Snaggen for Schnipschnavers and Borok for Totteltovers

Soon after Steve and I started dating, we were invited to Steve and Liz Jones' house for dinner. It just happened to be April Fool's Day, so I decided to pull a prank on Steve. Knowing that he hoped to impress his good friends with his new girlfriend but also knowing that we were still in the fragile early dating phase, I put Steve in an awkward position. As my cooking debut for both Steve and his friends, I offered to bring the dessert for the dinner. I went to Smith's, bought a pound cake, slit it open horizontally and filled it with almost an entire tube of Crest toothpaste. I then frosted it with the cheapest chocolate frosting I could find. The presentation alone was an embarrassment. I called it Chocolate Mint Surprise and proudly presented it at the end of the meal. Steve and Steve Jones took bites. They immediately looked up at each other and tried to gulp down the cake with a glass of water. Steve was definitely in an uncomfortable position. How could he not rave over his new girlfriend's cooking, but clearly this cake was a disaster. Liz, who was in on the joke, and I had to excuse ourselves to the kitchen. We couldn't contain our giggles, which revealed our foolery. For Steve and me, this was definitely our most memorable April Fool's together. 

Although there was no Chocolate Mint Surprise this year, the kids ran off to school and my fooling began. When the kids were about to return,  I made a "Wet Paint" sign and placed it on the front door. Then I made a "Wet Paint" sign and placed it on the back door. Sophia was in on the joke, and thought it was about the funniest thing we had ever done. She kept repeating "Wet Paint!" and giggling. We then hid by the window and watched as the kids approached the front door. With no hesitation, they headed to the back door. Sophia and I raced to the other side of the house and hid to see their reaction. Emilie and Annelise, with little expression of confusion, turned around and headed right back to the front door. 

Half way there they ran back to the back door and started to laugh as soon as they saw me! They knew they had been had. 

Jonathan came home just moments later, after shooting hoops up the street with a neighbor. He too read the front door sign and then headed to the back. The photo that I didn't get was one of Jonathan at the back door throwing his hands up with a complete "What?!" expression. He too had fallen for my prank! 

For dinner I gathered the children and talked to them about manners and reminded them that a recent restaurant experience had been less than acceptable. We were going to practice restaurant manners at dinner and I expected the utmost respect from them. Think of this as a fancy restaurant, I told them. They sat up to the counter, with menus in hand. 

When they opened the menu, nothing made sense. In three categories, Schnipschnavers (utensils) Totteltovers (condiments) and Misskovers (side and main dishes), there were made up words, like sligger, gug and beegen. Suddenly there was commotion. What is this, they wondered. I can't read these words, Annelise protested. I explained that they could order three items per category. When they were presented with their orders, they were quite surprised. Emilie ordered ice and water, but no cup. She took the ice but wouldn't let me pour the water right into her mouth. 

Jonathan ordered pasta, but no sauce and Sophia was stuck with a little sugar, a spoonful of dip, a pat of butter, a few apples and ice cream. Unfortunately she didn't order a grapefruit to go with her sugar or pasta to go with her butter. 

After some giggles and attempts to make the most of their dining experience at the Ebert Eatery, they received some complimentary left overs. Each child left satisfied. Annelise suggested we do this every night and Jonathan asked if this could be our April Fools tradition. I think that we must have years of silliness and fooling ahead of us!