A very relaxing dinner:

Over the summer Jaden and Kyler came to stay with me for a week or so.  We have a long tradition of “playing restaurant” when they visit.  We first started playing this game when they were barely old enough to even help make sandwiches (and with some pretty hilarious lunches as the result).  But I always knew these crazy lunches would grow into greater things…  and sure enough!  One morning on this visit, Kyler decided he wanted to make dinner for all of us.  (Ah!  You see how my clever plan begins to take shape!?)

Of course, he still does need a lot of help, and of course Jaden wanted to play too, so in the end it was a group effort.  But Kyler planned the whole menu, and decided on the atmospheric elements.  He said he wanted it to be “a relaxing dinner, like at a spa.”

Which almost made me snort milk out my nose.

But indeed!  Although I’ve never had dinner at a spa, I’m sure it couldn’t possibly be more relaxing.  We had candlelight, classical music, and ramen noodles with green peas.  Paul and I were the guests (we even had menus!), Jaden and Kyler did (most of) the cooking, and we all took turns being waitstaff.  It was really lovely evening.

One evening we decided to stay up late (waaaaay late – like 10:00!) and go out to play mini golf at night.  Crazy, I know!  But hey, it was the end of summer vacation.  And we had a blast.  Poor Kyler was practically asleep on his feet by the 18th hole, but we all had a lot of fun!

(Getting caught up with photos from summer vacation – quick, before there’s Halloween photos to post….)