Fondue Failures

So, I finally tried my hand at fondue. About 3 years ago Kannon suggested we make fondue on Christmas Eve as a new family tradition. I never got around to doing it then and wanted to make it for New Years Eve this year - but we were all sick. So I decided to make it work for Valentine's Day. I hadn't been feeling well and when it came time to make dinner I really didn't want to. That probably had an affect on the whole family. When we sat down to eat my negative attitude continued - I didn't know how to feed it to our 1 1/2 year-old - the fondue was burning (too much heat, I guess) or hardening (I'd take it off the heat and then put it back on). Sarah choked on the broccoli and Benjamin didn't like the "cheese stuff". So they were just eating bread and li'l smokies. What a nutritious dinner, huh? Kannon just ate and never said anything, so I automatically decided he didn't like it either (a continuation of my bad attitude). I was also going to make chocolate fondue for dessert, but I didn't feel well enough to eat it so we didn't have it then. (I'd been feeling fluish all day - I feel a little better the next day and then I was fine after that.) So, we had friends over Monday night and I was going to do the chocolate then. But....I just felt like it was a hassle. I knew we'd have the same children problem - how do you feed under-4's fondue without a huge mess? And I hadn't ironed out the heating problem. So, I just took the pound cake and sliced it. Put sliced strawberries on top of that with whip cream. I tried to melt the chocolate to drizzle over the top and totally burned it. But, no one complained and for the most part tasted good. I might need some pointers if I'm ever going to try again. Or maybe we'll have to save that tradition for when the kids are older. For now I'll stick to what I know works!