We love the Farmer's Market

Zoe made it into the the OC register for being a prominent sampler at the the farmers market. She is our little celebrity. (She thought she was even before the picture but now there's proof) There is a guy who gives out samples of the BEST balsamic vinegar and dipping oils and Zoe is no fool she just asks for more. I love the farmers market! I have started getting most of my produce from there because not only is it fresh but it is cheaper than the grocery store and somewhat organic(claim no pesticides or other stuff???) There is a new gelato place on Main st. that is unbelievable! Not super cheap but super good and a small is more than enough. Their claim is that they use 2% milk instead of whole milk and heavy cream so it's less fattening than regular ice cream-if that really matters to anyone. Taste is not compromised anyway and you can sample all you like. This last week we had family in town so Zoe was spoiled at the farmers market. There are attractions for kids. So here is what we did: the SharkSlide $5 (way to steep for a little one/she didn't want to go again), the Bounce House $5 (couldn't get her out of it), and a Train Ride $2/pers. I don't know how we bypassed face painting a balloon animals. I normally say no to all of these things because they are kind of a rip off but there was a grandma willing to pay so I wasn't going to stop her. Normally I just walk up and down the street and enjoy being outside and people watching. There are a number of street performers that Zoe likes to watch and a lot of food to sample. You can just get full on sampling everything without spending a dime. One las thing...the strawberries grown locally are amazing! I don't know why I buy them from anywhere else. Another worthy note are the little bunt cake samples. I got the butter rum cake and topped it with strawberries and whipped cream-delicious! I lost the art of haggling but have done it before and think it's worth a shot if you go down there most people only take cash.

Too Cool

My daughter is something else. She frustrates me sometimes but she makes me laugh most of the time. She is almost 3 and still sucks on a pacifier. There are many mothers out there who are thinking what a horrible idea this is and why did I let it go on this long. The answer is this: I haven't been up for the fight. She is a tense little kid and shows no signs of being prepared to detach herself from her paci. I don't really know what to do. My neighbors told me the attached their child's pacifier to a balloon and let the child send it away with a note. There is NO WAY Zoe would ever be cool with that right now not to mention we have like 6 pacifiers laying around for Jude too so saying good bye to 1 isn't going to work. I've kind of adopted the idea that every child is different and true success as a parent is learning and doing what is best for each child individually. Is is wrong that I haven't taken away her pacifier yet? She is going to need braces anyway, right?