My mom was notorious for her legendary car-trip snack bags. I think that was Jimmy's favorite part of every visit they made here. Once when Ben was three we found him sitting on the counter gazing into the bag in absolute awe over its contents. He was particularly curious about the Slim Jim's (that mom brought specifically for Jimmy), and struggled over the reality that I would not allow him to eat them. The next morning as we all emerged from our respective bedrooms, we found that Ben had been up early and in the snack bag. He had delivered a Slim Jim for each of us and they were waiting outside our doors. We decided he must have thought that since he couldn't have them his generous little heart needed to know that they would be enjoyed by someone!
His early morning treat making has continued and now, as soon as the door closes behind Jimmy as he leaves for work, Ben heads straight to the kitchen to whip up a treat to be ready and waiting for daddy's return later that evening. A full ten hours later. Usually it's a bowl of ice cream with a fancy topping (or four). He places it in the freezer to wait for the moment he hears the key in the doorknob. He waits all day in eager excitement for the moment he gets to present his delicacy to his daddy.
Maybe it's the instant gratification, or maybe his skill set has broadened beyond just ice cream scooping and Slim Jim placing, but recently I got added to his recipient list. Early one morning he asked me to stay in my room until he came to get me and I didn't argue. After several minutes, he escorted me downstairs and led me to the table, where he had prepared a breakfast feast just for me. He was so proud of himself and since it was made up of his very favorite foods, it was a breakfast for a queen in his sweet mind. And even though a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, quinoa salad and EmergenC isn't typically my first choice for breakfast, it was my very favorite on that day.
The next day he brought Caroline in and she kicked the presentation up a few notches (or "nachos" as the little guys would say). I could easily get used to this....
His early morning treat making has continued and now, as soon as the door closes behind Jimmy as he leaves for work, Ben heads straight to the kitchen to whip up a treat to be ready and waiting for daddy's return later that evening. A full ten hours later. Usually it's a bowl of ice cream with a fancy topping (or four). He places it in the freezer to wait for the moment he hears the key in the doorknob. He waits all day in eager excitement for the moment he gets to present his delicacy to his daddy.
Maybe it's the instant gratification, or maybe his skill set has broadened beyond just ice cream scooping and Slim Jim placing, but recently I got added to his recipient list. Early one morning he asked me to stay in my room until he came to get me and I didn't argue. After several minutes, he escorted me downstairs and led me to the table, where he had prepared a breakfast feast just for me. He was so proud of himself and since it was made up of his very favorite foods, it was a breakfast for a queen in his sweet mind. And even though a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, quinoa salad and EmergenC isn't typically my first choice for breakfast, it was my very favorite on that day.
The next day he brought Caroline in and she kicked the presentation up a few notches (or "nachos" as the little guys would say). I could easily get used to this....