My Other Water Baby: Roasted Baby Carrots with Cumin

When Thatkid goes off to college, I've got 3 years to make up for the neglect that Thatbaby is experiencing.  Of course, at that age, Thatbaby is going to want nothing to do with me.

Take swimming for instance.  We enrolled Thatkid in swimming lessons when he was 9 months old.  He spent so much time in the pool as a baby.  Thatbaby?  Well, he's only been in a pool a handful of times.  And at 15 months, we finally enrolled him in swim lessons.

I took these pictures on the one day Thatboy came with us, but typically while Thatboy and Thatkid are soccering it up, I'm in the pool with Thatbaby.

Probably because he's a willful toddler instead of a compliant baby, but Thatbaby was much less cooperative during swim lessons than his brother had been.

He likes being in the water, but mostly just being held.  He doesn't like being on his back, practicing his strokes, or his kicks.  And I definitely blame the fact that we haven't been as proactive about getting him the water.

But I think part of the issue is that we are also in teething hell right now.  Poor kid.  He was so miserable this week, that at dinner the other night he wouldn't even touch his meal.  He ended up just eating frozen peas, which probably felt good on his bloody gums. 

I'm working with finding things that are easy for him to eat.  Carrots are a good example.  I give him raw carrots to gnaw on, which he enjoys when they are nice and cold from the fridge.  But he doesn't really eat them.  They're more like a chew toy. 

Now when I cook them, they become softer and much easier for him to eat.  This is a twist off the glazed carrots I had growing up.  Especially around the high holidays - honeyed carrots are a great way to start a sweet new year.  To this classic, I've added a little bit of spice, cumin.  It still has the sweetness, but it's a little more balanced.

Roasted Baby Carrots with Cumin

2 tsps cumin

3 Tbsp olive oil

1/2 garlic clove, minced

2 lbs baby carrots, peeled

2 Tbsp honey

juice and zest from an orange

1. Preheat the oven to 400.  Heat a large ovenproof skillet over medium heat.  Add the cumin and cook for 30 seconds, until fragrant.
2. Add the olive oil and garlic.
3. Stir in the carrots and toss until they are lightly golden all over.
4. Add the orange juice and zest and stir to combine.  Place skillet in oven and cook for about 9 minutes.

Crave Wednesday: Barbecue Chicken Sandwich

Apple picking is so different in San Diego than where I grew up.  For a long time I waited until September rolled around to even begin to think about going apple picking.  After all, it's a fall activity and fall doesn't even begin till September 21. 

But the problem with waiting until September is that apple season in San Diego is practically over by the time September rolls around.  I know.  It's crazy.  So now in August I start checking out when orchards open and when we're available. 

We made it this year 2 weeks after the orchards opened.  And the orchard only had one tree that still had apples on it. 

Luckily, this particular orchard had another draw.  Pears!

I've never actually been pear picking before.  It's very similar to apple picking.   The only difference is the fruit in your hand after. 

Some of the fruit was low enough for Thatkid to pick himself.

Although Thatbaby needed a boost.

And these pears were fantastic.  Some of the bigger ones were a little hard, but a day or two at home had them soften and sweeten up nicely.  The smaller ones started out perfect.

And Thatbaby got introduced to our orchard rule - you have to finish what's in your hand before starting on another. 

Typically we round out a trip to Julian with a stop for a barbecue lunch.  But our barbecue place closed over the past year!  So instead we went to the local soda fountain.  Which was delicious, but you know when you get that thought in your head, you just just can't shake?  That's how I was with my barbecue.  Luckily, barbecue doesn't always require hours over a grill. This is a really quick and easy way to get that fix at home.  You don't even have to cook a chicken if you pick up a rotisserie at the store.  Just heat up the sauce, shred the chicken, and combine.  It's a little bit of a cheater recipe, but good for those cravings you just can't shake.

Barbecue Chicken Sandwich (From Cooking Light)

1/2 cup no salt ketchup

2 Tbsp honey mustard

3/4 tsp ancho chile powder

3/4 tsp smoked paprika

1/2 tsp garlic powder

1/2 tsp onion powder

1/2 tsp ground cumin

1/2 tsp Worcestershire sauce

1/8 tsp kosher salt

3 cups shredded skinless, boneless, rotisserie chicken breast

6 hamburger buns, toasted

1. Combine ketchup, mustard, chile powder, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, ground cumin, Worcestershire sauce, and salt in a saucepan.  Bring to a simmer and cook 10 minutes.
2. Combine sauce with chicken.  
3. Place 1/2 cup chicken mixture on bottom half of each bun.  Top with top half of bun and serve.

Mommy Mondays: Ninjago 5th Birthday

Yesterday, at exactly 2:42 in the morning, Thatkid turned 5 years old.  And as a weird twist of fate, or just because that's how these things work, at that exact moment I was walking from Thatbaby's room after putting him back to sleep.

I had no trouble refraining from waking him up to commemorate the occasion. 

5 seems like such a big birthday.  I'm not sure what it is about it.  4 still sounds like a toddler.  But 5 is a full-on kid!

He awoke to the usual birthday fanfare.

"Awoke"/"Was Awoken"  same thing right?  During his first mid-night bathroom trip I heard him discover the streamers.  A sharp, scared gasp as he walked right into them.

 And he got his first present of the day.  A pretty big one.  It was the only thing he asked for. 

He had a special request for breakfast, chocolate chip pancakes at the Original Pancake House.  But when we told them it was his birthday, they brought out more than just pancakes.

We had just enough time after breakfast to go home and try out his new birthday bike (and helmet) before heading out to his party!

At the very beginning of 2015 we attended a birthday party at Chuck E Cheese.  And ever since, Thatkid has decided he wanted his 5th birthday party there.  We tried to convince him to have it at home, promising all sorts of bells and whistles.  But it was not to be. 

