the art of the playdate

there must be one. i am not sure zaven and i know it...
we have a friend of zaven's over today, grace.
he is very bossy of his guest. i am trying not to intervene unnecessarily, that they might work it out on their own. but someone is constantly running to "tell on" the other. today my approach is to assure them that they are good friends and to work it out. and if zaven insists that he is the "boss" then i let him know that as boss he has to make sure everyone else is happy, that that is part of his job. seems to be working pretty well.
here are some pictures, they ate lunch in the elephant tent outside and played in there for a long time. when they spilled some snack they let dante come in and clean it up for them.


nell and i have been doing yet more laundry, it never ends! making spinach dip for the choir party tonight and trying to get nell to eat some more food. i gave her applesauce. she is not a fan. what little i do sneak in her mouth she makes a terrible face. i keep trying, assuming she will get the hang of it. the rice cereal she still thrashes her head around. but what i get in her mouth she swallows without too much fuss. i guess i will try peas next... we shall see.
she is enjoying more of her toys lately too. here she is looking at a tower of soft blocks. zaven stacks them up and she knocks them over.


yesterday, zaven, nell and i went to the beach to play with grace and henry. it was a cloudy and 60 degree day, but they still had a great time.
so far the first week without school has been good. playdates are a great way to keep everyone happy. i can certainly get more done and not feel guilty about not playing with zaven and nell seems to like to watch all the crazy antics of zaven and his friends.

meanwhile, chris has been working about every hour of everyday. this morning we were trying to remember the last day he did not work, and this week it is more of the same. vestry, meeting in providence, memorial services, weddings, on and on. he is very busy. we will have to do something nice for fathr's day.. like leave him alone and let him take a nap!