Go Rangers!

Ranger Cookies, that is! ;-) They were disappearing just about as quickly as I could bake and pull them out of the oven. The trick was to make sure DH would leave enough for the kids' tea party. They were on the way over to spend the day, and I knew that would be the first thing on their little agenda. I was sure of that ...

 

Kids. Don't. Forget. ... anything!

 

Jack recently found the tea party set in the toy box and

now he likes taking tea with Kate and me.

 

(So far, he is happy to let Kate be "in control" and do the pouring!)

What he really likes is drinking "tea" from a cup with no lid!

Last week's cookies were lemon wedges from Maggiano's!

Perfect for our little party.

(chips on the side make that sweet/salty mix!)

Sweet Kate had a run-in with

the BBQ grill when visiting her cousins. Smack right into it!

(Thank You, God that it was on the side of her eye and not in it!)

Jack also discovered the viewmaster!

Since baby brothers somehow manage to get in the middle of things,

Kate and I wait until he is napping to enjoy some other activities.

Like painting!

I found this giant coloring book at Mardel which has big pictures

and color guide dots within the pictures. She loves this.

While cleaning out a drawer in one of the extra bedrooms,

I came across this paper doll set from many years ago.

The interesting thing to me about this find is that the dolls

are named Kate and Charles. (Charles is Jack's middle name.)

Kate likes that, and so do I.

So many clothes for these dolls, it's hard to decide which they will wear.

 It's always fun to have Kate and Jack stay with us,

and we love it they get to come quite often.

Grandpa and I drop everything to just stop and enjoy these kids

who can turn an ordinary day into an extraordinary day.

Whether it's coloring, chalk drawing on the driveway,

going to the park, playing tag in the yard, blowing bubbles, or kickball,

it's simply one of the best pleasures life has to offer.

(Funny thing though, when Mommy came to pick them up at the end of this particular day,

the question was not the ordinary: "How were the kids today?"

It was: "Did Jack have a poop?"

"Yes."

"Was there a yellow balloon in it?"

Uh-oh.