Upside Down Cats

A couple weeks ago I was required to attend a two hour training at a resource center for child care professionals. This "mandatory meeting" was announced in an email that indicated the training was being held once on Friday evening and again on Saturday morning - our choice which to attend.

Since I didn't fancy a late Friday meeting I opted to attend bright and early on Saturday.

And so did ten other ladies. I arrived to find a line formed outside the center's locked door...

Continue reading "Wasted Time" »

On a daily basis I attempt to empower my daycare children by teaching them to be assertive, stand up for themselves and express their feelings. Today that philosophy sent Scott and I into fits of laughter...

I have three-year-old brother - sister twins in my home daycare. In one of the standard, run-of-the-mill, "Mine!! No, Mine!!" scenarios, the twins were tug-or-warring with a toy they both fancied at the same moment. Suddenly the sister (who had the toy first) had enough of the verbal confrontation and made it physical, pushing her brother in the chest.

Needless to say, brother resented the shove, tattling, "Gina, Sissy pushed me!" My reply, intended to encourage him to confront the affront directly with the aggressor was, "Well, tell her how it made you feel."

The next thing we heard as he attempted to comply was, "How it made you feel!"

I can't say he didn't follow my instruction...I just didn't expect such a literal execution!

It's time to start a new week, so here's the menu I've planned in advance...

 

Veal Parmesan, Buttered Egg Noodles & Spring Mix Salad

Barbecue Chicken Breast Sandwiches, French Fries & Ramen Noodle Coleslaw

Shrimp Caesar Salad & Grilled Garlic Bread

Homemade Cheese Pizza & Assorted Raw Vegetable Platter w/ Italian Ranch Dip

Broiled Tilapia Topped w/ Hollandaise & Crab, Rice Pilaf w/ Toasted Slivered Almonds & Oven Roasted Broccoli w/ Olive Oil & Garlic

Seafood, Eggs, Cheese & Bacon "Boats," Hash Brown Potatoes & Fresh Fruit

Cheddar-Topped Hamburgers Served on Pretzel Bread Buns, Onion Rings & Marinated Broccoli, Carrot & Corn Salad

Pancakes, Brown Sugar Pork Sausage Links & Orange Juice

...And to bring to the Labor Day picnic, a generous amount of German Potato Salad, recipe courtesy of my mom's mind, where all her best recipes are stored!

 

I'm really looking forward to the long weekend which lies ahead. It looks like I need to plan another brunch for Monday morning since we'll have the day off!

Several months ago we were honored to attend our nephew, R's, Bar Mitzvah.

What a special event it was!

It was only the second such event I'd attended (the first being Scott's cousin J's Bat Mitzvah, which is the same ceremony for a 12-year-old girl). It was Scott's third, and that dates back to his oldest brother's Bar Mitzvah when Scott was only six years old. So even in this Jewish family they are rare occurrences. I'm sure they are much more common in more devoutly religious families.

To those who may be unfamiliar with the Bar Mitzvah, allow me to explain. Strictly speaking, it is a term for a young Jewish man when he reaches the age of thirteen. Bar Mitzvah translates as "son the commandments." Bar Mitzvah also refers to a religious ceremony which marks and celebrates a young man's "coming of age" as a Jew. In preparation for this special event, a young person undergoes personalized instruction with a Rabbi in which he studies the Torah, the Jewish Holy Book. He prepares to participate in this religious service in which he reads portions from the Torah he has chosen to study. He is thereby welcomed as an adult member of the faith, promising to live a virtuous life. Similar to a wedding, there is a religious ceremony, followed by an awesome party.

To my Christian-raised mentality, it seems this ceremony serves a function similar to that of Confirmation - but much more of a celebration, featuring more fanfare, a deep sense of tradition and much better gifts!

Continue reading "Ceremony, Celebration And ... »

Here's what we were up to...

Continue reading "What Were You Doing 15 Years ... »

I'm starting the week out on a positive note by keeping with my habit of posting the menu I've planned in advance. Here's a sampling of the meals I'll be cooking in the next few days...

 

Hot Dogs, Beer-Battered Onion Rings & Spring Mix Salad

Asian Chicken Tenders, Fried Rice w/ Toasted Almonds & Stir-Fried Broccoli, Red Peppers & Celery

Porterhouse Steaks, Twice-Baked Potatoes & Oven-Roasted Broccoli, Cauliflower & Carrot Medley

Steak Quesadillas & Mixed Greens Salad

Eggs in an Italian Bread Frame, Cheese & Bacon Hash Brown Casserole & Fresh Fruit

 

On an exciting note, the Porterhouse steaks are our special meal to celebrate our 15th anniversary! Wow, I've been feeding my Scott for a long time - and hopefully an even longer time to come!

The Classics at daycare...

Pinocchio meets Hi Ho Cherry-O

It's time for me to share this week's menu which I've planned in advance to help the week move along smoothly. Here's some of what I'll be cooking...

 

Chicken-Fried Chicken Breasts, Mashed Potatoes & Collard, Mustard & Turnip Greens w/ Bacon & Garlic

Lamb Meatball Sandwiches in Pita Pockets, French Fries & Spinach Salad w/ Hot Bacon Dressing

Pasta, Chicken & Ricotta Cheese Bake & Spring Mix Salad

Turkey, Roast Beef, Salami & Provolone Sub Sandwiches, French Fries & Assorted Raw Vegetable Platter w/ Italian Ranch Dip

Chicken Kiev, Steamed White Rice & Broccoli Sauted in Olive Oil & Garlic

English Muffins w/ Sausage Patties & Poached Eggs Topped w/ Creamy Gravy, Home Fries & Fresh Fruit

Linguini & White Clam Sauce & Mixed Greens Salad

 

Sounds like a tasty week lies ahead!

Today at my daycare there were three preschoolers: Four-and-a-half and almost four-year-old girls and an almost four-year-old boy. At one point the girls ganged up on the boy and excluded him from their dramatic play, demanding, "Leave us alone!" As far as I could tell, he hadn't done anything to cause him to be ostracized, other than be a boy at that particular point in time... You know, wrong time, wrong gender...

When he pressed to continue to play with the girls, the 4 1/2-year-old stomped off, arms crossed angrily across her midsection, exclaiming, "I quick!"

Of course she meant, "I quit!" but it was a very amusing turn for a volatile situation...at least for me!

Five minutes later, of course, they were all playing happily together again...

Go figure... Those flighty females!

In a pathetic play for attention, here's Desi displaying her best Upside Down Cat this morning...























Isn't that the name of a yoga pose?

...It should be.