Fall Treats

I admit to being in the throes of a fall-product backlash...some of these products are SO disgusting and you're not the first person to ever rhyme "fall" with "y'all," stores. (Must we commodify everything? Whatever...it clearly works.)

Annnnnyway, I discovered yesterday that there are actually some fun fall-ish treats at Trader Joe's that are less likely to make you roll your eyes and/or gag.

NOT THIS

(actual photo taken by me at Target)

BUT THIS

(actually contains real pumpkin. But also cinnamon chips. You know, for the kids.)

Also spotted: caramels, macarons, whatever generic term they use for pop-tart-like-items, cereal bars, pumpkin butter, no excessive use of the phrase pumpkin spice...

Carbs and I are on a break because I have to be in SOMEONE'S WEDDING this weekend, but Mr. C really seems to like these. Or, as he calls them, "mumpmin beagles."

I hope your day is as special as mumpmin beagles, friends. 

Pumpkin Cookies

...by which I mean cookies with pumpkin shapes,

not pumpkin flavor.

Given that making pizza was a success--we didn't burn anyone, we had fun, and the pizza was good--I thought we might try another kitchen activity. Baking requires a little more precision than good ol' regular cooking, so I wanted to start reaaaaalllly simply. That way, if he had no interest, I wasn't stuck with some ruined flan or out $40 on outrageous ingredients. Babies are useless at making flan, I hear.

Like, so simple you don't even have to SLICE to bake anymore. What? Is buying the cookies already baked really so bad? Although I will say they keep their little novelty image more intact than when you had to try and slice the log of dough (back in olden times like 2000), so win one for science, Pillsbury.

So, yes, our foray into baking was really just an activity where we took circles from one tray and moved them to another tray, but at least he really likes pumpkins right now.

Try to get a toddler to not eat raw dough. I dare you. He was looking at me like, "but you SAID they were cookies!! This game sucks!"

One hiccup I had not anticipated--I talked up how we put them on the tray and then put them in the oven (HOT!) and then we wait while they bake. Fortunately these guys only take like 8-10 minutes, because C insisted on staying in his booster chair at the counter and asking "COOKIES?" every 20 seconds until they were done. I was able to distract him somewhat with a well-timed lunch, but...baking was a success insofar as we can bake things that only take 8-10 minutes in the oven. Suggestions welcome.

Patience is not really our thing right now.

Ah...the fruits of absolutely no labor.

But he was really excited to eat his pumpkin cookie.

(though, for the sake of accuracy, I should say "mump min cookie" because the poor kid just cannot say "pumpkin")

P.S. I do not want 2 dozen mump min cookies in my house, so holler if you want in. We've made little baggies with tags for the taking.

Pizza Friday

(This is from LAST Friday...sorry for the delay. The technology and I have been in a huge fight.)

I found a pizza kit at Whole Foods last week, so thought it would be fun to make. I further thought that the little guy might now be old enough for a little "helping"...

pat the dough

spread the sauce (7-10 minutes of excessive spreading is ideal. Scream when spoon is all done.)

sprinkle cheese

Mommy adds veggies and meat to half of it and puts in the oven--HOT!

enjoy pizza

Ahhhhhh.

the BEACHlorette!

Yaya and LT are getting married in just a few short weeks! To celebrate, the wedding party and some friends headed to Florida last weekend for some good clean fun.

We dropped off Mr. C at school on Thursday, picked up Lil' Mary (our in-car entertainment), and hit the road. Eight not-so-short hours later, we pulled up to the ladies' weekend residence, and I immediately made the bride do the grocery run (great matron of honor, or GREATEST matron of honor??) so I could set up some goodies.

we were pretty ready to see this entrance...

It wouldn't have been a bach bash without some Nico + Lala in the house!

They did a cute twist on the couple's wedding logo just for the bachelorette party, turning the anchor into a palm tree and adding some pink

Everyone had a towel and welcome box on their bed.

"Hangover Essentials" kits contained Advil, saltines, and makeup remover wipes

Thursday we cooked at the house while we waited for the rest of the crew to arrive. Mary did an airport run to pick up Buff, whose flight had actually gone through Nashville and conveniently picked up Lissa on the way down. Lissa even randomly chose to sit right next to Buff--never having met her--because she thought "she had good highlights." Remember that, ladies.

