Weekend with the aunties!

We had a terrific time with Amanda and Jenn, who arrived on Friday night and left after brunch this morning.

On Saturday we stopped at Kitchen Kaboodle and admired a tea-making machine, the Rolls Royce of such machines, as Jenn said. Then we all went to Forest Park and took a lovely hike through the woods. It has been 50 degrees and sunny throughout, and I'm sure that contributed to how relaxed everyone was. I didn't get to start dinner until 5:30 -- an hour later than I'd planned -- but it turned out well. I made lamb shoulder instead of rack of lamb and it was fabulous; Drew has told me it's a keeper. Rachel gobbled up the meat like she couldn't get enough, and when we reminded her she had to eat her carrot before getting dessert, she scarfed it down.

This morning Drew, Rachel and I get up and were showered and dressed by 9:30. Rachel had some oatmeal (dried; I don't understand how she stands the stuff) and we headed to Kenny & Zuke's for brunch. Rachel was extremely well-behaved; she colored until her meal came and ate half a bagel and some fruit. We said goodbye, then Drew took Rachel to the park while I did some reading for class. (Outside, I may add; it was so warm that I leaned against one of the cherry trees in our backyard and read about integrated marketing communications). All in all, not a bad way to get homework done!

Now I am upstairs trying to refine a story pitch and not having much success. Rachel is watching a My Little Pony movie for the 398th time with Drew next to her ("I know more about the history, mythology and social structure of Ponyville than I ever thought possible. And the suburbs of Breezy Blossom and Unicornia"), and I'm heading downstairs to make Mom's recipe for cornish game hens (which Rachel calls "chicken hens"). We'll have it with couscous, salad and the rest of the fig cake for dessert.