Recent PostsAbout This Blog Welcome to my blog. I'm Anne-Marie Nichols, a 40-something WAHM to Nathan, 6, and Lucie, 3. I've been married 12 years to their dad Paul, a scientist. When I'm not doing the mommy thing, I'm a freelance writer, and vice president of the board of directors for a Colorado public charter school. In my spare time I like to sleep, eat, read, and decorate cakes. I created this online journal to share some entertaining and insightful stories from my own experiences as a writer, domestic engineer, and mom. I encourage you to share this blog with your friends, and hopefully it will spark some lively discussions on issues we can all relate to. Enjoy! Blog CategoriesToday's Recipe
A meringue-like topping adds a soft touch to these cakes to complement the end of an evening outside under the sky. |
Dec 3 2008Chef momCategory: Come and Get ItI'm not a craftsy person. After four years of art school, I'm done with paint, markers, glue, colored paper, and that artsy-fartsy stuff. In fact, I haven't seriously painted or drawn anything since 1987 after spending much of my childhood at a potter's wheel or canvas. I think it was the four plus years of doing "art on demand" that completely used up any artistic talent I may have had. Instead, I turned to writing and cooking (and later blogging) as my creative outlets. However, when you have kids there is peer pressure from other moms and teachers to do crafts. They think doing crafts with your kids means you're spending quality time with them. While I agree that it's a terrific way to be active in your child's life, it's not worth the time I'd spend freaking out about the mess. Honestly, I prefer getting into bed with Nathan and Lucie and reading books or watching a video. Snuggling rules. The one craft-like thing I do with my kids is cooking. Still it brings me to the boundaries of what little patience I possess. Normally I don't like having the kids in the kitchen. Half the time I'm worried that they're going to get burned or cut themselves. And the rest of the time, I'm worried that I'm going to trip over them or their toys and hurt myself. I'm too focused on the task at hand to realize that they're behind me playing on the floor, my peripheral vision sucks, and those mommy eyes on the back of my head need glasses, too. So I banish them to the living room or tell them to go bug their dad. Yet, I do like it when Lucie puts on her apron, stands on a chair at the counter, and asks me what I'm doing. Occasionally, I let her help, too. But it's more like one of those cooking segments on the morning news shows -- she's the reporter and I'm the famous chef being interviewed. I let her assist to be polite, but I do all the work. I loved helping my mom in the kitchen, so once the kids get older (and Nathan stops sticking his face in and breathing on everything I make -- gross!) I'd love to have them participate more. In fact, I'd like them to occasionally make dinner for me and Paul. Wouldn't that be fun? Until then I'll be on the search for fun recipes the children can help a little with, but mostly enjoy eating. This one, for Apple Jello Giggles, fits the bill. It's a great way to get your kids to eat apples. Apple Jello Giggles* Note: This also makes an attractive garnish. Vary the flavors of gelatin and use both red and yellow apples for a variety of color combinations. Ingredients: Preparation:: 2. Carefully core apples, leaving bottom of apple intact. Hollow out some of the apple flesh to make room for gelatin. Tip: save the apple flesh to spread on toast. 3. Pour gelatin into the apples and place them in individual bowls so they stand upright. Put any leftover Jello in a bowl to eat later. Chill until gelatin is firm. 4. Cut in wedges to serve. *From Maryland's Apple Promo Board
Dec 2 2008Pirate kidsCategory: Family FunEach team at the Relay for Life has a theme. Ours was pirates, as in "We're not looking for buried treasure. We're searching for a cure." The team members dressed up in pirate outfits, and decorated our tent with skeletons and chests of buried treasure. My decorating contribution was two plastic pirate swords. When I brought them home from the discount store, I wasn't clever enough to hide the swords from the kids. At the end of some days, I'm just too tired and let them get away with things I normally wouldn't. Resistance was futile, so I just gave the swords to Nathan and Lucie. Naturally, the kids started dueling. That was fine with me considering that the plastic swords were kind of soft-ish. I just told them to avoid each others faces and heads and inwardly hoped that any injuries would be minor. As I sat on the couch to supervise, I was amazed at Lucie's sword fighting skills. As she yelled, "Attack, attack!" she feinted and jabbed, gave a classic en garde pose, and demonstrated accomplished footwork. Her moves were straight out of an Errol Flynn movie. When I asked her where she learned how to do this, she replied, "Ballet." Interesting...I must have a talk with her instructor. It was such a remarkable performance that I had them demonstrate it later for Paul. Like me he sat on the couch with his eyes popping out in disbelief. Then we discussed the possibility of getting a three-year-old into a fencing or kendo class on the virtue of her natural talent. Yes, she's that good. And Nathan? He held his sword like a baseball bat, flayed around a lot, and hooted with delight. Luckily the fun distracted him, because his petite, feminine, baby sister was kicking her big brother's butt.
Dec 1 2008Just call me IshmaelCategory: Just MeI was at my friend Maria's home the other night. When I walked in, her girls quietly asked their mother, "Who's that?" I laughed, because they had seen me numerous times, but never without Lucie. Maria and I both told the girls to call me Mrs. Nichols. Still they couldn't get over that I was a Mrs. Anyone and insisted on calling me "Lucie's mom" all night. I've noticed this behavior with other children in Lucie's playgroup. There's no Mrs. Nichols or even Anne-Marie, it's always Lucie's mom or the funnier expression, Mrs. Lucie's Mom. Now that I'm going to be volunteering in Nathan's classroom, I'm sure I'll be called Mrs. Nathan's Mom, too. Honestly, even after 12 years of marriage, I'm still not used to being called Mrs. Nichols. After all, that's Paul's mom, not me! But this Mrs. Lucie's/Nathan's Mom? I love it. Yep, that's who I am alright.
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