Thursday, February 14, 2013

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!

20 comments:

  1. Happy Valentine's Day, Dear Friend! Thanks for sharing yourself with the world!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You are so sweet. Happy Valentine's Day to you, too!

      Delete
  2. Now I'm the mean mom. I was so tired last night that I collapsed into bed and never made the shocking pink cookies. So they will get holy cards from us and a PARTY at a friend's house. Poor kids. :) Love those sweet pancakes!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. So sorry you didn't have the day you wanted. Perhaps shocking green cookies for St. Patrick's Day?
      The kids will survive. I know it's hard to party and all...

      Delete
  3. OMG, your kids are hilarious! I love that. And I love your pancakes. I'm going to try to make a heart-shaped pizza tonight. We'll see how that goes. Maybe I should just make a round one and put the pepperonis in a heart shape. That might be easier - yes, it would.

    I awarded you some V-day "love" today. http://www.canigetanotherbottleofwhine.com/2013/02/i-cant-believe-im-passing-on-another.html

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yeah, pepperoni in a heart shape would be way easier. Good luck!

      Thank you! I think. We'll see. :)

      Delete
  4. What is it with kids calling parents by their first names? My grown children still find that terribly amusing!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. They do find it funny. It is especially hilarious when Cuckoo calls me by the nickname my husband uses; "Tiner" pronounced tee-ner.
      I have to admit to calling my mom by her first name when I really need to get her attention. At least I don't use her middle name like I do with the kids.

      Delete
  5. Lol!!! I hate it when I hear my first name!

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  6. OOOOOHHHHH, I'm very impressed with the pancakes!!!! I find the car the best place to have difficult conversations with my kids about things like sex 'cause they are trapped in and can't get out. LOL!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I had no idea that pancakes were so impressive. huh.

      I also like to have serious conversations with the big kids in the car. Besides being trapped, I don't have to make eye contact.

      Delete
  7. Cuckoo's adorable.

    And back atcha with the 'recipe, please' request - I don't know how to make gorgeously fluffy pancakes but MUST learn from you! They look awesome and I think my Husby would love me even more if I could cook them for him - pancakes are about his favourite food.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I agree. :)

      Alright, I added the recipe. So sorry about that.

      Hope this recipe helps you keep him completely enamored.

      Delete
  8. Those pancakes look great! I made pancakes on Tuesday for a Catholic friend, but he didn't get chocolate chips. Now I feel bad.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Never feel bad for doing something nice for someone! (I prefer my pancakes without the chips.)

      Delete
  9. Cute pancakes!! I am sure they loved them! I wouldn't have thought to put the red food coloring in them. Good idea. I also add the chocolate chips or blueberries while my cakes are on the griddle. That way my peeps can have what they want.

    Oh the funny things kids say...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks!
      There would certainly be grumbling if I made everyone's blueberry. I learned the hard way.

      It's why I like working with preschoolers. They are so stinkin' funny.

      Delete
  10. Have you seen Family Guy where Stewie is trying to get the Mom's attention and she keeps ignoring him? We don't watch the show (I had to look up Stewie's name, lol) but it was a commercial for a while which is where I saw it. Unfortunately my kids saw it too so "reenact" it all the time... Here is the link to the video. Just make sure your kids are no where around to hear it because it is rated RA (for Really Annoying).
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cNkp4QF3we8



    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That clip is hilarious!!! Just like my house! There is no way in this world that I will let my kids watch that video.

      Delete

Thank you for taking the time to tell me what you're thinking!