Bright Spots

Time and again, I find that if I ever need a smile, all I have to do is look right in front of me ... at my kids. And boy, have they been delivering.

This morning, Grace stood in front of the mirror, as usual ... checking herself out before school, as usual. She turned this way and that, tried a few different smiles, batted her eyelashes at herself. Finally she smiled warmly at herself and sighed deeply.

"Mommy, just look ... doesn't my hair look supreme?!"

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Aidan is growing up by leaps and bounds ... and I love it. Recently, we joined Netflix and are thoroughly enjoying all of the "On Demand" options they have. One series we all have become quite addicted to is "Man v. Food," where a guy travels around the country at various eateries and attempts to conquer said eatery's particular food challenge. Whether it's downing a 72 oz. steak (plus several sides) from Texas, a 7 pound breakfast burrito, or 15 milkshakes from an iconic soda shop, the hope is always that Man will indeed conquer Food. But alas, sometimes Food wins.

Aidan simply loves this show, and has completely succumbed to hero-worship of Adam Richman (above). Instead of watching a cartoon, he will visit a new city in a new state and watch a new challenge. Then, of course, we'll hear all about it at the dinner table. We find ourselves having to reign him in sometimes, when he asks for 5 quesadillas "because Adam could do it!" Yes, but you're not Adam ... you're a 7 year old boy with a tiny stomach.

But what this new show has done for my boy is opened new culinary doors. Suddenly, he's willing to try anything and everything put in front of him. Last night was no exception.

We had lots of Memorial Day Picnic leftovers (or "spares," as he delightfully called them), including a fantastic homemade chili sauce (or, if you're a true New Jerseyan, "All the Way Sauce") that Don had whipped up. So for dinner last night we were going to have leftover pasta salad and chili dogs, figuring the the kids would have plain hot dogs. Alas, I had forgotten our own version of Boy v. Food ...

"I want a chili dog!" Aidan said, after having tried it at the picnic and loving every mouthful. "But I want it the way you're going to eat it!"

So first he squirted on some spicy mustard, then loaded on the All the Way Sauce, and finally -- shock of all shocks! -- piled on the sautéed onions! Aidan, are you sure? we asked. "Oh, yeah," he said smiling. "See? I'm challenging myself! This is GREAT!"

Sure enough, he gobbled the whole thing down. And in this episode of Boy v. Food ...

Boy won!