Ice Cream Cone on a Hot Day

There is nothing quite like ice cream on a hot day.  Today was a hot day!  I worked from 6:15 am to 4 pm.  On the way home, I told my husband that we had to stop for ice cream.  We ended up grabbing a few extra things, like pine nut couscous, chicken, cherries, and bread, but we did get the ice cream and some sugar cones.  For some reason, ice cream seems to last longer when the kids are eating it, if there is a cone involved. 

It was a sneaky way to get them to eat dinner, but they sat down and ate quicker than I've seen them eat in a long time.  It was Tombstone Pizza... I think that rates up high on my list of pizza.  When the pizza was gone, they knew they were getting ice cream.  My daughter finished first... she grabbed the box of cones and I got out the scissors.  The cones were freed from their plastic wrapper.  I scooped 2 scoops of Dreyers (for those of you back East, it is the same people that make Edy's) Rocky Road ice cream into her cone.  She enjoyed every last bite.  Next was my youngest.  He ate all the pizza he could stand, then wanted his ice cream.  I scooped him the same amount.  Then he saw Zelda (a video game) was open on the computer.  He put down his ice cream cone and ran to the computer.  My oldest finished his food, and he said he would eat my youngest's cone.  I put another scoop on for him.  He finished that cone. 

Anyone who has seen a child with an ice cream cone can envision what I saw... three little children with ice cream goatees.   My daughter disappeared outside, goatee and all, and quickly re-emerged through the door, stating "sprinkler party!"  This is when my daughter and older son run into their rooms, put on swimsuits and go running in the sprinklers with their friends.  I am sure by the time they come back, their goatees will be gone and they will be as clean as sprinklers can get a child. 

My youngest gave up Zelda long enough to want his ice cream cone.  I scooped him another cone, and he ate the whole thing.  Goatee got bigger, and even dripped down his belly.  As he ate his Rocky Road ice cream, he said "It has nuts." 

I said, "Yes."

Expecting him to exclaim in disgust, he said, "Mmmmmm, I like nuts and I like marshmallows."  Whew, relief!

After he has finished his cone, we go into the kitchen, I grabbed a washcloth and got his hands, belly and goatee cleaned off.  He is clean as new, back to the computer he went.

I haven't had my ice cream yet... and I am not going to eat in the cone.  I am thinking a nice bowl of ice cream, with chocolate chips, coconut and whipped cream is waiting for me.  What are some favorites of others on a hot day, to help break the heat?