Christmas / Valentine's Lunch

Last Saturday I met Lindsey, Morgan and Josie at Bridgeport Village in Wilsonville. We still hadn't had "our" Christmas and Valentine's was only a couple of days away. Besides that, it had been something like four months since I'd last seen them, and Lindsey and I were only half-joking that we'd better find a time to meet soon before Josie starts walking!

The first thing after Morgan did after giving me a hug was present me with an envelope with my name written on it in her little handwriting. It was my valentine and it's the first card I have received where she has written so much! What a big girl--you can be sure I will be keeping this for always.

It was an overcast day to begin with, and by the end of our visit had turned downright stormy with cold temperatures, high winds and rain. In short, it was a lovely Oregon day. No matter--Morgan was still thrilled to climb on and run around the very popular play structure which is centrally located there. Lindsey and I braved the cold and tried to keep Josie's little feet and hands warm with blankets. Good thing there was a Gymboree close by that was even having a sale! Josie got some little monkey socks and a green and white striped hat. :)

We had a really good lunch at Pastini and Morgan kept me on my toes by playing a game of "I Spy" while we waited for our food. She came up with some very imaginative objects for me to try and guess . . . twice it was "something green" which turned out to be the same flag outside the restaurant and once it was "something blue" which was in fact the sky! Every time I see her she surprises me by how much she has grown and learned. She held the door many times for Lindsey pushing Josie's stroller (without being asked), and was quite a good listener when she was asked to settle down . . . I was impressed!

After lunch we headed over to the play structure again, but soon had to seek warmer temperatures inside. It didn't really make sense to have gelato on such a cold day, but I had been looking forward to some and Lindsey and Morgan didn't object. Josie got her first (I think) taste of banana gelato and seemed to really like it.

Then it was on to the Sweet Factory where I picked up some Valentine's candy for Michael, and after that Morgan and I walked to my car to start opening her Christmas gifts while we waited for Lindsey to calm Josie whose patience had run out and was making her needs known as only a five-month-old can. :)

Morgan and I had a grand time in my car, with the heater cranked up and the "Mama Mia" soundtrack blasting. She is definitely not a shy girl and sang along with me with much intensity. I tried hard not to laugh as we sang the chorus of "S.O.S." and Morgan substituted her own lyrics. "Yes, oh yes," she belted, her face upturned. In my mind's eye, I saw her in only a few more years onstage at a grade school / high school talent show and I thought to myself how much fun it will be to watch her. She's got spunk, that one!

We exchanged our gifts and I was happy that Morgan liked the Ariel dolls that Michael and I gave her. Josie got a baby doll all her own that Lindsey told me later she went crazy over once they got home. So sweet.

Michael and I got some garden gnome (reminiscent of the Travelocity Roaming Gnome) solar lights for our yard which I loved, and I got a very special gift from Lindsey that she spent over a year putting together.

She bought me a Susan Branch-designed recipe binder to encourage the fledgling cook in me, and emailed many of you reading this with an invitation to send your favorite recipes for her to include in it. Thank you so much, to those of you who responded--I love it!! Now I have recipes from both of my grandmothers, in their own handwriting, and quite a variety of recipes to choose from whenever I am stumped about what to make for dinner or a party. And if you meant to send something but never got around to it, I would still love to get your recipe(s). Feel free to email me or send them through Facebook, or, if you are still among those of us who love to get "real" mail and still actually buy stamps, you can mail them. I'll give you my address if you need it. :)

All in all, it was a really wonderful day spent with "my girls," and I can't wait to do it again soon! I know a certain young lady who is about to turn six and has a party coming up . . .