Unexpected Guests and a Dinner that Made me Proud

Sometimes things just work out in my favor, like last night when friends called to see if they could stop by, and it happened to be around dinner time.  Miracously, I was making something for dinner which required real cooking and something I would be proud to serve guests. 

It was one of those nights that I will remember because I just pulled it off completely (and it wasn't frozen pizza) and it was beautiful.  We didn't have much soup because there were 8 of us eating a recipe that was made for 4.   I warmed up some bread and pulled out our leftover beverages from New Year's Eve and it was was perfect.

The adults sat in the living room on the floor while the kids ate at the table.  I love when people stop over and I am able to provide them with a lovingly made meal and we are able to literally break bread together.  I love that we have friends who don't care if we eat on the floor in the living room.  I want to do that more often.

Tonight Big C has a friend over and I made them pancakes in the shapes of the letters of their first names.  It was fun to see their excitement over such a simple thing.   I liked sitting down with her friend and getting to know her a little better.  And I REALLY liked that Big C has the sort of friend who cleared her plate and came over to help me clear the other dishes.  And she's 10!   I asked my girls if they were witnessing their friend's kindness and suggested that they might remember such an act if they were ever guests of a friend.  Hint, hint...

Here's the recipe for the soup!

  

3 bacon strips, diced

1 small onion, chopped

1 clove garlic, minced

3 tablespoons all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon dried basil

1/2 teaspoon pepper

3 cups chicken broth
2 large baked potatoes, peeled and cubed
1 cup half-and-half cream
1/2 teaspoon hot pepper sauce
Shredded Cheddar cheese
Minced fresh parsley

In a large saucepan, cook bacon until crisp. Drain, reserving 1 tablespoon drippings. Set bacon aside. Saute onion and garlic in the drippings until tender. Stir in flour, salt, basil and pepper; mix well. Gradually add broth. Bring to boil; boil and stir for 2 minutes. Add the potatoes, cream and hot pepper sauce; heat through but do not boil. Garnish with bacon, cheese and parsley.

Enjoy!!  

My favorite Christmas Photo

Santa brought little c a karaoke machine for Christmas.  Santa guessed this might be something she would like based on her desire to grow up and be a professional caroler (This December she did ask if working at a gas station would be a good career choice for her.  I explained I thought it could be a little dangerous working all night at the gas station and hoped she would find other work that inspired her.)  Someone else in our house 'may' have liked the karaoke machine more than little c though (see above).  B-real and I both spent a good chunk of Christmas morning belting out tunes.  Our best was our duet of The Greatest Love of All by Whitney Houston.  The girls are both horribly embarrassed.  Big C is worried about it somehow making it on youtube and her life being ruined.  She is a tween now and these are her life's pressing concerns.

Photos from the Cinderella Play

Claire was sick with a stomach bug so she stayed home.  Fortunately, B-real was in town this week so he was able to take care of her while the rest of us went to the play.  

The weather was really awful that day.  Bad roads, long commute to the Children's Theater Company but so worth it!!  

This cute little girl decided she needed a root beer float plus a malt with her grilled cheese sandwich and fruit! And who was going to tell her no...she was out with both of her grandmas and her great grandma!

November Highlights

Hanging with one of our favorite families! 

Celebrating my mom's birthday! 

Comparing airline points while hanging out with the Schroeder family! 

Getting our little kid fix with Miles!  

Thrifting with my home girls - Missy and Erica!  

Shopping with little c before Christmas.  

Flowers

For those of you who read our Christmas letter...

As Britney Spears would say, "Ooops, he did it again!"  In the middle of December I received a call from a florist letting me know they had a delivery for me but did not want to leave it outside the house due to the cold weather.  I began, as I usually do when flowers arrive unexpectedly for me, wondering what day I have forgotten in the love story of B-real and myself.   Knowing it was the middle of December, trying to recall the actual date, I figured it might have been the anniversary or our engagement.   I was right, it was December 16th, and 14 years ago that day we were engaged!

I remember it like it was yesterday.  It was cold and B-real cajoled me into a walk across the Washington Avenue Bridge.  Fortunately due to the UN-balmy temps there were very few people on the bridge that evening which made for a more comfortable place for him to profess his love for me and for me to profess my love in return.  Although cold, it was a beautiful evening, clear and peaceful.  I recall turning to look behind me and seeing the location of where we had met -- the U of M campus.  When I turned back around I saw the glow of the downtown skyline and it felt like we were looking towards our future -both having careers downtown and wanting to leave on the west side of Minneapolis.

B-real has learned over the years that a bouquet speaks to my heart more than a vase filled with long stemmed red roses.  I appreciate the art of the arrangement and how a variety of flowers can mix together to form something even more amazing than the individual.  History may have shown that his wife is also known to chop off those long stemmed red roses so the vase can be placed on the kitchen table and those at the table can actually see one another.  B-real has told me you pay extra for those lengthy stems and not to cut them off!  The arrangement he sent was breathtaking to me.

I feel fortunate B-real asked me to marry him fourteen years ago.  And even more fortunate, our love story only seems to get better!

Conceal and Carry Permits

B-real and I got our conceal and carry weapons in 2013.  We went to a very 'affordable' class given by a guy in his basement.  His wife fed us her homemade chili for lunch.  It had to have been one of the oddest experiences of my life but we got our permits and it only cost $37.50!   The instructor really beat into his students that you should only use a gun if your life is in absolute, 100% certain danger.  I think they want to scare you a bit.  And that's o.k. by me - guns are serious business.  The other thing he scared into us was that even if you are found innocent by a judge or jury, the person who you shot can sue you in civil court and try to take all of your money. I respect guns and feel that all people should learn how to handle a gun safely. Guns are scary, but they become a little less scary if you know how to properly use them.  I enjoy going shooting with my dad and brother.  I find the sport of shooting challenging.  For Father's Day this year my brother and I took my dad shooting and out to breakfast.  He said it was his best Father's Day ever because he was able to share a hobby with both of his children.  In the past month I've spoken with two male friends who've said their work teams have wanted to learn how to shoot.  For their Xmas parties this year they have gone to Bill's Gun Range and one of the experienced gun owners has shown the others how to use a gun.

Here we are at the range on a date night...

And here we are reporting for our permits downtown...

This van was parked outside the government building where we applied for our permits.

Proud Moment over Gingerbread

While we made gingerbread houses this weekend,

we listened to the Christmas song radio station.    I mentioned to B-real that I thought the particular song on the radio was by Trans-Siberian Orchestra.   B-real and I were pondering what song it was set to when Big C announced it was Canon in D.   A proud moment for her mommy.  Then I remembered she also recognizes Wrecking Ball by Miley Cyrus. 

She's done the same thing with music -- she'll tell me a particular song is a waltz because of which note is taking the beat. 

I don't know where she learns these things but I am happy she is learning so much about music! 

Yes, that is B-real rolling out his fondant and using a pink ruler to make sure it fits properly on the top of his gingerbread house.  He and Charlotte's village had dog poop and section 8 housing in the back.  And then he combined two houses to make a giant church/school for his people.  It's funny, I don't usually think of him as creative but he came up with the ice rink idea too.  He used gum to make the rink sides and icing to make the ice.  And then he was flicking sugar all over to make it look like snow in his village.  A funny guy, he is!