Evelyn says: "We're all pteranodons!"

Evelyn has gone through a phase through the last half of the summer where she assigns our family different character roles. I wrote about it almost a month ago when I talked about my new name being Randall. Unfortunately at that time all the cool names from Monsters Inc were taken so Dan didn't get a role. I was Randall (which is not-so-cool but what can you do), Evelyn was Mike Wazowski, and Jackie as Sullivan. We teased Dan and called him Roz, the big grouchy secretarial snail that gives Mike grief about his paperwork. It never really stuck, though.

Since then we have also been given names from Sesame Street. Evelyn is the star as Elmo, and I was cast as Big Bird. This original casting happened a couple weeks ago while we played at the park one Sunday morning while Dan got his hair cut. I was momentarily offended -- why was I Big Bird? Big Bird is tall and has a big belly. I asked Evelyn if I could be Abby but she said no, I am Big Bird. I guess Big Bird does kind of fit right now because while I may not be tall I am tall to her, as my Grandma pointed out. Dan kindly (seriously - he was very gentle with his words, I didn't end up crying, ha) pointed out that right now I do have a rather large-ish belly plus my hair is yellow (/blonde) like Big Bird's feathers. I've resigned myself to the fact that I am indeed Big Bird. Dan is Snuffy.

During the Sesame Street phase, we were all in character around bedtime. I'd say, "Goodnight Elmo" and Evelyn would respond with "Good night Big Bird! Good night Snuffy!" About a week after our roles were handed out, we decided Toby needed a role as well so he didn't feel left out. He became Cookie Monster (ahem, I would also be fit for that role) but we don't really call him Cookie Monster much.

Evelyn's TV show of choice recently has been "Dinosaur Train", which is played on PBSKids. We don't have cable so we have checked out two DVDs from various libraries and I also downloaded a whole season to my computer. Watching Dinosaur Train is just one step further into her obsession with dinosaurs. Her obsession developed this spring -- I think it started with the "10 Little Dinosaurs" book (that I have blogged about) that used to belong to my brother. I may have aided the obsession by picking out dinosaur books at the library. Now dinosaurs are a big deal in our house and we're planning a dino-themed 3rd birthday party.

Within the past week, Evelyn has decided that we are pteranodons. If you were wondering, pteranodons are often referred to as pterodactyls. Evelyn really likes it when her Dad holds her up so she can "fly" around the house -- she flaps her little wings and squawks like a pteranodon does. Last night Evelyn said, "We are all pteranodons!" At bedtime, I am Mommy Pteranodon, and Dan is Daddy Pteranodon. She hasn't officially agreed to Toby's name but Dan and I have been calling him Tubby Toby Pteranodon - it is fitting.

At bedtime we talk about how Evelyn is going to go sleep in her pteranodon nest. It's really cute. She goes by either Shiny Pteranodon or Tiny Pteranodon -- they are both characters in the Dinosaur Train TV series.