Go ask Alice

She'll tell you, whatever the question.

Some of my favorite current Alicisms:

When she wants you to stay put for a second: "I right come back!"

When you propose something that she likes: "That sounds a good deal."

Recently heard from the backseat of the car: "Mommy, when I get bigger, tomorrow, I will go to Finland with you." (Note: Our neighbor recently took a trip to Finland.) When our neighbor returned yesterday and was seen outside, Alice walked right up and asked, "How was your trip to Finland?" To the neighbor's delight, of course.

Pondering another neighbor, a mother of two boys, as we waited for the schoolbus in the afternoon: "Does Mark's mommy need a girl?" I said I didn't know. So Alice approached Mark's mommy and asked outright, "Do you need a girl in your family?" (I'm still not sure if she was offering herself for adoption or simply commenting on the gender imbalance in their existing domestic situation.)

Alice has recently told me and Tom, several times over, "I was an elephant when I was born. When I was brand new. And I was an ostrich. And a turtle." She seems definite about this. The list of animals never changes. Edith finally asked if it was true.

Another recent plan, concocted in the backseat on the way home from preschool: "Mommy, I want to have a dance party. I will invite all my friends from school. Carter's daddy will bring him to my house, and when he gets there I will give him a hug. And I will give Logan a hug. And I will give Henry a hug. And I will give Asher a hug. And I will give Gabby and Marie a hug. They will all come over to my house, and we will dance. Okay? Yeah, that sounds a plan."