Claires loves to crack eggs.

You know what's coming, don't you?

In about 15 minutes, Claire managed another one of her creations, for lack of a better word. This time the ingredients came from the refrigerator. Part of a Boston Cream Pie, several eggs, and a Taco Bell cheese roll-up. On a plate. On our family room table. Condiments (mayo, tartar sauce, ketchup, Ranch salad dressing, to name a few) scattered on the table. Lucky for me (and her butt), these were not open. The contents were all intact. I am unable to locate a culinary school that accepts three-year-olds. Any ideas?

And here I was feeling sorry for her because she has a cold and obviously does not feel well. I guess she is either feeling better or the drugs I gave her are working.

I was really looking forward to a piece of Boston Cream Pie after dinner tonight...

Where is Ellie during all this fun?

We have an extra bed in the basement. It is where Henry stayed this summer. I could not find Ellie anywhere, but knew she had been down in the basement playing. This is where I found her...sound asleep. She has the new skill of removing her clothing. Good times. Sweet baby... she slept for a couple of hours and, when she woke up, got off the bed and started playing. We have the baby room monitor in the basement now since the girls spend a lot of time down there playing (the toys are located there also).

Chef Claire, part deux

Recipe:

2 cups rice
1/4 cup Dill Weed
1-1/2 cups sugar
6 cups water (preferably from the dog's water bowl)
a handful of paper clips to taste

That is what is in the bowl that Claire is stirring. Luckily, this fun took place in the sink and the mess wasn't huge. One little problem that I still need to resolve. I started dumping the concoction down the sink before I realized there were paper clips in the bowl. My garbage disposal will never be the same...

Chef Claire

Claire is becoming more independent by the day. The day before yesterday, she made her own PB&J. She really, truly made it by herself. I just gave her the ingredients and let her go for it. She spread the PB, spread the jelly, put the pieces of bread together, cut it, and ate the entire sandwich. I'm not sure she has eaten an entire anything in months.

This morning she also buttered her own toast. I put the bread in the toaster and forgot about it. Claire took matters into her own hands. Apparently, she got tired of waiting, so she took the toast out of the toaster (it had cooled off significantly by then), spread butter on it, and was trying to cut it when I came back into the kitchen. Her comment to me? I did it, Mom! Yes, you did. I'm so proud.

Show and Tell

Claire has started school. She is a Sunbeam this year and is doing very well. She, once again, will only go potty at school, but I am okay with that.

Tomorrow she has the Show and Tell bag to return to school. I asked her tonight what she would like to take to school for show and tell. I was hoping she would say something easy, like stickers or Barbie. Oh no....not Claire. The conversation went something like this:

Mommy: What do you want to take to Show and Tell tomorrow? Stickers or Barbie? (we give preschoolers choices to give them control)

Claire: beer (Claire takes immediate control in her own way)

Mommy: Are you saying 'beer'?

Claire: Yes, beer.

Mommy: What is beer?

Claire: In the fridge.

Mommy: Beer? Like the drink?

Claire: beer.

(At this point I am not totally convinced she is actually saying 'beer', so we walk to the kitchen.)

Mommy: Claire, show me beer.

(Claire walks to the Fridge, opens the door, and points to a Corona bottle on the fridge door-shelf. Oh my, she really means beer.)

Mommy: We can't take beer to school, Claire.

Claire: (she counts the bottles...1...2) Yeah, we don't have enough for all the kids. (shuts fridge door)

Mommy: So do you want to take Barbie or stickers? (I ask this after leaving the room to laugh and returning)

Claire: Barbie

And so another day ends in the life of a 3-year-old. Note: I drink a beer maybe once or twice a year. The Corona in the fridge has been there since....a long time. I prefer margaritas. :)