Independence Day Part One

Jordan and Courtlin came over for some grilled hot dogs and ice cream. It was sprinkling, so there was some in and out going on, until I locked us out of the apartment. I was a little worried about the ice cream, because it was churning and if it went too long it would start to melt. But Justin came with the key in the nick of time, and the ice cream was just perfect.

Justin bought some monster poppers. Reuben loved every second of it.  I threw two, one of which didn't pop.

We had a lovely time. And the ice cream was great as usual, really it is my favorite part of the 4th of July.

Reasor Fruit Ice Cream
3 lemons (juiced)
3 oranges (juiced)
3 Bananas (mashed)
3 cups sugar
3 cups cream
3 cups whole milk

Churn.

I have to do two of everything instead of three because I have an small electric ice cream maker. Just a tip for ice cream making: You want everything cold before you even start. So juice everything you can mix the fruit and sugar and chill it. But don't chill the fruit and the cream mixed it makes it taste kind of soured. Mix the two parts right before you pour it into the ice cream maker.

happy halloween

No over arching theme this year, since daddy missed the party. I'm Elphaba, Simeon is a lion (same costume as last year but a little snug this time around), and Reuben is Woody. You'd think it would be easy to find a cowboy hat... well, I looked for two days and 4 different stores. I found a 35 dollar outback hat, and this straw fedora on clearance for three dollars.

The branch had a family dance on Wednessday.

We will have our own little monster mash, it is after all one of justin's favorite holidays and he is here with us--although his luggage is not (airline makes you pay 25 dollars to check a bag and then leaves in Chicago...I WANT A REFUND!)

Christmas Day

I know you already watched our nativity video, but just in case don't miss it.

Christmas day, oh Christmas day. 24 days of lead up, and this year a child who really "got it" but still was wrapped up in the magic of it all. He talked for days about solving the mysteries of what were in those presents. He knew how many "sleep and wake-ups" there were until Christmas morning. I'm not one for anticipation, I find it easier to enjoy things if I haven't built them up in my head. But, its impossible not to look forward to Christmas--luckily it was better than I could have imagined.

I awoke to the sound of Reuben's door opening at 9 AM. I woke Justin, who in his dazed almost-awake style grabbed the video camera and stumbled out to the living room to catch those first moments. Reuben gasped, then said, "It is Christmas Morning!" The mystery solving began with the presents from Santa.

Reuben wore a Santa hat, a tradition from Justin's family. He would pick the present to hand out. He had memorized which of the presents we had set out early were for him, and he went for those first. We took breaks to examine each gift, each of us just as interested as the next in what it was.

Reuben was investigating his remote control buzz lightyear space ship, when he said, "I love you Dad!" We will remember that, not that it was a buzz lightyear space ship that prompted the outburst of love, but that there was an outburst of love. I'm glad he recognized that it was love that prompted the great gift, and it was love that he felt in receiving it. So, while he might not understand the correlation between gift giving at Christmas, and the greatest gift of all, he understands love and that is truly the first step.

We received a mystery package. No return address, but post marked in southern Utah. So, Mystery Friend: Reuben loves the skates, and is getting pretty good rolling back and forth down our hallway. Lane Bryant is having a 60% off sale, so my gift card will go a really really long way, and Justin loves the sweater. Thank you! Your generosity is greatly appreciated. Reuben says "Thank you mystery friend" every time he puts on or takes off the skates.

You know the "love languages." I'm glad I understand that one of Justin's is "gift giving," so I could focus on how much he loves me instead of feeling bad that he sacrificed so much to give the gifts he gave. I felt so spoiled I pulled out the belt and socks I was going to give him for our anniversary.

I started making dinner. Simeon slept, and Reuben played with his Christmas presents. I do love making fancy things, so the full spread was on the menu. Ham, cheesy mashed potatoes, fruity dressing, asparagus, rolls, and cranberry sauce. I even put together a little relish dish. We have enough left overs I won't have to cook for a couple days, and then I'll be ready to do something fancy for New Year's Eve. The dinner was delicious, even if I did run out of time to make a pie. I'm going to make the pie as soon as I finish writing my talk for Sunday.

I was able to serve my family, and was blessed in return. That is the best part of christmas, and while I love all the gifts I received, the thing I hope to remember is the expressions of love that I witnessed. Merry Christmas. I hope yours was filled with love as well.

Dec. 24: Nativity, and Riverside Church

We started off the day with the nativity. If you have not watched it yet, you should.

Justin worked all day to edit it together for me. We had Turkey, Bacon, Tomato, Pepper Jack Paninis on Sough Dough. They are a lot of work for a sandwich, but oh so good.

