Piece of Cake.

Last night my friend Shan graciously agreed to have both my kiddos over at her place for a play-date. This was so nice of her because, let's face it, at the end of a long day who is really jumping out of their socks to have 2 additional children running around their house. But, Jamie was sure excited about this. Jamie thinks Abby is her best friend now, too, and she is always telling me how she loves "little baby Maya". When Jamie found out she was getting to go over to play, too...she was just so excited...and she asked me continually throughout the day if it was time to go over to Abby's house, yet.

One of the added benefits of having them both invited to this play date was the great source for negotiations it created. Their toy room has been a mess for days and they just were not cleaning it up. I think they are both big enough to keep that area clean by themselves now so I am really trying not to bail them out so often anymore. I told them in the morning that they could go to Abby's as soon as the toy room was cleaned up so when Maddie got home from school the two girls went quickly to work tidying up. It's amazing how quickly they can actually get it done when they have a little incentive. I discovered a few days ago this works for eating, too. One of their little friends from down the street came to call on them, but they were in the middle of picking at their lunches. I told them that he could come in to play as soon as they were done eating. I hoped this would encourage them to have a few more bites at least, but I was shocked to see them hoover in their entire plate of food in record time.

Since Shan and her charming hubby Mike were so kind as to take in my two girls for the evening I offered to bring over some dessert. Jamie helped me make it. It was the biggest cake (not served at a wedding) ever seen! I got the recipe from Sandra Lee's Semi-Homemade desserts and it was a devil's food cake with home-made chocolate ganache icing and a middle layer of cookies and cream ice cream. Sandra didn't say how big to make the middle ice-cream layer and I think I made mine too big. I couldn't even fit the lid on my cake carrier and had to walk the cake down the street just on its base. One of the neighbourhood boys saw me and yelled out, "Is that a cake?!" I think he was hoping to score a piece. Then a car pulled over and the man inside asked if he could have a piece. Dave told me I looked like an idiot walking down the street with my huge cake but, so what, I'm a yahoo...what can I say?

After a lovely visit with my friend we headed back home with our tired two in tow. Jamie fell on the sidewalk and scrapped her knee. She cried all the way home. When I got her home I asked her if there was anything I could get for her - a cold cloth? a band-aid? a kiss?

Can I have a piece of the cake I made? she asked.

Oh, no honey. We left the cake at Abby's house to thank them for having you guys over, I said.

You should have seen her face.

But, I didn't even get to have a piece. I was playing. I for-gooooot!

Oh, dear.

I didn't think to save her a piece. I felt so bad.

But, after a few minutes of consoling I brought the recipe book over to Jamie so she could pick out something new to make. She picked out the "Raspberry Crescent Ring", and felt much better. I told her this time she could eat the whole thing.

I hope she won't remember that I said that.