Broken Table : advice?

Today our heavy dining room table broke.  It is probably one of three decent furniture pieces we own so disposal is not an option.  Replacement is not an option.  The table must live on.

Here is a picture of the break:

With the leg that broke off:

In context with the rest of the table:

And here is the proposed fix:

The plan:  We drill a big hole vertically, screw in a think bolt and support it with lots of wood glue and an ugly metal brace to be installed on the side.

Thoughts?  Opinions?  Proposed amendments to the plan?  The floor is open for debate, but not for long.

Fashion Model

Check out my latest creation:

 shorts!

er, shortish pants!

The pattern I used was designed to create long pants for an 18 month old baby.  Because I am a genius at sewing (not true) and because my baby is wearing 2T clothes already, I attempted to adapt the pattern to make shorts in a size 2T (or hopefully 3T).
The result was something that fits Ben currently but probably won't in 2 weeks and kind of looks like palazzo pants that are ready for a flood.  It's amazing how good he makes them look in the picture.  
Good thing I have 8 more yards of this awesome cammo fabric.  I'm so glad I have boys.

These are the fun times

We were in the grocery store waiting in line to check out.  Ben was strapped into his stroller so he couldn't get away from me, the groceries were on the belt and Zeke was running around touching things and trying to get a large water cannon out of the summertime display.
Ben grabbed a skittles package from the candy section which was perfectly in reach for him.  He held it up and babbled things at me.  I said, "No, Ben, we're not buying that, please put it back."
Then I stepped back and yelled, "Zeke!  I can't see you!  I need to hear a 'yes, mama!'"
I waited and then I heard a faint, "Yes, mama!"
Good enough, I thought, and I turned to look at the cashier.  She was moving the divider and just about to start scanning my items.
Then I heard a dozen little clinks, followed by dozens more clinks and I saw Ben waving an empty red wrapper.
The people in line behind me gave several reactions - all of which annoyed me.
I took a deep breath, looked at all the skittles on the ground and said, "Zeke!  I need you to come find me!"
Then I took the wrapper, gave it to the cashier and said, "We'd like to buy this too.  And, could you ask for someone to come with a broom?"
The lady in front of me, who was gathering her bags to leave said, "These are the days.  What wonderful children you have.  I have two kids - they're much older now - and I remember how fun it was when they were little like that.  Of course, then something like this happens and I think, I'm just fine where I am."

If the man with the broom came, I'll never know, because the cashier and I got on our knees and picked up every skittle.  And Zeke threw a fit when we threw them in the garbage and didn't even let him eat one.

Words, words, words

Ben started talking in the last month or so, and I am constantly surprised at how clearly he speaks and how many words he knows.  Here's a sample:

For those of you without children, 15 months is a pretty early start for verbal communication, more so because he is a boy.  It may not be crystal clear, but at least he's trying.  At 15 months Zeke was just getting the hang of grunting.

Ben also knows songs.  For example, when we sang "Samuel the Lamanite" during Family Home Evening last Monday, he fell on the floor during the last line - "they could not make him fall" - anticipating the lyric and the action that he knew was coming.  And it wasn't an accident because when we sang the second verse he fell down again, smiling at how clever he was.  Plus, today I was noodling with the guitar and trying to sing "Floating Down the River" for Zeke.  I got stuck on a chord change that was out of the I -IV-V progression I know and love and Ben couldn't wait for me to sing the rest of the song so he sang "Oh - Hiiiii - Oooooooo" all by himself.  I just wish I could get him to do it for the camera.