Christmas Chocolates

I had a date with Chloe recently to a chocolate making class.

It was a thrill because we went alone and it was at a fun place. It is called Fort Edmonton and it is set to look like an olden day town. The parents could leave but Chloe really wanted me to stay. It was a bit torturous for me because there were lots of sanitary issues for my mental health (lots of touching, rolling, picking noses, long nails, etc.) but she had a great time and in the end it was fun for me to watch her have so much fun and interact with other kids her age. There are always bound to be some kids who just are loud and obnoxious too but thankfully it didn't seem to phase Chloe which made me happy because she is learning how to deal with situations and people that aren't always ideal. Anyway, she left with a tin full of mints, truffles and gross hand shaped cookies but she loved it.

There were a couple other parents who stayed so it was fun to bond with them over the gross-ness of it all and how these young teachers didn't have a clue how to work with kids. It was funny to me how different our perspective and awareness of things were of things over these two young adults in charge.
They baked on a real wood burning stove and it was so cozy and warm in the kitchen, I could've stayed there all winter--minus all the smoke. I was talking to the girl about how it probably wouldn't have been too bad to live back then when she tells me the whole house is also piped with a furnace. Ha, ha. Boy did they fool me!

Here's one of Chloe rolling her mints. She was so meticulous about it. She loves taking her time on things. It is something that drives me crazy when it involves putting on all her winter clothes but at a time like this, it was nice to be able to appreciate that about her.

The best part for me was half-way through the class when we took a little winter walk around the town square and looked at all the "old" shop windows with their Christmas displays out. It was just fun to spend time with her and talk to her and give her that one and one attention that she doesn't get too often anymore. It was so freezing outside though. There was this intense wind chill that we weren't expecting. Chloe was going crazy taking pictures of cual quier cosa. It was fun.

I loved this one of a nativity made out of sticks.

And this one is my fave:

When we got home and happily and excitedly shared her goods with her little sister. It just made me feel so happy that she is my daughter and I love her so much. I need to try and do more Mommy/Daughter dates.