Rainy day

Elijah and I have had an icky virus all week and after much indecision, I finally recognized that flying down to Texas this morning wasn't such a good idea. Thankfully, we booked with Southwest and were able to reschedule our trip at no cost. We were so excited to see Anna, Dell and Henry, but we will just have wait another few weeks. I thought today would be a major disappointment, but in the end it was just perfect. It was very grey and drizzly outside, but that didn't keep us in. We took a long, wet walk to the park where we saw baby wood ducks and Canadian geese waddling about in the mud. Elijah learned about puddles and saw fog for the first time. Hardly anyone was out, and the park felt like our own.

In the afternoon, Elijah took a nice long nap while I snuggled on the couch with Garlic and Sapphires: The Secret Life of a Critic in Disguise, a fabulous memoir by former New York Times food critic Ruth Reichl. After naptime, my sister came by for a visit. Elijah toddled down the hall to give her a big hug. We lazed around and played the little one until dinnertime. It would have been a great day, but then Amiel came home with a big smile and it became a perfect day.

Baking challah

Yesterday Deborah, Marina and Max came over to bake challah. My Aunt Sandy shared the following recipe with me, and I don't even know how one could improve upon it. The bread comes out beautifully every time. I must admit that I love to make it for company and enjoy the heaps of praise it elicits. It does take a while to make, but the results are well worth the wait.
If that is not reason enough to try this recipe, just think how amazing your house will smell with homemade bread baking in the oven.

1/2 cup warm water
1 tsp sugar
1 pkg active dry yeast
½ cup warm water
¼ cup sugar
2 tsp salt
½ cup oil
2 eggs
4 cups flour
1 beaten egg
Sesame or poppy seeds

1) Rinse a big mixing bowl with warm water.
2) Dissolve sugar in ½ cup warm water and sprinkle yeast on top
3) Let rest for 10 minutes, the yeast should get nice and bubbly
4) Stir thoroughly while adding ½ cup water, sugar, salt, eggs, oil and ½ flour
5) Beat well
6) Stir in remaining flour, dough should be sticky
7) Let rest for 10 minutes
8) Knead on floured surface for 10 minutes
9) Form dough into a ball and place in lightly oiled bowl
10) Cover with damp cloth, place in warm place and let rise 45 minutes
11) Divide dough into three parts and gently roll each into a strand
12) Braid loosely and tuck ends under (so the bread doesn’t unravel during baking)
13) Place onto greased baking sheet, cover and with damp cloth and let rise 30 minutes
14) Brush beaten egg onto bread and sprinkle with seeds
15) Bake at 400 for about 25 minutes, the top and bottom should be golden brown

Whiskers on kittens

Every child has their favorite things. In the case of Elijah, the list includes the toddler standards: keys, cell phones, shiny objects and pretty much anything that has been deemed off limits. Elijah also loves anything he can wear on his wrist. He started with rubber bands and shopping bags, but has recently expanded to Mommy's plum-colored yoga top. Another favorite is clocks. Many months ago, we started playing the "tick-tock game." Whenever we passed a clock, I'd slip my hands under his arms and swing him back in forth while singing "Tick-tock-tick-tock, he's the Elijah clock!" Now, Elijah is the one spotting clocks and singing his own song. To check out the song, click on the little triangle below.

Making people cry

A few days back, Elijah and I went to check out Fantasy Kingdom with friends Clarissa and Adin. There's a big, open area for Elijah to practice his newly acquired walking skills, cars to drive, slides to plummet down, dress up, a castle, need I go on? On our way to the car, Clarissa and I decided to check out the cool-looking furniture store which adjoins the Kingdom. Upon entering, the saleswoman regarded us as one might regard a hair in their lobster bisque. "Can I help you?" she asked coolly. "Just looking," I said. She didn't reply, but her face said it all. "Well obviously you're not here to buy anything. I thought you might be looking for directions to the kiddie place next door. You want to look around? Fine, it's not like I can call the cops on you for the messy ponytail and Old Navy hoodie. Just don't let those sticky-looking children touch a thing. Better yet, you may want to tie them up to the bike rack in front."

So we circled the store, Adin obediently holding Clarissa's hand, Elijah on my hip and neither child making so much as a peep. When we were about to leave, the saleswoman again looked up from her desk, "Are you looking for furniture?" she said in disbelief. It was simply inconceivable that we would have any interest in or ability to afford anything in the store. And so I calmly repeated again, "Just looking." She looked back down at her desk as if to say, "Ok, but I really don't get what you're trying to prove here. Next time, I suggest you try that IKEA place and stop wasting everyone's time."

