Now that Harlan is in school, our time alone together is few and far between. Over the summer we had at least an hour to ourselves in the afternoon while both Macks and Avery slept. We’d talk, play outside, and do whatever her heart desired with just the two of us. One of my favorite things to do with her was to just sit down and talk. She has a wild little imagination, that girl. One that loves to tell stories and ask questions.
Conversations with Har started out as a quiet lunch at the American Girl Cafe. It’s now one of my favorite series that I have on the blog.
These past few days Harlan has had early dismissal at school leaving the afternoon with just the two of us while the other two kids sleep. We sat and talked, she told me about her friends at school and of course how excited she is for Halloween tomorrow. I decided to ask her some questions just to see her response. I love that her answers give me a deeper understand of just who my Har is.
1. What is one thing you would like to learn how to do?
Harlan: I would like to learn how our bodies grow.
My thoughts: I honestly wasn’t sure how she would answer something, but was sure it was going to be something girly like dancing or putting on make-up. Her answer made the science-geek side of me very happy.
2. What do you love most about our family?
Harlan: That they color with me.
My thoughts: This is what I love about kids. I’d think that she would have said some big thing that we do together, but she’s proving that it’s the little things that have the most impact. A great lesson for all of us.
3. What are you most thankful for?
Harlan: I’m thankful that we all sit together as a family at the table.
My thoughts: We don’t do this as often as I’d like because our weekday schedules are crazy with MacKay’s commute, but we do make sure to do it on the weekend. I really love it, too. The coversations that we have at dinner are some of the best. I’m thankful too, Har.
4. What is the best thing about being 5-years-old?
Harlan: ::Her eyes lit up and she gave me a big smile when I asked this question.:: That I get to paint.
My thoughts: She loves being five-years-old because she thinks she’s so grown up. She painted when she was four, but clearly painting at five is a much bigger deal.
5. What has been the happiest day of your life?
Harlan: When I first got my Isabelle doll.
My thoughts: At first I was expecting her to say when Avery or Macks was born, but she went in the complete opposite direction. At first I was a little surprised at her answer but after some thought I can completely understand where she us coming from. Isabelle is her American Girl doll that she got for her birthday. I remember the first American Girl doll that I had when I was little – Kirsten. It was a big deal for me, just as it is for her.
6. What is your favorite movie of all time?
Harlan: My favorite movie is Frozen because Elsa strikes Anna.
My thoughts: This comes as no surprise because we’ve seen Frozen 3,493,849 times (at least it feels that way.) But what I found completely odd and still has me perplexed is the reason she gave for loving this movie so much. I’m hoping she just got some of the movie confused and really meant was that Elsa saved Anna. Yeah, that’s what she meant.
7. What do you want to be when you grow up?
Harlan: I want to be a Disney Princess. Aurora.
My thoughts: Of course you do. Why be a doctor when you can be Princess Aurora at Disney World?
8. Would you rather be able to fly or be invisible?
Harlan: Fly because then I’ll see the whole world.
My thoughts: That sounds amazing. Please take me with you.
9. If you could go on a vacation anywhere, where would you go?
Harlan: I would go to Florida to go swimming.
My thoughts: That sounds lovely right about now.
10. What is your favorite thing about mommy?
Harlan: ::giggles:: ::giggles:: That she takes me to school.
Me: That’s your favorite thing about me?
Harlan: Yeah. ::giggles::
My thoughts: Did you notice I tried to ask again to see if I’d get a different answer? Yeah, I was waiting for her to say my cuddles or my kisses. Or maybe the way that I sing her a song before bedtime. But I guess she just loves the way I drive so that I can drop her off for the day. Not so fast, Har. Not so fast.
