overhead, Jackson

"I don't like these french fries. They taste like potatoes."

overheard, Jackson

"I ate three bites of meatloaf, a bite of squash, and now you are ASKING ME TO EAT A BITE OF BANANA?!"

milestones

Let this be known as the summer Jackson started eating tomatoes.

And Chicken Parmesan.

eating away the weekend in Brooklyn

This weekend we had a short and sweet visit from Abigail and Steven, who brought us this cookbook I've always wanted to own (thank you!) We managed to eat at two of the restaurants in it this trip (Vanderbilt, Brooklyn Larder), and realized we've been to five others together over the years - Al Di La, Locanda Vini e Olii, The Good Fork,  Flatbush Farm, and The Farm on Adderley. 15 more to go!

Steven and Abigail were also so gracious as to accompany us to Jackson's first Little League T-ball game (see below), and Parade down 7th Avenue, a few playgrounds, some quality time in the backyard with the bouncy house, and Cade was the happy recipient of lots of story books read by his god-mama. :)

Mama, my teeth are broken. So I can't eat any more dinner.

So, you can't eat the rest of Cade's juicy mango he didn't want?

No, some still work.


{photo source}

this weekend's highlight

This weekend we pretty much hung around the house in a Cade-pink-eye-quarantine (he is much better now). We did go out on Saturday to DOUGH, the best doughnut shop in Brooklyn. After he got icing on his fingers, Cade ate his glazed doughnut hands-free, as if participating in a pie-eating contest. PS: The blood orange with candied orange peel one is the best.

lollies

I just took Cade to the doctor's office (pink-eye, drats!). On the way out, we got a (sugar-free) lollipop. Cade, who rarely gets candy, didn't quite know what to do with it. He asked me to open it, then held it in his hand for about 10 minutes. Finally he turned around and announced, "Mama, I'm going to eat it now."

 Photo and recipe for homemade lollipops here.

mmm, indian food

Today Jackson's class went on a field trip to the Indian Restaurant in the neighborhood (they're studying different countries). When I asked Jackson what he ate, he said, "The bread.......three bites."

Wishing the boys would eat more vegetables. Any suggestions? (Not from you, Jon) ( :)) .

DOUGH, we love you.

This morning's DOUGH donuts at the Brooklyn Flea.

the apples fell FAR from the tree on this one

I think it's so funny that every day for lunch, I make Jackson and Cade a cream cheese on whole wheat bread sandwich.

When I was little, I would not TOUCH cream cheese with a 10-foot pole. I would refuse buttered toast if my mother had previously used the knife for cream cheese. She would always say, Oh, it's fine. But I COULD TELL!

sometimes a picture really does say it all

I've mentioned before that Jackson is a picky eater. I waver between blaming myself for not trying harder, and letting it go and telling myself he's going to be just fine if he only eats Campbell's Chicken Noodle soup and Yougurt in a Tube for 2 years straight. With maybe some pickles and dried cranberries too for a little variety. 

I decided tonight to make some peas and insisted that he take one bite. 

I even pulled out my favorite little antique spoon to make it more exciting. And put butter and salt on the peas too!

My friends, I give you the result: 

I can't stop laughing. I don't think I've laughed so much since the time he thought he could fly across his room onto the cushion and did a full-on belly-flop onto his bedroom floor.

speaking of picky eaters....

Jackson went on a Field Trip with his class to a Middle Eastern restaurant, Zaytoons, last week. What did he like best there?

 

The water. 

eat more vegetables!

Maybe if this was hanging on the wall, they would eat Swiss Chard, or any vegetable for that matter.

this morning

Jon tried to fool Cade into thinking toast is an English Muffin.

yum

Cade + Homemade Blueberry Jam (mmmm) =

mother's day eve

Last night, Jon cooked me the best mother's day eve meal - rib-eye steak, roasted asparagus, and the season's first corn, which was surprisingly sweet and delicious. We sat on the patio, despite the gale force winds, and ate by candlelight (the candle is stuck in play-doh, in case you were wondering) and it was perfect. Thank you Jon for such a nice meal.

PS For desert, Jon had a cupcake and I had an ICE CREAM COOKIE SANDWICH from Little Buddy's. Yum.

pumpkin

Well, we never got around to carving our pumpkins this year, but Jackson helped me make some delicious pumpkin bread.

again with the bu-beddies

Today Mimi and Nonno came to visit. Jackson had a blast of a day, culminating in a delicious homemade apple pie that Mimi made. We all thought it was the best ever. Jackson did, however, ask for blueberries in it.

Blueberry pie picture from here, via here.

bu-beddies

Yesterday Jackson wanted a blueberry sandwich for lunch.

Hhpm. I didn't really know how to respond to that one.

Also, he calls them "bu-beddies."

{polaroid from polanoid}