Ridin' The 3 Year-Old Range

Dear Laney,

We got word from your school that they want to move you up to the 3 year-old class a little early. In an e-mail from your school's owner, she writes, "She is totally ready to have more of a challenge." This is a really nice way of saying you're a handful.

Apparently, last Friday, you approached your teacher while holding the hand of another little girl and informed the teacher, "We're leaving and going all the way to Texas." Then, after walking to the back gate with your hostage friend, you returned to clarify, "But first, we're going to need some horses."

Your preschool tuition does not cover livestock.

I'd like to say that we sit up late, reading you the novels of Zane Grey and talking at length about the pioneer spirit that first looked westward and blah blah blah, but you're totally getting this Texas stuff from an episode of "The Backyardigans," called "Ridin' the Range," in which Tyrone raps:

We'll go all the way to Texas, where the hoedown folks expect us...

put that saddle on your pony, fill your pack with baloney

We got a little trip to arrange. Let's go

Ridin' the range, ridin' the range...

The song's so cute, I can overlook the shaky physics involved in a moose riding a horse.

You start your new school in a few weeks, and I can't wait to see how it goes.

Yee-haw.

Love,
Mom