Christmas Kitchen

No, it's not the name of next year's Hallmark Hall of Fame Christmas special. It is/was our project this year for our girls. I decided that it deserved a post of it's own, that's how special it is.

Just some background in case you happen to be interested. If not, just scroll down and look at the pictures. We won't be offended. If you fail to ooh and ahh, however, I may be a touch upset so don't tell me if you do, I mean don't.

I love food, preparing, eating, experimenting. One of the things I love to do most with the girls (and BJ if he's willing and available :) is cooking and baking in the kitchen! They love it too. Both girls also love pretending with food and all. We did have a play kitchen in NC that was given to us that they played with a ton. But on moving day when the truck wasn't quite big enough for all of our stuff, the play kitchen was one of the first things to get left behind. So I made a very rough play kitchen out of cardboard boxes probably within the first month after we moved. That little cardboard kitchen saw a lot of play time too.

Then I got this little idea in my head...it started out pretty small and then it started to grow and grow until it became more or less a dream. I wanted to make the girls a kitchen, you know, with real wood and nails and stuff. BJ scoffed. And whined. And brought up over and over how much work it would be. But I ignored him, so strong was my little plan inside my head. I called my Dad and asked him to help us out while he was here for Thanksgiving. He agreed (still can't say no to his little girl) and really became the mastermind of the project. He drew up some realistic plans and left us with a wooden kitchen in our basement. It just needed some personalization. BJ and I finished it together. It was so much fun to work on this together, both with my parents and BJ. He was right. It was a lot more work than I had anticipated. But after finishing it, there was a sense of satisfaction that took over. After we saw the girls with it on Christmas morning, that satisfaction became sheer joy. This was one of those things we do for our kids just to make them happy. Work? What work? I have happy kids (today at least)!









Thanks Dad. Thanks Mom. Thanks BJ. I know this is silly but it was a dream that you helped come true.