Save the Drama for Your Mama
There’s been no shortage of theatrics as we stage our cookbook shoot this weekend. Don’t look so surprised.
My kitchen island has turned into a sanctuary of mini spoons and ramekins, round bowls and their square brethren, multicolored dish towels and placemats, carefully ironed into crisp backdrops for simple sweets and plentiful plates.
It’s a patchwork of beauty to a food blogger, and a source of inspiration to two little girls with tea sets who hate to put their toys away.
Let’s hope this is a habit that fades like the memory of five crazy days in November that Mommy spent racing around the kitchen, begging us not to go near the table and insisting that we wait for a nibble while our friend Ashley took pictures of breakfast, second breakfast, lunch, snack, dinner and dessert.
Let us also hope that we don’t regularly take to eating garnishes.
(photo courtesy Ashley)
Or dropping full tubs of hummus on the ground. That was Gigi. As she wept highly accentuated tears into the throw pillow of a highly-Pea Kitty-clawed couch, Lulu, the ever-comforting sister ordered, “Gigi, go to your room! No one wants to hear you cry!”
Where would she get such a phrase?!
It was yesterday.
It was me.
Somebody was tired, cranky and needed a nap.
It was yesterday.
It was me.
I really hope we don’t repeat the pattern of letting dishes pile up in the sink, only to overload our dishwasher so that the spray arms moan and groan as they struggle to make full rotations between the sagging racks.
I’ve never appreciated the fact that Pea Daddy is in charge of unloading more than I do today. Except maybe yesterday. And tomorrow.
But of all the over-the-top practices of the weekend, I genuinely hope Lulu doesn’t expect every meal to arrive via private jet.
Come to think of it, I hope they never forget those five crazy days in November that Mommy spent racing around the kitchen, begging us not to go near the table and insisting that we wait for a nibble while our friend Ashley took pictures of breakfast, second breakfast, lunch, snack, dinner and dessert.
I know I won’t.
aaaaaahhhh, i love that picture of lulu waiting for the airplane of food!!
lemme know if you need any help! i’m off tuesday… i can come do dishes for you or something. ❤
I think every thing should be back to normal by Tuesday…whatever “normal” is. But thanks! Hoping to take Ash to Portland Monday for a little sightseeing.
Bring her into BridgePort if it’s after 3pm–I’ll buy you guys a hot tea or a beer or a Vegan Bowl to share!
Shoot, we have to be at the airport around then
I love Lulu..she’s got fire in her.
What awesome memories…cherish them in the midst of the insanity of it all.
I’ll think of them every time I open the book
my gosh. let’s just adopt ashley and make her the newest girl of the family! she and lulu are already getting along so well!
so. adorbs. <3
I agree. She needs to stay forever.
This is adorable. I was hoping you’d get a post up today just so we could feel relieved that you’re progressing along smoothly. Looks like you are
airplanes, tears, cheers, and all.
We are way ahead of the game! Maybe today will be a little more sane. Maybe not.
I’ve always dreamed of ironing my placemats and napkins, but that would involve owning an iron.
Can’t wait to see the book Mama Pea!!!!
P.S. Love Lulu’s tie dye shirt.
I. Hate. Ironing.
What a fun weekend! I know it must be crazy with all of the cooking going on, but it’s still got to be a blast!
so impressed that you are still able to put up such a great post despite the crazy weekend of work!
I would use the term “great” very loosely.
They are so cute…it sounds stressful, but I’m sure it’s also amazing and fun for you, Ashley, and the girls.
Is that a Cars sippy I see?
Glad to know I’m not the only one with a lil girl sporting (har) masculine drinkware! 
Love your blog. Just started following you on Twitter. Somehow your insanity keeps me sane……..
Is it because there is someone crazier than you? And yes, we are huge CARS fans.
I did a photo shoot of food a month ago for my book and it was crazy town here too! The boys thought it was “Food Christmas” since everything the wanted was there constantly!
Yes! I didn’t know you wrote a book! Congratulations!
Your girls are going to really love that book the older they get. Its a very special thing
Awwwww, I rush to the computer every morning to read your posts. I love your family, and your “plus 1″ too!
So stinkin’ cute!!
What fun you guys are having… Definitely memories to last a lifetime!! And I think it’s awesome that your girls get to share it with you!!
I’m not sure Lulu gathers what’s going on, but Gigi thinks it’s pretty cool. And delicious!
You can totally use that tea set putting away thing later. “You don’t want to put up your tea set? What would your good friend Ashley think?”
I like the way you think.
Awww such fun times:):):) Its good that you can see the fun in all of the stress! Thats what will keep you sane:)
I love that the girls stacked there tea sets like that! Too cute!
Maybe Gigi will grow up to be a food stylist?
oh lulu…how i miss that angry face.
yours too. and gigi. i’ll eat the hummus off the floor with her.
I know. Miss you too.
and yet i still have no cake….. hmmm mama…. hmmm.
(josh does dishes btw, you could’ve had pea daddy kidnap him as a helper)
You know where I live. I don’t want to hear it.
i figured showing up past bedtime demanding cake might make me a bad friend.
although really, who needs friends when you have cake?
It looks like Ashley psyched Lulu out with that airplane of food.
She was trained like a circus monkey.
Too cute! Sounds like Ashley is a GREAT pilot. Hope the process goes smoothly (or as smooth as realistically possible)
I was shocked at how much dinner Lulu ate using the “airplane method.”
