During elementary school, an annual activity that I loved was the reading of Stone Soup and subsequent lunch of stone soup made as we children looked on. I was reading Stone Soup to Accalia and Cole yesterday afternoon and told them about that. They were so excited about us trying it so we went out right away and picked up ingredients to make the soup using this recipe. Accalia and Cole did the majority of chopping and dicing for the soup, and it turned out delicious. Actually, Accalia and Cole really weren't too excited about eating the soup (and didn't eat much at all), but it was a lot of fun creating it together.

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This morning we went to the dollar store in search of candy buttons. No such luck. This is the second store I've looked for them and haven't found them even though I swear I've seen them everywhere. Anyway, the kids were each picking something out, and it often drags out for quite some time with Accalia because she has a very hard time making decisions about what to get. Cole picked out his - playdough - within minutes of entering the store, but Accalia probably stood in that aisle for a half hour or longer trying to make a decision. It's usually not a big deal if we don't have to be someplace or everyone is content, but Ella was getting really fussy. Accalia was nearly in tears because she couldn't decide between a pink and a green version of this craft kit, and I suggested the pink one since she usually picks out the pink version of anything when she can. She still was unsure, though, knowing that there was this green version that she also really wanted (they had each picked out two things and I didn't have enough money along to add a third), but when I told her that she knew that was something else she wanted and could come back and get it next time, she completely relaxed. "Thank you, Mom!" she said as we left the store. "Thank you for helping me make a decision!" Oh boy, can it ever be a gut wrenching decision for her some days.

So today the kids have been busy with the things they got at the dollar store, and I just remembered Accalia has tap today. I would easily have forgotten that. Ella just woke up from her nap and is having a leisurely nurse. Cory will be home a little earlier from work but then goes off to deliver pizzas from 5-10.