Ok, before I start this post for real, I have to print a correction to yesterday's post. My mom sent me a frantic text after she read my blog yesterday (I know it was frantic even though it was just words on my phone.) It said, "I read your blog! You forgot the lemon juice."
To which, of course, I responded: "Huh?"
I'm eloquent that way.
She then informed me that the black bean dip recipe calls for lemon juice, which I have completely forgotten because I never use it. I think the key here is if you like the cilantro and lemon juice flavors together, you will love it in the dip. Me? I want to taste the SALT. I mean, I douse the stuff in salt. Tons of it. But if you like the other, throw those in there too. It's yummy.
And if you try it, come back and let me know if you like it or if it's just me.
Sometimes I feel bad for my kids. Because I am a border-line agoraphobe, they rarely get to do fun things. Ok, that's not true, I put my social anxiety on the back burner for their benefit, but I still feel badly for them. I feel like I *should* be the mom who loves taking them to parks and roller rinks. I confess my own wretched memory of skating blissfully around the rink in jr. high has me a little leery. When a small child dropped to his knees RIGHT IN MY PATH, sending me flying across the path of several other poor skaters all while "You Gave Love a Bad Name" pounded out on the loudspeaker, I think a permanent mental scar was inflicted.
And that really hurt. Not just my pride either. Physically, HURT. Surprised I didn't break something like a wrist or at least my pinky finger. That might've made it worth it if I'd gotten the cast I always wanted.
Anyway, there are times when I feel so bad for them I realize I need to do something.
And that's why I love playdates.
Ethan loves them too. Isn't he just like a happy puppy waiting for some attention here?
If you're like me, you assume YOU will be the entertainment for said date of play. You'll be happy to know (as I discovered) this is not the case. In fact, the kids don't really even want you around. They will have Wii tournaments without you. They'll dive into the dry erase markers and decorate the oversized white board in your office just fine without you hovering, thank you very much. And yes, they'll also gladly use your paints and canvases so long as you busy yourself with other things.
I spread leftover wrapping paper on my table as if it needs protecting from stray streaks of paint. The thing is so beat up (and Ethan carved "I love you" in it, so you know, I probably could've gone without.)
I wish I'd taken a photo of Joshua's final painting. It was pretty darn cool.
I did make Sophia and Cali pose with theirs, though Sophia informed me she still needs to put letters on hers.
Is it wrong that I am totally stealing her candle in the darkness idea? She came up with this and she's going to put something like "Let your line shine" or "You are the light of the world" or something... and Cali said as she painted, "you should put swirlies around your flame."
Hello? Genius. Don't be surprised if in a few days I'm posting a candle of my own.
Ethan was so cheesy all day. So happy to have his friend over to play.
But then, the girls weren't any different.
The simple fact that I had to bribe them out of their jammies and into real clothes should've been a hint that my children were in desperate need of a new routine.
Then there was Sam:
talk about cheesy.
He was content to follow the boys around (and they let him!) and eat fruit snacks with no shirt on.
Pretty sure I can expect another frantic text after my mom reads this post too. "Don't you put clothes on that kid? It's freezing outside!"
She forgets how much these children run around, I think. And she forgets that I don't keep my thermostat on 65 like she does.
Love you, Mommy.
Good play date. Need to do it again. It was so fun watching the kids with their friends, and it made me so happy to see what GOOD kids they've picked to hang out with!
Happy Tuesday!