And I have to say, for a place that pretty much lives on parties, they were not easy to work with.  The week of the party, their phone lines went down.  They were completely unreachable.  Calling non-direct numbers didn't work.  After being forced to listen to over 10 minutes of menu and information I got a person...who gave me the same non-working number.  When I told him I'd been calling for days, he informed me that the only way to get any questions answered was to drive over to the location.  Which I did.  Only to wait for 20 minutes before a manager could be found.  Because no other employee knew anything about parties. 

Yesterday, we showed up 15 minutes early to set up, and our "designated party host" showed up 15 minutes late....15 minutes after the party had started.  As our guests hung around waiting to get started since the host is the one who hands out the means for the kids to play.   But that wasn't the only time party "ran late."  After finishing their pizza, the kids got antsy, waiting for cake.  But no cake, because they were running behind, so it would be another 10 minutes.    And of course, there was only one working ticket machine, waiting for half an hour for someone to man the prize counter, and then more waiting for someone to check and make sure we were leaving with our own kids before we could finally leave the place.   In other words, nothing about this party made me change my mind about Chuck E. Cheese.

But Thatkid and his friends had a great time.  Despite being at Chuck E. Cheese, Thatkid really wanted a Ninjago party.  So that's what he got.

I know nothing about Ninjago.  Thatkid doesn't watch the show, doesn't own any toys, and really, it hasn't been a hot "party theme" since 2014.   Plus, I was a little limited by the venue.  But I did what I could!

The key to a Ninjago party is eyes and color.  There are 5 different colored Ninjago - Red, Green, Black, White, and Blue.  So little eyes poking out of any of those colors becomes a Ninjago!

The place settings featured a plate and a fortune cookie favor.

The plates got a really easy Ninjago dressing, with those indispensable eyes and a napkin wrapped like a ninja mask.

I made the favors out of circles of foam I shaped into fortune cookies and added a "fortune" with the eyes and each child's name.  They were stuffed them with Ninjago goodies. 

Each child got a Ninjago bracelet I ordered from Super Mommy Shop.  The kids loved these and shortly after getting to the table, each child was wearing one. 

Each child also received a Ninjago crayon made by CynsSensations.  How amazing did these turn out?  I was super impressed by the level of detail in each crayon.  And the kids didn't even realize they were crayons at first!

To go with the crayon, I printed out coloring books.  They didn't fit in the fortune cookie, so I tucked them in beside.

The kids started off playing the games and then we rounded them up when it was time for pizza!

The animatronic Chuck E Cheese kept all the kids entertained, even Thatbaby.  Well, that and his water cup kept him a pretty happy camper for almost the whole party.

Cake time at Chuck E Cheese is also "show time" where they bring the birthday kids up for some singing, dancing, and tom foolery. 

But finally it was time to blow out the candles and make a wish.

Chuck came by for pictures.  And apparently being 5 means Thatkid is no longer afraid of costumed characters.  My how they grow.

And he got a turn in the ticket blaster.  Which he did not understand.  He kept grabbing tickets and letting them go.

Then there was a little more time for games before it was time to wait in lines.  I mean.  Get tickets, prizes, and go home.

In addition to picking out prizes for himself, Thatkid also got his brother a kazoo.

Which Thatbaby adored.  Until we exited the parking lot.  And then?  Well, by that point Thatbaby was done.

We went home and took naps and opened presents, and then it was dinner time.  Despite having pizza for lunch, the birthday boy requested going to his favorite pizza place for dinner.

Then he came home and cuddled up with some of his new treasures.  Looks like a pretty successful day right?  I live for giant birthday smiles.

Sunday Runday: Grape Day 5k 2016

I love this little local race.  So much so that this is my third year "running" it.  So much so that I put running in quotes, because I do less and less running each year. 

Last year, right as I was about to start the race, Thatkid started crying because he wanted to run with me.  And so we started the race together, and he ran about 3/4 of a mile before Thatboy had to come fetch him.  He joined me for the last quarter mile, and after crossing the finish line, made me promise to sign him up for the race next year.

And so this year I signed him up, to run the race with him.  He was so excited to have his own swag bag, filled with things for him, instead of begging me for whatever I usually brought home.  He was also very excited about getting a race shirt, insisting on wearing it to the race.

When they announced it was time for runners to line up, we wave goodbye to Thatbaby and Thatboy and he dragged me to the startline.  We put on our game faces, and we were off!

Thatkid started out strong, like he always does. And faded quickly, like he always does.  The first mile is down the main street and back, turning to go up toward the residential area.  As we turned, we spotted Thatboy and Thatbaby.  That's when Thatkid decided he was too tired and didn't want to go anymore. 

I pulled out my earphones and prepared to do the rest of the race alone, when I heard my name.  Turning I saw Thatkid running towards me. 

And we did the rest of the race together.  There was a lot of walking, and spurts of running.  But we made it mile 2.

And the finish.

I'm really proud of this little guy.  The race was long for him.  He was tired by the end, complaining that his legs were burning.  But he did it.  All 3 miles!  And it's not an easy course.  That residential area has 2 steep hills between miles 1 and 2.

Which makes the whole race worth it for me, even when it takes twice as long.  I'll have plenty of time in the future to improve my race times.  And one of these days I'll be struggling to keep up with him.

My running buddy and I headed for celebratory drinks after the race.  Hot chocolate for him, beer for me.  We have very different vices.  We brought along our non-running partners.  One of the perks of Thatkid registering for the race is that he had a voucher for a free beer at the beer garden.  But with his hot chocolate, he was happy to pass it over to Thatboy.

The Grape Day 5k continues to be a Thatfamily favorite.   I can't wait to see what next year brings.