Beaters

Ah, this brings back memories of getting to lick the beater after mom mixed the cookie dough...

Kitchen Buddies

As the boys are getting a bit older and I'm with them for the whole day, I'm finding out that both Austin and Ethan benefit from some one-on-one time. They vie for my sole attention....or they feed off each other by fighting, biting, pinching, hitting, etc. (The last three by Ethan. Yup, true!) So today Austin and I dropped Ethan off at daycare, and Austin and I ventured to a used book store, and perused the shelves and petted the two kitties. Then we ventured on to our event for the day held at a cooking/kitchen store. I signed us up for Kitchen Buddies, a cooking class aimed at kids 4-6 years of age, with a parent/grandparent. The purpose is to encourage kids to cook and be more active in preparing their food. It was an absolute blast! There were 4 teams; all boy children ages 4 or 5, 3 bringing their moms and one his grandma. We each made something different, then sat down at a large table and devoured our creations so everyone got to taste all the food. Austin and I made Stuffed Manicotti with 4 Cheeses...and later deviled eggs with another team. Others were busy making Stromboli (the bread was divine!), Quiche, Tropical Fruit Salad (with ginger in the dressing. I am a sucker for ginger!), Oatmeal Blueberry Muffins (I've never had them with this texture before - oh my!), and lastly Golden Chicken, Corn, and Orzo Soup (loved this!).

Stirring the cheeses and eggs for the 'stuffing'

Final touches of mozzarella!

Austin and I during our fabulous meal!

Needless to say, I love cookin' with this fine young man! I just wish he'd be as eager to eat all his food as he is to cook it. :)

♥

Soon to be...

...airborn.

...full of delicious pea pods.

...spreading out and bearing pumpkins.

...ripe.

...dry enough to collect.

...open and bask in the sunshine.

...reaching the sky.

...wihtout 'binky'....so he's substituting the thumb. Uh-oh!

Iverson

As a kid my parents took my brother and I (usually meeting up with cousins John and Matt and their mom - my mom's sister) to Iverson Park. It was a less than five minute drive from our home, but with the beach on mind, catching crayfish, and just having fun on a hot summer's day, the drive seemed a lot longer. My cousins would catch the crayfish and dangle them in front of my face, thinking I'd be mortified, but...not so much. I picked them up too and usually let them back in the water since the idea of my cousins cooking them on the stove for dinner seemed cruel. The water is so shallow there, and always has been. Iverson Park is actually part of the Wisconsin River, so the water flows, trying to sweep you away with its mild current. There is a beach on either side and the deepest part goes up to Austin's bellybutton. I remember being able to walk across as well, but the water level is down about two feet now. The deepest part has a stone bridge that goes across, and teenagers jump off into the water, cannonball style. No diving off that bridge or you'd be paralyzed. 

On Saturday I packed up the boys and headed to Point, stopping by my parents' home and my mom and I took the boys to Iverson for an hour or so. It was so much fun...the memories came flooding back as soon as my feet hit the sand. Austin can't wait to go back!