
Gwen: Yes, then make up and still play together.
Stacey: Yes, but we moved far away and now he has found another princess.
Gwen: Oh, so you need to find a prince as well. You should put on a ball gown, go to the ball and tell everyone that you are looking for a prince!
....

Funny, as Stacey was going to a party later that evening :)

Candy Monster

Gwenchik came home from preK.
Gwen: Can I have a candy?
Me: Do you know the answer to that question?
Gwen: yes, I know that the answer is NO, but I am very convincing at compromising, right? And I really want a candy, so I was sure that I can easily persuade you...