P B & J Dreams
by Maggie The Kitten
 
This is just a fun Kitten tale I wanted to share with my family, for without all of you, the Kitten would know the meaning of love, joy or family.

I am specially dedicating this to my Auntie Kimmie, a wonderful woman who has shared hugs and wisdom with me and so many others. Thanks for always being there. I love you.

 © 2005 by Maggie the Kitten

Jenna's birthday was just around the corner and her sisters wanted to do something extra special for her. Knowing the only thing Jenna loved to do more than cook and care for her family was shop, they decided to all pitch in and surprise her with an all day mall hop followed by a trip to the spa and then dinner at her favorite Oriental restaurant.

Richard, Jenna's husband, was away for the weekend on business in Canada, so the timing for their outing couldn't be more perfect. They knew if they didn't rescue their sister, she would mope around the house longing for her "Big Bear" just like she did any other time she was separated from her soul mate.

Of course they would have to arrange babysitting for Cathleen, Jenna's three year old, and puppy sitting for Beagle Bailey, the family puppy, not to mention Shelly's five year old twins, Baruchah and Maggie, and Kimmie's two year old, Allie. Normally a couple of Shelly's older daughter's would have drawn the sitting assignment, but it was a busy weekend at the Evil Witch's house and between sports games, school events and a couple of dreamy dates, they were all unavailable.

The girls knew they could probably blackmail a few husbands into giving up their Saturday to watch the kids, but most of the wives were still cleaning up damage from the last experiment in "Daddy Daycare", and were reluctant to have their homes declared federal disaster areas again.

With no other option available, it was apparent that one of the sisters was going to have to make the supreme sacrifice and stay behind to play mommy for the day. Janet agreed to take the kids as the only thing she loved more than shopping was babysitting, but her offer was dismissed by her sister's as she had been the designated sitter on the last such outing and this time they wanted star shopper to take the point when they descended upon the mall.

Shelly then offered to take her place, but was overruled as well. Shelly had more children then all of the sister's combined and no one needed a child-free day more than she did.

Finally Kimmie stepped up. Arguing that since one of the kid's were her own, and she had a huge house to accommodate the little ones she would be the perfect choice. Kimmie watched many of the family and neighborhood children, and her home had become known as a twenty-four hour unofficial daycare site. She absolutely adored children, and her sisters knew she would have every bit as much fun playing mommy as she would chasing down specials at Bloomingdales.

Reluctantly it was agreed Kimmie would "SIT" this one out, but it was also unanimously added that the next sisters day out would be in her honor.

Saturday morning arrived and Jenna was surprised at her front door by six of her seven sisters. Before she could invite them in for coffee cake and tea, they hustled her into her bedroom, dressed her, answered her questions, shot down her protests, and had her ready for the mall hop in less than thirty minutes. Cathleen and Bailey were collected as well and all were off to Kimmie's.

Baruchah, Maggie and Allie were there waiting when Cathleen and Beagle Bailey came to join them. The kids immediately took off to run and play with the puppy yapping happily behind them. Jenna was still reeling from the sister surprise and had happy tears welling as she hugged each of her siblings. She came to Kimmie last, and told her how much she appreciated what she was doing but she hated for Kimmie to miss out on the fun.

Almost on cue, a loud chorus of giggles came from the other room. Jenna and Kimmie exchanged the knowing glances of two loving mothers and Jenna smiled as she knew Kimmie was going to have a wonderful day of her own.

Finally the Magnificent Seven, (Jenna, Shelly, Prue, Sara, Janet, Holly and Cathy) saddled up Shelly's Bronco and headed off to the mall to stimulate the economy and melt some serious plastic.

Kimmie giggled and waved as they drove off with the battle cry of "Charge It!"

The young mother was just about to go check on her brood, when she spied her next-door neighbor cutting across the lawn with Emma, her two-year-old, in her arms. Kimmie smiled at them both and waved. Emma's bright eyes lit up immediately and she was already reaching and calling for her "Auntie Kimmie" long before her little hands could get to her.

Emma was a frequent visitor at "Kimmy Kare" as her parent's had jobs that required travel, often on a moments notice. Kimmie loved having little Emma over, as she gave Allie a playmate, and as Shelly was so fond of saying, "with children, one plus one equal one".

Kimmie saw the guilty look in her friend’s eyes. It had been less then a week since the last time she'd ask Kimmie to watch Emma. The young mother lead off with, "Kimmie, I really hate to ask but."

Kimmie waved her off immediately as she took Emma from her arms. She told her lil Emma was never any trouble and in fact she was hosting a toddler get together today and one more little princess wouldn't be a problem at all. Affectionate Emma immediately showered Kimmie with little kisses and "wuvs yous".

Emma's mother thanked Kimmie for being a lifesaver and then assured her it was only for one night and she would be back in the morning to pick Emma up. Kimmie and Emma waved as the young woman blew her baby a kiss and then headed back home to pack for the flight.

Kimmie carried little Emma in and asked her if she wanted to go play. The tiny tot nodded and squealed, "PAY!"

