What's on your kitchen table?

Or who?
Ed's learned how to climb the chairs, and thus scale the kitchen table.
He's got the bruises on his face to prove it, too.
Although I think he's only fallen from the kitchen chair, and these bruises he got elsewhere.
He brings me his shoes and jacket in the morning so he can take the kids to the bus.
His intelligible words are: cracker, shoe, mmmmm--which means milk, and ball.
He wants to drop his morning nap.
He doesn't sit still for the camera.
He likes to dance. 

Five for Five

I am not quite sure why anyone would choose the floor over a bed, but . . .

In the past 6 or 7 weeks, each child in our household has had a fever. Bryn's was the shortest, and only lasted 18 hours. Ed's was the longest, and was 5 days. I took him to the doctor on day 4--they told me to wait a little longer.
Now they've all had it, we are done. I will take a virus that is fever and fatigue.

The funniest part of the sickness was watching Caitlin, overcome it. She had it on TH and FR. She did not want to miss a birthday party on Saturday, so Friday afternoon she said, "I'm going to be like Colin from the Secret Garden. I CHOOSE to get better!"

Well, she got better, and went to the party. CHOOSING works.

Spring is breaking

Found in my front yard yesterday

Flowers I did not plant . . . . lovely

My Pizza crust

This is a compilation of two really great pizza crust recipes . . . so I am calling it mine. But I want you to have it because my search for a great recipe is over.

1 1/2 C warm water
2 1/4 tsp. active dry yeast
3 C unbleached flour
1/2 C cornmeal
2 Tbsp. olive oil
2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. sugar

1) Mix all ingredients in mixer. Knead about 10 minutes. (It will be very sticky). Scrape into in oiled bowl, cover and let rise until double, or about 1 hour.

2)Preheat oven to 425. Spray olive oil on 12 by 18 inch baking sheet, and sprinkle with about 1/2 Tbsp cornmeal.

3)Oil a spot of your counter about the size of your baking sheet. Turn dough out onto counter, and stretch gently with hands. Leave 5 min. Transfer to baking sheet, stretching and rolling out to fit pan.

4)Brush the top with olive oil, make dents to prevent bubbling, let rest 5 minutes.

5)Add sauce and toppings.

6)Bake for 20-25 minutes until crust is browned and cheese melted.

(Sidenotes: I found the recipe I started with while visiting teaching. It comes from Simply Recipes. Of course I am keeping the Chicago Deep dish recipe I found last month--which supplied the extra inspiration. It is just not for everyday use. Special occasions and requests only).