Our Pizza-making Adventure

Today the kids and I had a ton of errands to run. We were out all afternoon, and didn't get home until 7pm. About two errands into our list, we decided we needed to stop for lunch. So as we usually do, we stopped at the Original Brooklyn Pie Co. in the La Frontera shopping center in Round Rock, TX.

They will make whole pizzas, but for us, there is only the pizza by the slice. They're delicious and HUGE! I'll eat one slice, and the kids usually split one. Yes. They're that big.

Somehow, without my noticing, something amazing happened. I overheard a bit of the conversation my kids were having with the owner, Rubio. He told them that if they ate all their pizza, he'd teach them how to make one! Now, most kids don't usually have a problem with eating pizza. But I promise you - you've never seen two kids eat pizza faster than Sister and Dude did this afternoon. They gobbled it up before I'd even eaten a few bites of mine!

They've watched Rubio make pizzas many times before. They always choose the best seats in the house - the table right next to the Plexiglas window where they can watch him toss up the pizza dough waaaay up into the air and then add all the yummy toppings.

Today Rubio outdid himself. He invited them both to come back behind the counter to learn how to make a pizza of their own. First, they had to wash their hands. Then, they had to flour the dough and the pizza board to prevent the dough from sticking.













The next step was to pound and flatten the dough into a small sized pizza.













Then comes the sauce. Sister got to help spread it around with a paint brush to make sure it covered all the dough.













And what's a pizza without cheese? Sister and Dude both get to try their hand at adding cheese and making sure it covered the entire surface.













After the pizza went into the oven, I snapped a photo of the pizza-making team. There's Dude, Sister, Mary, and Rubio. What a crew!













Ahh, the final product. Sister and Dude proudly display their creation. A delicious and made-by-my-kids cheese pizza!













I couldn't believe how incredibly sweet Rubio and Mary were to take time out of their busy day and teach my children how to make pizza. It just goes to show you that there really are some genuinely nice people out there. And you never know where you'll find them. Hmm, maybe you're one ...

Today started out being an ordinary day of running errands. It ended up being a day my kids will never forget.

If you're ever in Round Rock running errands and get a hankering for pizza, I'm sure Rubio and Mary would cook up a great pie for you. C'mon, you know you want one.

The Deepwood Santa - A Christmas Tradition

For the last several years, we've participated in our own family tradition. We have lots of traditions that are left over from either mine or my husband's childhood, or even borrowed from my sister's family. And they're all a cherished part of our family.

But this tradition is one of our very own. I hope it continues for many years to come.

You see, Santa has friends who live in Round Rock. He comes to visit for a few days before Christmas to rest up for his big day on Christmas Eve. And while he's here, he sets up shop on his friends' front yard. Brothers, sisters, Moms, Dads, grandparents, and friends are all welcome and encouraged to come visit Santa.

The part about Santa having friends in Round Rock is only partially true, but it's what we tell Sister and Dude. And for now, they still believe. Sister may not believe for much longer, though. She's in the 2nd grade, and the kids at school are already talking. I want her to hang on for a while.

The part about everyone being welcome to visit Santa is all true. Let me tell you about my Santa, and why I'm convinced he's the real deal.

There are these two people - an older couple - who are consumed with the Christmas Spirit. They live on Deepwood Drive in Round Rock. Every year in June or July, Santa - er, I mean the man - starts growing out a beautiful white/grey beard. He grows that thing for half the year.

A few weeks before Christmas, they decorate the front yard. I'm not talking about a few lights or an inflatable snowman here. No, these people go all out. Santa has built himself a life-size sleigh, complete with reindeer. The house and yard are covered with lights. There's even a separate area with a bench for taking additional pictures.

About the time the lights and decorations go up, a 2nd mail box goes up too. This mailbox is where folks can find copies of Santa's visiting hours. He usually prints them up on pretty Christmas paper.

For the two weeks prior to Christmas, Santa and Mrs. Claus are open for business. Mrs. Claus makes sure there is an orderly progression of children and imparts plenty of Christmas cheer. And Santa does what Santa does best. He causes spontaneous smiles on children's faces and sparkles to appear in their eyes. And he does this without asking for any payment or anything at all in return. I give him a big hug every year.

Family by family, groups both small and large await their turn to visit with the Big Guy. And family by family, he gives them their due. He visits with each child, asking if they've been good and what is on their Christmas lists. Then he reaches into his bag and pulls out a little trinket for each child. This year Sister got a golden bead necklace, and a little green bag with a Christmas pencil in it. Dude got a Spiderman coloring book and a small box of Crayons. Families can take as many pictures as they want. Moms and Dads usually get into the pictures too.

Santa does this each year. Each year charging nothing for his time or effort.

I've been calling him Santa, because to me and to us, he is. This man is kind, gentile, and full of love. He is the Christmas Spirit personified. I don't know their real names, and it doesn't matter one bit. They ARE Mr. and Mrs. Claus.

