Notes From the Weekend

Spring, spring, spring! It's now in full swing. Today I'm actually wearing short sleeves and cropped pants and the air outside is practically drinkable, it's so tasty. This is the season that will always remind me of Isaac's birthday, these first few heady weeks of unfurling from Winter's introverted tightness.

And speaking of Isaac...he's about to turn two in a couple days! We had his birthday party over the weekend, a smaller and far less elaborate affair than we had for Eli when he was two. (Which is not a reflection of how much we value our darling youngest child, but more a reflection of how much wiser and more experienced we are as parents. Honestly, when you're two, a few people, a cake and some balloons are all you need. And presents, of course.) We did a SpongeBob theme, but in a pretty low key way--we got a few balloons, a tablecloth, some plates and napkins, and I made him a SpongeBob cake (it's no masterpiece of decorating the way a Lara-cake would be, but it came out well enough for Isaac to recognize what it was and that's what matters). I did have a fun time icing it, I must say--brought out the latent painterly impulses and I couldn't stop fiddling with the coloring and the application of the frosting (not my favorite medium--stiff and unforgiving and doesn't blend well). He got some good relative-love and some fun new presents (we got him a combo sand-and-water table for the back yard) and I would have to say that overall it was a successful, low-key event.

We did decide to make something special for everyone for dinner after Isaac's party: kreplach (which, ironically, Isaac didn't eat, but maybe someday he will). We had intended to make it last weekend for Purim (given its vaguely triangular shape, it's actually traditional to eat kreplach for Purim--which I just discovered this year) but we didn't get around to it, so we decided that having family over was enough of an excuse to make it this weekend. On Saturday, we made 5 mixed batches of potato/onion and chicken/veg (and then I made another 5 by myself with Eli's help on Sunday, since we had so much filling left over) and ate about 3 or 4 batches worth, then froze the rest. Josh made the filling and I made the dough, and Dri and Brandi helped me actually shape the kreplach themselves. (And you know what? It was actually quite fun sitting around with girlfriends talking while doing this kind of traditional women's busywork--just like quilting, it's an activity best done collectively.) Eli and I did call my Grandma on Sunday and tell her about it (very cute), and she was very pleased (although she did comment "don't get too good at it or I'll have no excuse to come see you"). I think blintzes are next on the "forcing-Grandma-to-make-me-ethnic-food" agenda. I must say I truly enjoyed the experience of making the kreplach, both collectively and all by myself (I really got into a sort of zen zone with it after the first few batches), although today my wrists, forearms, and shoulders are really sore from the unaccustomed motion of kneading and rolling out all that dough. I tell you, it really makes me appreciate just how strong your average bubbe had to be back in the days before pasta rollers and bread makers and all those other labor saving devices. But it was worth it,
because now I have an excuse to eat more schmaltz (homemade by Josh, no less).

Other than that, the only other major event of the weekend was going to Chuck E. Cheese for a 6 year old's birthday party. The less said about that scene of chaotic animatronic kid-hell the better, but I will say this: I remember being there two years ago at this same time for this same kid's party (of course then she was turning 4, and how time flies!) and feeling the early pangs of labor (Isaac was born the next day), so I will always have a sort of bizarre fondness for the place in spite of everything. And at least I got some cute pictures.

Ok that's it for now...pictures of spring and cake and kreplach and Chuck E. posted when I get a chance (I'm solo parenting for a few days here so who knows when that will be).