Reuben took a nap.

We then went to the "Lessons and Carols Service" at the Riverside Church. It was fabulous. The choir was SO good, it made me miss singing so much. The Nave is beautiful, especially with the candles. Carols and Scriptures are my favorite way to celebrate Christmas. I look forward to singing again... once I don't have an infant, or a student husband.

We then had Boston Creme Pie with some friends. It was so nice to talk and relax together. We got home at midnight, climbed our stairs. Reuben requested that I read Polar Express. Then he was out.

While it was not MY traditional Christmas eve, it was perfect. I will admit I missed listening to my dad read Polar Express, freezing while walking between the car and the homes to carol with my sisters, and scraping the ice off of the interior windows in the car so we could oooh and aaah at the twinkle lights. But I was able to ignore those twinges of homesickness because the true spirit of Christmas was abundant.

Santa came as soon as Reuben was asleep, and didn't leave until 2 AM.

My month of daily activities was a success! I did do some fudging but only on three or four days, and I had a good excuse: like 6 flights of stairs. Looking back over this month I'm pretty impressed with myself. Reuben showed Justin the calendar today and told him "We did EVERY day." I'm happy to report that I will be staying home and playing with Christmas presents for the next week. I'm almost tempted to say I am staying home and playing with Christmas presents until the elevator is fixed, but I don't think I could get away with it.

Merry Christmas from The Cook Shack

Untitled from Cook Shack on Vimeo.

Dec. 23: New York Aquarium

We made the trek to Coney Island to go to the NY Aquarium. Coney Island is a creepy ghost town on December 23rd. All the shops have the gates down, the wind howls through the cyclone, and the streets are empty.

Like at the zoo, Reuben is more interested in the interactive things than the actual living things. He wants to spend 5 minutes turning a nob to make a fish tail move not look at live fish tails moving. But he was pretty impressed when the sea lion stuck his tongue out at him. And he loved the sea horses.

The main reason we went was for the 13 minute "4-D experience" of the Polar Express. The movie was in 3-D, and there was mist that misted us, bubbles that blew at us, a whip underneath our chair that whipped our calves, strobe lights, rumbling floor, and a thing that punched your back.

Simeon slept in the stroller for most of the day. Reuben was wonderful until we went up to the board walk and Reuben slipped on the packed-snow-turned-into-ice. Justin thought it was so funny that there was snow at the beach, which I think he knows is ridiculous to find funny, but he still did.

On the way home I was reminded why I dislike the trains so much. First some really loud teenage boys got on and were talking about horrible things and using horrible language. When we got to Times Square the 123 platform was FULL. Something had happened and the 1 train was not running earlier. We let three express trains pass, and 4 local trains pass before we finally pushed on to the train. I could feel Justin holding Reuben on my left side, and someone's bag pressed against my back. The train started moving, and then it happened, I was inducted into the club of New Yorkers who have been inappropriately touched on crowded trains. At first I thought it was the person behind me trying to get something out of their bag, but it was too persistent and the fingers felt like they were facing me, not the bag. I jerked and turned away from hand so it could only get my hip. The train usually empties out as you get farther north, but at 96th it filled completely full again. We had moved into the center of the car (with the stroller) and our stop came. And then my faith that good people still exist in the city was restored when they let me off. People lifted the front of my stroller to help get it over bags and feet and polls. We managed to get off amid "Sorry"'s and "Merry Christsmas"'s.

I didn't get an elevator for Chirstmas. Those stairs after a long day on your feet are pretty intimidating, but we all made it up... again. One of these days I'm just going to stop going down them.

Dec. 22: Christmas Shopping

I took Reuben to find a Christmas present for Daddy. Part of the present was that I went alone with both boys. (I don't know if you fully understand what a present this is.) We were successful, although Reuben wanted to get him "pixel ranger" (the game on facebook) and we couldn't find that. He was pretty frustrated at TJ Maxx because daddy didn't want a shirt, or tie, or buckle (belt). But we were successful and found something.

Reuben has kept it a mystery, as long as Justin didn't hear him shouting while we were wrapping the present.

Dec. 2: Go sledding

The snow stuck around, and we took advantage of it. Justin and Reuben met some friends to go sledding while Simeon and I went to an appointment. I went over to the hill as soon as I was done and watched them. Simeon slept strapped to my chest and covered with a blanket. It wasn't "cold" but it was windy which made it seem cold.

Justin describe it as "tranquil." The hill was wide so we had our own little section to ourselves. He also loved that it was above zero, he has never been sledding when it was above zero (but has only been sledding a handful of times).

