Whee-kend!

We had a whirlwind trip to Grandma RL's to see Aunt L's graduation Thursday evening, and also got to visit with Grandpa H and MeMaw. Want to see some pictures? C'mon, you know you do! (Blogger is acting up and rotating pics that don't need it, so I'm only putting out the ones that play nice.)

We were rather far away from the stage during graduation, so no pics of that (sorry, L!). Miss M fell asleep during the processional and slept for most of the ceremony. Mister J was very well-behaved, thanks to some Cheez-Its and a coloring book that Grandma brought. Mister J looked through the entire book, coloring pages and working puzzles here and there. Then, he found the answer key in the back of the book. Here he is using the answer key to unscramble the word motorcycle.

After the ceremony, we met at a local restaurant to celebrate. Mister J and Miss M enjoyed playing in the kids' area.

They were plenty spoiled that night, since they were showered with quarters on this particular occasion. Perhaps the adults who were providing the steady stream of coins were enjoying watching the kids have so much fun! They took turns, with each other and with two other kids, driving the car. They also enjoyed a 'virtual' roller coaster ride - check out Mister J whooping it up! There were many other toys as well - which they cleaned up after dinner with only a little bit of adult help.

Miss M and Grandpa H playing a little game before we all said our goodbyes. The kids were exceptionally well-behaved this evening, especially considering the late hour. We finally crawled in bed at midnight!

On the way home today - I told you it was a whirlwind visit! - we took a little stop off the beaten path for a late lunch and some time to stretch our legs. I packed the kids' lunches before we left Grandma RL's.

They had soybutter sandwiches, cantaloupe and grapes, cucumber slices, and hummus. Miss M also had tomatoes, which Mister J doesn't care for.

After lunch, they stretched their legs checking out this covered bridge from end to end.

(This is my favorite picture from the park)

We also enjoyed watching this little guy
and a butterfly that I couldn't get a good picture of - but we did get close enough to see its beautiful blue and black wings.

We walked the paths and footbridges in the little park, and also got a little adventurous.


There were steps leading down to the rocks in the creek, so certainly they were meant to be crossed! Mister J was speedy and sure-footed today, and Miss M wanted her own chance to be free of Mom's grasp. She got it on our second crossing, once she was safe on a very large, very flat rock. I let go long enough to satisfy her and to snap a photo, then we made our way back to the steps together. Meanwhile, Mister J was making his was across for a third time, completely on his own.

After a late night last night, a 4am wake-up call when somebody fell out of bed, some afternoon rock-hopping, and no naps on the way home, the kids were exhausted. They were asleep before 6 o'clock.


They barely woke when I carried them up to bed, but I think I should probably expect an early wake-up call Saturday morning!

Why My Daughter Won't Be Eating Dinner Tonight

This little snack of Mini-Wheats, Nilla Wafers, and Rice Krispies ruined dinner. She opened the ice cream cones, but didn't actually eat one. Guess she got full before dessert....

Oh, and...

We took down the last baby gate yesterday. Both of the kids have been able to open it for a while now, so it wasn't all that effective anymore. We might have kept it up longer if Mister J hadn't taught Miss M how to open it....

A Surprisingly Good Day

Today is the second day in a row that our attempts to go play at a local park have been thwarted by things beyond my control. I'm trying to help Mister J handle these disappointments with grace instead of grump, but must admit that I, too, was bummed when the sprinkles began just as we arrived at the park this morning. I let the kids get out for just a few minutes, but when the rain started falling harder (and neither of the kids was interested in sitting on a wet swing) we loaded back into the mommy-van to figure out Plan B. We ran a few errands and made plans to meet Big J for lunch.

We had a great lunch! The kids were very well-behaved, Big J and I got a chance to talk about a few things, and when it was almost time to go Mister J reminded me about our free doughnut coupons. The last time we'd planned to use them the kids misbehaved and lost the privilege, but I was willing to give it a shot today. Big J had to go back to work but asked us to bring one home for him. So, we said our goodbyes and then headed over to the nearby Krispy Kreme!

I gave the kids their coupons, then made them order on their own and give their coupons to the person at the register. I always hated when my mom made give my own order, but of course I understand why now that I'm a grown-up. My kids usually hesistate, but since they were ordering doughnuts they had a little extra incentive today and not a bit of hesitation.

While I ordered my doughnut (and one for Big J), the kids had already gone to pick out a table next to the Doughnut Theatre. No, I'm not making that up, and yes, at our Krispy Kreme, you get to watch them make the doughnuts!


It's tough to take pictures through the glass, but if you look closely you can see the proofing box in the photo above - and the doughnuts rising inside! They go up and down on a vertical sort of conveyor until they are ready to go into the fryer. They were making regular (sweet, delicious!) glazed doughnuts when we arrived today, but halfway through our doughnuts we saw that they were changing to the 'no-hole' doughnuts - the kind that end up as creme-, jelly-, or custard-filled doughnuts. We've never seen these being made before, and although the process is the same (rising, frying, flipping, frying, draining, and a ride through the sugary, white curtain of glaze) it was still exciting to see a 'new' kind of doughnut in the 'theatre'.

So, what kind of doughnuts did we enjoy today? The kids each ordered chocolate-iced doughnuts with sprinkles.
I ordered my favorite - chocolate-iced, custard-filled - and picked out a chocolate-iced, creme-filled one to take home for Big J. I may or may not have sent him a pix message with a photo very similar to this one:
I have to admit that when we rain started this morning, I did not have high hopes for the day. I was eager to get out of the house because Mister J was a little sad about our neighbors moving, and I wanted to get his mind off of the moving truck next door. (Thankfully, they will still be in the same town and we can still meet for playdates!) I knew there was a chance of rain, and we didn't make it to the park before the rain began. Hmph.

Now, though, I am thankful for a nice lunch as a family and some sweet moments with the kids (and for pix messaging - sorry, honey, that wasn't really 'sweet' of me, but you know I love you)! As 'everyday' as having doughnuts might seem, they really were some special moments for me, and hopefully for Mister J and Miss M, too!

Mealtime persuasion

As I was making quesadillas for lunch today, I was reminded of a couple of times I've been able to persuade Mister J to eat foods he wasn't so sure about.

Mister J used to eat just about anything, and still has some favorites that raise eyebrows among other parents we know. Hummus, for example. Salsa, even if it's a bit spicy. Cucumbers and carrots - dipped in the hummus or not. Edamame.

There are also a few things he doesn't really care for, and even we don't understand. Corn - just doesn't excite him at mealtime. Guacamole - he used to eat it, but doesn't anymore. Oranges - will only eat the mandarins that come out of a can, not the 'real' thing.

Last spring/summer, our Costco had beautiful blueberries - Miss M would eat a bowlful, Mister J wouldn't touch them. Was it wrong of me to tell him that eating them would keep his eyes blue? It got him to try them, and now he loves them! (Check out this and this for evidence of my success.) Now, every time we go to Costco, Mister J asks if we can get some blueberries - and most of the time we do.

Getting him excited about refried beans was just as sneaky, but I'm not as likely to get busted for this like I will when he finds out the blueberries don't really make his eyes blue. I've already mentioned that he likes hummus. Not too long ago, on another day when I was making quesadillas for lunch, I explained to Mister J that refried beans were very much like hummus - both are made from beans. He was willing to give it a try, and now likes to help me spread the beans on the tortillas when we make quesadillas.

I wonder if these 'lessons' will become one of those things that he says he'll never do when he's a parent, but ends up doing anyway. Oh, yes - I've had to eat my words. Even some unspoken ones. Haven't we all?