Now that we have left Jekyll Island and are underway again there are some marked changes in the crews activity. No longer can the kids jump off the boat onto the dock and find someone to play with. No longer do they have the option to withdraw from family life and select someone closer to their own age or likings. Now they are forced… to participate in family life.

So today I decided that they could do dishes and make desert, more specifically cake. Paul read the directions and Nicole procured the ingredients. In the mixing process they fell quickly into the familiar roll of little sister “pest” and big brother “antagonist” with Nicole trying to find any way to lick the batter off the spoon, counter and even the bowl. Paul on the other hand was trying to preserve the integrity of the cake or perhaps just thwart Nicole’s efforts to eat batter. In the end they were laughing so hard I had to grab the camera and share.

As you can see in the photo in an attempt to keep Nicole occupied Paul has “painted” her elbow with batter. Knowing that she would do anything for at taste of cake batter and also being a firm believer that no one can efficiently lick their elbow he dabbed some batter on her elbow and she effectively “chased her tail” for then next 10 or so minutes. It was quite the event.