First Timers...

After a long day at the museum and a lot of walking we were having a hard time finding a place to eat where we would ALL eat. 

Fondue?

Cheese?

Chocolate?

Por su puesto/ of course!

Prepared at the table.

On a ceramic cook top.

Did I mention this is HOT?

Did I mention that each one of us forgot not to touch metal that is sitting on said ceramic cooktop?

Did I tell you Zoe lost her shoe early in the experience?

Dad's beer arrived frozen?

Roman poked his forehead with the skewer?

Yeah, good times were had by all.

By the time we got to meat/ravioli and then the chocolate we were a bit of a mess. So the documentation stops here :)

A splurge at the Rainforest cafe.

Not a splurge.

Not at the Rainforest Cafe.

1 of maybe 10 things Roman eats.

Is there a little guy in your rice?

Yes, there WAS  a little guy in your rice and it made you laugh.

Rice and yogurt....what a dinner.

Family fun night at Costco.

If letting you cut your hot dog into little pieces while it cools down is what it takes to keep you calm, then I'm all for it.

30 minutes later. 

BUT I WANT ICE CREAM.

Still getting mileage out of this table.

I brought lunch outside for us and you set up shop in the yard at your OWN table. 

When all else fails....

Give 'em shots

Smoothie shots that is.

One glass didn't make it through without shattering on the patio...oh well.

Eat it all gone.

Olive Garden with Grandma C.

Spaghetti was preceded by breadsticks.

Which didn't reduce the appetite.

There were refills from Mom's plate.

Zoe saw the picture of the fettucine alfredo on the kids menu and was pretty clear that she wanted that. And she stared blankly when asked which of the three sides she wanted. I ordered her broccoli, which she dug into.

Roman didn't have the option of fries, or that would have been his choice. Instead we ordered him grapes, which he proceeded to suck the juice out of. Yes, that's what they are little man. Containers for grape juice. Oy.

We've been on an "eat out" binge. We're on vacation (even when we're home). So what the hey. Last night I had to switch plates with Zoe. She was hanging all over me to eat my cream of broccoli soup, so I just gave it to her. Not going to stop her from eating that over her cheeseburger.

Hard shell taco

Doesn't everyone where wear pearls to Taco Bell?

(garage sale find a few hours earlier)

Sometimes...

We have frozen blueberries for dessert.

I've learned to make you take your shirt off.

But then you discover the art of body painting. 

Geez.

YUM!

Patiently waiting while I take a picture, at Snuffy's Malt Shop.

Roman went for the cherry on top when I said "go".  Zoe got her turn a few days later when we all shared a Shamrock shake. My, what the diet.

One way Zoe differs from George H. W. Bush

One word: Broccoli.

The other day I took some fresh broccoli out for lunch. Before I had a chance to chop it up, Miss Zoe grabbed a chunk and took a bite. I should have been happy. But what I did instead was to grab it back and tell her "no, I need to cut it up into smaller pieces". She left the kitchen wailing. I stood there, thought about it and decided that maybe it was JUST FINE to let her gnaw on a huge chunk of broccoli. I mean really.

So I lured her back with the promise of broccoli. Not every mom can say that. And these are the pictures that followed.

Mind you, this is not "normal". There is NOTHING predictable about what you're going to eat. But I sure wasn't going to make you cry by taking your beloved broccoli away. Reminds me of a story your uncle Dan told about your cousin Mina when she was really little.  In the grocery store she asked "Dad, can we get cauliflower?" How do you say no to that?

Lunch break.

Good Choice, Dad

So after the Ren Fest, we decided to go out to dinner. I was in no mood to make decisions, so I let your dad figure it out.  He brought us here.

Cowboy Jack's, a western themed restaurant with peanut shells we could throw on the floor.

Zoe could go for that.  And I have to admit, I kind of wanted to shell peanuts just so I could throw the shells on the floor....but it still felt so wrong. 

But what a way to keep you occupied!

[That would be the way to spin this experience..in reality you two were as antsy and rambunctious as ever. How many times under the table to the other side? How many times did you hear "don't touch _____", " No, you can't taste it, it's Mommy's SPECIAL drink" :) And I've even forgot (again) that taking you out to a restaurant is a BAD idea, although the louder they are, the better off it is. Except of course if it hits the "I'm covering my ears and crying" decibel level. Then, well then, we're in for a b-a-d time.]

I want

Peek-a-boo cheese to the rescue.

Peek a boo cheese

Not sure if Roman came up with that name by himself, but when offered a slice of Jarlsberg this is what he immediately called it. I don't know that I'd ever run into Jarlsberg with holes like Swiss...but that's what it says! (me, the cheese connoisseur?)

This is why you want your Dad to pack your picnic lunch

Puddin'!

Lollipop, Lollipop, Oh Lolli Lolli Lolli

When I saw these at Walmart it seemed like a fun thing.

  Strawberry Shortcake for the girl....

Blueberry for the boy...

Who knew you'd be so slobbery?  When the pools started in the kitchen outside we went. And for your information, it takes about 30 seconds of sugar before it hits Zoe. No. Kidding.

I was thinking about this. Sometime in the transition from winter to summer (no, there's no spring) we stopped having you wear bibs. It just happened. It was time. But now it just means the mess has transitioned to the floor. We could feed an army of ants, that is for sure. Usually it's the princess who makes the bigger mess. 

 Another thing about these pictures - this happens at the end of the day when I don't care so much about keeping you clean. Go for it. What the hay.