Friday we enjoyed some beach time until it was cut short by a rather unfortunate stingray incident and subsequent ER trip. I realize it is most annoying to just drop that there and not say more, but it could be its whole own post. And nightmare fuel for weeks. And they did such a great job not letting it overshadow the celebration that I wish to do the same here (any of us will, however, talk your head off at length about it if you ask). I will say everyone rebounded beautifully and the patient and his wife were champs. Fortunately for us, we had two nurse practitioners and a doctor with wound-care specialty on the team...

That night, the bride and groom had arranged a bonfire for us on the beach. We grilled out for dinner and then headed to the bonfire for s'mores and conviviality.

Saturday was just this:

a seriously great pool.

and no stingrays.

It poured rain for a while in the afternoon, but we got around this by taking shelter under the cabana, which was conveniently attached to the bar. Lots of apres-swim naps were necessary. 

We re-assembled ourselves and headed to a girls' dinner back at the very same pool, which also has a restaurant right on the deck. 

It was a wonderful weekend toasting the bride-to-be, and I'd definitely recommend a stay in that area. We opted to drive for supply-toting reasons, but there are easy Southwest flights and it's just such a nice getaway. 

it wouldn't be a bachelorette without a car magnet...

Halloween is a bust already

...and it's only September 8. 

What's that? "Toddler is scared of costume" is not a reason for return? That's just great, Pottery Barn Kids. 

We started deliberations early this year, as we learned last year that little Halloween costumes sell out fast. If you want to have your pick, you gotta act early. One of our parenting agreements was that BA gets to pick the costume, at least until C is old enough to register a vote (hence last year's Yoda...).

The Costumer-in-Chief wasn't really sure which direction to take it, but then Mr. C spotted this when we were in the PBK store looking for something else. Immediate obsession ensued. He kept talking about the "wee ooo wee ooo" the whole time we were in the store (that's a siren noise, because...it's as close as he can get to firefighter). 

They only had a 3T, so we left it there (DRAMA). C was placated by a promise to check out Doc's real fire helmet when we got over to their house, and I ordered this one online later (turns outtttt...it only comes in 2T-3T [how is that all one size?] so shoulda just bought the stupid store one).

After it arrived, I quickly put it in the playroom so he could check it out. 

I was anticipating a little apprehension, but I mostly I wanted to see whether it was way too big. For SIXTY bucks, I am not playin' around. Well, the kid will have nothing to do with it. Won't let it touch him. Won't let me put it on him. Won't let me put it on me ("No! Bye-bye? No no?")

He will, however, stare at the brave child on the tag who DOES wear the wee ooo wee ooo. 

What do I do here? I have no interest in scarring the poor child for life. Do I keep it so he can just carry the tag around on Halloween to show people what might have been?  Will he come around with daily desensitization training (KIDDING)? Should I cut my losses and send it back now? Is this a thing that happens? 

Talking about Difference with Young Children

I just came across this post for the second time (it was originally published on a website last fall, and the author has just re-visited it on her blog.

Talking to Kids about Disability on What Do You Do, Dear?

[If you like to find new blogs and go back and read them from the beginning, I suggest you get some time and Kleenex and do so with this one. I just think she writes with the most wonderful voice.]

If you're here because you have young children, or you know young children, or you are a human, I think you should read this. It is written from her perspective as the mother of a child with spina bifida, but it is about all of us. It's about how we talk about abilities and difference, and how we talk to our children about those things, and the messages it sends when we don't talk about them well or--worse--don't even talk about them at all. Plus a Harry Potter reference.

I found myself thinking about this exact issue lately, and then this post popped up in front of me--funny how that happens, right? Like the universe knew I needed to read it again. C is still too young to stare or ask questions about differences, but I did see him look a little longer at a person using a wheelchair in Target this week, and then again at the mall yesterday. It made me self-check my own behavior, think about this, and consider what I will say when he asks questions. I know he will, because he is curious and observant and empathetic. I have worked with enough families and children in the special needs community to know I want to be thoughtful about his questions, but I hope I have enough grace in the moment(s) to speak out loud the way I've rehearsed in my head (somehow...I never do...).

How do you strike the balance between sensitive and factual? How are you thoughtful without pitying? How can we talk about difference without somehow implying that different is always bad? 

One of the things I love about this post is that, in addition to her own feelings and experience, she also provides some concrete phrases and scripts. Of course, she doesn't claim that she encompasses everyone's experience or is a voice for all, but I think this is a very solid roadmap.

Talking to Kids about Disability (with links to more posts at the end, including one from Mr. Rogers--one of my first loves)

Have you ever been in a situation like this, or with a child? What do those of you who work with children have to add to this? 

Just the Usual Sunday Morning Stuff