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...

Parents know everything

From Volodya, father of Gwen's playmate Fedya.
While hiking in the forest, the kids ran off, climbed onto huge boulders, and Fedya almost fell off one. Volodya helped him down, and told Fedya off for not listening the first time.
Gwen: Fedya, you need to listen to mama and papa, because they know everything.
Fedya: Well, not everything... there are some things that they don't know about.
Gwen: Maybe not everything, but naughtiness and foolishness they know everything about.
Fedya agreed.

Bed sharing

We were planning to go to Cape Cod for the long weekend with several families. Gwenchik heard me counting people and number of bedrooms to see how we will all fit in the house.

Gwen: Oh, Kolya is coming. Where will he sleep?
Me: In the second floor bedroom, there are two beds, so you and Kolya will share a room.
Gwen: He can sleep in my bed, than Nika can sleep in the other one.
Me: No sweety, you and Kolya will sleep in separate beds, and Nika will sleep with her parents.
Gwen: Why? You and dad sleep together.
Me: Yes, because we are married.
Gwen: So I have to wait until I get married? What if Kolya moves to another city?

Missing grandparents

From a conversation with my parents, who are in Moscow right now.
Gwen: When are you coming back to visit again?
Parents: We have a lot of things to do here, so as soon as we are done, we'll come over.
Gwen: Why don't I come and help you quickly with all those things, then you'll be here much quicker. Should I come over now?

Trappings of princehood

From George:
We were driving to day care one morning, and I was telling Gwenchik a story about knights and king Arthur, when she interrupted.
Gwen: Did you know that Lesha has a sword? And a shield. Lesha is my prince.
George: Really?
Gwen: He also has armor. And a pirate hat. That is why he is my prince.
George: Doesn't Fedya also have a sword and a pirate hat?
Gwen: Yes, he does. But he is not my prince. He is my friend, but not my prince.
George: And what about Kolya and Shane? Do they have swords and armor?
Gwen: No, they don't. They can be the guards outside the walls of my castle.

Endless presents

Since we got so many presents for Gwenchik's birthday, we agreed that we store them upstairs and she get to pick one present a week. It turned out more like one present a day. SO this morning, she wanted to open another present and I cautioned her and soon there will not be any presents left....

Gwen: There are still several on the couch upstairs.
Me: Yes, but that is it.
Gwen: Not really. You forgot that soon we will have Halloween, and I would walk around with a huge bucket, and get so many candies and then we will pile them up with the rest of the presents and that should last me till the next holiday.

Adorable

Gwenchik is just adorable regular self lately. And her main concern is when will she see Kolya again. We met at a friend's house on Monday and she is still talking about him a week later :)

Leaf adventure

Gwenchik nowadays gets a lot of homework: from English preK and Russian classes, and by the time she gets home she is really too tired to do anything. So, mostly we try to do everything on the weekend. But the English homework is given during the week, so normally we have to scramble to do it.

The last assignment was to collect leaves in different shapes and color! Oh, what an adventure. We got our flashlights and warm jacket,s and went wondering the streets. Even though you can easily see most of the leaves because of the street lights, Gwenchik played detective, scowering the sidewalk, than pointing her little flash light:

Gwen: Mom, look at this one. We would have missed it if it was not for my magic light.

How I long for the times of my life that needed magic for everyday use.

Work and money

On the way to the doctor's office, we were discussing work.
Gwen: Does 'work' go home to her kids in the evenings?
Me: No, work is really a building, were many people do important things then get paid and go home...
Gwen: Do they get paid coins or paper money
Me: Paper money
Gwen: I do not like paper money, as it doesn't fit into my piggy bank.

Banana boat

From George
Gwenchik is very imaginative and creative. On the way to day care she got a banana, but wasn't interested in eating it.
Gwen: This is a boat. A boat that can sail through water and air.
George: How does it sail through air?
Gwenchik: I wave my magic wand, and the birds come from all around, and I tie the banana-boat to them and that is how is sails.

Wish to rule them all

We are trying to teach Gwenchik to keep her room clean and are considering introducing a point system. So, we were discussing it with Gwenchik this evening.
Me: If you keep you room clean, you'll accumulate points. And when you get enough points, we will make one of your wishes come true. A reasonable wish.
Gwen: Great! just for keeping my room clean, right?
Me: Yes.
Gwen: You when I get enough points, which will probably take a long time... but then I will get my wish
Me: What do you think you first wish would be?
Gwen: That I make decisions for a day. That way, I will get many, many wishes!

