Pretty Breakfast, Messy Breakfast

People always seem surprised when I say that I cook a hot breakfast for my family most mornings each week. Honestly, it's not that much trouble. I'd choose eggs and toast (and sometimes bacon!) over cold cereal any day. And if I'm already cooking for myself, how hard is it to crack another egg or butter another piece of bread?

Although we eat basically the same breakfast every morning, my hubby and I have vastly different approaches when it comes to presentation and eating technique.

I prefer to appreciate the beauty and flavor of each food. I might dip my toast into the runny yolk or mix some diced apple or dried fruit into my yogurt. But for the most part, I like to maintain a clear visual distinction between the various items on my placemat.

He, on the other hand, prefers to smash all of his food into one messy pile. He then scoops globs of the yellowish-green concoction* onto slices of buttered toast. Oh, and in his view, a placemat is just another thing to clean up after a meal.

Although we clearly enjoy our food in different ways, what we appreciate most about breakfast is the same: COFFEE!

Just kidding! (Kind of.) The thing we appreciate most is the time we spend together, of course.

Sharing a nice morning meal offers a chance to connect before we dash off in separate directions. In fact, provided that I don't look directly at the food spew sitting on the plate across from me, breakfast is my favorite meal of the day.

*Perhaps it's worth noting that my hubby doesn't like yogurt because of its "weird texture." HA! ;)

A Winter Day to Appreciate

Do you think that writing something 100 times makes it come true?

Yeah, neither do I.

But today, I did appreciate winter. And I appreciated my family, and my life and all of the blessings that I don't deserve, but still receive.

I've decided that I need to become a whole lot better about expressing gratitude. My wake-up call came last week, when I learned that some friends of ours lost a loved one in Haiti. He was only 25 years old. When the world loses someone so young — and so committed to serving others — it's hard to justify petty complaints.

So although I'll never be winter's biggest fan, I've decided to make the most of it. Life is too short to spend one-third of it sulking. If you look hard enough, any of winter's failings offers a chance to give thanks.

When I'm cold, I can appreciate that I have someone sweet to snuggle me.

When I'm bored, I can appreciate living with two great guys who teach me how to play.

When I'm tired, I can appreciate that hard work creates a calorie deficit that practically begs for hot cocoa.

And when I'm impatient, I can realize that winter, like life, is short. Although it can be cold, dark and even depressing sometimes, it's also beautiful — especially if you choose to see it that way.

I do.

Thoughts on a Gray Day

The sky was the same color as the ground today.

Gray.

Everything was gray.

I think it was easier to appreciate January’s desolate beauty as a child. The dull skies, treeless fields and drifted roads created the illusion that I was suspended in a cloud. I felt tiny. And the world was huge.

Today, however, I just feel cold … and frustrated.

Maybe it’s because the responsibilities of adulthood are not made easier by frigid temperatures, gusty winds and piles of dirty slush.

Just getting out the door requires impossible decisions. Should I tuck my pants into my boots and deal with the unfixable wrinkles? Or should I wear my pants over my boots and deal with the soggy, salt-stained cuffs? Like I said, impossible.

People who live closer to the equator don’t have to worry about such things. I imagine that’s why they’re known to have sunny dispositions and a relaxed sense of time. Why should they fret or hurry? There’s always tomorrow to take that bicycle ride or lounge on the beach.

To those warm souls, we must seem rather uptight.

We are.

We can’t help it.

The seasons change so quickly — and to such an extreme degree — that we are constantly rushing.

“Make sure you get on your skis this weekend before the temps rise!”

“Go outside and enjoy the fresh air before the mosquitoes hatch!”

“Eat your fill of strawberries now before the birds get them!”

“Take a picture of the maple leaves before the wind picks up!”

I suppose there is value in having opportunities vanish almost as soon as they appear. Forced to live in the moment, we might appreciate life's fleeting pleasures just a bit more.

Still, on days like today, I wouldn't mind looking forward to endless sunny weekends.

How bad could that be?

How My Kid Got a "Water-Shooting Race Track" for Christmas

I wasn't going to do it. I was dead-set against it!

But the minute Rowan looked up at me with his big blue eyes and said, “I just know that Santa will bring it for me,” I caved.

What can I say? He’s 4 years old, and I don’t know how long he’ll believe. So I decided that the magic was worth the mess.

