5/26/2014

The Tobin Times #33

Filed under: — Aprille @ 6:15 pm

Dear Tobin,

Hy-Vee has car-shaped shopping carts, and you love them.  We always have to get one when we go grocery shopping.  The other day, the only one available had a broken seatbelt.  I said to you, “Will I be able to trust you not to stand up or do anything foolish?”  You assured me that I could, and you did a pretty good job.  You only stood up while we were at a complete stop.

We had a similar conversation a couple of hours ago.  We’d been out watering the garden, and you got excited about shoveling dirt.  Your shoveling technique involves digging up a shovelful, then throwing it up into the air.  I think your goal is to throw it over your shoulder, but your aim is not so great, and most of it went directly onto your head or down the back of your shirt.  You needed a bath.

Your dad gave you a bath, and when you were done, he got you all wrapped up in a towel.  As usual, he brought you out to me, and you said in a tiny little voice, “Do you want to hold the tiny baby?”  I held you and cooed at you and told you what a cute baby you are.  Then we got involved watching a video.  A while later, I tried to put a diaper and clothes on you, but you were really happy being nude.  It’s warm today, so I decided to let you.  They say it’s a good potty training technique, too, because kids are reluctant to pee without a diaper there to soak it up.

Photo by Denny

Now for the conversation:  you wanted to cuddle in my bed.  I like cuddling in bed with you, and since you hadn’t had a nap, I thought we might just get so comfy you’d fall asleep.  We talked about it.  “Can I trust you to tell me if you need to go potty?  You won’t pee in the bed, right?”  You agreed.  We got into bed.

We snuggled for a while, but it became clear that you weren’t going to fall asleep.  After some time, you asked to get some clothes on.  I went and grabbed you the same onesie and diaper I had tried to put on you earlier.  I pulled back the blanket to get you dressed…and found you were lying in a puddle of pee.

The bedding is in the wash.  You seemed sad and contrite.  So it goes.

This event, however, was not the most exciting thing to happen to us lately.  We are so, so excited that you have a new cousin.  Uncle Tyler and Aunt Oxana welcomed Aleksandr Dean Clarke into the world a couple of days ago, and we’re really looking forward to getting out to Lincoln to meet him.  He’s extremely cute in the pictures Skittergramps has sent.

Photo by Denny

We had fun with previously existing cousins last night, too.  We had a bit of a family reunion, and you had so much fun.  You and your little cousin Josh became good buddies.  You guys ran around the yard together, talking about blowing bubbles.  You laughed and rolled balls back and forth and only occasionally struggled with sharing toys.  You had fun with Meredith and the other kids, too, and you ate a lot of mint chip ice cream.  I was happy to see my cousins and meet some new additions as well.

Photo by Denny

Your favorite thing to do these days is be outside.  Unfortunately we’re in the middle of the annual gnat infestation, which doesn’t seem to bother you too much, but it makes it hard for me to stand being outside.  You love to play with water, whether from the hose, puddled in crevices at the Fossil Gorge, or in the Rubbermaid tub in the back yard.  I also recently set up a little sand station for you to play with, and that’s been a big hit as well.  You were a good helper to me planting carrots and lettuce in the garden, and I hope you enjoy eating the garden carrots as much as you did last year.

Another fun back yard thing we did a few nights ago was to go out meteor-hunting.  There was a big meteor shower predicted, and we lucked out and got a mild, clear night.  We gathered up blankets and stuffed animals and a microscope (your idea) and headed out to the park.  We didn’t see anything of interest, except a kind of spooky owl perched on a nearby power line.  I thought we were out too early, since the shower was supposed to peak around 1-3 a.m., and we only managed to stay until about 10 p.m.  But, hearing reports from friends, I think there wasn’t much to see even at the later hours.  You still had a blast, though. You thought it was so cool to be outside after dark.  The next night, you asked to go see shooting stars again.  I hope we get some good skies for the Perseids shower in August so maybe you can actually see some.

Your current favorites:  bashing a broom on the floor, pretending that you’re chopping ice (like the guys in the beginning of Frozen); the plastic slice of cake at the library play kitchen that you call your “cream bun” (a Britishism you learned from Bob the Builder); saying “No fair” about anything that doesn’t go your way; baths; pizza; broccoli.

You still believe in the curative power of kissies.  You bit your tongue in the dining area of Hy-Vee while eating some beef and broccoli.  You stuck it out for a kiss.  You got it.  I mean, what am I going to do, not kiss my kid’s owie?  You make me do the weirdest things, Tobin.  I also feigned reinserting a booger into your nose after you got really upset that I took it out.  I also forgave you about ten seconds after you peed in my bed.

