Birthday boy

He may be two, but there's nothing terrible about our sweet birthday boy. He is full of happy energy. I'm not sure how to respond to those who forewarn of screaming fits in which my child may be expected to roll around the supermarket floor, fists clenched and pounding on the tile. It's hard to imagine Elijah making such a scene.
In keeping with a tradition started last year, we had dinner at Stella's on the actual date of Elijah's birthday. Uncle Adam and Auntie Deba Beba joined us, and Elijah feasted on strawberry ice cream for dessert. The following day, we celebrated Halloween by trick-or-treating with the Longs. It was fun to see the neighborhood kids in costume. I made Elijah a cuckoo clock costume, but he refused to wear it.

The next Sunday, our whole family came over to continue the celebration. It was wonderful to have everyone together, and Elijah had a blast.

As for Elijah's current interests, his fascination with clocks has turned into a near obsession. He is on a constant mission to discover them wherever we go. Needless to say, Target is a particularly special destination for Elijah. They have a whole aisle of clocks, and I am certain he'd happily spend an afternoon there. I will have to make a video of our next visit. Other favorite things include: using keys to lock and unlock doors, cooking in his kitchen, fiddling at his work bench and walking around the house in mommy and daddy's shoes. When he sees me pulling out the camera, he often say, "No, no, play" and then proceeds to push away the offending lens. "Play" has come to be a commonly uttered word. If I suggest that we eat, get dressed, etc, he often shakes his head and insists that we play instead. Elijah's favorite song is "Daiyenu" these days. He claps and dances when I play it on the stereo and he always wants to hear it again (and again). He also likes "Zum Gali Gali" and "Edelweiss."

For me, Elijah's second year flew by. I often tell him, "Being with you is magical." It really is.

And many more

This week, we celebrated Amiel's birthday by doing what we do best. On Saturday, we kicked things off with a Steuerman-Kruss breakfast at Walker's Brothers. It's a family favorite which never disappoints. Amiel and I typically start with eggs, rye toast and sliced tomatoes. I like to order some hashbrowns (extra crispy) and a side of cheddar cheese too. After that, we get dessert. A short stack of chocolate chippers for me and Swedish pancakes for Amiel. It sounds like alot, but we do have a growing boy to share with.

On Tuesday, I told Amiel he had to be home by 7:15 for a special dining adventure. He clocked in 2 minutes early and was quickly prompted to switch out of his day clothes and into a black t-shirt and jeans. He knew something was up when I whisked out the leather biker jacket (I usually keep it well hidden amongst our other outwear). We then loaded Elijah into his carseat and headed to Roscoe Village. After driving way west on Belmont, we approached a dimly lit bar with a smattering of motorcycles outside the door. "Where are you taking us?" Amiel hesitated as he unstrapped Elijah from the Britax.

Kuma's Corner is a Chicago institution which I had always wanted to try. It's a heavy metal bar, known for it's cleverly titled hamburgers and peppery fries. An unlikely choice and a real treat. The make-your-own macaroni and cheese was amazing, and the burger (read portabello) choices were mouth-watering. The Lair of the Minatour and Metallica were tempting, but I opted for Neurosis. Who can resist carmelized onions, sauteed mushrooms, cheese and horseradish mayo? Did I mention that the burgers are served on a pretzel roll? Food wise, my only (slight) disappointment were the fries. They were fabulous, but too salty. The music was as bit much too, but everyone was super-nice (and tatooed). It was the first time I'd seen fishnet stockings in a long time. Elijah was completely unfazed by his surroundings and spent the night juggling wrapping paper balls with Daddy. I am already plotting my next visit, but I'll be sure to avoid the need for earplugs and sit outside next time.

On his actual birthday, we picked something on the opposite end of the dining spectrum. Arun's is world-class Thai restaurant whose tasting menu rivals that of Charlie Trotter's (in this diner's opinion). Suffice to say, it was an elegant and heavenly meal. The menu is catered to every diner's particular food preferences, and every course is a feast for the senses. I had to resist the desire to lick my plate on several occasions. Our friends Ron and Dori were perfect dining companions and (forgetting the insane cost) I would have gladly enjoyed the exact same meal for breakfast the following day.

It was a wonderful birthday celebration for a wonderful husband. I'm thinking French Laundry and Waffle House for next year.

Sweet Sabba

Sabba's 87th birthday bash was a huge success! We danced to fabulous Jamaican music, and a tasty spread was served up in the new Kruss kitchen. Friends came from all over, and sweet Sabba was all smiles.