And it totally was.

“Oh. Man.” he said when he caught his first glimpse of it. “I guess Santa really does bring you what you ask for at Christmas!”

Like I said, worth it.

And the mess wasn't so bad. Although Rowan calls it a "water-shooting race track," it's actually more like a vehicle-shooting car wash....or something like that.

Anyhoo, we set it up on a towel, and the cleanup was a breeze.



All the boys thought it was pretty cool.

And so did I.

An Outsider's Perspective

A woman almost made me cry at Chipotle today.

The place was crazy busy, so I was rehearsing my order in my head to avoid becoming flustered. Rowan, of course, was doing his best to distract me. Dancing his "funky dance," he was belting out a made-up song about beans and cheese. ("Beans beans, oooh yeah, cheesy cheesy, oh yeah...")

"I just love him," came a voice from behind us. "Your son. I just love him."

I turned to see a woman behind me positively beaming at Rowan. "Thanks," I responded, trying not to seem a little creeped out. "I kinda like him too."

"That's such a wonderful age," she mused, still staring in Rowan's direction, but clearly lost in memories. "I miss when my son was that little."

She went on to tell me that her son is a teenager now — still wonderful, of course, but much more serious and independent. "I had to smile as we walked in," she continued. "You said, 'Are you listening to me?' And he said, 'Mama, I'm running and jumping and listening to you!' I just love it! Soak up every second. It goes by so fast."

By the time it was my turn to order, I had tears in my eyes and couldn't remember if I had wanted the carnitas or the barbacoa.

I felt guilty.

To be honest, I hadn't even noticed Rowan's endearing response to my question. So focused on the task at hand, I had just wanted him to listen...and stand still...and be quiet.

As I was taking my receipt, Rowan said, "Mama, I think we should get a cookie after this, because my tummy will be so full of healthy food it won't even notice a treat."

Immediately, I glanced at the woman behind me and smiled. She was still beaming.

Sometimes it takes a stranger to make you realize how precious life is, how fast time flies and how much you have to be grateful for. So thank you, Chipotle customer lady. I gave my son even more hugs and kisses (and a cookie) tonight because of you.

Delayed Gratification

My son possesses an admirable amount of self-restraint. This evening, for example, he asked for one marshmallow for dessert.* When he realized that he was about to eat the very last marshmallow in the bag, he made an interesting choice.

After consuming two-thirds of the puffed sugar cylinder, he stopped. "I want to save the rest for tomorrow," he said, handing me the sticky white mass. "For after breakfast."

You are a fascinating little boy, Rowan. And we love that about you.

*In case you're wondering: Yes, my son would almost certainly choose a Market Pantry marshmallow over a homemade dessert.

I Am Thankful for Butter

Goodness gracious, we consumed an unholy amount of butter tonight!

I realize that my timing is lousy. Thanksgiving — that yearly celebration of gluttony — is just two days away! I should be cooking broth soups or preparing fresh salads to atone for what's coming. Instead, we’re feasting on comfort foods!

I blame the sales. Because Thanksgiving is just two days away, everything rich and decadent has been marked down. Butter: on sale. Cream: on sale. Puff pastry: on sale!

Today, I discovered that you can buy all natural (ALL BUTTER) Dufour puff pastry at Whole Foods Market. I bought a package and decided to make chicken pot pie for dinner and raspberry napoleons for dessert. (Organic raspberries were also on sale!)



For the pot pie, I loosely followed this filling recipe (halved). I poured the warm filling into a pie dish and covered it with rounds of puff pastry, which I had brushed with an egg wash. After thirty minutes at 400 degrees, the filling was bubbling and the puff pastry “biscuits” were golden brown. Yum!

For the napoleons, I made another batch of homemade vanilla pudding and put it in the refrigerator to chill. While the pot pie was in the oven, I baked the remaining puff pastry on a cookie sheet. By the time we were ready for dessert, the pastry was cool, and the pudding was chilled. These pretty desserts were fun to assemble and even more fun to eat!

And now, please excuse me while I go in search of next week’s YMCA group fitness schedule.

The Truth

Today, I kind of just sat. And I'm OK with that.

