We're not even going to talk about the Superbowl. mmmkay? Thanks for understanding (*sniffle*, reaching for tissue). All I'm gonna say is this...congrats to the winning team...and there's always next year. Whatever. I never liked dumb football anyway. Silly sport. I mean, really now...they're grown men running around in tight pants, and they pat each other on the butt. okay so maybe I like that part. But nothing else. Whatever.
Moving on now people...
Here are some shots capturing what my kiddos and I like to do every morning. We make fresh squeezed orange juice! Yep, every single morning...it's a tradition of ours, actually. That's right. Every morning at the crack of dawn, while the roosters crow, and before I bake a loaf of bread, we squeeze out some orange juice. hahahaaaaa!! okay, okay, okay, so maybe not every morning...maybe it's just a couple of times per year...and maybe not while the roosters crow, okay so it's generally a tad bit later in the morning than that. But I do have roosters on my kitchen curtains. Just sayin'. And maybe I don't bake bread everyday...but I do eat it everyday. But whatever, minor details.
Anyway, stay with me here. So here's how you get a 4yr old and a 2yr old to become actively engaged and happily participating in deliciously quiet fun for a full 30minutes. Here's what you will need, so take careful note because I don't post recipes often...and this one is a real gem:
* some oranges, sliced in half
* 1 vintage glass juicer
* 4 semi-clean little hands
My kids could not wait to get started. And the moments to pause for photos was killing them. But with a little teamwork, they were making Mama a glass of juice making juice in no time at all!
Did you see the roosters on my curtains?
As soon as they started seeing all those pits, they asked if they could plant the pits outside when we were done, so that new oranges could grow. :)
While they were busy squeezing the oranges, we talked and talked and talked. This fun little activity sparked lots of interesting discussion. We talked about vitamins, and why they're important, and where they come from. We talked about cost and nature and color and all sorts of related things.
We also talked about the vintage glass juicer and Joey asked if I got it on Etsy. hehe! Actually, I didn't buy it on Etsy - this one has been in my family for many years. There are, however, some nifty vintage juicers on Etsy that look just like ours.
And then...it was time for the taste test. We first talked about oranges and how they grow, and the ingredients needed for fresh squeezed orange juice. Then I read aloud the ingredients on the juice container from the supermarket...and we talked about additives and why they are - or aren't needed.
Then they fought over who was going to drink "the yellow one" and would get to drink "the orange juice".
After the taste test, we talked about making fresh squeezed orange juice more often. Definitely.
And then Joey threw the seeds over the balcony, into the backyard.
Now at times during our week Joey runs to check the yard, to see if the orange trees are growing yet. And Lily runs after him...as if they're going to get to climb a beanstalk. These kids of ours are pretty darn magical...so I wouldn't be all that surprised. :)
oxox
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