Duck-Rabbit

Gwenchik normally sleeps with her favorite Duck. Tonight, while crawling into bed and goofing around,
Gwen: Where is my Rabbit?
Me: You do not have a Rabbit
Gwen: Of course I do, it is my Duck
Me: Why would you call you Duck a Rabbit?
Gwen: Well, you call me Rabbit (Zaychik in Russian) all the time, and I am really not a rabbit, right? So I call my Duck a Rabbit too...

Birthday party

We had an absolutely wonderful birthday party, as the weather cooperated, almost all the kids showed up (24!) and our castle and dragon withstood the wind and the lashings from the toy swords. We got to find the magic key, looked for gold coins and begged the pirate to spill his secrets.
.....
This morning she had a princess ring on each of her fingers (with lip gloss) and requested to take a cake to the day care.
Gwen: Mom, I am four! So now I can wear all my jewelry at once.
Me: It is ok, but remember, that you have to share.
Gwen: I am bringing a cake so that they can all celebrate my birthday. It would be again so much fun, even without the presents! They get the cake, they do not need my rings, right?

One and only

Gwenchik wakes up this morning, to check first thing if TODAY is her birthday.
Gwen: It is today, right?
Me: No, it is in 6 days
Gwen: But remember, I get to decided everything, except when to go to sleep, right?
Me: Right
Gwen: You are my one and only favorite MOM!

Know your favorites

This morning I came down to wake Gwenchik.
Me: How did you sleep? Did you have any interesting dreams?
Gwen: Oh yes. There was a horse with large wings.
Me:?
Gwen: You were flying on this horse to save me. And it was red, your favorite color; and it had a mini piglet on the side as well--your favorite animal

Kissing

Gwenchik saw us kissing and wondered why other parents kiss their kids on the lips and we do not.
Me: When you grow up and marry, you can kiss your husband on the lips.
Gwen: I only want to marry Daddy! And you said that I can't, because he will have to go to prison. And it is so hard to find a husband.
Me: Do not worry about it now, it is a bit early for that.
Gwen: You know, I do not need a husband. I'll just live with Lina or Jasmin or Nastya (her girlfriends) and we would have a daughter and can kiss anyway we like!

First day at day care bargain

Today was the first day at a new English only day care. Gwenchik dressed up and, with her new lunch box in hand, marched to the playground tagging me along. She refused to let go of my hand, though there was her favorite boy Lesha at the playground, that she know really well.
Me: Gwenchik, I need to leave for work.
Gwen: No, I do not want you to go.
Me: You know, if everything works well today at day care I will try make one of your reasonable wishes come true.  (I thought, probably ice-cream and such)
Gwen (easily letting go of my hand): Well, I will get to sleep in my dress! Any dress I choose tonight!

Fairy dust

We stopped by Christmas Tree shop, and Gwenchik begged to buy her a set of fairy wings. As soon as we paid, she put them on.
Gwen: I want to fly, but I can't.
Me: Try jumping and flapping your hands
Gwen: Mom, you can't really fly like that, dont you know it? I need a magic wand and fairy dust. Where can I get some magic dust?
.....
When people stopped on the street and told her what a pretty fairy she was, she replied that these are just toy wings, why can't they see it.

Hanging as punishment

We went on a cruise ship around Boston Harbor, that had jugglers and pirates for kids activities. There was this pretty authentic looking pirate, who at some point started to tell a story about Black Beard pirate that got hanged in Boston for his crimes. On the way home, Gwenchik was still talking about the pirate.
Gwen: You know, he did not behave well, that is why he got hanged. What is a hanging?
Me: Killing by putting a rope on the persons neck
Gwen: They asked him to put away his shoes, and he didn't do it... so he was hanged.

