Good Old-Fashioned Fun

At the last minute, Jenny ended up babysitting for a family at work. Seven-year-old Julianna stayed with us all day Saturday and Sunday -- and it was a lot of fun. We played a lot and ate GREAT kid food (you know...the classics... mac'n'cheese, spaghetti, grilled cheese sandwiches). We spent all Saturday afternoon at the Oregon Zoo. Here are some pictures from our adventure...

I had one of those "I'm too young for this!!" moments. Julianna and I were playing at the park... (Jenny was watching and laughing at us... well... she was more laughing at me - and I probably did look ridiculous). I was climbing all over the playground equipment, hanging upside-down, doing little flips on the bars, and seriously having a blast.

Then we played a game of tag which, of course, involved climbing up slides, jumping off of the bridge, scaling the poles, and otherwise keeping away from a very fast 7-yr old. Not even two hours later -- I couldn't believe it -- I was sore. And when I woke up this morning, even more so. I still can't believe it! I'm WAY too young for this!!! So, OBVIOUSLY, there is only one solution: I need to play more often. :)

OH! One more thing... Jenny and Julianna made cupcakes while I was at a baby shower. But I went with them when they delivered the cupcakes to Julianna's next door neighbors and two families from work who also live on our same block. Suddenly, we were secret agents!

The mission:

1. Deliver the cupcakes without being seen.
2. Avoid the "bad guys" (all the people in the neighborhood not getting cupcakes) and other unseen enemies who, if given the chance, would capture our cupcakes - or us! - and thus thwart our mission.

So, we were running and ducking and army-crawling with plates of cupcakes. (Sarah, you would have been proud of my amazing balance -- I didn't drop a single cupcake despite the crazy shenanigans.) Jenny even did the staccotoed theme music for us. (do-do-doooo--shdo-do-dooo...etc) Julianna said we were kinda crazy -- but that didn't stop her from squealing and jumping behind air conditioning units, darting for shrub cover, and army-crawling under open windows. :)

After we made all our deliveries and were running back to the house, a lady across the street came out to walk her dog. Julianna saw her and shrieked, ducking behind a car. I stayed with Julianna, but Jenny had already run up the steps to the front door to unlock it. Julianna kept watching the lady and - giggling - decided we were doomed and probably had been spotted.

After hiding out for several full minutes, in a final dramatic attempt, I told Julianna that we would just have to make a run for it -- to keep our eyes on the front door and not let anything deter us. So, when I gave the signal, we ran, ran, ran -- Julianna squealing the whole way... We flew in the front door, just barely making it. I locked the door behind us.

"Whew," I said. "I don't think she saw us!"

"Actually," said Julianna, "she looked really confused." (So much for Julianna keeping her eyes only on the door...)