Zoo Bound

(take note: 2 heads, 1 neck...sort of)

Before I go any further: I'm not a huge fan of zoo's. A giraffe should be wherever a giraffe is meant to be (according to the zoo, they live in African savannahs). I'm sure there is an excellent arguement about raising such an animal in captivity, especially when it's endangered, or injured. Thats pretty cool!

Anyways, what I like about zoos is they provide a great open area for kids to walk, walk, run, walk, and be entertained for HOURS. AND, it is close to our house. AND, a family season pass to the Brookfield Zoo is cost effective! AND, the zoo lets you bring in all your own food (I highly recommend BYO...the food there is dismal).

A and M and I went lat week, when the temps were nearing 70 degrees. M did great of course, and A was very happy riding shotgun in the stroller, sitting upright.

BIg M and Ms. A

M, and her good friend, and close neighbor, R.

I can't believe it's taken me this long to discuss one of my key supports for raising my two girls: their teachers! M and A go to school 3 days per week, which gives me the ability to work part time. While I love being with the kiddo's, I must admit the break from them is nice sometimes!

Anyways, BigM and Ms.A do a knockout job with all the kids. They are a husband and wife team who care for about 1o kids. What a job...they do it so well.

Today they had their annual valentines day party for the kids (and parents). The children are always so happy there. Thanks BigM and MsA!!!!!!

BigM (sorry, my pics for MsA were fuzzy)

Contemplative M!

All the kids in place!


Chocolate Hearts Rock!

Priceless

A digs butternut squash:

Winter at Rehm

Science Anyone?

I must admit that I'm a bit geeky.

Not that geeky, but I love science.

Given a choice of the chicago museums, I'll opt for the Museum of Science and Industry most of the time.

Is it wrong that I've brought M there 5 times, while she's never stepped foot in the Art Institute nor the Contemporary Museum of Art? A has been 3 times in her now 6 month life span.

Funny how our own preferences influence our parental decisions!!!!!!

Well, I just love this pic of M in the Mariposa exhibit, where projected virtual butterflies land on the participants.

BaByFoOd

OK, everyone who knows me knows that eating quality food is important to me. I'm not a stickler for a certain "mantra" for my diet, except when it comes to feeding my daughters, especially when they're young. While most moms and dads think I'm wasting my time and energy, I make nearly all the baby food I give my under 1 year olds.

Our 6 month old, A, has been on cereal for about a month now. I had a very strong urge to give her real food today, so I introduced a beautiful avocado. I mixed it with some oats, and A went to town on it, gobbling the stuff. She was pissed when I ran out. She ate an entire half! Off to a great start!
Chef M


Chef M and I spent much of an afternoon last week making a months supply of homemade baby food for A. Butternut squash, pureed and chopped, pureed edamame, and chopped green beans, along with a slice of nature's finest...avocado!



Much better than munching on toes!

French Toast

Deviating from my pancake thang, I made French Toast today, which I never seem to get right.



Today was a pleasant exception, and wildly easy:



Trader Joes Cinnamon Raisin Bread

3 Eggs

Splash of Milk

Cinnamon

Mix, dredge the bread, then



dust ground flax seed on the wet egg mixture before placing the bread in the pan



Maple syrup, of course.



In retrospect, a splash of orange extract in the egg would have been great.

The Academy

Why is the Academy of Movement and Music so great? Because the instructors are patient and kind? They are, but that is not why. Because they're in a cool, retro building? They are, but that is not why either.

The Academy of Movement and Music is so great because of two young ladies, who, despite the horrible weather we get, stand outside and escort M from my car, into the building, straight to the teacher, so that I don't have to park a block away, and carry A, usually asleep in her bucket, in order to get M into the building. I hate shortcuts, except for this one! I don't know their names, but I appreciate them!

Gravy!

Half of my "heritage" is southern Italian. My ancestors came over several generations ago, settling in Philadelphia. Somewhere along the line, they came up with the term "gravy" for a tomato based pasta sauce which uses meatball "fond" as the flavor base.


Since moving to Chicago, I've discovered this term is used occasionally here too.


Does anyone know the etymology of this term, "gravy."





Anyways, I grew up with my mother, grandmother, and Aunt making this gravy periodically throughout the year. They would make it on Sundays, serve it for dinner, then freeze the rest, usually enough for 6 or so dinners. I have so many memories of those Sundays: the house had a fantastic aroma of parsely and garlic, the sound of the frying meatballs, the zipping of the blender.

Well, I swore that I'd pass both the recipe and the memories onto my children. So, P and I purchased the veal, beef, pork, garlic, parsley, basil, tomotoes and so forth, and got to work.

I asked M at least 5 times if she wanted to help, or how she liked the smells, or if she wanted to at least watch. Usually she dons her apron and gets overzealous, but this time she was content with playing around the house, barely stepping foot in the kitchen.


Oh well, maybe next time she'll help. She had to have smelled it, right?





Meat mixin'





Meatball fryin'




Tomato blendin'

The baby wants food, the baby gets food!

OK, everyone who knows me knows that eating quality food is important to me. I'm not a stickler for a certain "mantra" for my diet, except when it comes to feeding my daughters, especially when they're young. While most moms and dads think I'm wasting my time and energy, I make nearly all the baby food I give my under 1 year olds.

Our 6 month old, A, has been on cereal for about a month now. I had a very strong urge to give her real food today, so I introduced a beautiful avocado. I mixed it with some oats, and A went to town on it, gobbling the stuff. She was pissed when I ran out. She ate an entire half! Off to a great start!

Ridgland Commons Skatefest!

Well, I finally had enough courage to bring M ice skating at Ridgeland Common Park in Oak Park. Growing up in the south didn't expose me much to the sport, and I recall going a time or two as a teenager, destroying my hip and tailbone.

Knowing that any four year old will have some balance problems, I wasn't sure if I'd be able to stay up enough to help her.

I'm happy and proud to say no one was injured, M and I had a blast, and ice walkers are the best thing ever invented! We're going again very soon!

Happy skating!

Yes, help has arrived!

A key to my survival (besides my wife):

My Mother-in-Law

Nanni was up from Mississippi for the holidays and is always a ton of help.

She held A for hours on end,

and played with M for hours!

She even made a cookie castle...I'm awestruck!