Oh, Leta

My niece spent the past week with us.

She informed me that her mom tells her that she's dramatic.

Her mother used the right word.

Now, I know what just happened in your mind.  You thought, "Oh.  She's dramatic.  Poor Julianne."  While I do believe the word is an apt one, please don't get the impression that I was dealing with a jr. higher in an eight-year-old body.  Because, even though she is overly fond of Justin Beiber (and perhaps one of the male counselors at our church camp) her "drama" is mostly for fun.  She likes to tell stories, and press her hand up against her forehead while speaking in an English accent.

It's fun, really.  You should try it sometime.

Oh, and did I mention that Leta plus a camera equals a ham?

It's weird how math works.  :)

 On her way to day camp one morning, she said, "I'll tell you my two favorite things about school.  Science, Recess, Lunch, and Snack."

There was a slight pause.

"I guess that's four."  :)

 Her interest in science inspired my mother to check out some Bill Nye videos from our library, so that she could watch them in her down time.  You know, once a homeschool mom, always a homeschool mom.  Of course, being the wonderful aunties we are, Allison and I watched every single episode with her.

One of my favorite things about being an aunt is having a legit excuse to watch Veggietales and Bill Nye, because they're so... educational.  Right.  This is all about Leta.  Allison?  Can I get some backup here?  ;)  

 

During the credits of one of the space episodes, Allison asked me if they were playing the theme from Star Wars.

Leta made a face, then said, "I don't like Star Wars.  It's all, 'Blah blah blah blah blah.  I'm your father.  Blah blah blah blah blah.'"

This is not her first summer to spend a week with us, and I think that the experience becomes more enjoyable for me each year.  I can remember one year in particular, where she kept trying to convince me that something called the "monster house" was real.  Seven days of that sort of conversation can get on your nerves.  Well, this year we talked about it again.  She laughed about being convinced that it was real, then said, "But I can tell you something that is real."

"What?"

"Bigfoot."

We make a lot of memories when she's over, and it's interesting to see the perspective she takes when learning tasks that are somewhat commonplace at our house.  For instance, when mom taught her how to use our strawberry huller, she took her first one and said, "Guess what, Strawberry?  You're going to be bald- like my dad!"