Making bread

Clare has always liked helping in the kitchen.  She likes to stir, whisk, pour out pre-measured ingredients, turn the oven and timer on, spray the pan with cooking spray, roll out dough, cut out cookies, etc.  Sometimes she's brave enough to crack eggs but usually there's bits of shell to pick out. 

We've started to include Karl in the fun.  He likes to dump pre-measured ingredients into the bowl or pan for whatever we're making.  He's also started putting a little blanket over his pillow on his bed and setting his stuffed animals all around it.  Then he spreads imaginary ingredients on the blanket and says, "EAT!"  (One of the few words he can say clearly.)

There are some days when having the kids help is not that helpful.  There are days I hide out in the kitchen and work quickly and quietly so they won't be tempted to help.  There are days I get frustrated with messes and extra clean-up.  But then I remind myself that if I don't let them help now, they might never discover the fun of cooking and baking.  And it is pretty cute to hear, "Mom!  Let me help; it will go faster!"

Today when the call came, "Who wants to help make bread?" Karl came running.  He stirred until the dough got too thick and then he dumped in flour for Clare to stir.  I finished my tea and the dishes while they worked. 

To include Nora in this post -- She loves Molly.  She has also started scooting and doing a sort of army-crawl to get herself around.  Combined with rolling, she's been getting all over the floor.