A New Franchise

My littles have been most mischievous and cute.

On the first front, they were both engrossed in books yesterday afternoon, so I took a few moments to check e-mail. I looked back often to make sure they were still there and busy, and after a bit they appeared so peaceful, sharing and reading one book together, that I just had to take a look at which one it was. When I crossed the room, however, I discovered that they had been joyfully and cooperatively adhering about $5 worth of postage to the rug and the cover of (yes) just the one book.

What's more, I figured out that this must have been a two-step escapade, because the postage was from a roll of stamps inside a little plastic mail truck that ordinarily sits right next to the computer I'd just been using. The most likely explanation is that James discovered the truck sometime earlier, believed it to be a desirable toy, swiped it, and stored it near the books for later use . . . only to find out with Genevieve that it also housed all kinds of nice stickers!

On the second front . . . well, for those of you who have never (or rarely) met James, I need to explain his obsession with "coffee" (which was definitely among his first 5 words). From the first time he could wrangle a cup, he has been an inveterate hot beverage thief. This has not been helped by a certain soft-hearted nursery worker at church who has given in many times to his cute appeals to her for sips . . . or by our own weakness in this area! (And have you seen the tiny cute Starbucks kids' cups? Awww! I admit that I even get him his own drinks sometimes.) Plus, James figured out long ago that, after I drop Glenn off at church for worship team practice, I usually go order beverages (coffee for me, hot chocolate for Glenn; iced equivalents in summer) from a drive-through Dunkin' Donuts. As soon as I start rounding the corner of the church, he announces in a sing-song voice: "Coffee soon!" He has learned brand recognition for both Dunkin' and Starbucks, and sometimes gets upset when we pass one of either coffee source without stopping and purchasing one. (Hey, I guess I have to admit I'm kind of sad about such pass-bys myself!)

So it was only logical that, when Genevieve was inside the playhouse yesterday, and James saw her through the open window of it, that he began his order as he passed by on his trike: "Coffee . . . choc-it . . . cup!" Of course I had no camera at the right time, but I got them an appropriate cup to use for this roleplay and hoped they would continue so I could repose them. No such luck. Here's the best I can do. At least you can see why he'd see the connection!