Creating connection within our homes with those we love the most send a very important message to them… we value you and love spending our time with you! Offering our time is perhaps the most important thing we can give our children. Instead of a hurried meal or rushing them off to play in the other room, inviting them in, holding them close, creating an “experience” together, is what memories and childhood are all about. Additionally, it allows us as mothers to truly soak in our child in their (and our) most formative years. The ones that feel as though they are slipping all too quickly through our fingers. Because if there is one thing I know, it’s that 10, 20, even just 5 years from now, I am certain that I would give anything to go back to today. To hold my toddler on the couch and watch a movie with him, or chat with my 10 and 13 year old in the evenings, or help my little 7 year old open the pizza sauce. These truly are the days and cultivating connection now, will serve as a blessing for us all down the road.
One thing we love to together is have what we call “Friday pizza movie night.” I make 6 mini pizzas and lay out toppings and everyone gets what they want. It’s the very rare occasion that I allow eating in the living room and only because we go picnic style, move the coffee table, and put a big blanket out for the kids to sit and eat on while we watch a movie together. It’s something we all look forward to at the end of the week.
Pizza Dough Recipe:
Pizza crust*
1 cup warm milk
1 cup warm water
4 tsp sugar
5 tsp yeast
2 tbsp olive oil
3 cups kamut flour or 3 1/2 cups of AP flour
4 tsp salt
Sprinkle in your sugar and yeast into the warm water and milk. Let sit for about 3-4 minutes until the yeast blooms. Then add in the flour, olive oil, and salt. Using a dough hook for your stand mixer, mix on low for about 5 minutes, cover, and then set aside. After about an hour the dough should have doubled in size. Pour out onto the counter and cut into 6 equal pieces. Roll them out into little circles on oiled parchment and let sit for about 15 minutes, then bake at 450 for about 5 minutes until just done but not brown yet.
Now it’s time to top them!
After all pizzas are topped, place back in the oven ( I like to do this part without the baking sheet to allow the bottom to get baked as well), and bake for an additional 5-7 minutes until cheese is bubbly.
MOVIES OUR FAMILY LOVES
- Sword and the Stone
- Robin Hood (Disney version)
- Mary Poppins
- The Sound of Music
- Nanny McFee
- The Secret Garden
- The Little Princess
- WIlly Wonka and the Chocolate Factory
- Charlotte’s Web
- Swiss Family Robinson