Obedience 101

Gwen: I have obedient kids
Me: How?
Gwen: It is a long story.. oh well. Once upon a time, I was walking in the woods and came across a small hut on a chicken legs. Inside lived a bad witch, so I had to tie her up, and then I saw these kids! Poor kids! I went into the basement, found all the treasures and gold and took the kids with me. So now I have three well-behaved kids: my duck, little piggy and sheep
Me: As well behaved as I have you, right?
Gwen: No, sometimes I am naughty. It is really really hard to be obedient. You really have to escape the witch to be well-behaved
.....
Amazing how Russian folklore seeps into everyday fantasy

Child of a child

Gwen: Mom, I am your child
Me: Yes
Gwen: But you are grandmother's child, right?
Me: Right
Gwen: Ha-ha, I am the child of a child

Water from flowers

Gwenchik was playing outside with her grandfather with a hand-held mini water pump. However, that toy was taken away from her a week before, because she sprayed everyone around on purpose, have not been returned to her yet.
Me: So how did you get the pump
Gwen: Grandfather gave it to me.
Me: Oh
Gwen: It is too late to do anything, because, you know, we can't take back the water from the flowers

Anniversary cake

We had our anniversary this week and were able to go to a restaurant, just the two of us. Gwenchik was really disappointed that she couldn't join.
Gwen: Is anniversary as important as birthday?
Me: Yes, I think so. May be even more important.
Gwen: Than why isn't there a big cake?
.......

Good question, so next day we went to the store together so that she can pick our the 'right anniversary cake', which turned out to be a carrot cake with cute frosting carrots.

Guests

As usual we had a fun, activities filled weekend and yesterday evening we had our favorite boy Lesha at our place. So Gwenchik wakes up this morning...
Gwen: Mom, is it Sunday again?
Me: No, sweet, it is Monday and I have to go to work
Gwen: What about guests?
Me: What guests?
Gwen: It was so nice the last two days, can we get more guests to come and visit us after you come from work? Doesn't really matter who, as long as they come!

Beggar

We are on the playground and Gwenchik suggests that we should role-play shopping for food.
Gwen: Mom, you are working in the shop
Me: Ok
Gwen: And I am a beggar, and I do not have any money, but I want you to sell me a candy
Me: But how can I sell you something if you do not have money?
Gwen: Even though I am a beggar, I am very cute and you are my mom, so you'll just have to sell me one for nothing

Let me sleep

I came to pick up Gwenchik from the Cape. So in the morning, she came to give me a kiss, crawled into my bed and told me a long story about beasts, water piglets and treasures in the magic sand.

Then, we agreed that I would get to sleep until she finishes breakfast.So she went downstairs. My parents yelled for me to get up... Gwenchik, explained that we agreed that I would sleep a little more.
Gwen: Mom, it is my grandparents were yelling, but mom, you can sleep a little more. I'll finish telling my story
......
after about five minutes I got up :)

Opera, not for nothing

We are driving from a friend's house and listening to a quick, rather funny song in Russian about a barber.
Gwen: The solder is singing the song
Me: ?
Gwen: Remember the sly barber and the solder that wanted the princess

And it is true, the song has a similar melody/rithm as the "Barber of Seville" mini opera that we went with her back in the spring.

Chocolate

Gwenchick is back from her vacation on Cape Cod and she looks quite tanned.

George: Oh, you are so tanned, so brown
Gwen: I am not brown, I am CHOCOLATE!

Buying

We stopped by at a street yard sale and Gwenchik really wanted to get several things. Finally we agreed on two:glass bead bracelet and a woven wallet.We get home and she is showcasing her new stuff.
Gwen: Look what I got! And it is mine now.
Grandparents: How did you get it?
Gwen: I bought these
Grandparents: ?
Gwen: I smiled, and smiled and then mom gave them money.

Bicycling along

Today Gwenchik bicycled over to her grandmother's house strawberry patch and back for the first time.

Gwen: Papa, I bicycled to and from my grandmothers house so fast, so fast that the squirrels didn't have enough time to pick strawberries. And I eat them all!

Love

From Veronika
Gwen: I love you grandma, but I do not love my uncle.
A minute later...
Gwen: I love my uncle, but not my grandma
Veronika: Why is that?
Gwen: I can only love one person at a time...

KingKong

We are playing the letter game: I name the letter -- Gwenchik comes up with the word that starts with that letter. Than she gives me a word and I have to figure out what letter it starts with. Some times we just make up our own words, so we always explain the word means.
Me: A
Gwen: Apple. It is a fruit that you can eat in the car (she often munches on apple on her way to the child care)
Gwen: KingKong
Me: I think it starts with K…What does this word mean?
Gwen: There is a King and he is married to a prince Kong and because they live together there are King and Kong. A princess can't have a name like Kong, so it is definitely a prince…

Definition of more human

From grandfather
Gwenchik is going to sleep (normally she has a duck and a sheep toy that she sleeps with)
Gwen: I do not want to sleep with stuffed animals, I want to sleep with something more human
We give her a stuffed panda, that is dress as a ballerina...
Gwen: Ok
and she immediately falls asleep.

