the mischievous elves that complete my motherhood experience

On the way to the restaurant, Three Tomatoes, I had Paige guess where we were going.

"I want to go to Red Apple!" she said.

"We're going somewhere even better," I said.  "It's not an apple, but another vegetable (technically a fruit?) that's round and red.  Guess what it is!"  (What a good mom.  Every moment a learning opportunity.)

"Hmmm..."

"It's red and round and juicy in the middle and it has seeds in the middle."

"I don't know..." she said.  

"Red and round like an apple."

"Um - Pumpkin!"

"Red!  It's RED, not orange."

"hee hee hee."

"It has a green stem - but the rest is all red and round like an apple and you can cut it up and it's juicy and yummy."

I could see her thinking really hard...it was coming, coming...

"Red and round and we plant it in our garden every summer and then pick it and eat it and it's so yummy."

Snap!  The light went off in her mind - she had it.

"JELLO!" she yelled.

Silence.

For the record, I can remember one time, in the last five years of her life on earth, when I made jello.  It's the one Mormon legacy I deny (for shame!)

Perhaps we shall turn our attention from reading to the Food Pyramid.

It makes me wonder.  Every morning, when she drinks her smoothie, what does she think she's drinking? Jello?

On a positive note, Nelson has finally learned how to hang up his shirt.

It's not on the floor - it's actually on a hanger!

He's also learned how to make his bed.

I had mighty big plans for a cute St. Patrick's Day recipe.

I'm obviously not supposed to make donuts.

The children blame all recent misfortunes on those mischievous green elves.

I'm on to you, suckuhs!

Perhaps we will make some green Jello for St. Patty's Day.  Maybe stir in some of those baby mandarin oranges, walnuts, and coconut bits.  Mmmm...makes my mouth water just thinking about it.