Role reversal

No, this isn't about Stephen doing most of the housework around here lately. This is about Tuesday night. Stephen and I looked across the dinner table at each other and both realized: we were exhausted.
We started telling the girls that mommy and daddy were going to bed- could they put away the food and do the dishes, lock up and get themselves in bed?
Of course, they were ecstatic at the prospect, they want to be independent so badly. What ensued was I finally got up and put away the food, the girls did clear most of the dishes (you have to be willing to let a few pieces of silverware fall on the floor) and Dad went and laid on the couch and was "tucked in" with various kid's blankets numerous times by both girls. Then Odessa read a book she has memorized to him- over and over. He slept. Ada put me "to bed" in the recliner and read something to me as well . . . I faded in and out. We finally were coherent enough to give directions to get ready for bed and they really did change, clean up their room and brush teeth and potty all by themselves (some nights it's like pulling teeth, seriously).

At this point they still thought they were going to be the last ones in bed (Odessa even put Tabby (the cat) to bed in the pantry). When we had to break their bubble and wake up ourselves, they were pretty upset.

They are getting to be such good helpers- Odessa especially thrives on helping me out. She wants me to just let her try and carry that bag of groceries that's too big, she is always helping Ada find her shoes or get her jacket on and always helping me on errands. It's nice to see that a month before the baby comes how responsible they really can be when you let them.

Wed night at the dinner table, Stephen and I started spelling words for some reason, I can't even remember what started it, but I do remember the last part of the conversation. The girls were very engrossed in their fajitas and didn't seem to be paying attention at all.

Stephen: I also noticed you bought some S-O-D-A
Tara: Yes, for frappe tomorrow- it's St Patricks Day
Stephen: So you're going to put -I-C-E C-R-E-A-M in it?
Tara: Yes- to make a green drink
Stephen: What kind, mint?
Tara: No- lime . . . . S-H-E-R-B-E-R-T
Stephen: Oh, so not really -I-C-E C-R-E-A-M
Tara: I guess not- same difference (insert good-natured rolling of eyes here)
Ada: (pausing between bites) Good, because later we are going to L-E-G brush our teeth
Odessa: Don't forget G-E-B go to bed! (giggling)

Stephen and I could NOT stop laughing


Other notable events this week: egg production is ramping up! Yesterday we got 4 edible eggs- none pecked at or soft shelled, all hard and nice and whole (when they first start laying you can get some funky eggs). Take for example our double yolker there. We have gotten 2 of these and at least one egg that was supposed to be a double yolker but did not come out all together. Most of the eggs are pretty small right now, so you can imagine when we see a doubler! It's so exciting to open the coop and find eggs, seriously.

Here is the double yolker compared to the extra large egg we get from Smith Brothers

Odessa doing what she loves best

When we got a cat I said she would not sleep on my favorite chair. Ahem. Well, at least we keep a blanket on it . . . She was sleeping on the remote, so I moved it to where she's holding it. Look who runs the house?


Our glazed corned beef was oh so good- the girls were naming things a whole week before St Patty's that we could eat that would be green. If it had been up to them, we would have had salad, broccoli, cabbage (although they didn't like it) and peas. Note the lime sherbet frappe- lol.

I saw a recipe for coconut poke cake on FB this week. I had some flavoring from the Philippines for buco pandaan- which is like young coconut that was green, so I used it to flavor and color the cake "drizzle" and the custard that was supposed to go in the cake. Turned into a trifle, but it was still good.