Playground day

The two eldest kids slept together last night in N's top bunk. They were frightened after watching Spiderwick Chronicles last night. Well, at least they have each other. And, at least they weren't in my bed.

Today I took the kids to the playground. We took their sand toys so they could have some fun. There was a *new* outhouse there. The playground is on a public park, but there is a (locked) community center and pool which belong to a homeowners association nearby. Until now, the only bathrooms were inside that pool area. So imagine my pleasure at finding that new outhouse-mainly because I have never made a trip to playground without someone "having to go". So first thing, E decides she needs to go. She tells me to hold her hands, "Daddy always makes me hold his hands on these kind of toilets." Puzzled, I look at the big gaping hole behind her, filled with fragrant blue fluid, various (white and brown) objects floating on top of this fluid. I get it, and I grab her hands. What kind of mom am I, why didn't I ever think of that before? I guess that's why we need two of us to raise these children. E uses the toilet and tries to wash her hands. The (already broken) soap dispenser falls off the wall, nearly hitting her on the head, then the foot. I gently lift it and place it on the counter near the sink. E comments, "What a crap place!" I'm thinking, um...yes, literally, I guess it could be called a crap place. I'll let it slide. My dad's advice: to choose our battles carefully. So I pretended not to hear. What do you think, could this be an example of "potty mouth"? OK, I guess it could be worse, right?....

The afternoon brought naptime for A and baking Nestle Toll House Cookies for N and E. We had fun. They always sample to dough to make sure it is edible before we bake them. (I do too).

For dinner, my mother-in-law tried to teach me how to make Pho Ga (Vietnamese Chicken Noodle soup). It was good, and I took notes, but I doubt I can reproduce the results.

My bowl of pho