The Finer Things

Anyone see "The Office" this week? Apparently we have a little "Finer Things" club going on at our house as well. This Sunday afternoon I've been trying to keep the kids busy so they don't fall asleep on their faces on the living room floor, which has been known to happen. So I let them help me make pizza dough in the kitchen. Afterward, C spotted one of our spoons from the plastic tea set, and asked if we could have a tea party. He LOVES having tea parties. We pulled out the cups and plates and set it all up on the table. I had been listening to NPR, but the voices in the background got kind of drone-y (not a word, I know) so I switched to classical 89 and now there's a lovely Mozart piano-violin duet going on. Very high class, you know. And there's C, daintily pouring chamomile tea into his little cup, adding cream and sugar and sipping away. Then Troy walks in, comments on the tea party going on and Chase replied,

"Yes, would you join us?"

Troy and I immediately had to purse our lips to keep from laughing. Oh, he's refined, I tell you. Troy graciously accepted and C fixed him up a cup as well. I'm sure part of the reason C loves the tea parties is the sugar bowl, but I make him fill up his cup almost to the top before he adds the cream and sugar, and he can't have more until he finishes the whole cup of tea. I think it's probably a good way to keep him hydrated.

I have to say that I feel pretty strongly about including kids in the kitchen. Frankly, it's a pain in the behind because they spill, they are clumsy, they argue about who's turn it is next...etc. But I know they both love it, and it's so great for them to be such a part of the family. So although I have to remind myself to be patient, I kind of love letting them get their hands in everything. I just think it's so healthy. When I went to my cousin's house for dinner a couple of weeks ago they had a quote on their fridge that just rang my inner gong. I have no idea who said it, but here it is: "You must sacrifice perfection in order to teach responsibility." Was that it, Monica? Anyway, it rang true to me. The pizza dough may not be perfect, but my kids are learning, and being a part of our family process.

I would have loved to snap a picture, but our camera battery is recharging. Instead, I'm including a picture from a few weeks ago of the kids helping me with bread sticks. Also a picture from about a year and a half ago, when our dear friends the Van De Graaffs invited us (mostly they were inviting C, whom their daughter both babysits and adores) to tea at a little shop downtown.