We hosted our weekly playgroup this morning. Kara came over wearing a blue flowered dress that Annalie also happens to own. Naturally, I had to find that dress for her so she could put it on, because what’s more fun than dressing just like one of your friends?

Nothing, that’s what!

Kara and Annalie were thick as thieves the whole morning. They colored together. They spent a long time playing “Grandma and Mommy and Baby” with one of Annalie’s babydolls. They sneaked up to Annalie’s bedroom (which is off-limits during playgroup because that’s where I hide the mess that’s normally in the living room) together. They were having a great old time.

After they came back downstairs, Annalie asked me to help her find her stickers. That’s not a special request or anything; she is allowed free access to her sticker collection and is allowed to use them however she likes, as long as she likes putting them on paper or someone’s clothes. I rummaged in her art drawers and gave her the whole zipper bag full without thinking twice. That was first my mistake.

Ten minutes later, I realized I had not heard or seen Annalie or Kara since handing over the stickers. Losing track of them was my second mistake. I found them creating their own sticker art gallery on the underside of the kitchen table.

I managed to keep a straight face long enough to remind them that stickers are not for furniture, and suppressed the urge to have them pose for a photo with the stickers above them. They crawled out from under the table, gave me the remaining stickers, and went off to play.