Moon Garages and Gondolas

Kids this age say the cutest things. Lucie and Ryan are constantly trying to figure out the world around them, putting confusing and abstract concepts into terms that make sense in their minds. And, like the girl who declared in the middle of L & R's gym class, "I have a new dollhouse!", their speech is so spontaneous and in the moment. Sometimes I feel like I can see their minds working as their thoughts come rushing out, one after another.

Yesterday we went for a walk late in the day, just when the moon was rising for the night. Ryan loves looking at the moon and following its various forms throughout the month. We're trying to talk a bit about planets and stars, in the very simplest terms, but I'm not sure they really understand my explanations. Today he said thoughtfully, "Mommy, where does the moon go when it's daytime? Does it have a little garage or something?"

We checked out a book from the library on Italy. It was a very simple book geared towards children, with pictures of the Leaning Tower of Pisa, plates of pasta and castles. Someday I'd love to take my kids there. When we got to the Venice page, I said excitedly, "Hey look, Lucie, this boat is called a gondola!" She looked at me, totally unimpressed, and said, "Mommy, I already know what a gondola is -- the Wonder Pets used one to save a baby kitty floating on a piece of driftwood. It was just like this one."

Huh? My 3 year old can recognize a gondola? And uses the word "driftwood"? I couldn't believe it. Days later when that same episode of Wonder Pets came on, sure enough, there was a gondola saving a kitten floating on a piece of driftwood. This girl remembers everything.