Oh Look, I'm Talking About My Children!

Every year I send Valentine's gifts (really, most holidays) to all of my nieces, nephews, and godchildren.  It's not much, but simply a little token to keep me in their thoughts and in the spot of Best Aunt.  Oh, and to remind them that I love them.

What do my own children get from me?

Zippo.

Zilch.

Nada.

Not a blasted thing.

My reasoning is they get to feel my love every single day of their lives.  Aaaaaand, I don't like to bring extra trinkets into my house that we will then have to trip over/find a home for unless I have to.

Each year, I wonder when my kids will notice.

After 10 years, Phoenix finally did. 

I'm still not getting them gifts today, but I did do a little something special to take away the sting.

I woke up early, and instead of just flinging a bagel or bowl of cereal at them this morning, I made special Valentine's Day pancakes.

Batter was the same, but with a whole lot of red food coloring added to it.

Once the gigantic pancakes were on the griddle, I added a heart made out of white chocolate chips.

Unfortunately, once flipped, the chips sunk into the pancakes and there was little trace of the heart.  So, for the rest of the pancakes, I waited until after the flip to stick chips into the already cooked side.

Perfection.

The kids devoured them with much thanks and gratitude coming my way.  It was a pleasant morning.

Until they actually had to get ready for school.  Then the usual "I can't find..." and "Get out of the bathroom!" and "I need ___today!" chorus began.

I'm now going to switch topics on you.  Still talking about kids, but no longer Valentine's Day.  Still talking about the lack of love the children apparently get from me.  The following is a conversation the little boys and I had on the way home from school the other day. 

 Turken:  Why don't you ever talk to us except when we say, "Hey, Mom"?

Me:  What?  I talk to you all the time.  Didn't I just start a conversation about your day at school?

Turken:  No, in the car.  You don't talk to us in the car except if we say "Hey, Mom".

Me:  Perhaps it is because you are both constantly saying, "Hey, Mom!"  "Hey, Mom!" "Hey, Mom!"  "Hey, Mom!"   "Hey, Mom!"  Maybe if you stopped saying, "Hey, Mom!" I'd be able to actually start a conversation.

30 second pause

Cuckoo:  Hey, Christine!

The more kids I have, the earlier the smart alecky behavior begins.

Have a lovely Valentine's Day!

Update:  After getting on someone else's case for not including recipes when discussing delicious food, she called me out for not having the pancake recipe in this post.  So, here we go.

It was pulled right out of my Betty Crocker cookbook. 

1 egg
1 cup all-purpose flour (white or wheat)
3/4 cup milk (I use skim)
1 Tbsp sugar
2 Tbsp vegetable oil
3 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt

I have also made buttermilk pancakes with this base.  Simply replace the milk with 1 cup buttermilk, decrease baking powder to 1 tsp and beat in 1/2 tsp baking soda.

For my family, I have to triple or quadruple this recipe.   I then use half white and half wheat flour.  You know, to make them healthy.

Beat the egg with a fork, then add all other ingredients.  Mix just until smooth.

 With the number of people and tastes in my family, I don't add anything else to the batter in the bowl.  If a child wants blueberry cakes, I add them once the cakes are on the griddle.

I use just a touch of butter to grease the griddle.

Enjoy!