There was a 30-minute window of time this evening when Zane and Eliana were home alone.

Sandwiched between Carmi leaving with Karys for family reading night at school and my returning home from trio practice at church, the dynamic duo decided to test out Carmi’s recently-purchased Hamilton Beach Personal Blender.

I knew something was up as soon as I walked in from the garage. Eliana greeted me with a “h-i-i-i-i-i d-a-a-a-a-a-d” that reeked of mischief.

“And what are YOU doing?” I asked, half afraid of the answer.

“We made a smoothie,” she beamed.

Zane was quick to add with a smile, “But we didn’t make it e-x-a-c-t-l-y like the recipe.”

The smoothie looked creamy and delicious.

It LOOKED delicious.

It LOOKED much better than it tasted. Bless their hearts.

They mixed together milk, mint chocolate chip ice cream and a whole banana. They were also supposed to add chocolate syrup. But when they couldn’t find any syrup, they must have used half an 8-oz container of Hershey’s special dark cocoa for that one-of-a-kind chalky taste.

My precious daughter was thoughtful enough to save a small glass of the frothy concoction. Just. For. Me.

But you see that tall glass next to the blender? It was full. And Eliana drained it.

It’s no wonder, then, that Eliana came up to me a little later, laid her head on my shoulder and said, “Dad, I don’t feel too good.”

I was impressed with their ambition. I really was. But we’ll hide the blender before leaving them home alone again.