Leaves - a photo for the photo challenge.  I am not sure what is more challenging - finding time to take a photo, taking a photo that does not reflect poorly on me (having worked in the photography field) or finding leaves in the Colorado winter. Either way, Ramona gave me a  photo op today with her rainbow loom flower bracelet.  I figure that is as close to a leaf as I am going to get - till Spring.
I know I am a few days behind in this challenge... but I have determined it is only important what I do complete.  Or at least, that is what I will tell myself as I try to keep pace.

Ramona came downstairs today with her Rainbow Loom kit in hand - she is rarely seen without it.  Rainbow Loom is the new craze among her generation.  Kids her age create necklaces, bracelets and other woven charms with a loom and a plethora of colorful tiny rubber bands.  Ramona noticed a girl at school with an advanced bracelet - a woven flower.  She came downstairs this morning determined to make it and I had no doubt she would succeed.  Out of all my children she is the one that can make any lego plane, train or automobile no matter how complicated with minimal to no help, build a birdhouse with a hammer and some nails without help and draw amazing pictures.  She is definitely a creator and a builder - when her dad is making something you can bet she right by his side helping out.  I gave her the iPad so she could looked up the tutorials on the Rainbow Loom site; however, she felt aggravated when the flower weave was a bit too complicated.  I was busy making French toast for breakfast, but was immediately told about how Emily's mom helped Emily to make her bracelet.   I was hoping the kids would drop it there, but instead I got to hear how some parents are just more involved than other parents.  (Thank you Beezus).

I admit, I was about ready to tell them to make their own breakfast.  I was suddenly feeling a little less like being involved in the cooking process than normal.  I am think it is a testament to loving these silly girls that I did manage to finish breakfast, the whole time I am buttering their French toast, putting maple syrup on, dealing with cranky pants little man, getting them waters and listening to the amazing and astounding feats of Emily's mom and the Rainbow Loom bracelet - all while not making any snide comments. 

I admit after breakfast I sat down and looked up the Rainbow Loom bracelet video.  I got guilt suckered into that one.  I figured if Emily's mom could do this with her daughter, I could do this with mine.  However, about thirty seconds into the video I determined that Emily's mom could totally be the better parent.  I do plenty with my kids... and I can feel my brain rotting out my ears and eyeballs as I stare at this rubber band loom tutorial.  I can relate to my daughters artistic streak, but not her Rainbow Loom streak.  Thankfully, I have a great partner.  A man that can not only tile a floor, build a house, hatch a duck, sew a corset, make Christmas stockings, win in a sword fight, but also has mad Rainbow Loom skills.  So, I might continue to hear that Emily's mom is better at being involved in rubber band bracelets, but Emily's dad now gets to hear how Ramona's dad makes great rubber band bracelets.  Beat that!

Here is the French Toast Recipe:
4 Eggs
1/2 Cup Milk
1/4 Heavy Whip
1 Tblspn Vanilla
cinnamon to preference
sugar to preference

I prefer Udi's Gluten Free Bread

Soak bread in batter for ten seconds.  2-3 minutes medium heat on stove top.  Cook a couple at a time.  Cook till each side of bread is cooked through and is golden brown.

Right before I got the parent comparison this morning I had decided to make a "better" French Toast than usual.  Usually it is just milk, eggs and vanilla.  I looked up a couple different links on French Toast and modified this one:  http://www.inspiredtaste.net/22422/perfect-french-toast-recipe/

Happy Beginning of the Work Week!