True love

From George
Gwen is sitting on the potty, and is taken with a surfeit of emotion.
Gwen: I love you, Papa!
George: Thank you! I love you too!
Gwen: And I love Mama!
George: That's great, I'll tell her and she will be very happy!
Gwen: And I love my grandmothers and grandfathers!
George:That's great too! I'll tell them!
Gwen: And I love our cats!
George: That's nice.
Gwen: And I love my toy sheep! And my toy duck!
George: Um...
Gwen: And I love my toilet paper!

Growing in my sleep

I am tucking Gwenchik in bed.
Gwen: Mom, I do not want to sleep
and she starts crying
Me: Honey, you should sleep because then your body would relax and your brain recover from all that you learned today
Gwen: But I GROW while I sleep. And I do not want to grow up, because when I grow up you will die. So I will not go to sleep!

Dirty hands

Gwenchik and grandfather were talking about washing hands and why it is important.
Grandfather: I do not really know any kids that do not wash their hands after they come in from the street
Gwen: I do
Grandfather: Probably their parents forgot to tell them about microbes or may be there are without parents?
Gwen: No, she has a mother, a father, and grandparents!
Grandfather: Oh, and what is name of this kid? That doesn't wash her hands and always sticks dirty fingers into the mouth?
Gwen: Gwenchik!

Water from the flowers

Gwenchik was playing outside with her grandfather with a hand-held mini water pump. However, that toy was taken away from her a week before, because she sprayed everyone around on purpose,and it had not been returned to her yet.
Me: So how did you get the pump?
Gwen: Grandfather gave it to me.
Me: Oh
Gwen: It is too late to do anything, because, you know, we can't take back the water from the flowers

Mommy Rules

Just came back from build-a-bear birthday party. Gwenchik's panda bear ballerina Biddy-Bop Chivava (Gwen selected that name, because it is really funny to pronounce) is sitting on Gwen's lap.
Gwen: Biddy-Bop, I am your mommy, so I am the one setting rules.
Me: So what are your rules?
Gwen: Doesn't matter which ones, it matters that now I AM setting them

Promise

On weekends Gwenchik normally can listen to a story on CD for about an hour, if she goes to bed early enough. After somewhat hysterical evening, really late, Gwenchik is finally going to sleep and asks for a story on CD.
Gwen: Mom, I am good now (finished with hysterics) and I know the story I want tonight
Me: Sweetheart, it is too late, so let's have a story tomorrow
Gwen: Mom, you are a parent, and you HAVE to keep you promise (the promise was given several days ago about an evening story...). You know, a promise is a promise.

Being a mom

Gwenchik is walking into a kitchen.
Gwen: I am a Mom
Me: How is that?
Gwen: Look, I have a bag on my shoulder, just like you. That makes me a Mom!

Magical beings

From Veronika
We are driving back from the day care and discussing magical beings:
Gwen: Tiger is an animal, dog is an animal. Baba Yaga (witch) is not an animal.
Veronika: Baba Yaga is a magic being.
Gwen: The good Baba Yaga is a magic being, but what about a bad Baba Yaga?
Veronika: They both are magic beings. Sometimes one needs the good one, other times, the bad one.
Gwen: No, if they are good and bad, they are people.

Smarter today

My parents were playing the computer game with Gwenchik: saving the princess from the dragon. One has to find numerous items and fulfill specific tasks to be able to let her out of the dungeon passed the dragon. Some of these items are really difficult to find...
Grandma: We can't find the feather. We looked everywhere. It is impossible.
So while my parents took Gwenchik downstairs to start on the night routing of teeth brushing and pj's, I spent a few minutes looking for feather, and ... found it.

As soon Gwenchik heard about it, she ran upstairs to see what happens next and if the princess does get out. On her way, she said over her shoulder that Granma was smart yesterday, but Momy is smarter today...

Exceptions

Gwenchik is leaving for day care in the same dress that she wore yesterday.
Me: You should try to wear different dress everyday, just like Mom
Gwen: You right, but let make an exception today.
Me: Ok
Gwen: And then we can make an exception tomorrow and the day after tomorrow..

