Domestic Adventures

My most recently discovered source for cool kids’ products is Eeboo. The artwork on everything is beautiful, unique, and whimsical. I ordered the “tool” tot tower for Micah’s birthday. I am so in love with the flowers and fairies blocks but Emmaline is really too far beyond these toys to justify a purchase. I may just have to buy some of their stationary or composition books instead. They even have beautiful games!

This morning we drove the big truck cart through Publix. Not the one where the kids sit in a cab low to the ground in front of the cart - this is the really big truck cart. The one where the kids sit up high near the handle and spin their twin steering wheels while they wave to their adoring public like celebrities riding in a convertible for a parade. They draw a lot more attention up high like that and as we strolled down the isles I could hear people whisper to each other as they pointed to the kids and smiled. One person asked if they were twins. They attracted attention from the store clerks as well and netted themselves balloons, stickers, enough deli meat and cheese for lunch and free cookies for dessert.

Last night Trent and I attended our Tuscan cooking class at Truffles and Trifles. The atmosphere was fun and casual and very hands on. After a little introduction, Marci (the owner) sets each couple loose at a kitchen station with a few recipes. Two assistants make the rounds keep you out of trouble and answer any questions. Each couple made part of the meal and we were charged with preparing Tuscan chicken with warm bean salad and an Italian peach cake. The wonderful part is, these are things I can really see myself making at home! When all the food is done, you choose a platter to make it look pretty add it to the buffet so everyone can try everything. Truly delicious food, and a wonderful evening with Trent.

Sunday we had Stephen and his parents over for Sunday dinner. When I first moved to Orlando and started attending Lake Howell Bible Chapel, they had me over for countless meals. Many Sunday afternoons, and other days as well were spent around their table, talking, eating wonderful food, and playing games. I’m so glad to be able to welcome them into my home now and carry on their tradition of hospitality.

Today was a beautiful day for our annual spring training game with Stephen. He is trying valiantly to educate our children in the ways of sports - probably a good thing since Trent and I are the two most unsporty people on the planet. We ate hot dogs and peanuts, and had a playground break about half-way through the game. Emmaline unabashedly shouted, “Go Astros!” at the top of her lungs even though we were sitting by the other team’s dugout. Nobody minded though, and the Astros won thirteen to three.

So after dinner this evening, Katie and Stephen joined us for strawberry pie. Emmaline loves to have guests and is always eager to engage them in conversation.

“Katie, where are your rings?”

“I don’t have any rings.”

“Why not?”

“I don’t need any.”

“Katie, you’re a grown up, right?”

“Yes.”

“Do you have a husband?”

“No.”

“Are you working on finding a husband?”

At this point were were all laughing too hard to continue.
Honestly, we don’t brainwash her with this stuff, she comes up with it on her own.
Read the story on Megan’s blog to see how three year old little boy conversation contrasts with this.

This morning we had a snowball fight in our kitchen - with real snow! What better thing could Steve have brought down on his visit from Minneapolis than a cooler full of snow? After pelting each other with handfuls of snow for a while, and quite of bit of delighted shrieking, Emmaline and I made a tiny snowman. It’s nice to play with snow in the morning and then be able to eat lunch in your sunny backyard.

Friday evening we had Tricia and Brewier over for grilled pizza. We have a long and glorious history of serving them very bad food, but this meal marked a success. The last time we invited them for grilled pizza, we had not yet perfected the process and it showed. That night we feasted on salad, a bit of salvaged crust, and of course, dessert. This time, we all enjoyed the pizza as our main course. (Thanks, Tricia, for the photo)

Micah’s little feet are so sweet and plump I haven’t wanted to wrestle them into shoes, and the weather hasn’t necessitated them thus far. But now that he is teetering on the verge of walking, it’s finally time to buy Micah some real shoes. Getting comfy, easy on and off shoes was important, so we shopped at Stride Rite to get these size 5 extra wide sneakers which happen to look like miniature replicas of Daddy’s shoes. As much as I love my barefoot baby, I also have an affinity for teeny tiny shoes.

“He’s practicing his rawh.”

“His what?”

“His rawh.”

“I don’t know what a rawh is.”

“You know, his tiger noise.”

‘Oh, yes, of course.”