Love, Scout

When Ammon walks in the door after work, all he has to do is look around the house for Scout's artwork to know what kind of day we had.

For example:

This is how you know Scout likes you today:

And this is how you know that Porter did something to make her mad:

Broken hearts.  Lots and lots of broken hearts.

The 'broken hearts' first emmerged a couple of months ago.  Ammon was wresteling with the kids on our bed, and Scout unleashed her inner beast, and her fingernail claws, and scratched Ammon pretty good.  He told her to be careful, which imediately resulted in her running out of the room, and silently to the kitchen table with her paper and markers.  She finished her work of art, and with a the saddest face she could muster up, silently handed the paper to Ammon, and walked away.  Not a word was said, but message received. Point taken.  

Since then, the broken heart artwork has made its appearance many times. Whether it is written all across our driveway in sidewalk chalk, or on every scratch paper laying around, our passive-aggressive daughter lets us know where we stand in her eyes at the moment.  Each time, I have to try my hardest to keep my snickers inside, because you know if she sees me laughing, more broken hearts are sure to be drawn.  I really should keep them, and have a broken heart journal for her when she's older. :)

BUT: Lately she upped her game.  Not only do we get broken hearts, now we get our names 'Xed' out when she's mad.  

The other day Scout and Porter were playing in the living room, and I was feeding Emmy in the bedroom with the door closed. All within 3 minutes I heard friendly playing, then screaming, then crying, then silence (while the writing was happening), and this little beauty was slid under the door. 

Noted Scout.  

My favorite part is that no matter how mad she is, and how many of our names are Xed, she always signs it, 'Love Scout'

I came outside the other day to "DER PORTER. YOU MAK ME SO SAD. LOVE SCOUT" written across the driveway.  We haven't had any rain either, because it's still there a week later. 

 

Oh how I wish I could press rewind on life, and record those moments you hope to never forget.  Last week Scout and I were getting everything ready to plant a garden.  One afternoon she was ready to plant the seeds (right now), but every single neighborhood kid was out an about, and she wanted them ALL to come plant in the garden.  I told her we'd do it later (because who really wants to plant a garden with 8 kids under 5?)  and she immediately turned and ran away. 

 I found her around the house, writing on the sidewalk using a stick and a water puddle.  I thought we were having a nice mom-daughter moment as I was nicely explaining that we would plant later so it could be just our special little project.  Then I noticed what she was writing. . . 'M    O     M.'  

And then she looked at me.  

With those big, brown, passive-agressive eyes. . . 

And as she was staring me down without blinking, she slowly crossed out MOM with a big X.

Point taken.  I can take a hint. I just walked away, hiding my smile. 

Sometimes I wish I could live my life like a 5 year old can.  Ammon better watch out if he ever sees his name crossed out on our bathroom mirror. . .