I truly have no idea whether nature or nurture plays a greater role in child development, but I know that Alexis has managed to turn into quite the little sports fan. Whether it's in her blood or she just caught on, who knows. For the most part it's a good thing. We can watch or take her to a game and she will not just behave, but actually enjoy the event.

Over the course of last winter, she developed into a hard-core Pittsburgh Penguins fan. She went to a bunch of games, watched them on TV, and was forever talking about the "Pen-ins." Then the season came to an end (BOOO!), and slowly we managed to wean her from the constant barrage of Iceburgh, Flower, Cindy (forgive the poor kid for not being able to pronounce "Sydney" mmkay?), Ryan, and Geno.

Then I screwed up.

About a month ago I was backing up photos and videos to an external drive and Alexis came over to sit with me. She asked to watch some of the videos, and we ended up watching a short clip from one of last year's Penguins playoff games. Ever since then? She's been bugging the crap out of us asking about the Pen-ins.

Every day.

Every. single. day. several. times. per. day.

The thing is there was NO Penguins to show her, other than stuff online. Let's just say I got a little tired of hitting "Replay" on YouTube. Her answer to the lack of Penguins action was to stoop low.

Very low.

She started asking to go to Pirates games.

Seriously.

She and I had a long talk about how this is Pittsburgh, and in Pittsburgh, there is no baseball in the fall. Ever. Nor will there be.

That took her right back to chanting, "Geno! Geno! Geno!" (I'm not even kidding.)

Thank ye hockey gods it is the most wonderful time of year.

I love Hockey Eve.

(Totally an old video, but I lurve it.)