Kimmie thought to herself, "Ask a silly question....", then closed the door behind her and headed off toward her daughter's bedroom to see what her little charges were up to. Giggles, chatter, and the sound of little feet running told the experienced mother that the kids were having a wonderful time, long before she reached the bedroom door.

Kimmie peeked in unannounced, and her heart was warmed by the sight of four little girls setting up a tea party. Allie and Cathleen were toddler tag teaming the table cloth, doing their very best to get it laid out properly on the floor, while Maggie was half submerged into the toy box being fashion coordinator as she pulled out dresses and hats appropriate for the party. Baruchah by far the best of the quartet at mastering numbers over ten, was separating the china and counting them out for place settings. Bailey was supervising from a comfortable spot atop Allie's toddler bed.

A playful bark by Bailey and squeals by Emma gave away the pair's presence and the four girls turned toward the door and squealed as they saw lil Emma. They ran to welcome her as they proudly announced they were having a tea party. Kimmie eased Emma down to the floor and then nodded and smiled, telling them she was sure it was going to be the toddler social event of the season.

The girls attacked Kimmie and Emma for hugs, each one vying for prime position and all the while chattering about their duties in making their tea party a reality. Kimmie worked her best mommy magic, somehow managing to give each one a good portion of hugs and her undivided attention, before finally wiggling away from their clutches.

Of course no proper tea party could be without tea and biscuits or in this case the suitable toddler equivalent of Kool Aid and cookies. Kimmie announced she would see to the refreshments while the girls finished preparations. The "Fab Five" gave each other low fives and then went back to work setting up the party.

Kimmie was all smiles as she left the room. There was nothing that warmed her heart more than seeing happy children. Overseeing a round the clock daycare, plus finding time for her own children left Kimmie little time for herself, but to her, it was all the ultimate labor of love, and she wouldn’t have it any other way.

Kimmie entered the kitchen and checked the refridgerator. Like all good mommys she had a supply of juices and drinks chilled and ready for children. Knowing grape was a can’t miss flavor, she pulled out pitcher of purple sugar water and sat it on the table.

The tall slender blonde then went to her cupboard to check her stock on cookies. She ran her fingers down the various varieties, finally stopping on chocolate chip, another sure-fire flavor.

Kimmie lovingly prepared the tray as the sounds of giggles and squeals found her ears and her heart. A smile slowly crept across her lovely countenance and finally it became a full-fledged giggle of her own as the little girl within her peeked out from behind those big blue eyes of hers. All women have a little girl within them, but Kimmie's had always been closer to the surface than most, and perhaps that's what truly made her the wonderful mother and daycare provider she was. Her own childhood hadn't exactly been a trip through Candyland, and she was going to make sure that her own children, and those she had the chance to reach, would never want for love, hugs or attention.

Kimmie smiled wistfully as she looked at the tray filled with cookies and drink. The little girl within her was a tiny bit envious of those princesses who would be attending the tea party, as she wished she could go to, but the joy that the mommy felt in knowing she was helping to make five little girls so happy was enough to satisfy both the big and little girl. Kimmie sighed happily as she picked up the tray and then headed toward Allie's bedroom.

Meanwhile, at toddler central final preparations were just being finished for the tea party. Baruchah had placed each setting on the tablecloth and Maggie was helping Allie and Emma into their tea party clothes. Their formal attire had been donated by Kimmie, mostly some of her old summer dresses, but for the toddlers they were formal wear of the finest class. Cathleen was giggling out from under a wide brim hat that swallowed all but her smile, and Bailey had curled up nearby, preferring to rest until the cookies came.

Baruchah counted the settings and then pouted as she told her playmates they didn't have enough girls to around. She had set six places, but there were only five of them, and now she'd have to reset everything. Cathleen smiled big and said that maybe Bailey could play pretend as the other little girl. Allie nodded and went to look for doll clothes to dress the beagle babe in. Bailey however had played dress up with Cathleen before, and suddenly free cookies were no longer worth attending the party. Before Maggie could grab her, the pup wiggled herself under Allie's bed and wouldn't come out for any amount of coaxing. Emma crawled in after her, but came back empty handed and giggling as her face was wet from puppy licks.

Baruchah folded her arms across her chest and pouted, sure they were going to have to reset the table now. Allie however had another idea and ran over to her bed and pulled down her favorite teddy bear. She carried the big brown stuffy over to Baruchah and handed her to her cousin, saying the bear could sit in the place of the missing girl and they could play pretend.

Baruchah hugged her little cousin tightly and said that was a wonderful idea and then carried the stand in princess over to one of the settings and placed her there. Cathleen smiled and nodded and said everything was perfect, but Maggie stood back and stared at the bear. Slowly an impish grin spread across her face, one Baruchah had seen before and knew usually ended up getting them both in trouble.

When Baruchah asked her sister what she was up to, Maggie replied, "Magic", and then explained that she knew the spell to turn a stuffed baby into a real little girl and all she had to do was say the words, wiggle her nose, and then POOF they would have another REAL little girl to play with.