As I drove home, I found myself feeling, well… angry. How dare a complete stranger insult me, my friend and our darling children? I dialed 411 and asked to be connected to @&#*@&. A familiar voice answered.

"May I please speak to a manager?" I requested smoothly.
"How might I help you?" she replied.

"May I please speak with a manager?" I repeated.
"Can I help you?"
"Are you a manager?"
"I am one of the owners," she said.
"Excellent. My husband and I are redoing a few rooms in our house and our designer suggested that we take a look at your store," I lied. "Well, I wanted to just let you know that I won't be purchasing anything because the service was extremely rude."
"When were you here?" she asked.
"Just five minutes ago with my son," I said, anxiously awaiting her reply.

"I am sorry I didn't talk to you more" she said with surprising sincerity. "I, uh. All I can explain is that I am going to Vietnam to adopt a baby next week and I am very busy with everything right now." So, she's adopting a baby. Isn't that all the more reason she should be nice to people with kids?
"Well congratulations on your adoption, but I am not getting anything at your store and I'll be telling our designer about this. I certainly hope people don't treat you the same way when you have children."
"I am really sorry, I am so sorry," she said, starting to sound choked up. I couldn't believe it, was she actually starting to cry?
"Fine," I said. "Goodbye."

I don't typically enjoy making people cry. But I'll be honest, it kind of felt good. Besides, I like to think I did the woman a favor. It's never too late to learn the golden rule.

Aspen is for the birds

With Amiel off skiing in Aspen, Elijah and I decided to hit the burbs last week. Glenview is a great kids' destination. It's easy to get to and there's free lodging at Papa Fred's. Attractions include Auntie Sandy's and the Kohl Children's Museum. Auntie Gilie, Sabba and Savta are a few minutes away in Deerfield and the Land Nod outlet (!!!!) is in neighboring Northbrook. With all the fun stuff here, who needs Aspen?



Elijah visits the Kohl Children's Museum with Papa Fred and Grandma Esther

Swinging at the park

Elijah loves Great Auntie Panda!


Playing with cousins Maggie and James

Elijah hugs Savta and learns to play piano with Doda

Amiel & Elijah, reunited

Back at home.

Life without a bounce flash

I misplaced my prized bounce flash a few weeks back and haven't been taking too many indoor pictures since. Photographing Elijah without the proper equipment just doesn't do him justice. Until the bounce flash resurfaces, I've been disabling the regular flash and trying to get some shots of Elijah right next to the window. He's usually too squirmy for anything to come out in focus, but sometimes I catch a break.

"How old are you?"

Thankfully there is always plenty of light at the park. Elijah models his fuzzy red hat.

Peek-a-boo!

All cozy in my all-terrain stroller

The truth about soup and hotdogs

It's been three weeks of a meal time warfare, and I am starting to wonder if Elijah is really mine. I know that kids are notoriously picky eaters, but the hunger strike is a developmental milestone I could do without. Of late, the only successful tactic has been to occupy him with something particularly fun while I covertly slip spoonfulls of food into his mouth. Yesterday I gave him a bottle of vitamins to try and open (he did). A few days ago I gave him the yellow-ceramic-chicken salt shaker he's always eyeing (he emptied the entire thing). I tell him, "Elijah you are stubborn. Stub-born!!" He appears to take it as a compliment.

Today, however, things took a turn. I was attempting to resurrect some old family recipes - stuffed cabbage and apple cake. Elijah was on the floor happily 'cooking' with some tupperware. Ever once and a while, he would lift up his arms and say "up" at which point I would scoop him onto my hip and let him 'help.' It was an idealized version of our normal evening routine, all warm and cozy.

When it came time to get Elijah's dinner ready, I decided to try something new, a veggie dog. It was then that a long-forgotten food memory came to mind, hotdogs and split pea soup. When I was growing up, my mom used to put slices of hotdog in our split pea soup. I've been a vegetarian for most of my life, but the thought of it made me smile. I dug out a can of split pea soup, corraled Elijah in his highchair and watched on as he picked up his first little chunk of hotdog. I quietly beamed as gobbled it up and went to eat some more. I contemplated skipping the soup. What if he spits it all over the place and spoils my little victory? But I was so excited about the idea of him eating hotdogs and split pea soup that I couldn't resist. He didn't seem impressed with the first spoonful, but he swallowed and opened up for more. Maybe it was a fluke, maybe it was the smells of vinegary cabbage and baking cake, but for one nostalgic evening we had a truce.