Where to begin when trying to dive into The Month of Beginnings?!
Colin turned two!
"Colin two!" is the way he might share that piece of news with you. He is such a loving, affectionate boy. Smothering us with kisses and hugs and adoring gazes from the time he wakes until we lay him down for sleep at night. He's friendly and easily engages other children that he's just met. I think he's going to be a good one to have at a party as he gets older.
As I watch my kids grow and see their interactions evolve, I realize what a special thing it is to be the second child. Colin is never lonely (unless Christopher hasn't gotten up for the morning, in which case he pounds on his door demanding he get up and come out). He has an older sibling who is generally happy to help him when he needs a boost, shares his snacks, and explains tough situations like an impending departure from the park or why one must have their diaper changed to avoid asphyxiating the rest of the household. Unsurprisingly, Christopher often gets through to Colin better than we can in times of angst. It's pretty handy.
Colin is ready to go to preschool like no other and is *just* too young. (We are also in no hurry, whatsoever!) Colin hustles into the classroom along with Christopher, washes his hands, and goes straight to work with whatever activities are out for the day. Poor guy, he never gets to stay very long, but he's always overjoyed to see his big brother at pick up time. Soon enough, though...
Favorite things to shout out loud: No, Pasta, Alright!!!, Mama
Favorite foods: Chocolate, Pasta, Grapes, Salmon, Eggs
Favorite pajamas: Too-small alligator top with guitar-covered pants and red Australia socks
Favorite book: That's Not My Train!
Favorite song: Wheels (on the Bus)
We've enjoyed the last of the summer weather with a few more visitors, bike rides, and a block party. We really are lucky to live in such a beautiful neighborhood within this great city. The block party included a visit from a city firetruck which sprayed the street with its huge hose for a good 15 minutes and gave the kids a chance to cool off from the heat. People pulled out their barbeques and tables and lawn chairs and the kids were all free to scooter and bike and run in the street until it was too dark to see. We shared good drinks, tomatoes from our gardens, baked goodies and, of course, s'mores over a fire pit. We were all happy and exhausted.
This week marks the beginning of preschool and hopefully some fall weather. Tomorrow the late summer heatwave will peak at 95! and then start to decline. We are ready to fling the windows open and go enjoy some apple picking and leaf raking.
Happy beginnings, everyone.
Monday, September 9, 2013
Friday, August 30, 2013
Tomato :: Tomat :: Pomodor :: Tomate
There's an upside to the nasty late-summer heatwave we've been experiencing over the last two weeks: tomatoes. Just when I'd given up on ripe gems of all shapes, sizes and colors, the 90 degree heat has boosted our plants to literal fruition. Hello, late summer.
We have tiny ones both red and gold, rosy diminutive plum shapes, my perennial favorite Wapsipinicon Peach in it's yellow and slightly peachy (surprise, surprise) flesh tones, a healthy number of Green Zebra, some lipstick-red luscious and thin-skinned Principe Borghese, and one that we hauled in yesterday that Christopher has titled "Pumpkin Tomato" which should sum up it's healthy appearance.
So. Here is the late summer conundrum: heat outside plus heat inside at the oven/stove seems insane. How many caprese salads can we eat? How many sliced tomatoes are delicious until you don't want to see another one until next August?! To get my culinary juices flowing, I browsed Martha Stewart's Tomato Recipes, and provided they're well-tested, I'm pretty excited.
Like many others, food is a virtual trip for me as I'm frequently transported back in time to people and places when experiencing a taste from my past.
I look forward to remembering humid Charlottesville nights overlooking rolling green fields, fireflies, and my friend and colleague Phillip's company when I blend up some proper gazpacho. He's the first one who ever showed me how to make it from scratch (recipe? pshaw!) and when he added some old bread (what?) I thought he was crazy. Turns out, that's the proper way to do it, my friends. Divine.
Tomatoes Provencal will take me back to Nice when Mike and I stayed with Nathalie and her family and the only item planned for each day was the dinner menu. She let me help and sent me home with a book on Provencal cooking that I still use.
I'll hopefully have enough fruit to make a batch of Ina Garten's Cream of Tomato Soup. While not entirely wonderful for you considering the cream content, true tomato season comes but once a year and I will think of a fun evening of tomato soup, barbequed chicken and roasted asparagus with Polly and Jeff and the twins two summers ago.
Baked Eggs in Tomatoes and Whole Roasted Tomatoes are also sounding pretty good. Maybe caprese sandwiches for dinner? Or that amazing Grilled Rustic Bread rubbed with garlic and olive oil and layered with all colors of tomatoes and drizzled with balsamic and maybe a pinch of that Fleur de Sel I have stashed away for special times? Oh, yum yum yum.
We have tiny ones both red and gold, rosy diminutive plum shapes, my perennial favorite Wapsipinicon Peach in it's yellow and slightly peachy (surprise, surprise) flesh tones, a healthy number of Green Zebra, some lipstick-red luscious and thin-skinned Principe Borghese, and one that we hauled in yesterday that Christopher has titled "Pumpkin Tomato" which should sum up it's healthy appearance.
So. Here is the late summer conundrum: heat outside plus heat inside at the oven/stove seems insane. How many caprese salads can we eat? How many sliced tomatoes are delicious until you don't want to see another one until next August?! To get my culinary juices flowing, I browsed Martha Stewart's Tomato Recipes, and provided they're well-tested, I'm pretty excited.