Maggie and Baruchah were Shelly's daughters and one day they would have the same command of witchcraft as their mother, but at age five they knew only enough magic to be dangerous and their mother had forbidden either of them to try a spell without her in attendance, and especially one as difficult as Maggie was suggesting. Let alone the fact, that of the two twins, Maggie's magic failures were almost legendary. To date she'd never gotten a spell right and there was no reason to believe the streak was going to end that day.

Baruchah was as usual the good sister, and reminded Maggie of how mommy had forbidden them to try magic anymore and how much trouble they would get into especially if Maggie goofed the spell, but also as usual Maggie assured her this time NOTHING could go wrong as she had been practicing extra hard. Cathleen, Allie and Emma of course began cheering for magic and finally Baruchah gave in, knowing it was pointless to argue with her stubborn twin.

Maggie smiled triumphantly and then told the girls to stand back and get ready for magic. Bailey thinking the danger was over earlier, wiggled her way out from under the bed but when she saw Maggie and heard the word magic, she put her paws over her eyes and started whimpering.

Maggie undaunted by the puppy's lack of confidence turned her green eyes to the stuffed bear and then began the incantation:

Sugars and pice and...and...eberytings nice
ummms...wibbons and bows and hairs in a curl
I...I commands da cweachure fores me
to turns intos a widdle girl!

When Maggie finished the last word, she wiggled her nose and then turned to point at the stuffed bear, but just then Kimmie walked in the bedroom door and sang, "I got Kool Aid and cookies girls!"

No child can resist a call like that and all five heads turned to look at Kimmie, including Maggie and her loaded magic nose wiggle, which was now aimed squarely at her aunt.

Maggie tried to pull back her finger but it was too late as a bolt of pink magic hit the young woman squarely in the chest. Allie and Emma did their best McCauley Caulkins as their mouths fell open and their hands cupped their faces. Cathleen joined Bailey in covering her eyes and Baruchah lowered her head and shook it. She knew this was a bad idea and all she could think about was how mad mommy was going to be this time.

Kimmie didn't know what had hit her, but her whole body began to tremble and the tray of cookies and drink fell from her hands and hit the floor. Seconds later she followed suit and her world went black.

When she awoke, she found herself surrounded by a room full of whimpering children and looking UP at Baruchah. She struggled to get to her feet and then much to her surprise realized somehow she already was. Her first instinct was to try and calm the children and she reached out hands, surely too small to be her own toward them. Allie slowly toddled over to her, but by the time her daughter reached her it was quite obvious that Allie and everything else around her either had an incredible growth spurt, or somehow Kimmie had shrunk. Kimmie felt her own self tremble and began to wonder who was going to calm her.

Kimmie opened her arms to Allie and the two embraced as near equals. Cathleen and Baruchah were sniffling but followed in with Emma bringing up the rear. Bailey started howling and Maggie started sobbing, begging her Aunt Kimmie to forgive her because she didn't mean to goof the spell.

Kimmie kissed Allie and told her mommy was fine, but as she pulled back from her she looked into the wall mirror and discovered just how little of "mommy" was left to be fine. Gone was the twenty five year old woman, with waist length blonde locks, and more curves than a bad stretch of road. In her place was an adorable little toddler, probably about three-years-old. The blonde hair was still there only now in soft curls and held in ribboned pigtails. Big blue eyes stared in disbelief as the summer dress she'd been wearing earlier had been transformed into a baby blue romper, trimmed in pink lace and tied in the back with a bow. Short stubby legs were covered in white leggings and tiny feet were encased in black buckled Mary Janes.

Kimmie raised a hand to her face and her fingers gently padded the baby fat that wasn’t there seconds before. Baruchah put arms around Kimmie just as she would little Allie or Emma and told her not to worry, that it would be all betters somehow. Kimmie smiled and then had to look up to thank her not so little niece anymore. Maggie however continued to cry no matter how much Cathleen tried to get her to stop. Kimmie finally made her way over to Maggie, amazed at how long it took to cover a distance that just a short while ago would have been but a few steps.

This morning she would have lifted the toddler into her arms and rocked her gently until all the tears were chased away, but now Maggie was almost a head taller than her and all Kimmie could do was hug and hold on.

Maggie finally settled down enough to talk again and then she explained what had happened and how Auntie Kimmie had accidentally caught the spell intended for the stuffed baby. The little witch lowered her head and tears threatened again as she cried that she was so sorry and that she was the worst witch ever because she could never get a spell right.

Kimmie smiled and stepped back from Maggie, telling her to stop crying because for once, she DID get the spell right as Kimmie had definitely turned into a little girl and then to emphasize the point, she giggled and turned a twirl.

Maggie wiped her eyes and a small smile crept out as she finally realized Auntie Kimmie wasn’t mad at her and she DID get a spell right for once. Cathleen nodded and then giggled as she added that her cousin just needs to work on her aim! This got all six little girls giggling and everyone relaxed considerably.

