"Every once in a while, I like to get the girls little surprises that make their day," he explained.
"That certainly would do it," I replied and smiled at him. Cookie Crisp went in the pantry and sat unnoticed for some time.
This morning, Hailey tenatively approaches me and says,"Mommy, why is there Cookie Crisp in the Pantry?" The cereal has been discovered."It's for you to eat," I tell her. "Daddy bought it as a special treat for you."
Hailey races away from me and straight to Ansley. "We get to eat it!" She spouts with intensity, suggesting that they discussed the meaning of that cereal for some time before approaching me.
Moments later, Ansley works at opening the box. Hailey stands nearby, watching every move. Emberly picks up on the excitement of the moment and starts dancing.
"Cookies," she chants. Step, step, twirl. "Cookies."
"Cookie cereal," Ansley corrects her.
Ansley pours three bowls. She eats her own cereal sans milk with her fingers. Emberly tries one and ignores the rest. Hailey uses a spoon to eat her cereal, also dry.
"Mommy," Ansley says like a scientist observing an experiment, "these cookies are really small."
"Yeah," I reply. "I think they do that because it's a cereal and normal sized cookies would make it hard to eat with a spoon."
She looks at another cookie for a moment before eating it. "And they don't taste exactly like cookies, either." Such an observant child.
"That's probably the vitamins they have to add to it so it will be healthy. You know, a healthy part of this complete breakfast." I pause for a moment, considering the words that have just come out of my mouth. "Well, as healthy as a cookie cereal can be, anyway. Hey, do you want some strawberries or bananas with that?"
