The Little Woman

By now, everyone who reads this blog knows who runs the show in the Trahan household. And, I am sorry to admit it isn't me. It's Hannah. Sure, I get my way because I am the adult. But, it's hard to feel like you "won" a battle with a 2 year old when, in doing so, she ends up screaming/crying/wreaking havoc on your house. It feels more like a lose-lose.

We came home this evening and Hannah announced she was going to "ride her bike". She does it like she's 14 and letting me know she's going to go play down the road with her friends. While we do live on a very quiet cul-de-sac, we also have a very steep driveway and some neighbors who like to circle the cul-de-sac at a fair speed just to enjoy the view. Plus, their is the less obvious fact that, she's only 2 (less obvious to Hannah, but painfully obvious to those of us who care for her). Rather than argue with her, I chose my new favorite response, "Go talk to your father."

Before you take pity on Mike, let me remind you that, Hannah is Mike's "sweetheart" and, in Hannah's eyes, dad is great. Granted, dad is great because he caves to Hannah's every desire more than mom does. Reason number two NOT to feel sorry for Mike: he is leaving town for the next three days making me a single working mom. And, if you are a single working mom or have portrayed one for a short period of time, you know that it is hands down the hardest job in the universe. It is these days that I typically take up my writing campaign to the Vatican to canonize my mother and mother-in-law.

So, while I start dinner, Mike goes outside to watch Hannah circle the cul-de-sac.

He returned with this video.

Maybe the continuous loop of "Olivia" movies that plays in my car has finally affected my sanity. But, there is something about this video that makes me laugh so hard I can't breathe. I think it is a combination of the sweet look of contentment on her face, coupled with how focused and serious she is, looking around as if to make sure she isn't going to hit a squirrel or get hit by another Little Tikes driver (which is unlikely, being that most other toddlers are heading to bed at 7pm).

I will have to remember this tomorrow night when she is screaming at me that she is going to "GO RIDE MY BIKE, OKAY?!?" Sigh. . . if only I had a clone to cook dinner while I have fun playing with the kids. . .

Love, The Trahans

On A Stick

This post is dedicated to my cousin, Krista, and her husband, Jeff, who share our love of food on a stick. . .

Mike and I love fondue. Actually, we love The Melting Pot. If you aren't familiar with the restaurant, it is a fondue restaurant. The food is fabulous. However, it is pricey. Definitely cheaper than Morton's, but more expensive than TGI Fridays. And, WAY more expensive than Friendly's, which, as most of you know, is a the pinnacle in our dining out repertoire these days.

Back in B.C. times (before children, not biblical times, although they may be associate with heaven in my mind), when $100 bought more than four days of after care or one week's gas, we frequented The Melting Pot regularly with our other couple friends without children, Steve and Lisa Klein.

Then came Mikie. Initially, we still went to The Melting Pot because he would sleep while we dined on fondue (the low lighting is perfect for sleeping infants). Then, he slept less and was a whole lot more curious, and all of our favorite restaurants seemed to be less than child friendly. Melting Pot's hot plates built into the table were a problem, although not as big a problem as the mini pitch forks they give you to skewer your food with. As a side note: Sakura's hibachi tables. . . also not kid friendly, unless you want to give your 18 month old nightmare's about fire.

So, we evolved into making fondue at home. Between the Kleins and the Trahans, we had two fondue pots, so we could make cheese and desert fondue without cleaning up in between. And really, you can make cheese and chocolate into a very filling meal. Add wine, and it is the best meal ever. Plus, dining at home (or someones home) meant Mikie could wreak havoc (or go to bed) without making me feel guilty about disrupting other peoples' meals.

Alas, we moved to Massachusetts, and the Kleins moved to Pennsylvania. But, Mike and I have continued to eat fondue at least once a month. And, when strawberries are in season (or aren't in season but look tempting at the grocery store), we eat chocolate fondue multiple times a week. Thankfully, the island has an outlet built into it, so we can very easily set up a pot of fondue without worrying about the kids stabbing each other with little pitch forks or burning themselves.

Until last month (which is really two months ago since I am behind on blogging). That was when Hannah "I will eat whatever you are eating" Trahan decided that fondue looks delicious. Other than the appeal that most food has for our daughter (namely, someone else is eating it), I think she really just wanted to dip food in the pot. With some supervision to make sure she didn't (a) stab herself, (b) burn herself on the pot or (c) leave chunks of food floating in my fondue, she managed to successfully skewer and dip some apples.The verdict: still out. Taking a page from Auntie Katie's book, she thoroughly enjoyed licking the cheese off whatever she dipped, but never actually ate the bread or apples themselves. Once she realized she was expected to eat the stuff that was enrobed in cheese, she lost interest. She spent the rest of the time dipping food and force feeding Mike and I.I'm sure she would enjoy the desert fondue a whole lot more. But, there are some things too sacred to share with my two year old.

Love, The Trahans