The Nix Family: April 2012

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Conversations From the Heart

After yet another particularly bad day at school for Riley:

Riley: "Mama, you're the best."

Mama: "I'm not so sure, Riley."

Riley: "Why?"

Mama: "Because, I have to think, if I were really 'the best' Mama, you wouldn't be having so many problems at school."

Riley's eyes well up with tears and his bottom lip comes out.

Riley: "Don't say that! That makes me sad!"

Mama: "Why does it make you sad?"

Riley: "Because you are the best and you make me sad when you say that."

Mama realizes what Riley means is that he feels bad that his behavior causes so much worry and stress, and that, in his own way, he is saying I shouldn't blame myself.

Mama hugs Riley big.

Mama: "You're right, Riley. I shouldn't have said that. I am sorry. I don't want you to be sad. You are a good, sweet and loving boy. I just get frustrated that you have such a hard time controlling that little bit of you that causes trouble."

Riley hugs Mama big.

Riley, "Mama, you're the best."

Sunday, April 15, 2012

Making Kitsch Hip

We have a lot of very, very talented friends who make the most magical, fun and whimsical baked goods you've ever seen (I'm talking to you Jami, Jenn and Nanette.) They are part of burgeoning movement to make food interesting. I so admire them, and people like them, who bring design and creativity into the kitchen.

I am not, however, one of those people.

Not that I completely lack creativity. I can write with flair sometimes. I feel I have a pretty good eye for photography. It's just that, in the kitchen, I'm lucky if I haven't completely messed up the recipe and used all the ingredients correctly. But when it comes to food appearance, I've never had the patience nor the talent to get the "wow" that my friends and so many others get with their creations. And there are so many people out there making food look amazing. I know, because they all post pictures of their masterpieces all over the Internet, leaving people like me wondering if I'm the only one who can't swirl frosting or work with fondant.

But, despite the bazillions posting all over Twitter, Facebook and, now, Pinterest ... I have to believe I am actually in the majority. There must be many more people like me quietly keeping their kids' birthday cake photos to themselves, lest they be shamed by comparison on the Internets. So, here's what I'm thinking: we all start posting photos of our truly-homemade-like-our moms-used-to-make cakes and cupcakes and start our own trend. Kitsch becomes trendy, in an ironic hipster sort of way!

I'll go first. Here's the rock climbing cake I made for Holden's 8th birthday party. I used candy rocks and licorice to mimic the climbing wall theme of his party. I knew I couldn't possibly use icing to get the letters to look good, so I went ahead and bought the pre-made candied ones. It's covered with (gasp!) store-bought frosting. There, I've admitted it.

Who's with me?

Holden Climbs Into 8

We ruled out another BIG party for Holden this year, and told him he could invite a few good friends to do something fun. We loved that he chose rock climbing and he was so excited that he got to share something he enjoys with his friends, none of whom had ever climbed before. They were all a little nervous - but everybody tried. Some made it to the top ... repeatedly. Those that didn't, though, were OK with going as far as they felt comfortable, then getting back in line to have another go. Such little monkeys!