Blessed Beyond Belief

Hello. How are you today?

*GASP*!!!

He had to work in a booth all by himself!!  Poor poor Kiefer.   While Tim was at 'learn to be a biker dude' class, I took the kids to see 'Monsters Vs Aliens' in 3D. I decided last minute to go. That left Russell a whole 15 minutes to get ready and then left us 10 minutes to get there. I would have opted for the next showing in a half hour, but that one wasn't 3D. Anyhow, we ended up in the very front row. Oh, sorry, there was that half row right in front of us. Regular movies are a pain in the front row. 3D movies are down right scary in the front row. It felt like they were right on top of us the whole time. But - it was a cute movie and the 3D glasses were pretty cool. Will loved it and Autumn is still talking about her hurting neck. Why do they even put seats that close to the screen????

Thursday

It's Thursday of spring break.  I'm so NOT used to EASTER vacation (isn't that what it used to be called?) being a week other than easter week.  Anyhow, it is spring break.  The weather has not been very spring like.  We've been inside for most of the week.  

Right now Tim is at his motorcycle class.  It's a three day class that will help him get his motorcycle certification.  Next week we are going to buy our Harley and the following week we are putting the kids on plane down south so that we can leave on our cross country tour. Ok?

So today the kids (minus the one who doesn't get up till noon) and I are going to meet him for lunch.  Poor thing thought he would have to use his lunch break to go buy a helmet.  Apparently the two XL helmets they had for him to use didn't quite cut it.  Really - his head is not abnormally large, is it?  Then he found out they won't be riding after lunch, so I guess he'll get one later on.

Who needs a stinkin helmet anyhow???  We are going to be rebels and let our hairs blow in the wind.  

Theme dinners

March has been quite busy.  We've had the opportunity to celebrate so much!

First off was Dr. Seuss's  birthday.  We checked out a Cat in the Hat cookbook and used it to make our dinner. The menu consisted of Hoop-Soup-Snoop Group Potato Soup, Schlotz Knots and Who pudding.

Will made Horton ears for everyone to wear.

Even Snoopy had a pair.  I also printed out some fun sheets from the seuss site to work on during dinner.

A few days later William used the cookbook to make Sneetch Treats. Then we rushed the book back to the library so we wouldn't have to make anymore of these. 

Next up was Tim's Birthday dinner.  I made a very traditional (read full pasta, full fat deal) lasagna that I started the day before.  Add to that probably the best cake mix cake I've ever made.  Totally sinful. 

St. Patrick's Day followed and it just wouldn't be March 17th without corned beef and cabbage.

I cooked a very lean corned beef in the crockpot all day simmering in a bottle of Sam Adams.

And of course our Nowruz celebration.  What I forgot to mention is that it is now the year 1388.  Here's some info on the table set up.

This is from Wikipedia.  I bolded the items I had on my table.

Haft Sīn

Main article: Haft-Sin

Haft Sīn (هفت سین) or the seven 'S's is a major tradition of Nowruz. The haft sin table includes seven specific items starting with the letter 'S' or Sīn (س) in the Persian alphabet. The items symbolically correspond to seven creations and holy immortals protecting them. The Haft Sin has evolved over time, but has kept its symbolism. Traditionally, families attempt to set as beautiful a Haft Sīn table as they can, as it is not only of traditional and spiritual value, but also noticed by visitors during Nowruzi visitations and is a reflection of their good taste.

Haft-Sin

The Haft Sīn items are:

• sabzeh - wheat, barley or lentil sprouts growing in a dish - symbolizing rebirth
• samanu - a sweet pudding made from wheat germ - symbolizing affluence
• senjed - the dried fruit of the oleaster tree - symbolizing love
• sīr - garlic - symbolizing medicine
• sīb - apples - symbolizing beauty and health
• somaq - sumac berries - symbolizing (the color of) sunrise
• serkeh - vinegar - symbolizing age and patience

Other items on the table may include:

• Sonbol - Hyacinth (plant)
• Sekkeh - Coins - representative of wealth
• traditional Iranian pastries such as baghlava, toot, naan-nokhodchi
• Aajeel - dried nuts, berries and raisins
• lit candles (enlightenment and happiness)
• a mirror (symbolizing cleanness and honesty)
• decorated eggs, sometimes one for each member of the family (fertility)
• a bowl of water with goldfish (life within life, and the sign of Pisces which the sun is leaving)
• rosewater, believed to have magical cleansing powers
• the national colours, for a patriotic touch
• a holy book (e.g., the Avesta, Qur'an, Bible, Torah, or Kitáb-i-Aqdas) and/or a poetry book (almost always either the Shahnama or the Divan of Hafez) 

It's been fun. Keeps things interesting. We don't have you guys around to entertain us so we make our own entertainment. I hope it gives the kids some fun silly memories of their wacky mom serving odd food on days that most other people are eating hamburger helper.

No-Rooz

We had our own New Years celebration yesterday. Take a looksee.

Evidence

Yesterday I was clearing off the kitchen island (again) and came to these items.  I quickly realized that it was perfect evidence of the three minors living in my home.  Girl scout cookie order form and money envelope, a notice sent home to inform us of a tardy sophomore, and a pamphlet from Ride for Joy featuring the youngest minor.

Evidence of life.

Happy St. Paddy's day

We just finished our traditional corned beef, cabbage, potatoes and carrots dinner.  I slow cooked a really lean corned beef in a bottle of Sam Adams.  In about a half our we are headed over to the high school for a choir festival that Autumn is in.  It's staying light much longer now and I am no longer freezing.  You think that's good?  I don't know.  I don't feel ready for longer days and warmer weather yet.  Is that weird?

Casey has had an obsession with laying on things lately and really being in the way.  So we thought it time that he had a dog bed.  He really likes it.

Really really likes it.

Revealed

 

He is Cat in the Hat, eating chocolate cake, in a tub! I think I have to change the rules. (it's my blog, I can do that, right?) Since no one got it totally right, the photo goes to the most enthusiastic commenter.  Which of course is Bill.  Watch your mailbox Bill!

BTW - Tim's birthday yesterday was great.  Check his blog for details.

Guess

The first person who can guess who, what, and where this costume is will get an 8x10 of this photo sent to them.  Just what you always wanted, right?

Example - This is William dressed as a monkey, picking his nose, in a car.  (Snoopy is just there for moral support.)

I'll give you a hint - this is themed after a recent holiday.

For the love of the coconut

In my never ending quest to expand mine and my family's diet horizons, find the highest quality foods, break from from the S.A.D. diet, move towards more traditional foods and generally play with my food, I have been introduced to the coconut.  Not coconut tanning oil, not almond joy candy bars, or processed flakes covered in corn syrup found in the baking isle.  I'm talking REAL coconut. Pure organic coconut oil and flour.  The flour has amazing qualities including being low carb, high fiber, and high protein.  So I thought I'd give it a try.  I found this recipe recently.  I used my happy free range eggs, which by the way are fabulous!

The bread is very short and dense.  I took a bite and the dryness puckered my mouth a bit.  So I added some almond butter.  Yum! I love the simple pure ingredients in the bread and the health benefits of it.  Very easy to make and it's gluten and casein free!

Tim and Autumn had a piece and both enjoyed it, especially when I told them it was packed with fiber and protein and relatively low carb.  Good stuff!