Saturday morning Baylor started his second Preschool swimming lessons. He was excited to go and seemed to have a good time at class. When the instructor came around to take attendance, she asked me if I named him after the University. I told her it was from a movie but I was nice I could get stuff for him that says Baylor. She laughed and said she was from TX, which would explain how she knew about BU her in PA. After class we headed to Grandma's for an Aunt's Meeting. Along the way I glanced over to the side of the road and saw two hawks with in two eye blinks. Molly always gave me her hawk count on her drive to our house. So I knew she was with us at that time.
Everyone was already eating and talking when we arrived late. I love seeing everyone every month. I did not get to visit very much because he had a melt down for some reason soon after we arrived. I held him on the couch trying to comfort him while also trying to talk to my cousins about life and such. After everyone left we went to find some white tee shirts and pick up photos to send to Molly's friend to use at the funeral. The shirts need to be tie dyed by Sunday for the funeral also. I am not sure if we are taking Baylor or not but he will have a shirt either way. We found an inexpensive dart gun for Baylor and of course all was well in his world again. We dropped him and the gun off with Buddy while Mom and I continued shopping. Baylor was shooting the bad guys on the TV when we came back home.
For dinner I had requested schnitzel and I brought the pork loin to make it with. In the spirit of the Cooking Channel show My Grandma's Ravioli I want to share my food memories of my childhood with my son. Mom made Baylor a new apron with a towel we picked up last time we visited. He loved it right away and of course wanted to help out in the kitchen. I cut the loin into slices and Grandma showed him how to pound them very thin. He did a wonderful job and as usual was very encouraging of our efforts also.
Mommy, clean my hands!
It was a lot of meat and he had a lot of work to do.
But he pounded on and finally it was time to bread the cutlets. He chose the flour station which was also the cleanest, at least at first. He again did a great job and most of the flour staying on the meat but some made it too the floor.
Grandma started in the egg and breading station but ending out as the fryer so I had to put down the camera and step it. Making schnitzel is a vivid food memory for me and I loved adding this memory with me two favorite cooks.
Buddy came in to check on the progress and pick on the chefs.
Grandma took a photo of Baylor's flour hands and me as his egg and breading assistant. We had such a good time.
And he even cleaned up the flour on the floor.
And finally, dinner was ready. Dad and I had the fried cabbage and Baylor stuck to safer foods like salad and cucumbers. He did not even want to eat the schnitzel. He said he made if for the three of us and all he would try was a tiny bite. So much for the theory that if they make it, they will eat it.
In the morning we were making eggs. He usually cracks the eggs for me with a spoon and I break them open. Not this morning. He wanted to do it himself. He was as gentle and as firm as he needed to be to crack and egg and I showed how to push in this thumbs into the crack, pull open and dump out the egg. We did not lose any eggs to the counter or floor. Notice we both had to wear aprons in the morning.
And then he scrambled. But he also realized he does not like scrambled eggs and he was off to find an egg white he would eat. He still does not like the yellow of the egg and I have never figured out where that came from.
After breakfast we went outside and picked up the sticks in the yard. Buddy is still in recovery from his knee replacement in January and he really cannot be out in the cold and bending over as needed to pick up sticks. We are trying to teach Baylor that money does not grow on trees and the reason we have to work is to make money. So if he wants something, he needs to work, make money, and either buy said want or save the money. Buddy said he would pay him $2.00 to pick up the sticks. Let me tell you, it was below 30 degrees, windy, slightly overcast, and bloody cold. We had to take a break between trees. But after the cocoa, a new hat and gloves, he was out to conquer the sticks. There was a lot of encouragement from Mommy to stay focused but we got the job done. And then we drew the sun on the driveway.
And no visit to Grandma's would be complete without bubbles. Apparently it has to colder than 28 to freeze bubbles.
We headed home and Meme and Pap arrived not long after we did. We needed some plumbing done downstairs and Pap was finally feeling well enough to make the trip. The cold has been hard on them this year and we were glad to see them. Pap walked inside first and Baylor's first question was, "Where's Meme?" He was in Meme heaven again. In the morning I started a batch of bread dough to make cinnamon bread. I just had a hankering for it and by the time I was ready to roll out the dough, Baylor and Meme were done with breakfast and he wanted to help. They rolled and patted out the dough. He used a sifter to add the sugar and cinnamon and Meme smoothed it. They added the plumped craisins and we all rolled it up.
Baylor cut it into three loaves and 45 minutes later we all had a slice or two of yummy bread with a cinnamon and craisin filling. It was awesome.
I sent one loaf home with Meme and Pap but there is only one slice left on the one we cut into earlier in the day.
While Lori and Pap napped on the couch, I did a craft with Baylor and Meme. Just something to do and a craft to share with Meme. We tie dyed some large coffee filters using liquid water colors and pipettes.
Baylor send half of them home with Meme and I think next time we will cut them out into Easter eggs. I am in the tie dye mood because we will be wearing our tie dyes next weekend to honor Molly. Sunday the 17th was her 58th birthday.
It was a wonderful family weekend!