Snow lollipops, made of fresh snow found hidden between fences and bushes made up the snack.

The snowman is a chef, says Reuben. That top ball is his chef's hat. We were debating between Mario Batalice, Iceberg Florance, Icy Garten, and Paula Snowbank.

We came home to have a delicious salad for lunch. Then we all cuddled in my bed and read Junie B. Jones.

The day got Justin so into the holiday mood that he took some of the presents out of hiding. (He had been running interference and hiding the packages as we got them.)

I'm amazed that "looking a lot like Christmas" can make it "feel a lot like Christmas." Reuben is so excited to "solve the mystery" of what is in those packages. He can't wait until christmas morning to solve the mysteries.

Dec. 20: CookShack Sing-in

Before I get to our scheduled activity I need to tell you about the SNOW! Its amazing how much you can love snow when you don't have to shovel it or drive in it. Walking in it isn't that fun, but most of the paths were cleared for us, and I am not above wearing boots to church (and I don't have cute trendy boots), so my feet were warm and dry.





Walking home from the bus stop we took our time, and Reuben more than once shouted, "I LOVE THE SNOW!" He and daddy would lift the powdery snow and throw it at each other. Puffs of shimmering powder wafting back and forth is pretty magical when are three. Reuben insisted in walking in the snowy parts. He found the perfect place to make a snow angel. In our courtyard (which is shielded from most of the wind and snow) we got a good 5 inches. The forecast says rain on christmas day, I'm hoping it changes because I'm loving the white couple-days-before christmas.

And now... the CookShack Sing-in. We filled our apartment with friends and song. It was so much fun! We ate, we sang, we talked, and laughed. This is the life, I think to myself. I'm pretty sure this will be a tradition for us, I hope we always live by people who will indulge us. We had an accordion (with Jen who knows how to play it). We had Mark who jumped on a piano a few times. I played a few carols. We had voices raising up in song.

Making music with people you love is really the best way to spend an evening, especially if you sound kind of good while doing it. Thank you to those who braved the weather, and our stairs to help make the perfect night.

Dec. 19: Nutcracker

When I was a wee lad of four turning five, I made my stage debut as a living doll in the Southwest Ballet Company production of The Nutcracker at Popejoy Hall in Albuquerque. During the magical part of the ballet when the party was over and the inanimate objects began to stir and grow, me and two (or three, if the little boy who fell asleep constantly backstage was awake) others would maneuver stiffly (cause we were dolls) on to the stage, and then the giant mice would scurry over and pick us up. We would kick and wriggle and they would carry us away offstage again. I reprised my role the following year, then decided I wanted a break when I was turning seven (it always was around my birthday). Upon returning to the show when I turned eight, I was promoted to the role of a Bon-Bon (the boy version of a Polichinelle, click to find out more). I would dance out from under Mother Ginger's massive dress along with seven others and we would frolic and do cartwheels and blow kisses at the audience, and then, back under the skirt to march offstage, trying to avoid getting our toes stepped on by the cross-dressed man on stilts. It was great fun. Sadly, I quit ballet the following year so I could do more "boy" things. I wish I had stuck with it--it would have made me more limber/muscular and less bean-polish. Ah well, the follies of youth. But the magical experience of The Nutcracker will always be special to me.

This year, I wanted Reuben to experience that same magic, but as a spectator. One of the young ladies that was in the short film I directed last year was performing in the Joffrey Ballet School's production of The Nutcracker at NYU this year. The tickets were quite affordable, and seeing the show again for the first time in probably ten years, this time with my own child, I saw what a magical world it paints for children. The Christmas tree and all the toys growing to enormous heights, the battle between the giant mice and the toy soldiers, dancing snowflakes, parading sweets--and still one of my most favorite parts--Mother Ginger. As a matter of fact, our actress friend was one of the Polichinelles who introduced Mother Ginger this year.

It was quite a good show, in spite of the recorded music instead of a live orchestra, but I realized this probably keeps the show going at a steady pace (good for the kids in the audience)--and it was unabridged, which as a purist I appreciated very much. Reuben showed such good theatre etiquette. He sat on the edge of his seat watching the whole time, and whispered only every once in a while if he had a question. He was especially intrigued by the battle between the Mouse King and the Nutcracker--and beforehand I told him there was the Nutcracker who turned into a Prince and sometimes he doubled as the Cavalier (but most times the Cavalier is a separate character). Reuben would ask me "Is that the Cavillary?" "Is the Rat King dead?"--but all in a polite whisper. When asked what his favorite parts were: "All of them"

Dec. 16: Rockefeller Center