Color My Patio Fun

The other day we had a play date for my mom's group at my good friend Sam's... no small thing considering she's 36 weeks pregnant and has been on restriced movement for 16 of those weeks.  We had about 9 mom's in all and about 16 kids.

We tried a new painting technique (cornstarch, water, food coloring) that didn't work quite as well as we hoped but the kids still gave it their best shot.  They also got to play on the playground equipment in her backyard and run through the sprinklers.  It was about a gazillion degrees outside, or maybe I just felt like it was thanks to my hot flashes.  We were there from 9 to 1, and then everyone but me went home and I hung out with Sam til 4:30.

I tried to be helpful and fixed everyone sandwiches for lunch.  Sam has two kids, Gracie who's 4 and Ethan who's 2.  After lunch we put Ethan down, and then Gracie and Joe read books together and watched a video and then headed back outside to play some more.  I wish I had there energy.

I tried to get Sam to lay down but she refused and instead stayed up and we chatted.  She's one of the nicest women I know and just really down to earth.  I feel blessed to have her, and her family, in my life.

When it was time for us to go Joey didn't want to leave.  He kept telling me he just wanted to stay at Sam's and play with Gracie until it was dark.  They are so cute together.  Gracie is like a little mom, telling the boys what to do and what they can and can't play with... but in a nice way.

All in all we had a great time.

My Little Picasso

I set Joey up to paint the other day and then went to work on something else.  When I came back instead of painting just on the paper I provided Joey had decided to paint himself.  I had to use a q-tip to get all the paint out of his nose.  Too funny.

Ahhh The Joys of Childhood

I baked a cake last week for the family, chocolate with chocolate frosting.  And yes before you ask, I did get distracted and burnt the edges.  Mom and Larry said it was fine, but I could taste the burnt after effects.  Having said that, it still didn't go to waste as Mom, Larry and Joey still loved it.

Anyway Joey got to help me mix the batter and pour it in the pan.  Then once I put it in the oven to bake, he kept coming back to me every few minutes, "Is it done yet, mom?".  He must have did this 20 times... I guess I should have listened to him and maybe my cake wouldn't have burnt.

When I took it out he was anxious to frost it right away and I had to explain to him that it had to cool before we could frost it.  He didn't understand and kept asking why.  Why and No are his two favorite words these days.  Even when you answer his why question, he just proceeds to ask why to whatever answer you gave him and this can go on and on until finally, exasperated, I'll end up saying "because mommy said so".  I'm always so disappointed in myself when I hear that come out of my mouth.

Finally the cake was cool enough and Joey and I opened the can of chocolate fudge frosting and began spreading it on the cake.  Joey is getting good at spreading as he's begun helping to make his own sandwiches at lunch and loves spreading the peanut butter, jelly, mayonaisse, etc.  When we'd cover the cake completely I scooped the rest of the frosting out with the spatular and let him have at it.  He loved it.  I loved watching him.  Before he was done he had frosting all over his mouth and looked like he had a mustache just like his daddy.

The joys of childhood can be found in the simplest things.  So can the joys of mommyhood.