Good Brunch, Tearful Departure

Sunday, Poppi and Tootsie came for brunch and we made a test run at the Bistro. It is a bit cramped inside but the kids behaved and I was able to absolutely gorge on ridiculously good chocolate chip pancakes. Afterward Phoebe showed off her tricycling skills and Ellie was content to race around in her push car until the Howleys decided to depart and, temporarily at least, took Phoebe’s happiness with them. We then headed to Kenny’s to get our Christmas tree. The place is like a well oiled machine, making it an anomaly for the southcoast region where it would not surprise me to come across a Christmas tree vendor with severely restricted holiday hours from thanksgiving to Christmas. This would explain why Kenny’s consumes roughly 75% of the business from the five or six surrounding towns. We let Phoebe pick out the tree and after becoming intrigued with someone dressed as the Grinch trying to attract business to a store across the street she decided to choose the tree closest to him based on some toddler logic I didn’t bother trying to understand. She doesn’t know who the Grinch is so she was more concerned as to why this person had a green face. After paying for the tree we came back to find the tree had been trimmed and tied to the car and we headed home for naps, paddleboarding, and tree trimming activities which were surprisingly civil.

Above:  Ellie enjoys getting carted around.  Our attempted forays into vehicles that she can propel herself have not gone well.  Phoebe gasses up her tricycle with Tootsie. I am not sure when she equated leaves with gas or why but it is ok with me because it teaches her a lesson – gas costs nothing and is in infinite supply.  

Above:  Phoebe selects a tree.  Below:  Phoebe helps decorate.