Kimmie, now the toddler, told Maggie that normally she could just change herself back with her own magic, but now reduced to a two or three year old she no longer had the skills, so Maggie would have to do a "reverse the spell" spell to turn her back and then everything would be fixed.

Maggie eyes went wide and suddenly tears threatened again. Since Maggie had never had a successful spell before, she'd never had to learn how to reverse one and therefore didn’t even know the first words for the incantation.

Baruchah whose success rate in magic had been slightly better than Maggie's offered to try and reverse the spell as she thought she knew it, but Kimmie told her not too. She wasn't too keen on having her fate in the small fingers of another toddler spell slinger. She had been lucky this time that she hadn't ended up in nappies, although her mirror reflection had told she wasn't long out of them.

The obvious adult thing to do was to call one of her sisters on the cell phone and explain the situation. One of the Evil Witch sisters could be there in seconds by broom shuttle, just as Sara the Art Angel could spread those wings of hers and be here on the next good breeze.

Yes, calling them would be the adult thing to do, but Kimmie wasn’t much feeling like doing anything adult at the moment, and besides she didn't want to interrupt Jenna's birthday romp for anything less than a true emergency.

Even though she was now a pint-sized nanny, she hardly felt she was in an emergency situation. Despite the fact it was all she could do to suppress a fit of giggles, mentally she was still the same twenty something woman she had been when she had woke this morning, or....at least close to it, giggle, and as such she still felt capable of watching the "other" kids. She acknowledged she might have to rely on Baruchah and Maggie a bit more than usual and somethings might take a little longer to accomplish, while a few others were now simply impossible, but she was pretty sure could handle it. If not, the cell phone was but a room away.

In ten hours or so Shelly and her other sister's would come home and then with a few finger wiggles change her back. Ten hours, she thought. She could do that standing on her head and that moment she was so tempted to try. It was going to be child's play, and that's exactly what her heart wanted more than anything else.

Of course she knew she'd probably never hear the end of this one, but as always with sisters, the teasing is good natured, and she had to admit the whole thing was too ridiculous to take seriously.

She smiled impishly as her mind was made up. The little girl who formerly had been within was now out and the big girl was going to take the day off. Telling all the girls to come over, she pulled them into a group hug and then shouted, "Let's habs dat tea pardy!"

Once the "Fab Five" realized lil Kimmie wasn't mad and was still the same mommy and aunt they all loved only packaged in a smaller size AND...she wanted to PLAY as much as they did, they were back in the party mode and thrilled to have her for the sixth place setting. Even Bailey voiced her approval with several lively yaps and then attacked Kimmie with puppy kisses knocking the reborn child onto the floor and sending her into a rolling giggling fit.

Baruchah shouted, "Hugfest!" and the girls joined their newest companion on the floor with Bailey. After some spirited rolling, squealing and giggling, they decided it was finally party time but this reminded them that the "tea and biscuits" hadn't fared as well as Auntie Kimmie and were now soggy and soaking into the grape stained carpet.

Thirty minutes ago, Kimmie would have got her "steam and vac" and took care of the problem in seconds flat, but there was no way she could take on the Hoover Hose Monster in her condition. She stared at the mess and sighed saying perhaps she should at least get a broom to sweep up what she could of the cookies. Baruchah and Maggie the senior toddlers on staff flew out of the room saying they would get the broom, and Cathleen was quick on their heels saying she would get paper towels. Allie, Emma and Bailey were doing their own damage control efforts by picking up pieces of grape soaked chocolate chip cookies and eating them. Kimmie giggled. Normally she would shudder at that sight, but at the moment nothing sounded better and soon she was sitting on the floor munching cookies along with them.

Baruchah and Maggie came back shortly with broom and dustpan to clean up what the tiny toddlers and Bailey hadn’t got to. When they saw Kimmie side by side with Allie and Emma, cookie on her face and her fingers stained with grape juice they started giggling.

When Kimmie saw her own fingers she joined them in laughter and soon the room was filled with giggling kids again save for Cathleen. Then almost on cue she came running in with white paper towels billowing behind her. Obviously, she had grabbed the end of the roll towel and then headed back for the room without thinking to tear off a few sheets. By the time she got to the spill sight, she had towel wrapped around her arms, waist and feet. When she smiled and said, "I gotted lots of towels!" The giggling went up another notch and this time included Cathleen, who didn't know what was so funny, but just giggled anyway.

Once they unraveled Cathleen, they soaked up most of the Kool Aid and then turned their attentions to finding fresh food and drink for the party. The Fab Five, now Super Six, went into Kimmie's kitchen and then pooled their efforts as a toddler attack force on a seek and find cookie mission.

