So this morning on the way to school, the girls were discussing what they’re going to be when they grow up.

Katie, my shy, artistic, sensitive soul, has always been drawn to animals in a major way. From the time she could toddle she would say, “I want to make the dogs feel better and the cats feel better and the sheep feel better and the ducks feel better.” Its just a given that she’ll be an animal doctor.

Or, a dog groomer — this silly notion she mentions from time to time, which I try to beat down because — not that there’s anything wrong with grooming dogs for  living but, you know, animal doctor pays a little better, after all, which is important in life, so she will be an animal doctor and that’s just all there is to it.

Heck, her Halloween costume when she was four was… an animal doctor (her idea). Complete with Beanie Baby dogs and cats in her lab coat pockets {monogrammed with Dr. Katie Beth from the I Love Pets Animal Clinic}.

Like I said… its understood. So we’re talking about it, and I reiterate, as I have hundreds of times through the years, how GOOD Katie Beth would be at being a vet, or anything else she chooses to do {except groom dogs…ahem}. Annie chimes in,

I know what I want to be when I grow up… A model. I would be REALLY good at that. My second choice is movie star. And my third choice? Hmmmm… my third choice is dancer.”

 Yeah, she really said that, and somehow… I know there is truth in her words.

I think back to our family fun photo shoot goofin’ this past weekend….



And I don’t know where it comes from, but somehow, she’s Hollywood, baby. She knocks people out of the way to position herself in front of cameras.

She even knows that most important celebrity skill: how to dress to go pick up Cheetos from the convenience store… Shield me from the Paparazzi, bodyguard; I’m pretending like I don’t want to be recognized…

I try to enjoy these fleeting moments when she’s just a five-year-old…

…because all too soon, she’ll be calling 90210 home and we’ll only catch glimpses of her now and then on E! News.

I just hope that if she needs to carry small dogs as fashion accessories, like glamorous models and movie stars tend to do, she’ll remember Dr. Katie Beth, Animal Doctor, back here at home.