1/3/14
At long last we finally got enough snow for SLEDDING. We bundled up in our ski clothes and went down to storage to get the sleds. Vivian and Stella were so excited although Vivian wasn't too sure exactly what sledding was and whether or not she had ever done it. Stella, on the other hand, knew exactly what it was and had a plan! She insisted Vivian get in the sled on the street so she could pull her to the park. Vivian ("carry? pickie? I don't want to walkie") was only too happy to oblige. When we got to the little hill near our house we all took the first ride together. Before long, Vivian was happy to go down herself but most fun was waiting for Stella and going down side by side. Vivian even got pretty good at shifting her weight to guide the sled away from trees or other children. We had SO MUCH FUN! Eventually, hands were cold and we had a big trip to the grocery store that we had to make. Why you ask? No, not for hot chocolate and marshmallows. Not for whipped cream. We had a plan that Stella was going to cook her first family dinner ALL MY HERSELF. And the menu was her choice too: tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches. But these were not any old grilled cheeses. These were grilled mozzarella on challah bread. Yum. Grandma and Grandpa came over too. No one really helped in the kitchen except Vivian who was kind of a sous chef.
I had to go to a meeting so I wasn't there for all the cooking but I emailed the recipe to Grandma Helaine so Stella could access it. (Printer not working.) It was also a very big day because dessert is important and the chosen treat was cupcakes from Magnolia. But not just any cupcakes. Cupcakes that Stella went to the store to buy all by herself. I had wanted to watch her from the corner but she begged me to go all the way into our lobby because "turning the corner is the best part". Vivian and I waited nervously in the lobby. After just a couple minutes, Grandma Helaine showed up and I sent her on a quick scouting mission to make sure everything was okay. It was, of course. Stella returned with such enthusiasm and a great story. She had carefully selected the cupcakes she wanted to purchase -- a box of minis, one chocolate for Vivian and one vanilla for her. I had given her $20 not knowing that they didn't sell mini cupcakes individually. And then her purchases added up to around $24. The woman at the cash register told her she had to take one cupcake away and Stella picked the vanilla -- giving up her cupcake rather than Vivian's. And then it was still too much money but they ended up just giving her all the cupcakes anyway. Stella was not at all upset by this. If anything it added to the fun and adventure. And the meal was great! And now we have one more reason to forever love Magnolia.
