I'm cute!!

Arch and I went to a giant consignment sale over the weekend.  They had people dressed as his favorite cartoon characters, so naturally we had to invite a few friends along.  Yes, they all had costumes, we did not.  But we got to borrow a lab coat, like one of the villains in the cartoon has, and he also wore his little hat and carried around one of the cars.  When it came to see the people, however, he became a whirling dirvish of panic.

We got a back pack that was actually his size at the sale, and he has decided it is a perfect toy holder. 

Here he is, saying "Cute!" I got it on video but have no clue how to download it.

A childhood milestone.

two skinned knees.

5 years and chicken

Together five years this week.  the celebration came in two waves: a little dinner and fun times at home, and then on the Saturday:

A hike in a Jefferson County open space.

Baby insisted on taking turns pushing the stroller, both fun and frustrating for us.

We went to dinner at a local hot spot for fried chicken.  They have a fun play area in the front with a tree house, a jungle gyms, a picture you can join in on, and best of all a digging machine.

One lever pulls the bucket up and down, while the other pulls the whole arm up.  The second arm turned out to be the favorite part.  Arch cried out with amazement when he realized it.  He was very upset when, after he'd walked away to play with Daddy, another small boy took a turn.

GBBO lowdown 2018 - a self indulgent post

The latest season of GBBO is now over.  Will it come back next year?  Only the BBC and PBS know for sure.  I had a great time baking along with the contest.  Thanks to the internets and PBS website, I knew basically what they would make for the three challenges per episode.  Then Andrew and I, or a couple friends and I would enjoy the bake while we watch the bake.

Week one: Cake - peach and cherry

Week two: Bread - 4 strand challah braid

Week three: Tarts - creme pat with cherry curd

Week four: Dessert - meringue with whipped cream and berries




Week five: Pies - Cherry, plum, and apricot pie

Week six: Pudding - pear strudel

Week seven: Sweet dough - cinnamon rolls  (I didn't get a picture)

Week eight: Biscuit - cream biscuits

Week nine: Patisserie - Gateau St. Honore

Week ten: Finale - Pithivier with chocolate creme pat and frangipan

He's no longer all mine

We've been waiting all summer for preschool.  I had thought that baby would go to a local preschool run by a local church, or private person a couple days a week once he was old enough.  But his speech delay means he needs extra attention.  Fortunately, our school district offers free preschool for children that need that extra attention.

It took until the second day for me to realize the commitment I'm in for.  EVERYDAY (well, four days a week) i gotta load this kid in the car and schlep him the 3 miles each way.  There is an elementary school just two blocks from our home, but they didn't have a spot for baby, alas.

Because Andrew took the day off from work, we had sometime in the afternoon, too.

Andrew and baby built a giant compost bin out of pallets.  After all this, I had to go out and get baby his own set of power "tools".  

Three years in

It’s our little guy’s birthday.  I have been thinking all day about that day, what happened Mindy by minute.  For example, it’s now 8:10pm.  I was laying in the recovery area, supervised by a nurse, being spoon fed watery ice.

He’s almost a big kid now and it blows my mind.

First, we had cupcakes for just the three of us.

Baby helped me clean up the garden a little.

And the next morning, we invited some of the kids from his nursery at church to join us (me and baby) at the park for cupcakes, and popsicles. 

Since he didn't express any particular interest in a theme, I chose a favorite cartoon.  Notice the cheesy hat, and napkins i'm holding.

Andrew made a little game, a box with cups embedded.  Each cup is filled with toys (in this case, they were from the same cartoon) and then covered with tissue paper.  The little kids thought punching the tissue paper was the best part.  I realized that it was just a smaller version of a pinata, a great party favorite in our house.

When I was handing out the popsicles, when the sun finally came out and it warmed up dramatically, some random kids came along asking for popsicles as well.  I don't think they realized that we were having a party, but luckily i'd brought plenty.  Since temporary tattoos are also a favorite, I gave one to each kid, even the kids that didn't know the cartoon.  Baby loves to show off his tattoos to anyone and everyone.

Summer in the city and paztry in the country

Our town has a series of mini carnivals throughout the summer.  Baby and i went to the one by us.  Here he is learning to hit a golf "ball".

On GBBO, it was pie week.  I did make a pie to share with friends, stone fruits, even though the Brits think American pies are digusting (they belabored that point- eye roll).  I was going to make a beef wellington, but Andrew has been sick.  Here's baby helping me make the puff pastry.