I love to cook, and I'd love it if Lexi loved it, too.
Such care she takes in her work!
It might be hard for the untrained eye to see, but the artist informed me that this is a snake, and the stuff on the snake is eyes, legs, fingers and stickers.
Last week, I decided to mix it up a little at bathtime and bought Lexi this blueberry smoothie shampoo.
Now, her hair smells just like my Blueberry Muffin doll's used to. I told her that she's my little Blueberry Muffin. And she said, "I'm not Blueberry Muffin. I'm LEXI!"
A closer view of the finished product, which included melt-in-your-mouth meatballs. The lovely model is Carrie, who has recently realized with alarm that her life is being chronicled on all these blogs.
Moments after this photo was taken, Wanda the dog got her wish when Lexi somehow toppled to the ground, spaghetti and all. The versatile Papa Louie came to the rescue.
Nick joined this group about a year ago, which was about a year after Suzanne did a story on them. They get together twice a month at a local game store to play. Every once in a while, they gather at a member's house. Today, it was ours. Oh, and Carrie came to check it out. If you know her, you know she likes games.
Their preference is these German board games. Some of them are fun, in my opinion. Others, not so much. Each member owns stacks of these games. Not even sure what this one is, but isn't it pretty?
Another group played "Vegas Showdown" in the living room.
Some of the stacks and stacks.
In my posting yesterday, I quite erroneously forgot to thank the incredible DAN LOVING for his Name That Tune support. Just knowing he was there both days really helped carry me through. 
Here's Cooper, Kyle and Lexi. Took about 12 tries to get them all looking at the camera.
Acrobat in training.
By the end of the play date, the moms were all sitting on the ground.
Gabby, who will be 2 next month, is a very brave slider.
Her brother, Ethan, is a very brave climber.
As we left, we went to visit the animals. Kyle was disappointed not to see a donkey, but we did get to see a vulture poop in water, so that made it all okay.
We were in third place for the first third of the game, but then Ronnie started throwing out a lot of questions we knew. The key, I've decided, is to have a team whose knowledge spans the years. Today, there was stuff Bob knew (Quincy Jones wrote the "Sanford and Son" theme), stuff I knew (Outkast sang "Miss Jackson") and stuff we both knew (Tuff Enuf is by the Fabulous Thunderbirds.) Oh, and there was stuff Bob's son, Jeff, knew too. And for that, we thank him. He was a good plant.
Bob left me a message tonight encouraging me not to forget what a good team we are when Dennis Hardin comes a courtin' next year. Don't worry, Bob. Dennis and I are sooooo done. Anyway, our prize, besides this lovely traveling trophy in the top pic, was two certificates good for a movie for two at the Warren Old Town along with appetizers, two entrees and dessert.
OH! And our co-worker Danna was surprised at the beginning of name that tune with a proposal. It was very cute, but my camera work was very bad. It all happened so fast, I didn't have time to find the right flash. (By the way, that look on Danna's face is shock not annoyance. She said yes.)
Bidding for a $5 audience assist.
No whammies!
We're the Captain & D'Neil.
Not such a good day for The Bald and the Beautiful.
These are the Oil Secretaries. Back in the day, there were 400 of them. Then someone shot J.R. These days, they get about 20 at a meeting. They asked me to speak to their bimonthly gathering at Larkspur. Such nice ladies. So genteel. So easy to please.
Then there's this.
Care to guess who won?
Jaime came to chapperone, but by the time I got there, the debauchery was in full swing.
Here, Bonnie and I economize by allowing the pond-side breeze on Chester's patio to blow our hair all model-y.
Final course before.
Ugh. Final course after.
When we got home tonight, Lexi and I went to check on our tomatoes. (She's very proud of telling people, "We grew them!" 
Here's The Crystal's image, caught outside the swank new office.
It's in one of those fancy strip malls in the new part of town that didn't exist when I lived in Lawrence. 
Here's Kerri browsing in the lobby, which is done up in Crystal's signature orange.
Look! Lexi and I are a prop shamelessly used to sell photos! We're into it.
We were all very proud of Crystal. But she was proud of this. She encouraged me to take a photo and strongly advised that I post it on the blog.
Afterward, we dined.
And posed.
Here's one corner I was happy to give back. The Buckle on Mass. Worked there for two years in college, after two years in Dodge. I get seizures when I get too close but was able to suffer through for this shot.
The Mad Greek. It's still there. I miss the flaming cheese.
The Kansan got Rudy's carryout three times a week. It made me fat.
The Granasty.
Mom, relegated to sewing by dim lamplight, nothing but her glass of ale to warm her belly.
Me, whittling away the hours just pondering an apple, trying desperately to establish contact with outside society.