Kimmie normally could have replaced the drink and cookies with ease and in a few minutes, but the cookie shelf in her cupboard now looked like the top of Mount Everest from where she stood. Baruchah and Maggie saw the frustrated look in her eyes and told her not to worry. They knew what to do. Kimmie stepped down from the command she no longer warranted by size or age and watched as the twins shoved a chair across to the floor and over to the tall cabinet. Cathleen ran out of the room and then returned shortly with a pair of thick phone books which Baruchah placed on the chair. Allie waddled over dragging the yard stick with her and handed it to Maggie who winked and nodded. Baruchah then scaled the chair and the books, and took the ruler from Maggie. Reaching up on her toes she pushed the stick under a box of cookies and it tumbled down to the ground at Kimmie and Emma's feet. Maggie frowned and said she had wanted peanut butter ones. Baruchah groaned and started swinging the stick once again and two more boxes fell, one sugar and one peanut butter. Baruchah then jumped down and they all gave each other toddler low fives.

Kimmie giggled and joined in, FINALLY she found out how they had gotten those cookies off the top shelf so many times.

With cookie secured, drink was next in order. Opening a refridgerator was a two toddler effort, and so was pouring Kool-Aid. Kimmie and Allie, mother and daughter tag teamed the door, which meant Cathleen and Emma got to pick the flavors. Lime and Orange were selected as flavors of the day. Maggie and Baruchah, the designated pourers, each carried a jug back to the bedroom followed by their junior foursome who was in charge of cookie transportation.

Cookies were soon set out and drinks poured with minimal spill damage, but still one thing was amiss. Kimmie was not dressed for the party. She had a lovely dress, but it was not the same oversized formal gown appropriate for such an affair, so Maggie went to the toy box and pulled out another of Adult Kimmie's old summer dresses and a hat.

Baruchah and Cathleen helped her into the dress and Emma handed her the hat. Kimmie turned and looked in the mirror and had to laugh. This was the same dress just last summer that had show cased her assets ever so well, but now it was big enough to fit four lil Kimmie's and her ASSETS were now just undeveloped futures. She adjusted the hat only to have it fall down in front of her eyes as soon as she moved. Little Allie pointed at her and started giggling as she said, "Mommy siwwy."

Kimmie giggled again and said she certainly is, and she was loving it.

The girls put their stuffed babies and dollies to bed so they could have their tea party without interruptions from the kids. Since Kimmie was a mommy without a stuffed baby she was allowed temporary custody of Bernadette by Cathleen and Ein by Baruchah. This was a great honor and she held the babies tightly, kissing, cuddling and cooing to them as she had Cathleen and Baruchah just a short time ago. As she tucked in her two babies, she felt the same toddler mommy joy the others did and she nearly shed happy tears.

With babies finally down for their naps, the tea party could finally begin in earnest. Food and drink was passed all around and the girls munched and rocked and giggled and shared stories of all the fun things they had been doing while Bailey wiggled up to each soft touch and begged for her share of cookies and belly rubs.

When it came time for Kimmie to share her toddler adventures with the others, sadly she had none to offer. This made the other kids very sad too as every child should have lots and lots of fun memories. The other five girls then looked to each other and their minds united in toddler telepathy. They made an unspoken pact to be sure lil Kimmie had the best day ever and make memories that would last forever.

The tea party finally wound down as the guests were pretty much full of Kool-Aid and cookies. Even Bailey had had enough as she was curled up on the bed with the other sleeping babies.

Everyone helped in clearing the dishes and carrying the left over juice and cookies back to the kitchen. Then formal wear was discarded as the activities were about to turn much more casual.

It was decided a game of hide and seek was in order and Allie was declared to be the first "IT". Immediately afterwards the house was filled with the sounds of girls running and giggling, searching for the best hiding places. Normally the IT is required to count to a hundred and then start the search but Allie didn't know any numbers past five, so she had to hide her eyes until Maggie (since as no surprise she could holler louder than any of the others) yelled it was time to for her to start looking.

Maggie gave the signal and then lil Allie started off in search of her prey. Kimmie had been running back and forth between rooms unsure of where to hide and then thought the pantry off the kitchen would be a good place, but the door knob like most of the things in the house wasn't toddler friendly and she couldn't get it to turn. Hearing Allie's giggles, she turned and ran toward the dining room and jumped behind the curtains at the picture window.

Her heart pounded as she peeked through a small opening and saw Allie looking from side to side, sure she had seen her mommy run in her just a minute ago. She started to reach for the curtains, when she heard a pair of giggles in the next room and off she toddled again. Kimmie waited until she left the room, and then slid down to the floor and started laughing. She was having too much fun to sit still and took off running again, in search of a new hiding place.

Baruchah and Maggie were the first to be caught. Like most twins, they tend to think alike and both decided the hall closet was the best place. Once inside however they were both fidgeting around trying to make a one-kid space big enough to fit two. Unable to see, Maggie started pushing clothes and boxes backward blindly and then suddenly a rumble over head cut loose as half a dozen hat boxes came flying down on the girls. Maggie and Baruchah tumbled into the door and it swung open to find a smiling Allie standing there pointing at them and saying Gotcha!!!!

Cathleen was the next to get caught but would surely have been the winner had it not been for Bailey. The reigning president of TABAS (Toddler's Against Baths and Showers) had hidden where NOBODY would have surely looked for her. She had used the small step stool the kids used for brushing their teeth at the washbasin and climbed into the home of soap water torture, the bathtub.

