Lakewood Park

I've been meaning to post about Lakewood Park for a long time now, but haven't because until recently, I never had the opportunity to take photos to go along with it -- every time I would whip my camera out, Anouk would try to strangle herself on the monkey bars or eat a handful of mulch. But with the challenges of Two also come a few added benefits, one being that she is now much more confident and sensible about appropriate park behavior, and I don't have to hover like a hawk like I used to.

So, finally, here is Lakewood Park. It's across the street from a nice library and also around the corner from Naa's Bakery, hooray! After our trip there a few weeks ago, Anne and I met up with our friends for a playdate under the twisted live oaks, to give the kids a chance to run off some sugar. There are some seriously old trees at Lakewood, gnarled and twisted and providing copious amounts of shade, which means that there is always a cool spot to sit, even on hot and humid summer days. Add in a picnic area and some age-appropriate playground equipment and you've got yourself a practically perfect park.

Did you know that Lakewood Park is also home to Norfolk's Dance and Music Center? Anouk has been asking for dance lessons a lot lately, so we're going to look into the Creative Movement classes for toddlers this winter and spring. If you've ever taken a class at Lakewood I would love to know -- or if you have a recommendation for elsewhere in the #HRVA area that offers toddler tap or ballet.

Hope you had a good weekend. Now get out there and enjoy this gorgeous weather before it's gone!

Making Murals

Ever since our Norfolk murals post -- and since we got to see some of AlchemyNFK's amazing artists working at First Friday a few weeks ago -- Anouk and I have been really into murals and thinking we'd like to try to make one of our own. So we asked our playgroup if they would like to pitch in. Molly generously offered her house to get all paintified -- we taped craft paper to the wall -- then we poured water-soluble paint into trays and let the kids get to it. The results were kind of awesome.

I think one of my favorite things was seeing how the kids worked together to build on each others' handiwork. One would use markers to scatter dots across the paper, then the next would come through and draw a line of finger paint between them. It was truly a collaborative process. I especially like how little Z. saw the other kids making handprints and then decided to add a border of his own all along the top of the mural.

This project is perfect for a group because you can pool your craft supplies -- the more types of paints/markers/brushes/stamps/crayons you have, the more you can put the little ones' creativity to work.

I think it looks so so cool. I'm really proud of our guys and I think they had a lot of fun. Plus, the finished product makes an awesome photo backdrop.

Fondue party

I've been meaning to post about the fondue party playgroup we hosted in honor of Anouk's birthday since it happened, all the way back in March. But somewhere along the way I misplaced my SD card with the party pictures on it and didn't find it again until this past weekend (in the bottom of my camera bag...like, who would ever look there?)

Fondue might just be one of the best kids' party foods out there. It keeps little hands occupied. It encourages children to see food in a fresh way, to try new things in different combinations. It's fun, it's novel, and it's yummy. I think you could even make an argument that it builds motor skills, using those pointy little fondue forks.

We had two kinds of fondue at our party, with a whole tableful of dippables to go along with them. Strawberries, bananas, marshmallows and pound cake for the chocolate fondue; broccoli and carrots, french bread and homemade pretzels for the cheese. 

The talented Molly contributed both the charming vintage fondue pots and the sauces to go in them. The recipes are below -- with a few tweaks suggested for making them even more kid-friendly. The recipes come from a 1970s edition of a Better Homes and Gardens book titled simply "Fondue." Unlike most of the other recipes on this blog, there is absolutely nothing healthy about these recipes (1.5 cups of sugar!?) but sometimes you have to splurge, you know? So here you go.

Chocolate fondue (makes 6-8 servings)

6 oz of unsweetened chocolate

1.5 cups sugar

1 cup light cream (substitute full-fat coconut milk, if your kid has a milk intolerance like mine does) 

1/2 cup butter 

1/8 teaspoon salt

In a saucepan, melt chocolate over low heat. Add sugar, cream, butter, and salt. Cook, stirring constantly, about five minutes or until thickened. Pour into fondue pot, place over fondue burner. 

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Cheese fondue (makes 4-6 servings)

1 small clove garlic

3/4 cup beer (you can substitute unsweetened grape or apple juice)

8 ounces shredded Swiss cheese 

4 ounces shredded sharp cheddar cheese 

1 tablespoon all-purpose flour

Dash bottled hot pepper sauce

Rub inside of saucepan with cut surface of garlic. Discard garlic. Add beer (or juice) and heat slowly. Coat cheese with flour. Gradually add the cheese to the liquid in the pan, stirring constantly, till mixture is thick and bubbly. (Do NOT allow the mixture to become too hot). Stir in pepper sauce. Transfer to fondue pot, place over fondue burner. 

One thing to note: when they say "place over fondue burner," they mean right away. Our cheese fondue had to be transported and the sauce cooled and broke during the journey, which is why it looks kind of blobby in the photos. But it was still delicious! 

The chocolate was the big hit of the afternoon, as you might imagine. A table of kids plus a big old pot of chocolate? Who has eyes for anything else? We moms ate most of the cheese fondue and we let the wee ones have their fill of the sweet stuff. (A. was cresting the sugar wave for hours after, which is why this is best saved for a once-in-a-while treat). 

Just looking back at these photos makes me hungry all over again! Have your kids tried fondue? What did they think of it? What are some of your favorite things to dip? The BHG book suggests small boiled potatoes to dip in the cheese -- I never would have thought of it but yummm.