Love it!!!! I guess I will have to add this to my bag of tricks.
Be warned. It is totally addictive.
Aww I love the personalities of those girls !
Me too.
I’m a new reader and I just wanted to say that I love your blog. Even in the midst of the insanity
Your girls are adorable.
Thanks, Jillian. There’s always some form of insanity though, so I’m used to it.
I’m sorry to revel in your pain, but it all just looks and sounds like so much fun!
I should have volunteered to be Nanny for the weekend! Will Nanny For Peanut Butter Dough Balls….
It is seriously a blast!
this sounds like an incredibly good time to me!
So. Fun!!!!
Ahahaha, that is hilarious!
Gotta love hearing kids repeat what you say
I know. Ashley and my friend Susan looked so shocked and I just sheepishly said, “I don’t know where she gets it!”
I think I could get used to this…
Lulu is too cute! Here comes the train……..choo choo.
HAHAHA!! Your girls are precious. I cannot WAIT to get my flour-covered hands on this book! And on my next trip to Colorado, I’m going to hunt both of you down–flying to Portland, of course– so you two can autograph it for me.
We will do it!
The title of your post reminds me of Jacob’s favorite book…. Llama Llama Red Pajama
“Baby llama what a tizzy! Sometimes mamas very busy. Please stop all this llama drama and be patient for your mama.”
That picture of Lulu with her mouth wide open is HILARIOUS!
Hope you got some good rest last night and have a great day!
Oooh, you need Llama Llama, Mad at Mama.
It’s on the Christmas list
Oh you guys look like you’re having a blast (even if crazy!). So grateful for your sharing!
The story of Gigi repeating what you say, reminds me of ME at her age! I used to tell people “I’m a taperecorder. I take everything in, and let it out little bits at a time”. IE: At preschool screening (where my mother is a teacher in the district), when asked what my mommy does I said “Paints her fingernails and drinks beer.” When asked what daddy does? “Nothing Mommy tells him to.”
Another time, she caught me throwing the fisher price dog into the fisher price garage and SLAMMING the door shut, exclaiming “You get in there, you damned dog!” and then walking away. Mom just shrugged at my father and said “I don’t know where she gets it!” and walked away.
Thanks for sharing your family, your beautiful food (I’ve only made a bajillion things of yours – including strawberry shortcake pancakes!) and your great sense of humour!
Paints her fingernails and drinks beer! LOL!
This looks like such a cool experience for you guys. But man, I can’t even imagine the dishes. Dude.
You should treat yourself to a long nap once you’re done.
Agreed. I need sleep.
You have the most adorable girls, ever! AND I love alllll your recipes. My boyfriend recently went vegan so we’d spend less on grocery shopping and if it weren’t for some of your meals, I don’t think he’d be handling it so easily!!
That is OUTSTANDING. I love it!
Love the pictures, so cute! Looking forward to the book! You’ll have to sign it at the next Foodbuzz event.
I am a creep! Last night I had a dream that I was hanging out with you and Ashley and the girls, helping out w/ everything.
But not a big enough creep to not share with you. Because it was fun and awesome. And nothing inappropriate happened. Unfortunately.
I kid.
LOVE YOU!
I’m so glad nothing inappropriate happened. Love you too!
The sour face is too cute! I think the teacups are sweet, seems like a really crazy/fun time to be in your kitchen.
MP: How is Pea Daddy handling all of this chaos? Is he in a food coma yet??
He is in HEAVEN.
lol, I love when kids repeat the things we say. My nieces and nephews constantly remind me to watch my tongue! I’m smart enough not to say anything that bad, but it’s still pretty funny!
Well, Ashley had heard me say it the day before, but agreed, that it was not in quite such a hurtful way.
The picture looks like Lulu is screaming and Ashley is trying to quiet her by shoving food in her mouth! LOL so cute!
The sad thing, I often have days where I wish MY meals arrived via private jet. And I want an autographed copy with gigi and lulu’s signature as well.
I’m neither a vegetarian nor a vegan but I am anxiously awaiting for the publication of your book. I can’t wait to see all of your hard work in print! It’s always a pleasure reading your blog each day even though I know I don’t always comment. I so admire and envy you in so many ways…lots of love to you guys.
Thanks, Hayley. Lots of prayers to you guys!
ha ha, I love the eating pictures! so sweet. It looks like crazy mayhem in there… but my kitchen often looks like that. Lucky you to have a helper to unload the dishwasher… somehow I have trouble with that job (until the sink is full of dishes again!). Working on it!
This is one of the things they’ll never forget. And I’m sure if they do you can show them the pictures in the book…and they’ll show their kids and so it will go.
Looks like you are having a blast.
Love it! I’d love to be a fly on the wall, watching the craziness and laughter. And hope that Pea Kitty didn’t have a craving for flies…
And that musical tea pot set? We ‘unfortunately’ lost the musical lid. Or maybe I threw it away.
Good luck with the dishes!
That lid scared the peas out of Ashley this morning!
Your girls are going to look back and love this. They are lucky to have a mama like you
Aww, thanks. I think I’m the lucky one.
I love Gigi’s face biting into the lemon! I’ve been there, done that. I’m sure you’ll be glad when the dishes return back to the normal load! And here I was complaining about my dishes earlier today..