Brooke Builds a Bench and Ghibli Fest at an Old Favorite

Melon for breakfast.

Meadow wanted a red bow for her hair. I used the scrap fabric from our M&M costumes to maker her one.

I kept getting ads for Studio Ghibli night at Pizza Luce. You know we had to go. Meadow got excited and dressed as Kiki right away.

You got to wait, kiddo. The trivia isn't until later.

Meadow got a trapeeze bar from Brittany for her birthday. Now both kids love doing tricks on the swingset.

That is when we can get them outside.

Also I've never seen our yard so lush with all the rain we've been getting this summer.

I've been wanting an outdoor table in our backyard. Menard's had a picnic table kit that was inexpensive. Today's goal was to put this together.

This ain't your Ikea furniture.

But not cutting needed. So, not too bad.

At times I needed Scott and Theo's help.

With all the parts just wood, it could get a bit confusing.

I guess Theo needed to relax after helping me build.

When you don't have any leftovers for lunch, make a charcuterie of what you have.

This is called snack lunch. Don't get all bougie on us.

Four hours later and it was finished.

It was a bit off, but that's how you know it's handmade.

I finished painting the north side of the house. Only one more side to go.

Then it was time to bike over to the Seward Pizza Luce.

Like old times. We used to walk here all the time when we lived just to the west.

Meadow was ready.

They had the inside decorated to the max with Studio Ghibi items.

They also had a coloring contest for the kids.

And special cocktails. I tried Homily's Hard Lemonade.

I stuck to beer.

Meadow and Theo got some stickers.

We thought we would just stay for an hour. But then trivia started and we had to play. I couldn't believe how many of the answers Meadow knew.

Being that we were the only ones left with kids they gave Meadow a little Ponyo toy.

A little while later someone came over and said, "I think you should give Ponyo to your brother because Kiki needs her Jiji." Meadow's night was made.

And Theo was happy too!

While we didn't win, we came in pretty close considering Meadow answered most of the questions herself and the other teams were big groups of adults.

What a fun night.

Who knew we needed a night of Ghibli trivia and baked potato pizza.

Then we cruised on home via the light rail trail and Midtown Greenway.

Always the only family with kids biking with kids at night.

Night rides sure can be magical. Just let your kids live a little.

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