How to April Fools' prank a six year old

Kiddo has been way too excited about April Fools' Day's impending arrival this year.  She's been talking to me about it for at least a week, several times a day.  Clearly, it's been on her mind.  Last night she was giddy with glee at the thought of today finally being the day.

I decided we'd have to do something to prank her.  I've blogged before about how my own father loved a good April Fools' prank, so there is a family precedent.  After tucking her in, I came downstairs and tried to brainstorm with Hubby.  We were coming up mostly blank (I think Hubby might've been a bit less invested in the effort given that he had a 7am meeting on the schedule, so he wouldn't be around for any prank witnessing) so I turned to the trusty internet, and found in the fruits of my Googling the plan for today.

It involved a bit of prep work last night, so I set about getting stuff ready while snickering to myself around 11:00pm.  This morning, I finished my set up before Kiddo came downstairs for breakfast.  (Still snickering to myself, of course.)

See this perfectly ordinary bowl of cereal and mug of milk?

Not so ordinary, after all!
 
(*snicker snicker*)

Thanks to an idea I read online, I'd filled both the bowl and mug last night with water (colored with a few drops of half-and-half) almost to the top and frozen them.  This morning, I topped off the mug with milk and the bowl with cereal and milk, and voila.

Kiddo came galumphing down to the table, fired up her iPod (because everyone needs to hear this song and this song at 6:43 in the morning, dontcha know) and picked up her spoon.  I carefully acted nonchalant and she seemed to not be quite awake enough yet to recall the date.  I had the camera at the ready, just out of her line of vision.

APRIL FOOLS'!!

She thought it was hilarious and was so excited to have been pranked.  I took the joke bowl of cereal away and told her to start drinking her milk while I got her real breakfast out.

APRIL FOOLS' AGAIN!!

Hee hee hee!  Now I see why Dad was so into pranking on April Fools' - it's FUN!

Of course, Kiddo felt the need to retaliate.  The best she could come up with off the cuff was "Hey Mom, your shoelaces are untied!"  This, while I was standing there barefoot and still in my (new and ridiculously adorable, pink flamingo-and-palm tree) jammies.  Well played, Kiddo.  *snort*  Especially when she tried it again ten minutes later, while I was still barefoot.

I texted Hubby to let him know the pranks were a hit.  Oh yes, I am feeling pleased with myself right about now.  Not the levels of excitement I felt a year ago today, but still.

Happy April Fools' Day, y'all!