Fwoot Smoothies

Back when Tori was an infant and trips to the pediatrician seemed like a weekly occurrence (usually due to ear infections), I struck a deal with Lexy.

During those trips to the doctor, enduring the long waits both in the waiting room and then again in the examination room with a squirmy then 2-yr-old wasn't fun. For Lexy or me. Knowing her love of fruit smoothies, I thought maybe the promise of one after a well-behaved appointment would do the trick.

Sure enough, she behaved like an angel. And when she thought about disobeying, all it took was a little reminder about what her prize would be and she would quickly whip into shape.

That was a year and a half ago.

And what I thought would be a one-time thing has turned into an EVERY TIME WE SEE THE DOCTOR FOR ANY REASON thing.

Needless to say, we have a lot of fruit smoothies.

This morning, we had the pleasure (ha!) of another visit to our dear sweet Dr. Kim who now knows us by name. Today's visit makes two Fridays in a row. :) (And Tori has a WELL baby check-up scheduled next Tuesday!)

It seems that Lexy has picked up pink eye from someone either at school or on the playground. LOVELY.

Thankfully, we caught it somewhat early, and I hope she'll make a speedy recovery. (And you can join me in praying that Tori doesn't get it!)
[[UPDATE: (since I'm late in posting this....) Lexy is fine now. NONE of us got it. Amazing. ]]

I upped the stakes a bit on Lexy this morning as we drove to the doctor's office. Due to the extremely contagious nature of pink eye, I thought it wise for her to not go play with all the toys in the ped's office, but rather sit in a boring chair on the other side of the room with me. So I told her today's new rule and explained my reasoning and then told her that getting a "froot smoothie" was depended on her obeying my rule.

She did such a good job!! She and I sat at one end of the room guessing what movie the kids on the other end of the room might be watching. She asked a couple of times to go play with the toys-- especially at one point when we were the only ones in the waiting room-- but seemed determined to obey despite her disappointment when I said "No."

So, after the appointment (and confirmed diagnosis), we headed to Robek's for her well-earned fruit smoothie. This ritual has become so common-place, that we also have standing rules for how one is to drink said fruit smoothie. She knows that she MAY NOT, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, REMOVE THE LID of the cup, lest it spill all over her and her car seat. Removal of the lid will result in immediate disposal of her fruit smoothie. (I mean business)

This last rule makes life a little challenging when she (and Tori) get to the bottom of the cup. You know, that moment when you really need to dig the straw around and get the last inch or so of smoothie. Generally, we end up throwing the cup away with a little still in it because of strict lid removal policy.

So, this morning, we arrived home with smoothies in hand and I got busy cleaning up the kitchen (or something) and kinda tuned out for a second. I do remember hearing the silverware drawer open and the familiar clang of a utensil being grabbed, but I paid it no mind.

And then I realized that the girls were both sitting under the kitchen table.
This is what I found.



Total partners in crime, spooning out the last of their beloved "Fwoot Smoothies" in hiding because they'd broken the cardinal rule. I couldn't help but laugh.

They didn't make a mess (hooray!) and they were actually enjoying each other's company.
Win, win, I guess.
So much for my rule.