swing vote

While on the phone with Nana, Kate walks in the room and the following conversation ensues:

Me: I'm talking to one of your favorite people...can you guess who it is?
Kate: Mamaw?
Me: No...she's one of our favorite people, but it's not her.
Kate: Papaw?
Me: No, not Papaw.
Kate: Mamaw Ketchie?
Me: Nope.
Kate: John McCain?

But before you think that the GOP has secured Kate's vote, consider yet another conversation:

Me: Kate, who are you voting for?
Kate: Obama.
Me: Really? Do you like Obama?
Kate: Uh huh.
Me: Why do you like Obama?
Kate: He has girls.

There you go, candidates. Have you strategists make sense of this one.

Kate's 1st day of school!!!

Kate headed off for her very first day of school this morning. It was a momentous occasion--one accompanied by a few tears, but a lot of smiles, too. She was so excited to see Miss Donna and play with her friends...something I've always found so endearing about Kate. If you're shorter than 4 feet tall, you're a friend. Even before she knows your name, she knows you're a friend.

Kate was pretty timid when she first walked into the classroom. Watching her figure out her place in new situations makes me both anxious and proud. Anxious because I so badly want this world to be kind to her. Proud because her sweet spirit sees mostly goodness in it, something my grown up eyes are sometimes slow to see.
Kate studied her bear necklace for a few minutes. It's just a little necklace with her name written on it, but I think it made her feel like a big girl.
She had no problem in seeing us go; she was already lost in Kate-world. Leaving, as it turned out, was a bit harder on us (okay, me). I couldn't help but think that this is just the first of a hundred send-offs.
Here was Kate's report at the end of the day:

Me: Did you have fun?
Kate: nodding in the affirmative
Me: Did you play?
Kate: Again with the nodding, then: "I played with one girlfriend and then another one."
Me: Did you have some yummy snacks?
Kate: Ummmm....crackers and water.
Me: What did you learn today?
Kate: About school and not being mean and being nice.
Me: Are you excited about going back?
Kate: I am!

So, it was a success. Kate loved it, and I love that she loved it.