Taking it slow

Visiting a foreign country can be very overwhelming.  Everything is new and exciting.  Last time my stepmom visited (that time with my dad, too), we walked her socks off.  It was her first visit to Japan and I wanted her to see it all.

But this visit, we are taking things a bit easier.  We have exciting days (like Disneyland) and relaxing days.  Since my son is in school, we are mostly sticking close to home on school days.

Yesterday we stuck close to home so we could make gyoza for dinner.  We always make this special, gluttonous meal as a special treat for her.  Over the years we have improved our folding techniques.  However, the award for most improved has to go to our son.  When he was under 2 years old, we would hand him a couple wrappers to play with as we folded the little packets.  Over the past 3 years, we have given him a couple wrappers with meat in the center and actually shown him how to fold the gyoza properly.  Little by little, he has made a more traditional gyoza shape.  But yesterday, his gyoza was quite impressive.  He was so proud and we were super proud of him.

Today my son went to school and my stepmom and I stayed home.  We read books, talked, and relaxed.  We did wander over to the store so my stepmom could treat us to apple pie.  She was such a trooper to make the pie since I didn't have Crisco (we did find vegetable shortening, but the consistency was VERY different than what she is used to), any large bowls, a pastry cutter (she used her hands instead when two knives were not cutting it), or a rolling pin!  I think she deserves an award for persevering.  Although she wasn't extremely pleased with the outcome, we were overjoyed to have homemade pie.

Having a visitor doesn't always mean rushing to see all the sights.  Sometimes it is just taking time to be together and making a different kind of memory.  Ours are typically gastronomic!