I watched my grandbabies today. J is 10 months old and E is 2 1/2. E is starting intensive potty training (panties instead of a diaper, but not at all reliable at telling that she has to go!) and J seems just on the verge of starting to walk. You know they keep me busy. I love being with them. They both love being read to and they love "playing" the piano. We have two pianos in our living room (don't ask) and each wants to play his own! It was fairly chilly and rather rainy most of the day so we played indoors. 
I made them a "playhouse" by putting my largest tablecloth over our kitchen table. I anchored it down with lots of cookbooks because J kept tugging at the cloth. They loved it. The picture isn't great, because J kept going in and out under the cloth, but E had her little chair and some books and the toy baket in there. And yes, the electrical outlet has clear plastic plugs in place.They arrive at 7:45 am and I give them breakfast and lunch as well as an afternoon snack. I've had a hard time staying away from their snacks. (E gets a few m&m's as a reward for performing on the potty so I have to keep some on hand). Jack is just starting finger foods and I have little packages of yogurt melts and pretzel rods and yum yums, and banana puffs. All new to me except the pretzels. The m&m's tempt me, but I asked her mom to bring a very small tupperware container of them (it holds maybe 1/2 cup) so there aren't enough for me to have any because I need to have them for E. I try to keep the other stuff out of sight and to keep myself feeling full with my ice water. I've been positively angelic this past week in regard to those temptations.
I'm still reading along in my book 100 Days of Weight Loss. One of the suggestions really struck a chord with me this week. It is the idea that I should eat dessert only when it's special. And no, not every dessert is special. My sister's pecan pie definitely ranks in that category, but I've fallen for countless lesser versions offered in countless restaurants. They never stack up to my sister's. I am beguiled by the desserts on the menu, but really, so often there is nothing there worth the calories. Other desserts that are "worthy" include my daughter's apple crisp. It used to be "my" apple crisp, but somehow hers is now the gold standard. And my own brownies. I have to stay far, far away from those brownies. Anyway, the author made me realize that I would be foolish to eat a dessert that isn't worthy. If I'm going to splurge, I may as well splurge on the best. So most restaurant desserts are out. And my sister and my daughter live hundreds of miles away.
Dinner tonight was baked tilapia with lemon, whole wheat couscous with a sprinkle of pine nuts, and fresh asparagus. Yum. I love those individually frozen fish servings. I get them at Costco and we're eating a lot more fish because it's so easy. I like the Alaskan salmon too, but it's a bit more pricy.
