Breakfast

Van woke up at 7, but I had been up worrying about work from 4:30 - 6:30, so I was not ready to get up.
Me: "Van, why don't you go downstairs and watch a little movie, Daddy and I want to rest some more."
Van: "OK!"

5 minutes later, he's back

Van: "Mom, I want to make a surprise for you and daddy, but I need to know how to microwave without the food exploding."
Me: "haha"
Van: looks a little hurt "What?"
Me: "Ok, well the best way is first make sure there is no metal."
Van: "Like what's metal?"
Me: "Silverware is metal"
Van: "What about glass bowls?"
Me: "No glass bowls are ok. So the best way is to do it in short bursts. Start it and then stop it, and then start it again and then stop it. Try 30 seconds. That is three-zero"
Van: "OK!"


2 minutes later, he's back

Van: "How do you know which button is the start button?"
explanations follow


2 minutes later, he's back

Van: "It didn't work"
Me: "Do you want me to come help?
He gives me a slightly disappointed look that means no.
Me: "Ok, try 'Stop' to clear it out first and then three-zero and then 'Start'"
Van: "OK"


2 minutes later, he's back

Van: "But there's still water?"
Me: "You could try a longer one, like one zero zero."
Van: "How many zeros?"
Me: "Two"
Van: whispers to himself as he runs out of the room "one zero zero, one zero zero"


5 minutes later, he's back

Van: "Ok, your surprise is ready"

Did you guess what it was?
It was Oatmeal!

He was so excited. and it was actually really delicious. He was generous but not overboard on the brown sugar. he said it took 2 one zero zeros and 1 three zero.
In return I made him crepes and he would say, "You don't need any crepes because you have your precious oatmeal" and "aren't you glad I surprised you?" and "maybe you were going to surprise me today, but you forgot, but it's ok because I surprised you"
and "It's ok if you want to surprise me sometime"