Lately I've been trying to teach Katy about cousins. That Jake, Hillary, Jason, Karli, Emily and Abby are her friends, but also her cousins. So last night the two of us went to pick up Little Caesar's pizza (yum!) as a little girls trip out, and there were two little girls (about age 5 or 6) playing with the gumball machine. They were with a white woman from their church, but they were African American. So Katy immediately bonds with other kids and starts talking about wanting a "ball" from the machine while the girls tried to reach up the drop shoot and get one out. They chatted girl talk while I waited in line, and Katy showed off the sparkles on her pink shirt. I didn't even know she cared! Then it was time for her new friends to leave and she said, "My cousins!" Everyone in the place busted out laughing! Their church lady said, "Sure, your cousins from a distant part of the family."

The Katy adventure continued because she wanted to be lifted up to see over the counter when it was my turn to pay. She saw a picture of a little round pizza and identified it. Of course. We're Little Caesar alumni. Then the handed me the boxes for our pizza and crazy bread and Katy said, "Wow! Big pizza! I eat this one!" as she pointed to the crazy bread. Everyone laughed again. It's much more fun being the mother of the fun, cute kid versus the screaming, tantrum kid. Since Katy didn't have a nap for the day, I guess I gambled and won!

When we got home we spread out a blanket and had a pizza party picnic. Allen just crawled around on the blanket holding crazy bread and looking pleased with himself. I should have taken pictures but my fingers were greasy. He had a mouth stuffed full of food and occasionally he sauntered over to Katy's sippy cup of orange carbonated soda and stole a drink. Watching him crawl from behind is so cute, especially when he goes fast and his caboose is swinging from side to side.