Troubadour

Gwenchik was listening to a story about a princess that run away with a troubadour and left the King...
Gwen: The princess ran away with troubadour because she really loves him. But she left her Papa.
Me: What should she have done?
Gwen: She should have kissed and hugged Papa goodbye and promised to come and visit, than she could run away with the troubadour

Uncle's day

Today we were discussing the upcoming Mother's Day with Gwenchik and that we will make together presents for both grandmothers.
Gwen: What about Papa?
Me: In a few weeks we will have Papa's day too.
Gwen: Hmmm... What about uncle's day? You know, I have a lot of uncles and I have to start making presents for all of them now

Point, counterpoint

From George
Gwen: (Happily) When I get older, I'll be able to do anything I want!
(Pause)
Gwen: (Sadly) But when I get older, you and Mama are going to die.

I reassure her that Mama and I are going to be around a long time, and we'll even be around when she has daughters of her own.

Gwen: (Happily) When I get older, I'll have many, many daughters!
Me: How many?
Gwen: (Happily) One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven, thirteen, sixteen, thirteen, fourteen, eighteen, nineteen!
(Pause)
Gwen: (Sadly) But sometimes they won't do what I want.

Smarter

From George
Gwyneth is taking a doll to day care with her.
Gwen: Papa, my baby wants to hear a story, please.
Me: What a polite baby!
Gwen: Yes she is.
Me: Does your baby want a Russian or an English story?
Gwen: Either one, she understands Russian and English.
Me: What a smart baby!
Gwen: Yes she is. But I'm even smarter. I can take off my pajama top and my pajama bottom all by myself, and put them under the pillow.

Sick

Gwenchik really wants to stay at home with her grandparents. So every morning for the last several days she says that she is sick.
Me: What hurts?
Gwen: My toes, my legs, my arms, my stomach, my head and my hair!

Moon

From Veronika
Veronika: Where are we going?
Gwen: The moon. (thinking) No we can't go to the moon in this car.
Veronika: I agree, but why?
Gwen: Car needs the road. The moon is up there.
Veronika: So how can we get to the moon?
Gwen (excited): Need an airplane!

Beautiful

From Veronika
Gwenchik (out of the blue): "I want to be very beautiful"
Veronika: Oh. Good.
Gwen: Unfortunately, it is a lot of work.
Veronika:?
Gwen: One needs a dress, shoes.One needs to be like a princess.
Veronika: You can be like a princess with any dress and any shoes.
Gwen: Really?

Kindness

I have been quite sick for the last several days with a fever running around 102.5, so Gwenchik was not really allowed near me for the fear of her catching the virus. So runs upstairs, covers me with her blue favorite cap and says:
Gwen: Mom, it will help. It will make you feel better! Don't you think that I am so kind?
Then runs downstairs.
......
Next day she drew me a lovely get well card :)

Continue with the Snake theme

We agreed that Gwenchik will not talk about snakes, point them out or draw my attention to them in any shape.15 minute repetitive chant

Gwen: Mommy is afraid of something, but I am not going to tell.
Me: Gwenchik, I thought we agreed not to mention you-know-who
Gwen: I do not, I just sing a song without mentioning snakes

Snake

At home I speak Russian with Gwenchik and George speaks English. Recently, Gwenchik discovered that I am morbidly afraid of snakes, which absolutely fascinates her. So every now and than she would begin discussion on the subject of my fear of snakes and we agreed that we will not talk about you-know-what

Gwen: Papa, I have a secret about mama, and I will whisper so that she would not know. Mama is afraid of .....
than she terns to me and asks
Gwen: Mama, how is you-know-what we do not talk about in English?
Me: Snake
Gwen: Papa, she is afraid of snakes!!!!! But do not say the word out loud otherwise she is afraid!

Cat

We have two cats: Riska, the thin one, and Burka, the fat one. Burka is always looking for more food. And as any cat sometimes they do throw up. I come down to the kitchen, and Burka is meowing and meowing and meowing.
Me: Did you feed Burka?
Gwen: Yes we did
Me: Why is she meowing then?
Gwen: She wants more so that she can throw up

Choices

From Grandfather
Gwenchik is organizing her newly arrived grandparents into a game:
Gwen: I will be mom, and you, grandpa, will be dad. My toy duck will be the baby. Now we can do anything we want, but he doesn't have choice.

After this, she started to force the duck to go to sleep. I guess, she doesn't like to go to sleep.

