Another day at the beach

Nothing says Christmas like singing Jingle Bells on the way to the beach...?! Well, yes that's what we're getting used to here. Lucky for us Northerners we have had a few rainy days to get all the Christmas cookie baking done but other than that it's been full on summer here. The last two Sunday afternoons we've gone down to the local beach to let Richie and Paul cool off in the water. It's still too cold for me, but Richie doesn't seem to mind it  a bit. He squeals with excitement every time the water rushes in around him as he sits in the sand and plays. Lucky for us, this beach is literally down the hill from us and has been recently expanded.  Quite convenient, but the sand isn't as nice as it is at some of the more secluded beaches 30-45 minutes away, like the one we'll be going to for our annual Christmas lunch at the beach.

Have we created a monster?

Ok, I know I've bragged about Richie being a foodie just like his mama, but I think things have gone too far. This weekend, I cooked up the last 2 of the treasured 3 artichokes that were produced by our garden (we planted our own since they are so hard to find and we LOVE to eat them whole). While Richie was happily eating his own dinner, I started to eat mine. He took great interest in it and asked for "bite?"

Heck, I thought, I'll let him try one leaf and A) he won't be able to figure out how to eat it or B) he'll think the strange bitter leaf is yucky and he'll let me finish it in peace. Well, this clever boy picked up the leaf, eyed it like a pro at delicately bit off the tender inner core of the leaf like a gourmand! Of course his next move was to look at me, say "yum!" and ask for more. So Paul and I ended up sharing those last two precious artichokes with Richie, wondering if we've created a monster. I mean, really, kids are not supposed to like "grown up food" right?

Obligatory scary Santa photo

Last night was the big Christmas party for Parent & Child, a great play center where I take Richie twice a week. It was held at a lovely garden nearby that has an amazing elevated miniature railway running through it that the kids (& their parents) can ride on. But the biggest line was to sit on Santa's lap so after 20 minutes of tag-team place holding while one of us ran around with Richie we finally got to the head of the line. Richie smiled at Santa and gave him a high five, but then as if on cue as soon as I put him on Santa's lap, he let out a blood-curdling scream and wriggled right outta there! Cross one more holiday cliche off the list. I'm sure this one will be a classic.

Does oatmeal count as a finger food?

We've really been trying to encourage Richie to use a spoon on his own and while he's getting pretty good at it, sometimes he must feel that it just slows him down too much. So he dives into even the mushiest foods with his fingers in an effort to get it in his mouth faster. And yet he still holds onto the spoon as a token gesture.

More adventures in eating

Mmm, Thai peanut noodles and pork mini meatballs! What's not to like, it's got peanut butter in it, it's noodles and it's very messy!

What's this? Dessert after dinner? Unprecedented!

Oh my, rhubarb crumble is a little bit tart!

But it like it! More please!

Time for a better laundry basket

Until now the lightweight red mesh laundry basket had been ideal for Richie's room. That is until he discovered it makes an awesome costume once completely emptied of its contents.

Mouse Catcher

Richie has always been fascinated by the cat, but now that he's mobile they are beginning to regard each other as playmates. The cat will walk up to him and rub up against him just like he does to us (in hopes of getting food, no doubt). And Richie desperately wants the cat to play with him. If the cat is lying on the floor, Richie will start bringing all his toys over to him and placing them beside him, much to Banderas' amusement. But his favorite game is to pick up the cat's toy mouse (always by the tail, as if he knows what it is) and dangle it in front of him. The cat isn't quite as interested in this but sometimes gives in and takes a swat at the toy. Very cute.