A Mom Thing

Happy Halloween!

 

   

    

 
 
 
 

"Black and Orange" day at school

 

Today is Black and Orange day at school.   They love it.  Tonite we have a party to go to and tomorrow is the big T/T.  

We will be having one BANANA, one anikon skywalker and one OOMPA LOOMPA.  Any guesses...?

H and I still are not sure on outfits. Stay tuned for pics!  Enjoy your day...
 

The Magic Chef.

 

THIS is our "secret weapon" in the battle of the pizza.  As you know, we make pizza about once a week.  We usually use the pizza oven, but leftovers are often done on the grill or in the oven (especially if we need the heat in the hosue...hello, thermostat still set at 58 degrees in here!).

We discovered this bread maker over 12 years ago in a little shop near Boston called Building 19.  It's like their local version of Marshall's maybe?  Or Woolworths...anyone remember Woolworths? It was $19.99 or something crazy like that.

It makes OK bread but it makes AMAZING dough.  A few ingredients (water, olive oil, salt, sugar, flour and yeast) and and hour and a half later you have BEAUTIFUL DOUGH.  So easy and delicious.

What's your secret weapon/favorite toy in the kitchen?

Managing by triplicate?

Seems to me the easiest way to exist in this crazy, muti-tasking world is to manage by triplicate.  Three of everything.

Yes, I've stooped to that.  It's not (totally) laziness or disorganization. It's just - my life.   Duplicate does not seem to do it. One always seems to be lost or dirty or "disappeared."

Take this morning, for example. . .and this morning is by NO means out of the ordinary. Gym day for two kids.  Everyone gets dressed in an orderly manner.  Everyone has a sweatshirt, t-shirt and pants (miraculous).  Socks and shoes TBD.) THen Middle Guy looks down (at the new pair of sweats) and notices holes in the crotch. Tiny starts of holes that he proceeds to poke at ... making them bigger.

So - time for the million dollar question - Do you send a kid to school KNOWING he has holes in his pants... or do you dig for another pair?  We make him eat breakfast in his boxers then I hunt down another pair.

But take three kids... and triplicate ... and you're suddenly looking at cubed roots or advanced math.  Algebra, anyone?

Papa's Red Canoe

 

In the country, papa also has a canoe.  He takes it out in the pond he built.  It's a shallow pond that feels deep and huge when you're in that canoe, navigating the fish, seaweed, rocks and lilly pads.   So fun.  The kids feel independent and free and in control in that canoe.  

Country clubhouse

 

Papa built this clubhouse in the country for the kids.  Aren't they lucky? It has working old windows, some of their artwork framed inside. A table and 3 chairs. Maybe 4 chairs. A teapot. Some cards.  What else could you need? 

There's a loft, too. It is hidden behind a trap door and was not revealed until the kids were a bit older.  Old enough to climb the ladder and scurry up somewhat safely.   They love it. 

It's a perfect little hideaway.  JUSTFORTHEM.

Friday Flashback: The Kitchen Stool

I have not done a friday flashback in a LOOONG time.

Oddly enough I had a dream about my childhood the other night that inspired this post.

It was one of those kinda' awake/kinda' asleep dreams. 

Oddly enough, it was about our kitchen stool.  Forgotten for so many years, and replaced long ago, who knows what reminded me of it.

Our kitchen was not large - but not small. It was rectangular.  My mom made the most amazing things out of that kitchen. She was the magical wizard behind the curtain.  It was not a fancy kitchen. I remember the grass-wallpaper-walls. The Cuisinart.  The stainless steel sink we'd do dishes in (she washed/I dried).  And my dad's pipe-rack on the wall.

And the stool.

There was ONE stool. In the corner.  It was brown wicker and it spun.  It was my stool. Not my brother's -- it was mine. I sat on it and learned how to make mushroom hors d'oeuvres, and bar cookies and puff pastry treats and rouladen. I helped and learned and talked and shared.  With my mom. 

OMG. I can't believe I buried that memory. It was such a good, warm one. 

The kitchen now (same house) is fancier. It has a commercial stove and granite countertops. And pretty floors.

But it still has a stool.  My kids sit on the stool to do homework. It's fancier. But I'm 100 percent sure the same discussions are had and lessons are learned and memories are made.

Priceless.

When was the last time you car-danced with the kids?

Don't come a knockin'...this car's a ROCKIN!

We haven't car-danced in a long time. TOO LONG a time.

I think we made up for it - we did it right.  Pulled into the garage just as the Fergie song "Boom Boom Pow" was coming on air.  We cranked it up and car-danced til we were almost sweating.

SO FUN.  Car dancing is second only to the car-primal-scream.  Love it.  Try it!

They won't forget their helmets again...

 

 

The kids begged to ride their bikes in the alley tonite. Daugher PROMISED to watch the boys.  We let them go.  I heard screaming and ran outside.  There was Middle Guy - crashed (minor crash). But no bike helmet.  And Little Guy - no helmet.  THEY ALL were in a world of trouble.

We spent the rest of the night in helmets.  ALL FIVE OF US. At the dinner table, through dessert.  Til Bed. AMEN.  Tried to make fun of it but make a point.  RIght?  Right. 

You do the best you can to figure out this parenting thing. . .

 

Be a good egg!

 

Check it out! 

Eggs is a client -- but we all know I've always looooved eggs.   For BLD (breakfast, lunch or dinner) ... Any time, any way. I like them cracked on top of my pizza. I like them griddled, poached, scrambled, hard-cooked or omelet-ed.  YUM.

Help out the hungry by pledging to "Eat good. Do good everday." 

America's Egg Farmers will give one egg to the hungry for every pledge made...up to a million eggs!  Now, THAT'S a good egg!

C'mon...just do it!