I’m excited to have a fun summer with you, Tobin.  You’ll be happy because Miles will be home more.  I’ll be happy because there are a lot of cool things we’ll be able to do.  We’re sure to have lots of adventures, and maybe (just maybe) you’ll do some consistent potty work.  You’re a pretty smart cookie, Tobes.  Think you can do it?

I’ll still love you no matter where you pee, though.

Love,

Mommy

5/23/2014

The power of personal style

Filed under: — Aprille @ 5:11 pm

I trimmed Tobin’s hair today, and when Denny got home, Tobin was showing off his new style.

T:  (pointing dramatically at me) That girl did it!

D:  What girl is that?

T:  Aprille.  (pause, then running to me for a hug) And I love her so much!

5/19/2014

Mexican Rice

Filed under: — Aprille @ 6:22 pm

(The “Mexican” part here is in no way intended as a promise of authenticity.)

We had fajitas for dinner, and I neglected to pick up a flavored rice mix to go with it.  I usually get Near East brand, and Tobin loves it.  In order to not make him cry, I improvised a Mexican-inspired rice side.  He ate three plates of it.  I liked it too.

Mexican Rice

1 cup long-grain white rice
2 tsp olive oil
2 cups chicken or pork stock*
1 pinch saffron threads, crumbled
1 tsp chili powder
1 tsp ground cumin
S&P to taste

Heat the olive oil in a medium-to-large plan with a lid on medium.  Saute the rice grains until they’re opaque, coating well in the oil.  If they get a touch browned on the edges, that’s okay.  Add the stock and spices.  Stir briefly and return to a boil.  Reduce heat to low, cover with a tight-fitting lid, and cook for 20-25 minutes, or until the liquid is absorbed and the rice is tender.  Adjust S&P before serving.

* I happened to have some pork stock in the freezer, so that’s what I used, and it was so good.  I guess it wasn’t technically stock; it was the de-fatted cooking liquid from the last time I cooked a pork shoulder.  I think I cooked it with onion, garlic, and orange juice, so those flavors informed the liquid a bit.

5/13/2014

Monthly Miles Memo #76

Filed under: — Aprille @ 6:40 pm

My sweet Miles,

I can hardly believe you’re almost done with kindergarten.  It doesn’t seem like a whole year ago that we walked up the hill to your future school for kindergarten round-up.  You were a bit nervous then, which isn’t surprising—new things are tough for you.  You get very attached to your routines, and shaking things up by changing schools is a pretty big shift.  But you have done absolutely fantastically.  I feel confident calling your kindergarten year a great success.  You’ve made good friends (especially James, who shares your love of Mario games on the Wii), really blossomed in your reading, and discovered an enthusiasm for math.  You told me you don’t like your Thursday early releases because you don’t get to do math boxes.  Of course, the fact that you can earn an hour of Thursday afternoon Wii time by reading two challenge books has influenced your opinion on that topic.

Photo by Denny

Your dad and I were talking today about how sometimes it’s frustrating how inflexible and unwilling to try new things you are.  He reminded me (and himself) that you’re not trying to be a jerk on purpose.  We think it’s more of an anxiety thing with you.  It stresses you out when things are unpredictable or vary from your expectations.  We’re working on finding ways to accommodate your preferences while also helping you face your fears.  I don’t want you to become reckless, sweetheart, but I don’t want you to be paralyzed with fear and miss out on all the exciting things in this world.  I see a lot of myself in you.  New things are tough for me too, and I get absorbed into routines.  But when I look back on my life, the things that have terrified me the most have been the best things I’ve ever done.  That includes having you, my little love.

Photo by Denny

We had our spring choir concert a couple of weeks ago, and Nana and Papa came to spend some time with us and hear our concert.  We had a lot of fun playing with them, although I think you may have worn Papa out.  It might also have been all the yard work your dad had him doing.  We also had some fun time in the park with Uncle Mark.  We met up with him downtown on the Ped Mall, and you climbed right onto the bench next to him and started chatting him up.  You told him all about your current favorite author, Meghan McCarthy, and the topics of the books she’s written.  You love her biographies, including the stories of Charles Atlas and daredevil pilot Betty Skelton.  One cool thing is that Meghan McCarthy visited your school, and you got your own autographed copy of Daredevil.  She even wrote your name in it and added a cool little illustration of a racecar (Ms. Skelton was also a racecar driver).

When you told Uncle Mark that Charles Atlas was “strong as an ox,” he told you that red oxen are the strongest.  I’m 80% sure he was making that up, but you have repeated it to me since then.

