Time to Make the Doughnuts

"Make sure you look pretty today Mommy," were Ava's words to me yesterday morning while getting ready to take her to school.  What she meant was that in addition to a "pretty outfit," she wanted me to put my make-up on.  I look pretty without make-up you see, but WAY, WAY prettier with it on.  It was important to Ava that we all look our best, even Luke, because yesterday was a big day.

Yesterday was a big day, because her teacher invited me and Luke to come into the classroom to bake doughnuts with the kids.  Each week Ava's Kindergarten class studies a letter of the alphabet and as part of their study, cook something that corresponds with the letter of the week.  Jessica Seinfeld's Deceptively Delicious Doughnuts were on the menu for yesterday and they truly were delicious. 

I originally didn't have doughnut pans but after a trial run Tuesday morning, I realized that without them, our mini-doughnuts, were truly mini-muffins. I figured the kids were too smart for me to be able to pass mini-muffins off as Munchkins, so doughnut pans were a must.  There was no way I was going to be the mommy who came in to make the doughnuts, but really made muffins.  

My neurosis intense drive so as not to embarrass myself or my daughter, resulted in a credit card purchase of $18.64 for two mini-doughnut pans from Amazon.com and an additional $19.97 to ship them overnight.  Yep, that's exactly how my anxiety-ridden mind rolls.  I can't help it, I just like things to be right.

My cute little doughnut pans arrived on schedule and with the help of two other moms, and an adorable bunch of kids, I am happy to report that the baked doughnut making process was a complete success!

I will post the recipe and pictures once Ava and I make a batch at home for ourselves.

School Days

Delving back into school, activities and lots of park time has been an adjustment for all of us after a very lazy Summer, but Kindergarten is great and Ava's loving it.  She adores her new teacher and is enjoying her new friends. 

There's a parent mixer next Saturday at one of our local restaurants which I'm very much looking forward to.  The school is providing free babysitting service (woo hoo!) so it can be an adults only event.  I had my first PTSO (Parent Teacher Student Organization) meeting Thursday night and it was great because the school also provided free babysitting service for that.  Stephen's been working like crazy so I wouldn't have been able to go otherwise. 

I was also excited to learn that I'm going to be able to help out in the classroom and volunteer at some of the annual school/parent-run events, because it's okay to bring Luke along with me.  Before learning this, I was actually feeling sort of sad.  There are so many opportunities to help out at the school, but I didn't think I was going to be able to do anything since I don't have any day-time help for Luke.

Ava's teachers words were like music to my ears.  When I expressed to her that I wanted to be involved but didn't have someone to look after Luke, without hesitation she said to bring him along.  Luke is welcomed too, so now I can participate and I think it's fantastic, because I really want to be involved in Ava's school/education.  Now I can with ease because I don't need to find and hire a babysitter to be a part of the community.

Like I said though, getting back into the swing of things, after our long-lazy Summer has definitely been an adjustment.  For example, at dance class the other day, I saw that Ava was wearing the lone pink leotard in a sea of black.... 

Looks like mommy ordered the wrong dance uniform, as I quickly realized that I couldn't have been the only parent to get it right.