Like many others, food is a virtual trip for me as I'm frequently transported back in time to people and places when experiencing a taste from my past.
I look forward to remembering humid Charlottesville nights overlooking rolling green fields, fireflies, and my friend and colleague Phillip's company when I blend up some proper gazpacho. He's the first one who ever showed me how to make it from scratch (recipe? pshaw!) and when he added some old bread (what?) I thought he was crazy. Turns out, that's the proper way to do it, my friends. Divine.
Tomatoes Provencal will take me back to Nice when Mike and I stayed with Nathalie and her family and the only item planned for each day was the dinner menu. She let me help and sent me home with a book on Provencal cooking that I still use.
I'll hopefully have enough fruit to make a batch of Ina Garten's Cream of Tomato Soup. While not entirely wonderful for you considering the cream content, true tomato season comes but once a year and I will think of a fun evening of tomato soup, barbequed chicken and roasted asparagus with Polly and Jeff and the twins two summers ago.
Baked Eggs in Tomatoes and Whole Roasted Tomatoes are also sounding pretty good. Maybe caprese sandwiches for dinner? Or that amazing Grilled Rustic Bread rubbed with garlic and olive oil and layered with all colors of tomatoes and drizzled with balsamic and maybe a pinch of that Fleur de Sel I have stashed away for special times? Oh, yum yum yum.
Tuesday, August 20, 2013
10 - 4
TEN
Last week while on vacation in picturesque Door County, Wisconsin, Mike and I celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary. I hesitate to use the word "celebrate" in too celebratory a fashion since our evening consisted of take away Mexican food and an overdose of House of Cards on the laptop. It was a family vacation and we couldn't very well just take off for the night. Pity that - when does that happen again?!
Not being fans of engraved trinkets and other traditional doo-dads, we've decided to commemorate the occasion with 10 Date Nights which is much more representative of our best memories and finest times together. Indeed, in our 10 years of marriage (and 17 years of life together), our fondest, most technicolor times have been experiences. In the months ahead there will be 10 date nights to 10 restaurants/places that have languished on our Chicago-area bucket list.
FOUR
Christopher: Mama! Come get this for me!
Me: Christopher, I am not your personal servant.
Christopher: Mama, you are my personal serpent.
Following a dinner that was peppered by a lot of reminders to keep toes off the table, buns in the seat, and the use of utensils instead of fingers...
Christopher: This dinner was brought to you by the letter "NO" and the number "MAMA."
(If you don't get that one, then click on this and it might ring a bell.)
We have a four year old in the house!
Christopher got a blue bike (with pedals, as requested) for his birthday and he was riding it before the day was out. I think that no small amount of credit goes to the balance bike he's been riding for the last year, but I must admit that I'm a little amazed at how quickly he's gotten the hang of it. We told him that we can all go for a family ride together once he can start up completely on his own and use the brakes dependably. Looks like there may be a family bike ride this weekend...
Christopher has retained many of the qualities that we noticed in him when he turned one. It's truly awesome how his little personality (well, BIG personality, at times) was so evident from square one. He's still somewhat hesitant in new situations and doesn't make waves socially if he doesn't feel completely knowledgeable about who and what is around him. He's sensitive but not demonstrative. He's intense and kinesthetically able. We're so proud of him and look forward to seeing what new joys and adventures he discovers this year, his 5th trip around the sun.
Last week while on vacation in picturesque Door County, Wisconsin, Mike and I celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary. I hesitate to use the word "celebrate" in too celebratory a fashion since our evening consisted of take away Mexican food and an overdose of House of Cards on the laptop. It was a family vacation and we couldn't very well just take off for the night. Pity that - when does that happen again?!
Not being fans of engraved trinkets and other traditional doo-dads, we've decided to commemorate the occasion with 10 Date Nights which is much more representative of our best memories and finest times together. Indeed, in our 10 years of marriage (and 17 years of life together), our fondest, most technicolor times have been experiences. In the months ahead there will be 10 date nights to 10 restaurants/places that have languished on our Chicago-area bucket list.
FOUR
Christopher: Mama! Come get this for me!
Me: Christopher, I am not your personal servant.
Christopher: Mama, you are my personal serpent.
Following a dinner that was peppered by a lot of reminders to keep toes off the table, buns in the seat, and the use of utensils instead of fingers...
Christopher: This dinner was brought to you by the letter "NO" and the number "MAMA."
(If you don't get that one, then click on this and it might ring a bell.)
We have a four year old in the house!
Christopher got a blue bike (with pedals, as requested) for his birthday and he was riding it before the day was out. I think that no small amount of credit goes to the balance bike he's been riding for the last year, but I must admit that I'm a little amazed at how quickly he's gotten the hang of it. We told him that we can all go for a family ride together once he can start up completely on his own and use the brakes dependably. Looks like there may be a family bike ride this weekend...
Christopher has retained many of the qualities that we noticed in him when he turned one. It's truly awesome how his little personality (well, BIG personality, at times) was so evident from square one. He's still somewhat hesitant in new situations and doesn't make waves socially if he doesn't feel completely knowledgeable about who and what is around him. He's sensitive but not demonstrative. He's intense and kinesthetically able. We're so proud of him and look forward to seeing what new joys and adventures he discovers this year, his 5th trip around the sun.
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