Piper Helps

Okay, so I’m a little behind, but, ya know… 

Piper is REALLY getting into the “helping” business, and usually insists on helping cook dinner, she helps vacuum (I give her the wands that she gets to “vacuum” with), putting clothes in the washer and folding clothes, emptying the dishwasher, setting her place at the table, feeding the dogs…  You get the picture.  If she thinks it’ll make her big, she’s insistent ready to get her hands dirty.  Or clean.  Whichever.

Anyway, when it came to Thanksgiving, Piper was absolutely willing to help.  She, of course, didn’t really have an idea about what was going on.  Only that things were different, and busy, and BIG, and that meant she had a job to do.  I started running out of ways to keep her occupied without being under someone else’s feet.  This expands my job, too.  And my creativity levels.  Which is a dangerous combination when you’re sleep deprived.  But, again, I digress.

Piper helped make some of the finger foods we took to Luke’s parents for Thanksgiving.  We made this cheesecake/caramel/toffee apple dip (YUM, btw)- Piper’s job was to help pour each layer together.  And taste-test the apples, of course.  And she helped arrange crackers on the platter (again, taste-testing was required).  But she had the MOST fun doing this (just please ignore the chaos that is our kitchen; apparently a day of cooking took its toll…):

We always dip pretzels in almond bark- I still love them, but they are TIME CONSUMING.  So, when I saw this on Pinterest, I had to try them.  Pretzels topped with Hershey’s Hugs, melted in the oven, and sandwiched with another pretzel.  Not sure I like them quite as much, but the ease factor was well worth it!  Even if it wasn’t as fast as it could have been had my two-year-old not been in the driver’s seat.  But ya know.  Piper diligently, and enthusiastically, took each Hug and found an empty pretzel to put it on. 

And we only had a few candies, ahem, accidentally fall INTO Piper’s mouth.  She’s an expert taste-tester, if you haven’t gathered…

But, no no, the helping didn’t end there.  After Thanksgiving dinner, I was washing dishes and Luke was helping dry.  Addy was being held by her aunt, and I think Piper felt a little lost.  So she insisted on helping.  We found a little stepstool and she helped dry dishes.  And she actually did a good job!  She rubbed everything she could to make them dry, was very gentle with everything, and followed directions.  She had a blast helping; and as odd as it may sound, I was really proud of her for WANTING to help, and actually helping, to boot. 

It’s so much fun having a little helper by my side.  I’ll admit that occasionally I have to remind myself that, while it’d probably be easier/faster/cleaner to do some things without her, doing them WITH her is more important.  And ultimately more fun.  I like to think that I’m getting to create my very own mini-me.  Watch out, Luke…  Watch. Out.