One year - a few years ago - he whispered something to me as I hugged him after our turn. I won't tell you what he said, because it was a message meant for me. But I will tell you this. Only Santa could've known.

Merry Christmas to All! And to All a Good Night.

2nd Grade Love Notes

I shouldn't have done it, but I did. I looked at Sister's love notes that she wrote to her newest boyfriend Cole. So now I'm sharing them with you.

Here's the story.

Last Friday when I picked up the kids from the YMCA after school program, Sister asked if I wanted to meet someone. I said sure, and off she went to find her victim. In no time she was back with a very cute little blond boy in tow.

She said, "Mom, this is Cole." Wanting to exhibit good manners, I extended my hand and said, "Nice to meet you, Cole." I then found out that Cole was also in the 2nd grade (just not in Sister's class), and that he was the latest in a string of boyfriends. Cole is also a very polite young man.

Once we got home, Sister began secretively writing in a little spiral notebook. Dude ratted her out. "Mom, she's writing love notes to Cole!" She replied by giggling. Uh oh. She didn't even throw anything at him! At that point, I knew I had to know what was in that notebook.

After she went up to bed, I sneaked a peek. Here's what I saw:

"I misted you this weekend. did you miss me?

Say what you need to say to me even if your embarrassed. it's OK I'll still like you even if you lie. I'll still like you."

On the next page she had drawn a big heart with C + J written inside it.

When I read the next page, my mouth hit the floor. I said, "Uh, honey? I think we may need to have a talk with Sister." When he asked why, I read him this:

I'm
so
lost
with
out
you
Cole

Where did she even hear anything like that anyway? And in the 2nd grade?! My fears, it turns out, were short lived. Here's what was on the following page:

I'm
never
talking
to
you
again
Cole

Followed by:

I
hate
you
Cole

So Sister may be getting herself a boyfriend or two, but she is still firmly planted in a 2nd grade mentality. Nevertheless, I am truly, deeply frightened by junior high.

Photo courtesy of Linds :).

Sunday Afternoon Is Saved

It's Sunday afternoon, and the kids and I needed to get out of the house. Brian is working on his grad school homework assignment, but the noise being generated by Sister and Dude was not creating a conducive work environment for him. The problem was the weather. Not exactly raining, but not the beautiful sunny weather we've been enjoying either.

The park would have been our first (and the obvious) choice. We have a great city park that adjoins our neighborhood. It's got walking trails, a small lake to throw rocks into, and two pretty cool playscapes. Sister and Dude always have a great time there when we go. But with the misty and cool weather, the park just wasn't an option today.

So, I turned to my Facebook friends for suggestions. My friend Katie came through! There's a great local place called Jungle Java. They have all the things a kid would want to play on - slides, an obstacle course, tunnels, rope swings - you name it. All with a jungle theme. It really brings out your inner Indiana Jones.

I'd forgotten about Jungle Java. We actually had Dude's 5th birthday party here in March, and the staff did a terrific job.

The best part, though, is that it's fun for grown-ups too. Remember the name? Jungle JAVA? Yes, sports fans, they have coffee! And it's pretty good coffee too!

So while Sister and Dude are practicing their Tarzan moves, I'm sitting in a comfy easy chair. Sipping on a latte. Playing on my laptop (yes, there's WI-FI!). And I brought a book to read too.

As Brian slaves away on his assignment, I'm getting to do something I enjoy while the kids wear themselves out. Early bedtime, anyone?

Photo courtesy of St0rmz.

Hunt Chickens and Sell Them to H-E-B!

If you haven't already noticed, some of our best and most entertaining conversations happen while we're in the minivan running errands.

Tonight's story is no exception.

Not too long ago (while we were running errands in the minivan), Dude began talking about guns. Only he still spells it out because "gun" is a bad word.

So, as I said, he was discussing G-U-N-S during this particular outing. He thinks they're cool ... he could fight bad guys with them, etc.

Then he began thinking (out loud) about what careers he might pursue that would allow him to carry a gun. He could be the second coming of Indiana Jones, which would please him to no end. He could be a robber. A robber?! Okay, not a robber, but what else could he do and carry a gun?

Then he finally had his epiphany. He would be a policeman! They were good guys AND they got to carry G-U-N-S!

Sister, who has been patiently listening to all this, finally chimed in. "Dude!", she said. "You don't have to be a policeman. You could be a hunter! Yeah! "

"You could hunt chickens, and sell them to H-E-B!"

H-E-B, for those of you who are not from Texas, is our fabulous, home-grown regional grocery store chain. One, as you may have guessed, we frequent quite often.

Obviously, we do not frequent the country often enough. Because these two children had lost their minds! Neither of them saw the slightest problem with this chicken hunting idea. Dude's fate was sealed.

Sister wants to be a dolphin trainer. Let's hope she doesn't plan to have her brother shoot THEM and sell them to H-E-B!

Photo courtesy of Okinawa Soba.