Colonial School

Yesterday, Julia hosted a play-date with one of her best friends, a fellow American-Girl lover and history aficianado, with whom she plays "Colonial School."  Last afternoon's game got REALLY extravagant, with Julia and her friend donning what they deemed to be "colonial" dresses and putting together a formal colonial tea-time and dance party.

I would think that young girls in colonial times wore dresses a bit more practical than Julia chose; I was thinking long-sleeved dresses with an apron and a cap, but Julia insisted on the following:

These are identical, hand-me-down, worn-only-once bridesmaids dresses that I got from a friend last spring.  I really can't imagine what else they would be suited for besides a wedding or a First Communion (and we're not Catholic.)  But apparently Julia feels they represent the colonial schoolgirl fashion, so she and her friend were delighted to be wearing them.

Julia was especially thrilled to discover that the dresses contained petticoats. 

JULIA: Mommy!  This is REALLY like a colonial dress, because it has PETTICOATS!  See?  When I kneel down, it stays in shape on the ground!

Is that what petticoats are?  I didn't know, so I had to google it.  Turns out I should have known to trust that Julia would know exactly what a petticoat is.

Madeleine was graciously allowed to attend the colonial school, wearing a church dress that had an inner layer that I tried to pass off as petticoats to avoid the whole jealousy thing. 

MADELEINE: Julia, look, I have petticoats too!
JULIA: Madeleine.  That's not a petticoat.  A petticoat keeps the SHAPE of the dress like THIS (demonstrating.)
MADELEINE: But Julia-
JULIA: Madeleine.  You DON'T even know what a petticoat IS.
ME: Julia, it's okay.  Madeleine has petticoats too.
JULIA: No, Mommy, a petticoat-
ME: (glaring at Julia) Just drop it Julia.  MADELEINE HAS PETTICOATS TOO, RIGHT?
JULIA: (finally catching on) Oh.  Yeah!

Unfortunately, Madeleine's attendance at the colonial school was short-lived; she got kicked out for not being lady-like enough.

JULIA: (freaking out) Madeleine!  You're not doing what a colonial girl is SUPPOSED to do!  You're SUPPOSED to be acting LADY-LIKE, and instead you're just GOOFING AROUND! 
MADELEINE: Well Julia-
JULIA: Mooooooooom!  Madeleine is NOT cooperating!  She's supposed to be acting LADY-LIKE and she's just GOOFING AROUND!
ME: Madeleine, come on downstairs and hang out with me.

Colonial school proceeded to the ballroom (living room), wherein Julia's friend danced as Julia played classical music on the piano.  Then it was time for colonial tea, and Julia worked hard setting the table properly (with plates and "food" from the play-kitchen) while I put on a CD of Jean-Philippe Rameau suites.  Julia's collection of American Girl dolls joined them for the feast.

Sheesh.  If that's what colonial school days were like, I kind of wish I had lived in colonial times!

In completely unrelated news, the Rowe family just had the following conversation:

ETHAN: Courtney, Madeleine says she writes with her left hand.  Is she really left-handed?
ME: No!  She's right-handed.
JULIA: That's because she doesn't know which one is her left hand.
ETHAN: No, she held up her left hand and said "This is the hand I write with."
ME: Madeleine, you write with your right hand, honey.
MADELEINE: No I don't.  (holding up her left hand) I write with THIS hand.
ME: No you don't.
MADELEINE: Yes I do!
ME: No, honey.  If you picked up a marker to draw, you would do it with your right hand.
MADELEINE: Well Mama.  If I picked up a CRAYON...(pausing to think)

The conversation seemed to be over, but a moment later, Madeleine was standing up with her back turned to me.

MADELEINE: Oh, Mama, I know!  When I turn around, THIS (holding up her left hand) is still my LEFT hand.  And when...(turning forward) when...(looking at her hand in confusion) when...WAIT a minute...(pausing to think again.)

She's a brainiac, I tell you.