You were at work and Matt was staying at home with your little girl, Madison. Matt thought having Madison help make lunch, would make her more inclined to eat it, she was going through a picky eater phase. "Wanna help me make a pizza?"
"Oh boy!" She groaned and charged into the kitchen, going to stand beside Matt. "Okay, first we need to put this on" Matt said, fitting your apron around her, obviously barely covering her. "How we wash our hands" Matt helped Madison reach the sink to use the water and soap to wash her hands.
"Make sure they're nice and clean"
"Daddy, I know" She whined, being dead set on being a big girl and she wouldn't allow Matt to treat her any less.
"Okay, next is the dough" With the help of the internet, Matt got started on the dough and Madison helped finish it off. "That's good! You'll make a great rising crust!" Madison smiled as Matt praised her.
They let the dough set to rise fully and in the mean time, they started making the sauce and toppings. "I want lots of cheese!" Madison said while Matt did the sauce.
"Cheese is delicious...But how about some pepperoni or olives...or pepper"
"Pepperoni too! But yucky olives and peppers aren't allowed"
Matt pouted. "Are you sure you don't want to try the vegetables?"
"I'm sure. I'm not a baby, remember?" She told him and Matt shook his head in amusement. Maybe he could sneak vegetables in after all if he arranged them into a flower or something.
The dough was ready, the sauce was mixed and the veggies were sliced. Matt spread the sauce on the dough, while Madison covered it in cheese. Matt added some pepperoni on Madison's side and some vegetables on his. "Stand back, the oven is hot" He warned her, sliding the pizza into the oven and closing it. "What's our rule for the oven?"
"Never touch the oven even if Mommy and Daddy are there. And I have to wait until I'm older to use it" She said.
"A lot older, sweetheart" Matt told her and she looked down for a minute.
"When?"
"When you're...when you're ready" He said, patting her head and she went to sit by the window in the kitchen.
**
A ding signalled the pizza was done and ready to come out of the oven. "Here I come!" Matt rushed down the stairs and opened the oven, revealing the golden crust with melty cheese, sizzling pepperoni, olives, salted green peppers and smooth mushrooms.
Matt carefully pulled it out of the oven and set it on the counter. "Yummy!" Madison said, licking her lips as the smell filled the kitchen. Matt grabbed the pizza cutter and cut two slices for Madison and two slices for himself.
"Daddy?" Matt looked down at Madison, nodding for her to continue. "Can I try that slice?" She asked, pointing to the slice with the vegetables.
"Okay, here you are" He said, gently putting a slice on her plate. Madison took a bite out of it and her face lit up.
"Yummy!" She cheered, clapping her hands.
"You know, big girls eat their vegetables" Matt told her, tickling under her chin, before biting into his own slice of pizza.