We had a nice little family Mothers Day celebration last weekend.  You made me a very sweet card at school, and you did a good job being sweet to me all day.  Your dad never got a great smile out of you for our annual Mothers Day picture, as you were more interested in being silly, but I was still glad to have you in the frame with me.

Our plans for the summer aren’t too ambitious.  You’ve got some summer classes to take at your old haunt, Willowwind.  James is going to take a couple of them with you, too, so that will be fun.  We’re definitely going to Lincoln at some time to see your yet-to-emerge little cousin.  Mostly I hope we’ll have a summer full of Flavor Ice, trips to the library and the Natural History Museum, swimming, and general chilling out.

I’m so proud of all you’ve accomplished this year, Miles.  You’re tall and smart and kind and responsible, and I know you’re going to rock first grade.  But for the time being, I want to enjoy a summer with you still being my little kindergartner.

I love you so much.

Mommy

 

5/4/2014

Where it’s due

Filed under: — Aprille @ 6:52 pm

Tobin has been into watching an old Masters of the Universe video on YouTube.  He likes to raise his sword in the air and act it out.

T:  I’m He-Man!

M:  I’m probably Skeletor.

T:  No, you’re the credits.

White cake with raspberry mascarpone cream and Swiss buttercream

Filed under: — Aprille @ 10:13 am

I made this cake for Denny’s mom’s (aka Nana’s) birthday.  It’s just your basic white cake, but I did it using the Cook’s Illustrated technique of baking it in a half-sheet pan and cutting in into quarters for a 4-layer rectangular cake.  In this case I’m not 100% sure it was easier than splitting two rounds, because the cake was pretty delicate.  It works well with carrot cake, because that seems a little denser and heartier than delicate white cake.  I did have a couple of fall-aparty issues, but once everything was glued together with filling and buttercream, it was good.

The raspberry mascarpone filling I just kind of improvised.  I think it was about 3/4 cup seedless raspberry jam, melted, that I whipped up with a tub of softened mascarpone cheese.  That turned out pretty goopy, so I chilled it until it was firmer, and then I made some lightly sweetened whipped cream and folded them together.  Tada!  It could have used some lemon juice, but I didn’t have any lemons, so here we are.

The Swiss meringue buttercream was a new adventure for me.  I used Smitten Kitchen’s recipe on the recommendation of a friend, and it was really good.  The only change I made was I used salted butter instead of unsalted.  I liked it, and the people who  ate it liked it, but I think next time I would use half salted and half unsalted.  I like a little salt kick with my sweet, but this was just a little too salty.

The texture was really good.  It was thick and dense and held piping very well, but it was also really easy to spread thinly.  I was a little nervous that the recipe wasn’t going to make enough, but I managed to make a really thin crumb coat.  An hour in the fridge chilled it to a very firm state, which made the remaining frosting go on like a dream.  I even had some left over.  If I had filled the cake with the frosting, I might not have had quite enough, but I like a different filling anyway.

Here’s the frosting recipe for my records and anyone else who might be interested.

Swiss Buttercream (aka Swiss meringue buttercream), via Smitten Kitchen

1 cup granulated sugar
4 large egg whites
26 tablespoons unsalted butter (or half salted, half unsalted), softened — that’s 3 sticks + 2 tbsp
1 tsp vanilla

Over a pot of simmering water, whisk the egg whites and sugar in a metal bowl, being sure not to touch the bottom of the bowl to the water.  When the egg mixture has reached 160F and you can’t feel any sugar granules between your fingers, put it in the standing mixer and mix it with the whisk attachment until it has doubled in volume and has reached room temperature, about 10 minutes.  I actually needed to let mine sit for a few minutes to cool, because it was well-whipped and I was afraid of overbeating it.

Add the vanilla and mix it up, then add the butter, a few tablespoons at a time, until it’s all incorporated.  Put it on your cake.  It will be fine at room temperature for at least 24 hours.  Refrigerating it will make it really hard, so only do that for the crumb coat, and be sure to allow time for the cake to get back to room temperature before serving.

Note:  this is not a pure white frosting, due to the butter and the vanilla.  Clear vanilla would make a big difference, or you could use almond extract or another clear extract in place of vanilla.  It’s pretty white, but more of a natural white than a bleach white.

5/2/2014

If it was warm, he wouldn’t sing much more

Filed under: — Aprille @ 7:43 pm

Tobin and I made a cake for Nana’s birthday, and Denny was asking us about it.

D:  What’s the filling?

A:  Raspberry mascarpone.

T:  Yeah, raspberry microphone!

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