She didn't want to brave the porcelain no toddler's land alone so she'd brought Bailey with her but that proved to be her undoing. Bailey wasn't anymore fond of bath night than she was and began whimpering and running around inside the tub. Cathleen tried to settle her down but Bailey wanted out, NOW! and before the little one could accommodate her, Bailey jumped and hit the water faucet, sending a spray of cold water on both them. Squeals and barks came loud from the bathroom as Cathleen struggled to turn the faucet off.

By the time Bailey and Cathleen skampered out of the tub, each was shaking off the excess water and Allie was standing at the bathroom door with two more caught.

Kimmie was the next one out as her daughter caught her in the kitchen. Little Kimmie was trying to get into the cabinet under the sink; however, that cabinet had cleaning supplies that were not toddler friendly and big Kimmie had put a toddler proof latch on it just a few days ago. Her mind knew how to open it, but the toddler fingers weren't up to the challenge and then she felt a light tap on her shoulders. She turned around to see a smiling Allie looking at her and saying, "Gotcha Mommy".

After Kimmie was caught lil Emma was declared the winner, but when the all clear was sounded she didn't come out. A subsequent search failed to net the missing toddler, and Kimmie headed to her bedroom to call in her sisters. A missing child was definitely an emergency. She picked up the phone on her nightstand and then thought she heard a noise coming from her closet. She opened the door and then sighed in relief. Emma had climbed in the laundry basket to hide and had fallen asleep.

Kimmie put down the phone and called in the others and then woke Emma. Emma giggled and showered them all with kisses, however she was disqualified in the game as falling asleep in your hiding place is strictly against the rules. Allie was then declared today's winner and everyone congratulated her.

Allie was so excited she climbed up on her mommy's bed and started jumping up and down, so lost in her jubilation, she'd forgotten her pint sized mommy was still there and bed jumping was strictly forbidden.

The others watched her jump and then lil Allie saw lil Kimmie giving her a stern look. She stopped jumping immediately and started trembling. "I...I...sowwy mommy."

All eyes turned on Kimmie, and then the stern looked melted and was replaced by a wide grin. "Allie if you gonna's jump you gots to does it wight, likes dis!"

Kimmie scrambled up on top of the bed and started jumping in earnest. Lil Allie was all smiles again and started jumping too. Seconds later the Super Six were bouncing, pouncing and giggling on the King sized mattress that was a perfect fit for princesses.

Thirty minutes later, the bed was properly pounced and the so were the girls. Panting and giggling they went to the kitchen and filled up sippees with Kool-Aid and then wondered what to do next.

Cathleen's eyes lit up and then she ran to the backdoor and hollered. "Outshide.....let's pay outshide!" Beagle Bailey barked and seconded the motion.

A few minutes later, six girls and a puppy flew out the door with full sippees to quench one thirst and a back yard full of toys to hopefully quench the other. Kimmie kept a well stocked toddler play area, and the girls ran from swing sets to play houses to sand box and then back again.

Baruchah pushed Kimmie on the swing and her spirits soared higher just as she did with every push. She smiled wide as the she felt the wind blow through her curls. She loved the way the swing seemed to stop for a moment as it reached its height and then suddenly it would swing backwards and start all over again. She wiggled her white stockinged toes in the air, as somewhere between the playhouse and the sandpit she'd lost her Mary Janes. She found herself echoing Cathleen as she too was squealing, "More, more and higher and higher" in between giggles.

Kimmie teeter-tottered with Maggie for awhile, chased Baruchah up and down the wiggly slide, chased Bailey to get back her Mary Janes, picked dandelions with Cathleen, and then played in the sand pit with Emma and Allie. Someone started a game of tag, and the girls ran and ran till they all finally collapsed into the soft grass beneath the big oak and rested as they watched the birds and squirrels play.

Kimmie couldn't get over how much fun, how exciting, and how magical everything was. She had watched over children, her own and so many others for so long and it gave her great joy, but this was different. It was as if every moment seemed to be a discovery or an adventure waiting to happen, and even though the world did seem to be awfully big, somehow it was also just the right size.

She could have laid in that grass cuddling with her playmates until she fell asleep or got her second wind to hit the swings again, but then she caught wind, literally, of a new adventure to tackle. Allie and Emma were the only two who still wore nappies, but Allie had just graduated up to wearing trainers during the day. As the smell got worse all eyes turned to little Emma who giggled and said proudly, "I dided it!" which got all the girls to giggling and rolling on the grass.

Finally, Kimmie took lil Emma by the hand and said she would get her cleaned up. Emma waddled along by her side with a nappy full and the other four along with Bailey followed behind them at a discreet distance.

Once inside, Kimmie took Emma into Allie's room to change her, and found out that what she could once do blindfolded and one-handed before, was nearly impossible now as a toddler. Getting the nappy off was relatively easy, but getting the wiggling Emma cleaned up proved to me much harder.

