Okay, I've been a little busy.  Last Friday, we took off for Iowa City to have a reunion with four of my five college roommates (this time no one was afraid to get on a plane, but my friend N. waited until three days before she needed to leave to try to use a 14-day-advanced-booking free ticket), their husbands (well, one of their husbands, the other one found out the day they were supposed to leave that he had to proctor an exam on Saturday) and their children (all children, including the one in utero, were present and accounted for).  It was LOVELY.  The children played together nicely with each other and Mona the dog.  The adults got to drink lots of wine and watch basketball (well, my beloved did, anyway), and we were able to invoke much unsolicited birth-control on my childless friend by taking her shopping with two under two during dinner time at a hot and crowded mall with a carousel.  Wheee!

On Sunday, it was sleeting in Iowa City. Very cold and icy.  We headed out early, only to find ourselves back in Kansas City at two surrounded by lovely blue sky and 65 degree temperatures.  It was so great outside, in fact, that we stopped at Loose Park with our fully-loaded Ridiculously Large Vehicle and decided to play and visit the ducks. 

As we walked from the playground to the little pond where the ducks were, we encountered young H., the older sister of one of the little angel's former daycare posse.  I have always dreamed that the little angel might aspire to H.'s bright, sunny personality and precociousness.  Every time she sees us, she scampers over, gives the little angel a hug and stops to talk.  She is polite and adorable.  I have always thought she might just be the perfect child. 

This time, we saw H. inadvertently as we inspected the "house" she and her little friend had made under some bushes by the rose garden.  The bushes were of the Japanese-looking type, with a lot of crawl space underneath.  H. asked if she could give the little angel a tour and led her deep into the thicket.  We heard her explaining the house.

H:  "This is the master bedroom, and here's the sink.  This towel is the couch.  See?  You can sit on it and lean back."

(The little angel looks on adoringly.)

My beloved and I exchanged smug glances.  What a little doll H. is!  How nice of her to give the little angel a tour!  Maybe the little angel will be JUST LIKE HER!

H:  "Here's the second bedroom, and there's the back door.  Here's the kitchen, and this is the stove." (Points to a pile of sticks.)

I prepare to walk away, leaving my beloved to collect the little angel. 

H:  "We looked all over the place for matches, but we couldn't find any.  We're still looking, so we can use the stove."

I glance back in horror.  H. catches my eye. 

Me:  (stammering) "I don't think that would be such a good idea."

H:  "Yeah, we don't even have insurance on the house."