Bible reading

Gwenchik is sick so we are staying at home. She woke up and started 'reading' (telling stories from the pictures) from the children's bible. She is looking at the pictures about Noah.
Gwen: He got many animals and stuck them on a small boat
Me: Why?
Gwen: So they will not be wet. Cats really do not like to be wet

Clean up

We were sitting on the sofa in Gwenchik's room, which is covered with books, toys and clothes.
Me: After we eat, let's clean up this mess.
Gwen: Do not want to.
Me: You know, princesses always live in clean castles
Gwen: First of all, I am not a princess. I am queen-mother and they always have someone else to clean. Do you want to be my cleaning helper? Second, we do not have to do it today, because it will be messy again tomorrow.

Sharing the love

Gwen: Mom, I love you so much! You can have my half!
Me: Who will have the other half
Gwen: You too
Me: What about Dad?
Gwen: Ok, Dad can have another half, but than I have to give something to my grandmother and grandfather and all the uncles. And there are no more halves left.
Me: Are there more than two halves?
Gwen: Silly mom. There are only two halves. But I will give you a leg, and other to papa, right arm to grandmother, left one to grandfather.....

Scary tiger

We went to a company organized function for the 8th of March, that included F1 racing for grown ups and clowns, caricatures and face painting for kids. Most of the kids rushed to the 'kid activity room', but not my daughter. Gwenchik spent half a hour staring on the racing tracks, we were only able to get her out, after George did his round and she decided to run a look for him (separate room where kids were not allowed).
....

Then we did stand in a long line of girls to get her face painted. Most girls wold get a small flower on their cheeks or a tiny unicorn. Gwenchiks turn:
Gwen: I want a fierce, scary tiger
Face painter: Not a flower?
Gwen: If not fierce, that for sure a very very scary tiger!!!
So she got a full face paint, looked unbelievably adorable and ran around roaring like a fierce tiger she was. She was the only girl in a cute dress with a full face orange with black stripes tiger and got a lot of attention!

...
There is a huge stuffed lion in her room. Gwenchik begged to go to sleep with the face paint. In the morning, we hear:
Gwen: RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR. Papa, mama, come over and save the poor lion from a fierce tiger. RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

Presents

Lately, we have been having conversation about presents, and that Gwenchik shouldn't necessarily have the same thing as a would be present for herself.

Gwen: Papa, when I grow up I will buy you a real horse!
George: Thank you.
Gwen: Then you will be able to pull my princess carriage to the ball.

Birthday presents

From Veronika
Gwen: My Mom is having her birthday very soon.
V: Oh Great. Let's have a nice party. How old is she?
Gwen: 35 years old (I am younger than that)
V: How old are you?
Gwen: 3.5 years old, but Dodik is even older. He has a very old car. I will get him a new car for his birthday. A new car for Dodik and a new crown for Mom.

Ballet

We were watching Russian Swan Lake ballet on dvd.
Gwen: The prince is strange.
Me: ??
Gwen: He has no pants and a big butt. So is he the real prince?
Me: Yes, it is a ballet, so that is why he is dressed that way, so it will be easier to dance.
Gwen: But the princess has a beautiful dress, so she doesn't need special clothes to dance. Is that because she is a swan, and he is just human?

It is OK to be second...

From George
Usually, when we come home we race from the car to the entrance door. Somehow, Gwenchik always gets there first, triumphantly.
Gwen: I'm first, I'm first!
Me: Yes, you are. You're always first. I'm second.
Gwen, consolingly: It's OK to be second.
Me: What if next time I'm first, and you're second?
Gwen: Then I will cry!
Me: But isn't it OK to be second?
Gwen: It's OK for YOU to be second!

Candy bribe

Gwenchik came back from the childcare clutching two large candies wrapped in coloful foil. She asked both of us which one she should choose, to determine which one is better to eat after dinner.
Me: The other candy I will put away for tomorrow.
Gwen: No, the other candy is for Santa Clause.
Me:??
Gwen: He will really like this wrapped candy and will bring me TWO presents!!!
Me: You will have to wait for a long time...
Gwen: Mom, for this candy he'll come sooner :)

Mother Queen

From Veronika
Gwen: Tell me about Mother Queen, and Gwenchik, and Lesha. They feed carrots to horses and build stone house on the beach.
Veronika: OK. Mother Queen woke up in her queen bed...
Gwen: Do you know that Mother Queen and Gwenchik are the same?
Veronika: OK. Mother Queen woke up...
Gwen: It was a secret before but I can tell you now that Mother Queen and Gwenchik are the same.
Veronika: OK. Thank you for telling me. Mother Queen woke up...

