Play Kitchen

Lela's play kitchen is awesome.  If I weren't so in love with our newly renovated kitchen, I would be jealous.   And the fact that it was built by Grandpa Rick and Grandma Connie makes this a really special gift.  It's solidly made - this gift will last for years. Who knows - maybe Lela's kids will play with it one day! 

Forgive me for going on and on, but the play kitchen is so fabulous that I must preserve the details for posterity. The double-door fridge holds the food (it will never again be as neat as in these photos. Lela likes to store all of the food in her shopping cart). The stove has a plexi-glass oven door, wire baker's rack, and handles that really turn (from Anthropologie). The sink bowl (made from a dog dish) and real faucet (scored on eBay) make the sink, but the adorable ruffled, pom-pommed sink skirt steals the show. 

The shopping cart was a fantastic last-minute addition - Lela LOVES to "go shopping" for groceries.  She generally keeps most of the food in the grocery cart at all times anyway, but for shopping excursions she places one or two dollies in the kiddie-seat and slings a purse over her shoulder as she prances around the family room pushing the cart. 

dumping all the groceries in the cart

cooking

pushing Dolly in the cart

examining a cucumber with Grandma Connie

It's amazing to watch her play-act with the kitchen as it really drives home how much she picks up from observing the world around her.  She "cooks" by placing the pots and pans on the burners, turning the stove knobs and stirring the contents with a spoon.  When she "bakes," she says, "Hot! Hot!" before opening the oven door (and I realized that I always say that when I open the oven door as a warning for her to stay away).  She asked for a washcloth so she can dry off the dishes she "washes" in her sink.  She keeps most of her food in the shopping cart, but she keeps the carton of milk in the fridge.  And when she's done cooking (her favorite dishes are eggs and cupcakes), she serves the food to her dollies . . . but only if they first sit in the high chair.  Many times, she makes me put the dolly's bib on before putting her in the high chair.  Such a clean girl.  She even gives Dolly a bath in the sink!

We have a special spot for the play kitchen on the side of our family room, which is connected to the kitchen, so Lela has easy access to play with this awesome toy as much as her heart desires.  What a wonderful gift!  Thank you, Grandpa Rick and Grandma Connie!