Making biscuits

I grew up "helping" my mom make biscuits (doing whatever I could to get a bite of that yummy dough), and I've been looking forward to cooking with Isaac when he's ready. On Saturday, Adam was busy cutting holes in the bathroom wall and installing a pipe, so Isaac and I decided to make biscuits.

Those words you hear all your life, the ones you thought you forgot, do come back to you when you're cooking on your own - make a nest of the dry ingredients, pour in the buttermilk and mix it with a fork until the dough follows it as you stir. Knead it with your hands, but not too much, so you don't toughen the flour...Roll the dough from the middle to get it flat in every direction...

Isaac picked up none of these nuances, however. Standing on his chair at the counter, he was most excited about his own bowl of flour, spoon, and cup of water. I was hoping to at least teach him how the properties of flour change when you get it wet...Maybe he picked up on that, but it was all lost when he started grabbing handfuls of the mix and stuffing them in his mouth. I guess he likes dough.

I added the dry ingredients in the right proportion, then let Isaac stick his hands in and help me stir. He even poured in the buttermilk for me, and once the bottle seemed empty, he threw back his head and chugged the last drips. I guess he likes buttermilk too.

Isaac also loves the rolling pin, so he helped me roll out the dough. Finally, I gave him the cookie cutter and let him make "circles." He cut out a few biscuits for me (they kind of looked like the Olympics logo), and then he only wanted to eat the dough. Just like me.

Above, Isaac running away from the clean-up towel. We made an enormous mess, and that was maybe the best part.

Below, Tiger stalking the little man who smells like buttermilk...

Isaac with one of his biscuits. Still working on the clean-up...

Jan 4 - first outing after being sick

You can see that Isaac's eyes are still a little weak, but he was finally in recovery mode by this point...and delighted that nothing hurt. He sat in his carseat with no toys and grinned all the way to the mall.

Isaac loves Cherry Creek Mall because it's filled with kids, activity, and bright pretty store windows. We wandered into the Gap, which Isaac thought was a new playground...

I followed him into the dressing room, where he was fascinated to find pairs of feet under most every door. He stopped in front of every door, bent down, pointed, and said "Fee!"
I was trying to get a good picture of this pose, but I knew the people belonging to the "fee" might not find him as funny as I did...So we moved on, reluctantly.

Peekaboo in the mirrors was fun too.

Typical Isaac, the locks on the doors were fascinating.

Christmas in Charlotte - Dec 26

I remember using this table and chair set when I was little. I used to love it, and now Isaac is big enough to use it too. He loved sitting here with his DaDa.

Isaac's word of the day was "RAH" and then "Ga-RAH." He loved the garage that came with 3 little cars.

We like to make a good meal on the night after Christmas, when our group is still large and there is plenty of time for relaxing and opening more Christmas wine. Here, my dad is hard at work on the chili.

Isaac with two cars from the ga-RAH.

Silly faces for the camera:


These shelves are full of interesting, breakable things...

Every kid needs a fan club...I don't know what music was blasting, but I know it was a good song. Every time Jane and my parents stopped clapping and dancing, Isaac said "More?" and did the "more" sign too, for emphasis. I love these two pictures...

Christmas morning pictures

In my family, we have always gathered on the steps on Christmas morning. No one is allowed to peek in the living room, where Santa leaves the presents, and we walk in together once everyone is ready.

As a child, it can be frustrating to wait for all the adults to get shower, fix their hair, make coffee, etc. I know I'm technically an adult now, but I still try to wait until the last minute to stroll out in my pajamas so I can avoid the wait. Maybe this is why there are no good pictures of me to include!

Isaac was too young to know that Christmas morning is any different from any other morning, so he enjoyed the wait. He was always happy when his Dee-Da was holding him.

Above, the mad face is kind of cute but definitely not his best...However, I see a lot of this these days as he learns to deal with his emotions, so I thought I'd include it. Not sure what he's reacting to...

Almost time...

Cousin Lucy

Aunt Jane

Santa brought Isaac a stocking and a remote control fire truck.

He spent a while trying to figure it out, then seemed to think it was possessed...and started throwing it.

Back to the ride-on fire truck from Taylor.

Turning it over to figure out the wheels...this little guy has a lot of engineer blood in him.

Christmas Eve pictures!

Christmas in Charlotte, NC with my family.
Our big dinner is on Christmas Eve. Isaac ate scrambled eggs and peas and went to bed before the rest of us ate, but he got to play in the kitchen while we cooked.

Below, my aunt Dorothy and cousin Lucy.


Uncle Bill and Lucy

Tired from the long day...up at 5 am so we could get there in time for church, but then we were too tired to go. Below, Isaac with my mom.

Every year, the kids get to pick one present to open on Christmas Eve. My sister Taylor's present was the obvious choice, because there were wheels sticking out the bottom. Isaac couldn't pass by it without pointing and getting excited. Here he is unwrapping it...

Wow...

He knew exactly what to do with it. Jumped on and started making siren noises..."we-oh, we-oh, we-oh...."



Happy Isaac with my sister Jane




And big thank-you smiles for my sister Taylor





Getting sleepy...bedtime.