Compromise

From George:
We have a one candy per day rule. Gwen's day care had given her a lollipop, which she ate in the car on the way home. At home, she asked for an ice cream candy.
George: Gwyneth, you know our rule, you already ate one candy today.
Gwen: Let's compromise.

I was stunned.

George: What do you mean by compromise?
Gwen: I'll eat two candies today, and one candy tomorrow, OK?
I was impressed enough that we settled on an additional half an ice cream candy for today.

When you die

I am reminding Gwenchik, that she has another five minutes left until she has to go to bed.
Gwen: When you die, I will get to do anything I want to!
Me: You want us to die?
Gwen: No, not right now. You can still live for a while, just remember one day I'll get to do what I want!

How true, how true ...

Peer acceptance

Gwenchik got back from her first day at a new daycare.
Me: So, how was it?
Gwen: It was so much fun!!! And I got a present!
Me: Who did you play with?
Gwen: Jasmin
Me: What about other kids?
Gwen: Angela told me that she will not play with me because I am mean. But, of course, she lied to me, because I am not mean at all! So I told her that it is really bad when a person lies so obviously.

Snow

From Veronika
On our way to childcare, there is a dusting of snow on the ground:
Gwen: Dogs do not like the snow because it is cold and wet.
Veronika: Do you like the snow?
Gwen: I like to eat it, but my hands get cold and I cry.
Veronika: What should we do?
Gwen: You get the snow and bring it to the car, and you give it to me.
Veronika: I have a better idea. We both collect the snow in a plastic bag and keep it in the plastic bag.

So this is what we did. We collected the snow and she did not cry.

Rank has its privileges

Before lunch we are all cleaning up the house. I have asked Gwenchik to clean up her toys in the living room.

Gwen: Princesses do not clean!
Me: What about Cinderella?
Gwen: She cleaned before she was a Princess, but not after.

You can't really argue with that....

Arranged marriage

From Veronika
Gwen: Do you know that I will get a husband when I grow up?
V:?
Gwen: I want to marry my Dad, but mama does not let me. She will get me a different husband.
V: Why do you need a husband?
Gwen: I do not know. I just know that Mom will get me one when I grow up, so I do not take Daddy.

Electra complex

From George
While putting Gwenchik to bed, out of the blue comes the following:
Gwen: When I grow up, I will marry you, Dad.
George: But I already have a wife. What about Mom?
Gwen: But I do not want to marry Mom.

What Gwyneth says

From George
When Gwyneth was two, we were walking down the street and discussing the sounds different animals make.
Me: What does a dog say?
Gwen: Ruff, ruff!
Me: Right. Now, what does a lion say?
Gwen: Roar!
Me: Right. Now, what does a cat say?
Gwen: Meow, meow!
Me: Right. Now, what does Gwyneth say?
Gwen: (thinks about it) No! No! No!

Saber fight

From Veronika
On the way to childcare, we are reading "Tarakanije":
Gwen: I will cut off his (bug's) head. I will scratch him and kill him.
Veronika: ?
Gwen: Because he wants to eat the small ones.
Veronika:?
Gwen: I could have had a saber but I am a Princess and a Princess does not have a saber.
Veronika: The Nutcracker does. You can borrow the saber from the Nutcracker.
Gwen (thinking): OK, but do not tell him. I will kill Tarakanije and put the saber back.

Sharing

Lately I noticed that Gwenchik likes to share her toys, but now always makes sure that the others are aware that she is sharing and will get all her stuff back after before they leave.
Gwen: Here is my balloon. Do you want to play with it?
Nastya (her friend): Yes.
Gwen: Here, you can play with it now, but before you go home you will give it back to me, because it is mine, ok?
Than she turns to me to make sure that I saw that she shared. I keep asking myself what prompted my daughter to do these upfront verifications to whom things belong?

Reminder to Santa

New 2007 Year! We did the proper thing of leaving a glass of milk and a cookie on our fireplace mantel; and Gwenchik actually wrote her name (with my help) in Russian and in English, in case Santa can only speak one language.
Next morning we awoke to loud whoops of joy when Gwenchik discovered the Cinderella dress on the hook above the fireplace. She was thrilled! In the evening, before going to bed, she explained to me that Santa forgot the crown and the shoes to go with the dress.
Gwen: It is probably because he is a boy, and they do not wear crowns. Mom, you have to tell him, otherwise he will forget again.
Me: I will tell him for the next New Year.