Drew ran across this old Better Homes and Gardens kid’s cookbook I used years ago with Abby and Aaron. Back then I had both kids fix supper one night a week so they could learn to cook. Aaron loved it – he was pretty good in the kitchen. Lasagna was his specialty! Abby on the other hand – she would make macaroni and cheese or frozen pizza. She had more important things to do than learn to cook although I think she does a pretty good job now. It’s amazing how getting married and having kids changes what is important in your life – gotta feed the family! Eric never wanted to even try but now that he’s worked at Casey’s in the kitchen I think he can find his way around the kitchen too.
Anyway – Drew found the cookbook, sat down and went through it and asked if he could make pancakes. This was not on my list of things to get done for the day but I have been wanting to work with him in the kitchen this summer so I figured I might as well get started. The best time to introduce something new to this kid is when he shows interest, otherwise it may or may not happen. So, pancakes it was. With a lot of help, a few giggles, and a few stern explanations as to why we don’t goof around when using a hot griddle – Drew stated he made the best homemade pancakes ever!
Drew wanted to help me today finish mixing up the flavors for shave ice. I’m sure you can imagine how much help a seven year old boy is around lots of liquid and sugary syrup! But, all in all, his help outweighed his hindrance and I’m glad I agreed to let him. At one point he did something, I don’t even remember what it was he did, and I thanked him and called him Cutie Patootie. He immediately said, “Mom, I live for those moments.” When I asked him what moments he was talking about he responded with, “When you call me Cutie Patootie!” Just goes to show, you never know what your words mean to others! He’s not only my Cutie Patootie, he’s my Monster Man, Silly Willy, Monster Magillaguppie, Sneaky Pete, Pete Monster, Drew Bear or just plain Charlie or Pete. Guess I’ll use Cutie Patootie more often though!
(Before it got too hot and while Bayah was asleep -
we went outside and made slime!)
(Bayah snuggles!)
And just like that my baby is a 2nd grader! Yesterday was the last day of school for this young man. As you can see, he didn’t want his picture taken. He wasn’t in the best of moods. He told me on the way into town he wanted to be homeschooled. He wasn’t going to miss his friends because most of them annoyed him. He was just plain grumpy. In other words, he was unhappy that it was the last day of school and so his way of handling it was to grump! School only lasted three hours so when I picked him up at 11:00, we went uptown and toured the new antique store. He takes after me – he loves, loves, loves to wander through an antique store to see what treasures can be found! Today he found an old canteen to go along with his coon skin cap! Then I took him out for lunch. He was so excited. I asked him if he wanted me to ask Eric to join us for lunch and he was adamant that it only be me and him. (I told him by the end of the summer he would be really tired of it just being me and him!) And then we came home and played cars and legos!
Last night we ran to Menards to get supplies for our next outdoor project. I really hate spending the money but we have put these things off for too long and it’s time to get them done. Since Menards is self-serve we rarely have anybody offer to help us and last night was no exception. I’m sure those young male workers got a kick out of watching a 51 year old overweight lady help load up the trailer with 10′ pieces of lumber, 40 pound bags of sand and 53 landscaping blocks. By the time we were done I was dripping with sweat and could hardly move – now that is a workout! And yes, the trailer is sitting beside another project for this summer – one of two buildings that have to come down. The work just never ends!
I keep seeing all these beautiful spring flower pictures all over the internet and I’ve just been so busy I haven’t thought about bringing any flowers in the house. But today, I ran out and picked some lilacs and some lily of the valley. And Drew picked me a beautiful bouquet of wildflowers yesterday while at Belva Deer. My front rooms smell so wonderful!
