And They're Off!

Off to start another year at school. What else is there to say? I teared up today taking Ethan in too, but I made it through. It's hard for me to watch them grow up. I guess that's the bittersweet of parenting. It's so fun to watch who they become, but very hard (at least for me) to stand back and watch it happen in the blink of an eye.

Andrew~ starting 2nd Grade

Ethan~starting Pre-K

I guess it's safe to say the reflectors on their backpacks work quite well!

Conversations with an almost 2-year old

Mom: Are you going to be 2 on Sunday?

Ava: (shakes head yes) I a big girl!

Yes, getting big way too fast. And today was the start of Second grade. You'd think I could get through second grade without crying....but you'd be wrong. Heaven help me tomorrow!

Badonkadonk

I have one! A very large, very round one. I have hated it my entire life. I have tried to "work my butt off," "exercise my butt off," "sweat my butt off," but to no avail. It is still there. I'm pretty sure if I was lost in the woods, died of thirst, and my body was found weeks later they would not use my teeth to identify me. They would just bring my family, roll me over, and..."Yep, that's her. I'd know that badonkadonk anywhere!"

I don't know where it came from. NO one in my family has one. My Mom, all my sisters--they have flat backsides. If you lined us up sideways to take a picture, the camera man would ask me to stand up straight and not stick my but out...but I wouldn't be sticking my butt out--that's just what it does.

At 30 I determined I must: A: afford massive amounts of lypo on my backend, and some sort of newly engineered procedure to remove layers of round muscle tissue, or B: I could learn to accept and embrace my badonkadonk. I chose B.

So why am I telling you this useless information? Oh yeah, I remember now. I am easily distracted. I bought some new shorts for my kids yesterday. In trying them on last night I about fell over laughing when the shorts fit my kid's butt and were miles too big in the waist. I guess my genetic affinity for large round derrieres has been passed on to my poor unsuspecting children. Lucky kids!

....And by the way,  keep you eyes to yourself the next time you see me. I've had enough gawking at the junk in my trunk!

France

School starts next week, so today was our last World Cuisine day. We have really enjoyed it though and may have to keep it up on a less frequent basis.
Tonight, we enjoyed French food, which was a lot of fun to do. We even had some friends over to share it with us. And a visiting hmm..hmm... French chef, who didn't want us to take his picture because he was hmm.hmm...shy. (oops I got his arm in that there picture!) Anyway, onto the food.

So much to choose from, and while I wanted to make Beef Bourguignon, we decided to go with the less authentic Chicken Cordon Bleu. To go with it....Ratatouille, Cheese Souffle, Potatoes Au Gratin, and fresh Baguettes. (Served on a chipped plate--we're so classy!)

For Dessert.......Bananas Flambe with crepes a la mode!

Yes, we had to cook on the grill--my stove is electric and I needed an open flame people! And I'm so proud I didn't light myself on fire. (You would be too if you knew my track record with fire.....and knives....I can't be trusted with either.)

While French cuisine is not my personal favorite to eat, I must admit I get giddy cooking it. It brings back a certain desire to attend the Le Cordon Bleu cooking school in France. Think they'll let me in if I send them my flambe picture?

Oh, and in case you're in need of a Christmas gift idea for me, I need a kitchen torch so I can make Creme Brulee. And while you're at it, you should probably buy Colonel Mustard a fire extinguisher!

Manipulation

Ethan has learned that words can be great manipulators, and he is becoming very adept at using his new found skill. He likes to tell me "Be patient Mom, just learn to be patient with me."-- which causes Mom to open mouth and insert foot where she had already premeditated a yelling tirade.

Then yesterday as Andrew was struggling to take something away from him he yelled out, "That is not how Jesus would treat his brother!" This of course got my attention in the other room, and Andrew was made to look like the only one causing the problem.

This morning I got another line about being good so I can go see Jesus when I die. I will have to learn my way around this new form of manipulation. I am no longer fazed by the fits and crybaby fests I get from Andrew and Ava, but I must admit, I am sometimes left with my mouth open at Ethan's maneuverings.

Dread

Just today, I've received two e-mails from the elementary school. It's coming...and it's coming quickly...and I want to cry. I know I'm in a minority, but I really dread my kids going back to school. Maybe it's because I don't have many friends, my family lives so far away, and I rarely see Colonel Mustard excepts to kiss him goodbye in the morning and goodnight when he lays his head on the pillow. I'm very attached to my little monkeys--and our summer together has been far too short.

I will miss them sleeping in 'til 8 or 9. I will miss the silly little games they play. I will miss them spending the day in their jammies, and changing only when they need to put on clean jammies for bed! I will miss the swimming, and the movies, and the late night "slumber snuggle parties" in my bed. And strangely enough, I will miss the crazy, hectic, pull my hair out shopping trips with three kids.

I may not be the world's greatest mother, but I don't think it's possible for anyone to love these kids like I do...or miss them like I will. 

....but Andrew just walked in the back door and yelled at me....I may be having second thoughts?

Brazil

This week our taste buds traveled south of the border. I mean really, really south- past Redneckville, past Mexico (we need to make a stop there for some tamales--yum!), all the way to South America---Brazilian food!

We had Feijoada ( A black bean stew with a bunch of different meats). We left out the beef tongue and a few other less than palatable cuts of meat. The boys took one look and declared it "gross!" Though they both decided after one bite that indeed, you shouldn't judge a book by it's cover. Or, a pile of goop in this case. It was in fact, very delicious!

To go with it- Arroz Brasilerio (Brazilian Rice) and Couve Refogada (sauteed kale). The rice was also very yummy, but we all agreed that the kale was on the bitter side, and we much preferred a vegetable with a little less bite.

Most exciting was Ava could eat the entire dinner! She was thrilled at the rice and gobbled it right up.

Unfortunately, not so thrilled when we asked her to eat the rest of her dinner. She covered her eyes, turned her head away, and wailed that she needed a cookie. Daddy was going to give in, but my death stare prevailed and she had to endure a couple of bites.

For dessert, we had Brigadeiro- Tasty little chocolate bites, which the boys loved. (I think kids love anything with sprinkles on it though)

Next week--- Viva La France!