That's Entertainment!

As Emma slowly makes her way through the Halloween treats, I am having flashbacks to my youth and my own Halloween fun. Tootsie pops were my absolute favorite candy and I loved watching Emma open the wrapper, stick the pop into her mouth and crunch straight to the tootsie bit in the center in three bites. I think that may have been my record, too.

We have been spending every possible non-freezing cold minute at this park:

It is so much fun for the kids there and the surface is that good spongy stuff that I realized today is good for Mama to do lunges and squats and yoga on without getting all dirty.
I am already feeling it in the gluteus maximus and am excited to get back there the next sunny day and continue the work outs. I have officially gained 15 lbs in 5 months - the last 2 times I did that I was pregnant and had a good excuse. I ensure you there are no babies in my belly this time, just a lot of good NY pizza and pasta and heroes and chinese food...
As you can hopefully see from the pic, this play area goes on forever and the kids are so excited when we pull into the parking lot. Today the slides still had some hefty morning dew on them, but that didn't stop Ben. He went down every one - his sweatpants drying them up for Emma who was right behind him. Luckily they were that quick dry material and he didn't even blink at the discomfort as there were too many other things to accomplish to take his mind off the wet.

Tonight we were reminded how much we LOVE to have friends over to the house for dinner and play. My friend's husband was out of town on business, so I invited her and her daughters, aged 2 and 5, over for an early dinner. Daddy took over the kitchen and made his new found soon to be famous Chicken Parmesan recipe. It was a huge hit with the adults - not so much the kids, but not because it wasn't DELICIOUS, but more so because the kids were so excited to PLAY that they simply couldn't take the time away to fuel their engines. Benjamin was the MOST excited of all to have guests - he SQUEALED like a stuck pig the entire time playing with the girls. The following video is a touch long, but worth the watch if only for the PURE JOY of Ben's bleats.



After our friends left, Emma finally sat down at the dinner table and finished eating her dinner. As our beautiful little hostess surveyed the table she suddenly got very sad and said, "Why didn't Sadie and Ellie eat their dinners? Don't they like us?" It was so stinking sweet! We explained to her that they simply were having SO MUCH FUN - just like her and Benny - that they didn't want to stop and take the time to eat. She accepted that explanation, ate up a bunch of pasta, asked for a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, ate that, then asked for a cheese stick. She obviously worked up quite the appetite! Good times, my faithful readers, good times.