Making Dinner Together

There is an annoying tendency among Mommy-Bloggers to paint a rosier-than-reality picture when talking about life. So maybe you'll be extra skeptical about the happy times we've been having together as a family lately. So be it.

I've been trying to have Cal help me make dinner every night. It's a fun way for us to work on a project together, and I can tell he feels really important for being allowed to help. Also, it's nice knowing he's not making a mess in the other room (because he's making a mess with ME!).

This particular night, Cal and I made a special Italian dinner for Daddy, just because we thought it would be fun. Here is a picture of Cal counting out the meatballs:

On a side note, I LOVE basil. That was part of a Caprese salad. If you haven't made/eaten Caprese before, it is (a) one of the easiest things you can possibly make, (b) so flipping delicious, and (c) makes you look a little bit fancy. I highly recommend it.

We were really proud of Cal, because he dug right into his vermicelli pasta and meatballs. He tends toward pickiness. (Well, in truth, all he wants to eat is juice, but I get scared saying that because people always seem to reply, "That's a sign of autism." I'm POSITIVE Cal is not autistic--believe me, I've asked about the juice thing.) Anyway, he's been a better eater lately, and I think it has more to do with me being a more confident mommy-cook than about his preferences changing. We do, however, still have to say no to juice several times a day.

After dinner, we made a family activity out of the dessert: Apple-pie Caramel Apples. YUM. Here is Cal, counting the apples:

"One, two, three.....one, two THREE!" (Not six yet, just two rows of three, but I'll take it.)

Look how silly, chubby and proud he looks right here:

I can't even stand it, it makes me so happy.

We let him lick the caramel off of the mixing fork:

And then gave him a proper taste of dessert:

The recipe turned out well, and I'll remember this night as a truly fun time the three of us got to spend together. I know not every night will be like this one, but if I put a little more effort forward, and if I learn how to say no to other less important things, our family can have nights like this more often. And to me, that's a goal worth striving for.