The yard looks like we've neglected it for a month. The constant rain keep us from mowing and trimming so we look like the bad neighbors that everyone calls the town on. A break in this weather so we can at least make an attempt at redeeming ourselves would be nice.
Even though I like to get Giada to bed early and I always have a million things to do in the short window between work and bed, the other night I decided on a whim that she and I should bake a cake. We certainly didn't need any sweets like that in the house but it was more about the process and spending time with my little pookie than it was about the cake. Giada loves to be in the kitchen. I don't know if it's something she inherited from her daddy or if it's because it's where we spend so much time. She and I have always made things together and she always wants a task. Something as simple as pouring the ingredients into the bowl or lining the muffin tins with paper cups is enough to keep her interested.
The process starts with her choosing the appropriate apron. Next, we drag a chair in from the dining room for Giada to stand on. From there, she waits and directs as I get all of the bowls and measuring spoons ready. She helps any way she can through the measuring and mixing and once the item is baking, she keeps an eye on whatever we've made asking me to occasionally turn on the oven light so she can peek through the window. Once the timer goes off and we take it out of the oven, I have to pick her up to see the finished product.
I've said before that there are amazing things that can be learned in a kitchen. Anywhere from cleanliness to science but my favorite thing is spending time with Giada, cooking or baking and dancing to the music in the background.
This time when we were baking, Giada asked me if the cake was for Daddy's birthday. Since his birthday is in March, I think we'd be a bit late, right? I told her that it was "Rainy Day Cake". I find that in response to many of her questions, I just say the first thing that comes to mind. I don't know where it comes from but after I said it, I thought that Rainy Day Cake sounded pretty good. Hey, if it's gonna rain for days and there's no end in sight, why not do something fun?
At dinner, as Giada was telling Kris about our creation, he asked her if we had any ice cream to go with it. This question is inevitable when discussing dessert with Kris. If he could, he would eat it at every meal. I found myself telling them about how I used to go to Friendly's with my dad to get half-gallons of ice cream with when I was little. My dad would eat ice cream almost every night and a trip to Friendly's was always an event. He'd ask for requests and then he and I would go to the shop and survey the possibilities. The cooler was open on three sides and I would stand on the side near the window and peer in searching for the best choices. That memory is clear as the taste of the Strawberry Fribbles my mom used to get if we stopped by for an occasional treat.
It's all about the memories inside so no pictures to share today, friends. Take some time to make memories for the kids in your life. Spend some time thinking about your own and if you'd like, share some of those with me. I'd love to hear them!
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