What's sadder than klezmer music?

..that would be Rachel singing, at random, one of the verses from "Sunrise Sunset." Again, apropos of nothing, in a childish voice that would break your heart (or at least bring tears to your eyes):

"I don't remember growing older...when did they?"

Oh, Rachel, if only you knew how truly that reflected reality....

***

On the way to school/work this morning, Rachel peppered me with the oddest questions:
Rachel: Are we on the house?
Me: No.
Rachel: Are we fixing the roof?
Me: No.
Rachel: Are we going on a fire truck?
Me: No.
Rachel: Are we going on an ambulance?
Me: No.
Rachel: Are we going on a police car?
Me: No.
Rachel: Are we going in the bathtub?
Me: Um, no.
Rachel: Are we going to lie on top of the trees?
Me (laughing): No!

***

When I picked Rachel up at school tonight, Teacher Jennifer at school informed me today that Rachel was singing a Beatles song earlier in the day.
"You must mean 'Yesterday,'" I said.
"Yes!" she replied. "She was so cute. I asked her how she knew that song and she said, 'my mom.'"
(Sorry, Drew, I know you're the one who sang it to her first, but I believe that it is now a "Mommy song." As is "This Land is Your Land." Take comfort in the fact that you are still the only one in the household who knows "Big Rock Candy Mountain" and can sing it flawlessly).

***

Tonight, as I was preparing dinner, Rachel decided to make me some "matzo ball soup." She asked for a bowl.
I got a wooden bowl I'd brought back from Africa down from the top shelf of one of our cabinets and set it on the floor. She proceeded to fill it with all the wooden fruits we bought her months ago and that she loves playing with -- the ones that attach with Velcro in the middle, so you can cut them in half with a wooden knife.

She was so proud of her handiwork and beamed when I praised the soup. So in between bites of leftover Moroccan stew, I was required to eat "strawberries." And "kiwi." And "lemons." And "oranges." I pronounced everything delicious.

She was in good spirits the whole night, and, as is the norm these days -- cleaned up her toys and brought them into the living room, then ran back into the kitchen and insisted on clearing all the plates.