June 27, 2009

I made banana bread on Friday night with Sydney's help. I love to cook and I've passed that love to my children. We sit and watch Food Network together. Throwdown with Bobby Flay is their favorite. Sydney told me once that I should throwdown with Bobby Flay. When I asked her what I could cook that could beat Bobby Flay's cooking, she told me that I could cook my Thanksgiving dinner.

Shaun is always trying new food combinations. The other day he decided that eating tomatoes on tortilla chips was a very tasty way to do it. And the things that he mixes with his milk...well, not for the faint at heart. But I see someone who loves to cook and that makes me happy.

Back to the banana bread. This was a nice looking loaf of moist banana bread until Shaun discovered his love for it. I knew that he was eating it throughout the morning. What I didn't realize was how. The bread looks like it has been attacked by small rodents. Shaun...my little chipmunk!

Day 17 - This Smile

This smile was for me! It was Shaun's first basketball game and I had the camera out. He was taking his turn on the bench and he wasn't watching the game. I took a picture right before this one so that I'd be able to show him someday how disinterested he looked.

But he caught me taking the photo and flashed this big smile at me. And I loved the smile and the fact that he knew that his mommy was taking pictures of him. And I loved the fact that he felt loved and happy.

Day 16 - Hot Breakfast

Weekday mornings have a routine to them. Most mornings I need to be out of the house at 7:15 with Haoyi but on Thursdays, I need to leave at 7:00.

Before I can leave, I need to wake Sydney and dress her. That part is funny because if I tried to dress her any other time, she would have a fit! But it's part of our routine. She snuggles into a ball on my lap and lets me scratch her back. We then brush her hair and she is ready. With Shaun I only need to wake him up and put his clothes on his bed.

Then, the final thing that I do is tell them that I have Ramen noodles on the table for them. Neither of them have ever been good breakfast eaters. It doesn't matter that I know how important it is...they just don't like to eat when they get up in the morning.

But all of that changed one morning when Sydney asked me to give her Ramen noodles for breakfast. Since then, Ramen noodles has become part of our routine. I don't know if it will last when the weather turns nice but for now, I can take satisfaction in knowing that my children are beginning the day with a hot breakfast.

Day 15 - Precious Moments

Having Haoyi live with us this year has been different than I expected. I had hoped for more moments like this one. They don't happen often. But when they do, I'm grateful!

Day 14 - Facebook and Wii

Sydney was complaining that we hadn't seen Hannah much over Christmas. So I posted a message on Hannah's facebook page. Voila...Hannah posts back and we schedule supper. I read a headline "Facebook...Does it Reduce or Enhance Real Face Time".

This time it enhanced it. Hannah and Tyler came for supper. We all gathered around the table close...we didn't even put the leaves in so that everyone would have more room. Then everyone went to the family room and gathered around the Wii. What a great way to spend a cold Wednesday night at home.

Day 13 - Life in the Fastlane

I feel that I spend much of my life in the minivan and it seemed appropriate that I capture this photo. This was my drive to gymnastics. I left work and hurried to the car so that I could make it to Syd's TAG (Talented and Gifted) class in time to make sure that her pony was in. I'm not good with hair...but I'm still a step above Daddy.

Once Syd's class was finished, we jumped into the car and went to Shaun's basketball practice. We got home at 8:00 and hurried through supper and on to bed. I didn't have any energy left even though I still had work to do. I went to bed and got up at 1 a.m. and turned on my work laptop.

The sad part of this story is that it wasn't the only night that we had a schedule like that. And it will only get busier. Life in the fastlane!

Day 12 - Comfort Food

I was sick Sunday night and Monday morning...sick enough that I stayed home from work. Then we got a call at about 9:40 from school saying Shaun was sitting in the office and didn't feel well. I said that I would just pick both Shaun and Syd up while I was over there and that turned out to be a very good choice because the weather had MCH dismissing at 1:00.
All three of us spent most of the day napping. When I got up long enough for lunch, I knew exactly what I wanted. Milk toast was what my mom made for me when I was a young girl and sick and that's what I wanted. I couldn't talk either of the kids into sharing this comfort food with me.