This reminds me of an event 17 years ago, when my eldest niece was 4 years old. I had gotten circus tickets, and couldn't go, so gave them to my mom, so she could take Jess. Afterwards, I got two phone calls.

Call #1: Ma: Well, we went early so we could help feed the elephants, but they don't let people do that any more - we couldn't even pet them. Jess was very disappointed, so we went and got ice cream to pass the time. Then the circus was bright and colorful, and we had a good time, she was very tired when we got home.

Call #2: Jess: Auntie! We went to the circus and we were gonna feed the elephants but the man said no, people can't do that any more and so then me and Gramma were really disappointed so we went and got ice cream and then it was time for the circus and we went in and there were clowns and Gramma got us cotton candy and then there was ponies and we got popcorn, and it was really really fun and we had candy peanuts, too.

My big brother (Jess' dad): Okay, I've got the phone now. Whew! Did you get all that? Somebody "wasn't hungry" for her dinner ... but she's still wired! I'm waiting for her to crash any minute now.

Me: Ice cream and cotton candy and popcorn and peanut brittle? Does this sound like the same woman who raised us?

Big brother: Ah, but she's a Grandma now - everything's different!