"There is no Such Thing as a Free Lunch."

Well there is in Ellie's world. Often, when we go play outside Ellie likes to go over to one of her favorite spots. It has a little hill of rocks on one side. (William insists on climbing it if Ellie does. I try to drag him away and he walks right back to it every time. It's cute, but it makes me nervous.) On the other side is one of those sea foam green boxes (above ground) covering some telecommunications equipment, cables, or something. The sea foam green thingy is like the checkout counter for her "store". She likes to be the "store guy", as she puts it. Her merchandise is usually made up of rocks and sometimes pine cones, imagined to be various things, usually food items. The most interesting thing about this store is that usually these food items are passed out for free. I even offer to pay. "Do you want any money?" "No." And so I thank her and proceed to "eat" my rocks. Ellie has even given me a thousand dollars before. That time the rock she gave me was bigger. She gave it to me almost apologetically. As if to say, "Here, have a thousand dollars mommy, sorry I couldn't give you any food. All I have to give is a thousand dollars." I am reminded of those old Virgin River Casino commercials, telling the good public that they should come on down because "...they give away money!" Right. The good public should not waste their money on the casino in hope to get the money that they "give away". The good public should come see Ellie. Too bad it's not real. She likes me to be the store guy now sometimes and I tried to ruin her innocence by teaching her that my food required a true purchase (all in pretend of course). I thought I had indeed ruined her innocence, but she has offered me a thousand dollars since, on more than one occasion. I accept them most heartily. I mean really, who could resist a thousand dollar offer from such a sweet and deserving little girl?

Also, on a slightly different subject, Ellie watched that part of Enchanted today, with her friend Meika, when Giselle sings, "How does she know that you love her?" So while Nate was taking his test tonight, Ellie was outside with her arms spread wide, running around, singing, "How do I know?" I was running, trying to keep up with her, holding a 2o or so pound baby, a book I was trying to read, Ellie's shoes, and a dress-up necklace that she had discarded. I don't know why I tell people that I haven't been exercising lately. That was quite the work out. And speaking of work outs, don't you all agree, that pushing around a shopping cart with a 3 year old child and 2 gallons milk included, can count as exercise?? When Ellie and I go shopping, I often feel that I have accomplished something to the benefit of my health.