Mommy/Rachel adventure

We had a great day today -- a relaxing morning in which TLG let me sleep until 8:30, I didn't get out of bed until 9:30 (after Rachel quite rightly pleaded for me to give her banana bread for breakfast) and then we lingered until it was time to leave for the chavurah at 1 p.m. Turns out the chavurah was meeting at a house within walking distance of us, but between the rain and the SNOW and the HAIL (the latter of which came later), I decided we'd be lazy and take the car.

I arrived with cinnamon streusel bread that I had totally messed up taking out of the pan because it was too small for the size of the batter. Rather than apologize, I just transferred it in chunks and watched the entire thing get devoured by the guests (who promptly complimented me) and Rachel was so encouraging, saying "I'm proud of you, Mommy," for making it. She didn't feel like interacting with the other kids, so we ended building a castle in Unicornia. It was an elaborate affair with towers, tunnels for the ponies, etc. This kid may end up being an architect when she grows up; she is so much more creative than I am.

We were scheduled to meet Sarah and Noah for dinner, but Noah has been running the same fever as Rachel and Sarah did not want to get me or Rachel sick before I left for Atlanta. Rachel cried when she heard this, but I got her to perk up immediately when I told her we'd go to the soaking pool at the Kennedy School nearby. When she woke up from a very late nap she sighed, "I dreamed we were going to the soaking pool!" and then it was hurry up and race over there before it closed at 8. We had a lot of fun "swimming" back and forth, with Rachel's arms and legs wrapped tightly around my arms and legs, and she announced at one point that "this is the pool in Unicornia, and Wysteria comes here every night to clean the pool!"

Rachel wanted to go to the restaurant where there's a playplace (Laurelwood Brewpub), but I gently explained we didn't have time and we'd have to eat the restaurant attached to the pool (which, frankly, is pretty awful but I could have sworn they had cheese quesadillas). When she wouldn't stop sniffling I said, "If you don't stop whining, we can go home RIGHT NOW," and then told her she could order cheese quesadillas. She was very grown up and said, "If I can order cheese quesadillas, that would make me feel better!" "That's the right attitude," I agreed, and we got to the restaurant only to find...no cheese quesadillas. But once again, Rachel rallied when she found out she could get cheese pizza. I was amazed at how big it was, and even more amazed that she finished most of it. That's my girl!

We had a lovely time at dinner, just talking, with Rachel drawing my favorite flowers (you should see her renderings of red tulips and green daisies) and occasionally leaning over to cuddle against my chest or kiss me on the lips and tell me she loves me. Then it was home, Mommy Books ("I LOVE cuddling next to you!" she told me as she settled in for another round of "Pinkalicious"), and then it was time for bed.

I hope she remembers someday how Mommy tried to fill our days alone with fun, even if I don't play with her as dedicatedly (is that a word?) as Drew.