Casting a spell

We've always thought our big girls were brilliant, and Baby Who shows much promise as well -- she loves the remote control, the power button on the computer, and is fascinated by everything she sees (except a diaper at changing time, when she becomes Octopus Baby and wriggles away).

But proof of the big girls' brain power came recently when Who I decided she wanted to "spell daddy's shirt."

I'd brought home the T-shirt as a souvenir from a weeklong work trip to Utah. The T-shirt celebrates a popular beverage and cultural elements of the Beehive State.

Who I got off to a great start: "P-O-L-Y-G-A-M-Y P-O-R-T-E-R," she spelled proudly, never missing a letter. "What's that say, daddy?"

"Polygamy Porter," we told her. Now, why do I think we're soon going to have to explain what polygamy means -- and that, please please please, it's not for her?

Who II was not to be outdone. But instead of reading daddy's shirt, she decided to read mommy a story. Out came "The Cat in the Hat," her favorite book to read with grandpa.

Page by page, she captured the story line beautifully -- right down to the dialogue of "Sit, sit, sit!" Grandpa would have been proud.

Our big girls are getting bigger -- they turn 4 on Saturday and Tuesday. It's hard to believe. Soon they'll be asking for the keys to the car and staying out past my bedtime (which is getting earlier and earlier with three kiddos!).

Happy almost birthday, big girls -- and watch out for Baby Who. She's sneaking up on you!