Finally she had to admit she was bested and called in reinforcements. Toddler teamwork once again saved the day. Maggie played finger games with Emma to settle her down, while Kimmie cleaned her up. Allie got to sprinkle powder, which ended up getting everyone a good dowsing before she was done. Baruchah and Cathleen each set one tab on the nappy and finally Emma was clean, dry, and stink free once again. Low fives were had all around and then tummy's startled rumbling as lunch was way over do.

The hungry toddlers returned to the kitchen to see what they could find. Cookies were still plentiful, but after having a tummy full of them earlier, they were in search of fresh game. Kimmie had planned to fix macaroni and cheese as it was toddler irresistible, but there was no way she was up to that challenge now.

She was considering more attainable alternatives when suddenly Cathleen shouted, "Peanut Budder and Jewwy!" The others smiled in agreement and soon it became a rallying cry as "Operation Peanut Budder and Jewwy" went into full swing.

Just as before, the little ones pooled their efforts and proved once again you should never underestimate the power of a toddler. With the help of the step stool and phone books, jars of peanut budder and jelly were secured by Baruchah, while Cathleen wielded the yard stick and snagged down the bread. Maggie got the butter knife from the silverware drawer. Emma got to carry the paper towels this time, and finally Kimmie and Allie liberated the milk from the fridge and clean sippees from the cabinet. Operation PB and J was a complete success.

Everything was carried into the family room and spread out across coffee table. Baruchah and Maggie removed the lids, but then the knife was handed to the grand master of PB and J construction, Cathleen. She had studied under the greatest PB and J maker of all time, her big sister Becky. No one, grown up or toddler made PB and J like Becky. The peanut butter and jelly always mixed just right, the bread never tore, and the sides never oozed. She truly had a gift from G_d, but sadly a year ago, the angels came and took her to heaven. Cathleen was sure it was because G_d wanted a PB and J samwich and he knew nobody made them better than her big sister.

The others gathered round Cathleen as she first took out a healthy glob of peanut budder, saying that you always put it on the bottom piece and THEN the jelly goes on the top piece, because the jelly slides better. The others nodded in agreement and watched the little master work. Kimmie was mesmerized, she had made the kids PB and J samwiches a thousand times, never realizing it was actually a fine art.

Cathleen then slathered a healthy amount of grape jelly on the second piece, noting you put the big glop in the middle and then slowly push a small amount out to the sides. That way when you put the two pieces together and "smoosh" them good, the jelly has room to spread and wont ooze out the sides.

Again the others nodded and then all tensed for the big moment. Cathleen held the peanut butter slice in one hand, the jelly in the other. This was the defining moment in PB and J construction. The jelly side and the peanut budder side have to come together perfectly in the middle. If the alignment is off more than inch, you have oozing. Once properly joined, a double twist of the palm assures proper mixture and now you have the ultimate PB and J experience before you.

All were quiet, even Bailey, as all eyes were on the bread filled palms of the strawberry blonde three year old. Slowly a smile spread across Cathleen's lips and her green eyes stared into Kimmie's blue ones.

Cathleen slowly extended her palms toward Kimmie, offering her a chance at the ultimate toddler honor, "First Samwich". Kimmie's eyes went wide, and her palms trembled as she raised them to meet Cathleen's. Cathleen slid each slice off into Kimmie's hands and then gave her a vote of confidence in a big smile and a wink.

As an adult, Kimmie had been in many pressure situations, but at this moment with two slice of bread in her hands and all eyes trained on her, she couldn't think of one that compared to it.

A soft chant of KIM-MEE, KIM-MEE, started up and then grew louder as the little one had her own cheering section. Kimmie took a deep breath, and then said a silent prayer to Becky the PB and J angel, to guide her hands together.

One...two...three! Kimmie brought the two slices of bread together and then spun them over giving them the quick double palm twist as Cathleen had instructed her too.

A trembling Kimmie slowly removed her top hand to reveal the newly created PB and J. Cathleen gently lifted the sandwich from Kimmie's hand and then closely inspected it as the other held their collective breaths.

Slowly a smile crept across Cathleen's angelic face, and then she pronounced it perfect by taking a big bite. Everyone cheered and congratulated Kimmie on getting it right her very first time, and the blue-eyed babe basked in the moment. Kimmie smiled big as she learned the one thing above all else that toddlers know about PB and J. As much fun as it is to eat, its even more fun to make!

Peanut butter and jelly started flying now that the ceremonial first sandwich was out of the way, and it wasn't long before all the girls were piled onto the floor licking the PB and J from their fingers, finishing their milk and basking in the afterglow.

Baruchah found the TV remote and soon the big screen TV was showing Nickelodeon as seven full-bellied babies including Bailey, settled in to watch the adventures of Sponge Bob Square Pants.

Kimmie had watched cartoons with the kids before, but it was mostly just to be close to them and rarely to really pay much attention to comical antics on the screen. Yet, in no time at all, she was drawn into the under water adventure and by the end of the show she was happily singing the theme song along with the rest of the girls.

