Not AGAIN!

I have super fond memories of eating pot roast at my granparents house. Roast that has been cooking all day, filling the house with its savory aroma, rustic vegetables, meat that would fall apart and homemade noodles. YES- homemade noodles...boiled and served in the brothy au jus. So stinkin good! yum yum!

Fast forward to yesterday- John had brought home this amazing hormone/antibiotic free rump roast. I wanted to spoil my family the way my grandmother spoiled us. I found a rub recipe online and simmered the roast in the slow cooker all day. The house was smelling amazing and I even had the noodles. It was going to be perfect! WAS being the operative word!

I'm still not sure what exactly I did- but I must have grossly mismeasured the Crushed Red Pepper- because it was awfully spicey. The meat was edible and cooked to perfection. The noodles, however were an utter disaster. Our lips were burning! So much so... that vanilla icecream was served for dessert in a non-dessert house! John being the kind husband he is- actually ate the horrifying sidedish. And he paid for it lastnight and today. Poor thing!

I'm so bummed! I so wanted to pay homage to my great-grandma and share a piece of her tradition with my family. I'm thinking it will be a great while before they let me cook roast again!

sweet

This week is crazy busy...I feel like I'm always saying that?! It seems like our family calendar is forever filling up with meetings, appointments, classes, lessons, visits etc. The good side is - it helps the week fly by!

This week is the all important Science Fair (District level). Both of the twins are entered...should make it interesting. I think we're all more excited about going and seeing what every other 5th grader in the city has done. Plus there will be some exhibits from the university set up...and my kids are all about the science! They are super smart with that stuff...they made a lightbulb in science class by wiring something or other up with a battery and a switch and it had something to do with currents and ....um...not really sure- (I'm not very technically adept) but I was very impressed! After a science class on campus they were spouting the scientific theories of motion and propulsion. I know....what!?

Anyway- they are super excited...so we are super excited! I hope its everything they hope and have a fun time!

Another BIG event on our calendar is Pucca's bday party! ooh la la! Super fun! She's having a tea party themed celebration (I know she did this last year- but she really wanted to do it again...so what can I say!) I think its kind of ironic considering we're lds and don't drink tea...oh well! What girl doesn't like to dress up and hang out with her girlfriends!? :)
There will be an entire post on the party...I had way too much fun planning this! I was a little worried when we discovered we had a girly girl...but she is just too much fun!

Winding down

We're home...finally! Wheeewwwwww! What a week!

We had a lovely time in GI! The girls spent some time with their grandmas: visiting the Sandhill Crane observatory, waking up at the crack of dawn to see the cranes by the river, creating some masterful artwork, playing board games and listening to stories of the 'old days'.

As for Davey...the weather didn't quite cooperate with us - so our fort building time was limited. The fort is located in a ravine which is completely protected by trees. So the wind wasn't a factor at all! We put in a good hour and half- basically just clean up. Picking up sticks, cutting branches and making plans! And Oh are the plans GRAND! Just wait! This is going to be the COOLEST fort EVER!

I was bummed with the weather...we could have accomplished so much more! I really wanted to get the chainsaw out- but the collective vote for letting me use this particular powertool- was a unanimous NO! Bummer- Hopefully some one who is allowed to use the chain saw will come to the rescue and help the girls and I fashion some seriously awesome goods!

Gone with the wind!

Holy smokes- its WINDY! I've been out and about using up every spare minute I have to accomplish my long list of 'to-do's before heading home to GI town tomorrow. We have a super fun week planned- which requires some prep work on mom's account. Then there's the cleaning out...so much easier to go through kid's rooms when they aren't here! And I'm getting things ready for our stay at Davey! Busy Busy Busy!

But the wind- wow! Some kind of storm must be moving in...I'm all about spring storms! LOVE THEM! I love the rain in general- but thunderstorms are my favorite! BUT let me clarify something...tornadoes are not fun! And I'm not a fan of those! I was only a wee babe when the major tornadoes hit in 1980...and other than that have never really 'survived' an actual tornado- but that's fine...because I completely understand how horrifying it must be! And would rather hope to never experience such a thing! Although, I have seen them from a distance and they are a sight to behold!

Alas...the lightning, thunder and dark grey skies...it all brings back memories from my childhood. We had this babysitter that would make us frosting and graham cracker sandwiches for a snack, give us a nice comfy quilt and let us sit under the covered porch on this huge wooden bench. We'd watch the storm, chatter and snack on scrumptious treats! We couldn't have been very old...I was maybe 5 or 6...but OH how I remember it! (and I'm pretty sure my brothers know exactly what I'm a talking about!) But that was the 80s- before there were so many 'rules and regs' to childcare/rearing. It may have even been before the whole seatbelt issue came up and I never used a car seat...but I digress!

I'll be back on Wednesday- then back out for the rest of the week enjoying some lovely family time at our little piece of heaven!