Pudding and Patience

Rowan and I made homemade vanilla pudding today. As we slowly stirred the sweetened custard, I was flooded with childhood memories of making tapioca pudding with my dad. I’ll never forget the agony of staring at the saucepan, willing the swirling golden mixture to thicken. The transformation seemed to take forever.

And even when the liquid finally became thick and silky, the waiting had only just begun. Dad would pour the contents of the saucepan into several green-rimmed Corelle bowls and pop them into the refrigerator to set.

“Are they done yet?” we would ask…repeatedly.

He never told us that we couldn’t eat the pudding early, but he made it clear that patience would be rewarded. Eat it too soon, he warned, and it would be tepid and runny. Plus, once you consumed your so-so pudding, you’d be forced to watch everyone else enjoy a perfectly chilled treat!

So we waited…and peeked…and waited…and peeked.

Making pudding was — and is — a lesson in patience.

Today, I smiled when Rowan asked, “Are they done yet?” for the fourth time. I’ve been there. To ease the waiting, I let him lick the spatula, just like I did when I was a kid.

After a little more than an hour in the refrigerator, the pudding was set.

“Waiting for a treat makes it taste extra good!” Rowan declared between slurps.

So true.

Looking on the Bright Side

Being sick is the pits. But since Thanksgiving is approaching, I feel compelled to look on the bright side.

Hmmm... The bright side… What am I thankful for right now?

Oh, I suppose I can thing of a few things:

1. Ugly underwear: One of the great things about being sick is that you don’t have to pay any attention to your appearance. Putting on make-up is a total waste of time when you’re constantly blowing your nose. And why style your hair when bed head is inevitable?
   
   But the best part of neglecting your appearance is the underwear. That’s right, ladies. When you’re sick, you can wear your most comfortable, high-waist, full-coverage cotton undies* and not feel the least bit embarrassed. Panty lines? Who cares! And it’s not like your hubby is coming anywhere near you for at least a week. Ahhh. Luxury.
   
   
2. Forced exercise: I’m not a huge fan of working out, but I especially hate ab routines. The crunching, the twisting, the neck-straining. Blech. Thankfully, I no longer need an ab routine. Why? Because I am coughing my way to a better body! And the beauty of this workout is that I can’t stop doing it — not even in my sleep. I doubt I’ll achieve a six-pack during my illness, but I’m okay with that. Involuntary exercise can only accomplish so much.
   
   
3. Reluctant servants: As our family’s primary caretaker, I'll admit that it’s nice to get a little extra TLC while I’m sick. And when I say a little, I mean very little. But every bit counts, right? A cup of tea here. An extra blanket there. Nice! Oh sure, I hear a sigh or see an eye roll from my boys now and then. But it doesn’t matter. While I’m sick, they’re mine!

Seriously, though, I think I'm most thankful for the fact that — so far — no one else has contracted my illness. A healthy family is truly the best blessing of all. It means less work for me! ;)

*I discovered the amazing comfort of full-coverage cotton undies when I accidentally ordered the wrong style from Victoria's Secret. Sooo comfy...and yet sooo dorky. But ladies, they aren't for everyday wear! They're just for times when comfort trumps fashion. Buy some. You won't be disappointed.

Memento

Quite unlike his mother, Rowan is a sentimental soul. While I have no problem ridding our house of old projects, ticket stubs and broken toys, he wants to save everything.

But his favorite keepsakes are what he calls our beautiful things — pictures and mementos that we display to admire and remember special times in our lives.


For example, he absolutely adores the Willow Tree "New Dad" figurine in our office. Kyle received it as a gift from his parents shortly after Rowan was born. Rowan asks to hold it and look at it from time to time. As he admired it yesterday, he invited Kyle to take a silly little trip down memory lane.

Rowan: "Daddy, this is a very special beautiful thing, isn't it?"

Kyle: "Yes, it is. I got it from my mom and dad when you were born. It reminds me of when you were a baby."

Rowan: "Do you remember when I was such a tiny baby?"

Kyle: "I do."

Rowan: "Do you remember holding me when I was such a tiny baby?"

Kyle: "I do."

Rowan: "Do you remember sitting on a rock while you were holding me when I was such a tiny baby?"

Kyle: "Uh...[laughs]...no, I don't think I remember sitting on a rock when you were a baby. Maybe we did, though."

Rowan: "I was just wondering about that."

Oh, that kid makes us smile every day!