Chinese New Year

First, some background. The Disney Sleeping Beauty movie begins with some narration. The voice over explains how Sleeping Beauty started out in this world. Or rather, that world. He says "...her name was Aurora. Yes, they named her after the dawn." Upon first hearing this tiny smidgen of story from the dining room as it played in the TV room, I really thought he said "yes, they named her after the dog." That seemed wrong. "They named her after the dog?!?" I called to Kate and Jeremiah, who sat together on the couch in the TV room. A pause. Then laughter. "The dawn" came Jeremiah's voice. But forever more, when Kate watches that movie we speak over the narrator "yes, they named her after the dog."

Now then, on to today. En route home from daycare I explained to the girls that today is the Chinese New Year and this new year is called the year of the Ox. "You were born in the year of the monkey, Kate. You're a monkey!" Kate obliged with monkey noises from the back seat, right on queue. "And you, Sarah, you were born in the year of the dog." Sarah loves dogs, so this was pleasing to her. "I'm a dog!" she sang out. For a 2 and 1/2 year old, a declaration that has not yet lost its charm. "Oh!" cried Kate "She's a dog. Just like Sleeping Beauty!"