The girls snuggled together on the carpet as the Rugrats started. By the time Angelica had been thwarted again, Emma and Allie had falled asleep.

The Powder Puff girls were up next and by the time they made the world safe for democracy, only Kimmie was left awake. Even Bailey had lost the battle as she was curled up at Cathleen's feet.

Kimmie looked around her at the sleeping angels and sighed happily. She was tired, sticky, in need of a bath, and had a nice scrape on her left knee (a souveigner from her game of tag earlier), but she couldn't remember the last time the little girl within her was happier.

She had so needed this. The little girl within had missed most of her childhood, but in this one magical day, she had made up for so much of it. A part of her was genuinely tempted to stay right here, and turn the Fab Five, into a full-time Super Six, but it took only a single glance at lil Allie sleeping to remind her of the joys of motherhood and she wouldn't give that up for all the PB and J's in the world.

Yawing and stretching, she found the Sandman stalking her. Her eyes were growing heavy as she reached across the coffee table to grab a piece of paper and a crayon. Just in case, her sister's came home before she woke from her nap, she thought it would be a good idea to leave them a short note so her apparent absence wouldn't send them into a panic.

Kimmie held the pink crayon in her hand, and started to write. Getting little fingers to cooperate and make legible print is difficult for a toddler and near impossible for one who’s exhausted.

Kimmie scratched out a large "M", and then lost the battle as the crayon rolled from her fingers and she drifted off to dreamland.

Two hours later, the Magnificent Seven entered, heavy-laden with shopping bags and Oriental cuisine. Shelly was the first in the door and when she saw the sleeping angels she immediately alerted and quieted the others. One by one, they each came in smiling and "awwwwing" at the little ones spooned together.

Jenna's low level flash camera drew faster from her purse than Matt Dillon's six-shooter from his holster. She took several quick snaps of the Kodak moment and then made promises to send copies to all.

It was at this point that two important discoveries were made. The house seemed to be short one Kimmie, and two toddlers to the plus side. Jenna identified one of the surplus girls as Emma from next door, and then all eyes trained on the little curly blonde snuggled next to lil Allie.

It wasn't necessary to call in Nancy Drew this time, as each of the sister's knew the jelly-faced little girl just had to be their sister Kimmie, but what they didn't know was the why and how of it.

Holly knelt down by Kimmie's side and despite the eclipse from her breast over hang, spied a piece of paper and crayon now just outside the little girl's grasp. Picking it up, she shared it with her sisters.

Sara the resident artistic expert, confirmed it to be the toddler equivalent of the letter M. Immediately they started brainstorming, trying to discern the meaning of the lone clue in her possession.

Cathy said, "Magic?"

Prue said, "Mistake", although the Queen of Pun was tempted to say "Moose Steak".

Jenna said, "Maggie?"

Shelly sighed heavily and said, "Ohy vay!, I bet its all three!" as her mother's intuition told her all that each sister was probably right. This scenario had all the makings of another "Maggie Magic Mistake", fortunately it looked like it should be as easy to fix as most of the others, and far less embarrassing than the previous frog incident at the synagogue.

At least they were relatively sure of the "how", and the "why" would probably be found once Kimmie was awakened. Shelly knelt down to wake Kimmie, while Jenna prepared to do the same with Cathleen. Prue sighed, saying she hated to see them wake the children, as they were all sleeping so soundly.

Cathy stretched and said that after that trip to the spa and that Oriental feast, she wouldn't mind a few hours of sound sleep herself.

Janet seconded the motion as bed was sounding better and better all the time.

Holly sighed and said "her twins" were almost tempted to snuggle up next to Shelly's and join them on their magic carpet ride.

Sara giggled and said she'd love a good sleepy sister snuggle, but there just wasn’t enough room for all of them there and besides she was a little to old for a slumber party.

Jenna's eyes flashed at Sara's comment. Shelly smiled wickedly and then gave a conspiratory wink to her sister to silently say, "I know what you're thinking and I'm game if you are."

Without a word, Jenna and Shelly rose from the floor and with a wave of their hands, the daycare suddenly increased by seven new toddlers in ages two thru five.

The new kids on the block stared open mouthed at their new forms and their two magic wielding sisters. All was pin drop quiet until a four year old Prue smiled and quipped, "Oh hell girls, if we can't beat em, lets join em!"

Giggles then reigned supreme and then one by one they each found a comfortable snuggle spot on the floor.

A sleepy Jenna whispered into Shelly's ear, "Uh sis, you looks wikes you is onwy bouts two or twee nows, and I no tinks I much older. Does you tinks you can stills weverse da spell when we gets up."

Shelly giggled, "Well's I guesses if I cant's den we gotta calls Aunt Jan, and she cant's gets here till morrow."

Jenna stole Shelly's line with a high pitched, "Oy vay!" and finally the last two little princesses drifted off to PB and J dreams.

The End

Note from Holly Hart, who posted this. The Holly in this story is not me, but the other Holly in our online family, who reads stories here and comments, but has not posted anything.