Some reasons I have to colour my hair:

(with apologies to facebook friends for the repetition)

Anecdote 1:

Last night Pepper, while cleaning out her backpack, opened up the little plastic container that had contained part of her lunch, presumably olives (I didn't pack it and hey, she likes olives, what can I say?) and thrust it in my face:

"I'd like to introduce you to my new friend 'Oliver'"...

me [leaning it to make sure it wasn't a slug I was looking at - it could easily happen]:

"what?"

"Oliver!"

"Oliver, the olive pit?"

"Yeah!"

"uh...OK. Hi Oliver"

"now I need to find a house for him"

proceed to rip apart the entire plastic containers drawer to find a suitable house for Oliver the Olive pit]

Anecdote 2:

A few weeks ago, I opened the door to have Pepper exclaim to me that she was inviting her new friend in to dinner. Again, it is not outside the realm of possibility that she met someone walking by and invited them in (hasn't happened, but it *could*) After staring at her for what seemed like an eternity, she produced a leaf.

Anecdote 3:

This (below) is the Queen Strawberry. Yes, it had a Title, and it was treated to all rights & priviledges accompanying such. Often when she gets that look from me, she will lean in & whisper "[it's just a game, mom]". One day when I got home, she told me she got a new recipe for cookies from the boy across the street (her future husband, I'm told - often. She is planning their wedding. I had to tactfully postpone a discussion on the selection of flowers, but that's another topic): flour, chocolate milk, orange juice and some other kitchen treasures that I can't recall... or have blocked. Anyway, I made the unfortunate mistake of not waiting for the "[I'm just *playing*, Mom]" and just assumed. I *did* however, ask Max if she was kidding, and he said "yeah, of course", so I can blame him.

A little later, as we were getting ready to go to Norah's soccer, I walked into the kitchen to find her madly stirring flour, chocolate milk, orange juice... So I phoned Max at work "she wasn't playing, she's making cookies". The worst part was having to explain that it wouldn't work AND not having time that night to make some real cookies. I figured that would be better than going through with the whole thing and having to taste for herself. Maybe I should have done that anyway!