I'm 37! Holy Moly! When will I start feeling like a grown up?? I started out my day by going to a movie by myself (which was a good time) - and of course - gathered my nearest and dearest for dinner at Red Lobster. Have I told you all how much I love you?!?!?! Photos of some of my favorite people:
Luca & Alice
L3
Jaime & Alice
Matt & Amy
Fuzzy Melanie & Luca
Terry & Keith
Vanhtha & Terry
Don & Julie
Cutest Family Ever
Me with a lap full of love!
. . . Christmas Gift Continued. . .
Well - part of my gift was actually $5 coupons (that expire today) - so I used two at today's movie . . and then thought about it after - I should have just bought a future ticket! OH WELL! So one less movie on this Christmas gift - but I got to enjoy yummy snacks with the movie.
SO - no one (who wanted to see this ultimate chick flick) could (or wanted to) see this movie at 10am in the morning. . but HAPPY BIRTHDAY to me - I got to go to the movie on my own - and it was fun! The only thing different than when you go with someone - there was no one to talk to about the movie on the way out.
OK - the movie. Valentine's Day. I expected it to be very similar to one of my favorite movies of all time (which I've deemed the Ultimate Chick Flick) - Love Actually. (due to the star studded cast and multiple story lines that intertwine)
The story lines were cute. The ending was predictable - but also cute. Ashton was cute. The little boy was cute. Overall - a fine way to start my birthday . . and a reason to enjoy ranch popcorn!
Grade for the Movie = B-
Grade for the Experience = A
Alice and Luca listen intently to Coach Cameron
So Alice started soccer today! Yay, Alice! She and her buddy Luca (Melanie's) are playing soccer together Saturday mornings. The whole family ventured out for Alice's first day - and it was a blast!
Coach Cameron has got to be about 15 or 16 years old - and for his age - is pretty darn good with this bunch of 3-4 year olds!!! I don't think I could do so well with all the parents (and aunties!) sitting around watching!
Anyway - there was a lot of running around - a lot of ball chasing - a lot of picking up balls with hands - and at LEAST 8 "Water" breaks! At least the kids all got their very own water bottles at the end of practice - so we'll have a big ol' bottle of water for next time!
Alice rocks at dribbling!
Another thing she's mastered - stopping the ball.
A little one-on-one between friends. . .
Probably about 20 or so waves to the fam during practice . . .
Aren't they freakin' adorable!?!?
And THIS . . .running together to get the ball!
More instructions from Coach Cameron.
The Pose
Ahhhh. . playing soccer sure makes you thirsty!!
Last night was my 2nd year of joining Jaymie and her fam for V-Day Merriment - and this year I brought Alice! Too bad I didn't get my camera pulled out until after the food was put away - but what.a.great.spread!
Alice loved the chocolate fountain, I loved the oil (with steak cubes dipped in some Asian dip), and the cheese - with crusty bread!
AND - I think it wasn't staying melted very well - but the BANANAS FOSTER! Hello! Where was Jaymie hiding this all night?@?!? This was my absolute fave - using rice krispie squares to dip! YUM! (like I can taste it - just thinking about it!)
After the food was put away - we played Bingo - which was a blast! And yes, Miss Alice loved playing - but also rolling the thing to get the balls out - good times!
Yeah - the Boy is a little strange . . .but awesome with Alice . . so, we'll keep him :)
We made another trip to downtown St. Paul - and made plans to hook up with our friends (Luca & Eli/Elizabeth/Nathaniel) . . but do you know how hard it is to wrangle toddlers??? The whole family went (in the Family Car ((the family car!!)) - so everything took a little longer - L3 kinda drags us a little bit - but boy is he getting more and more FUN each day!!!
Alice loved spending time in the neighborhood. I guess she delivered the mail a few times too!
I think my brother should link these photos to Alice's "Auntie Liz" - as she would be proud of Alice's attempt to find dinosaur bones here . . .
Another fun trip to The Children's Museum!
Coworker Joe wanted to do something special for his wife's birthday. . . and yadda, yadda, yadda . . . I have 3 kids sleeping over - scratch that - FOUR - Alice was THRILLED to have a sleepover!
We made homemade pizzas . . . Alice was great at her job - keeping the surface well-floured . . .
Nathaniel got pointers from his big brother . . . 
What a blast (and a mess - but the blast out-weighed the mess) :)
Eli and Nathaniel made a yummy meat and cheese pizza.
Elizabeth and Alice couldn't agree - so came up with a 1/2 and 1/2 pizza.
After dinner - we worked on some crafts . . .
. . . and watched A.LOT of Spongebob. . . 
Okay! Time for bed!!! These three were totally keyed about watching a movie in the big bed. . . . 
. . . this one . . not so much.
Baxter and Bella found some new best buddies too.
Alice had a great time - and is anxiously awaiting our friends to spend the night again!
Well, I've made my stoneware potroast a few times now - and have been asked to share how I do it. This is not saying that I'm awesome at this - I'm just sharing what I do.
1. If you've been using your stove as a store-all counter top - you might need to find some time to clean up before you get started.
2. Now that that's done - get out your sturdy deep dish frying pan.
3. Add some olive oil to heat up - and assemble your favorite seasonings (here you see my garlic powder, Onion Onion, Worcestershire, salt, and pepper).
4. Place your yummy cut of meat in oil - season. Sear meat.
5. Get out your deep dish stone. (I'm getting a new deep dish baker soon - but this has made due whilst I wait). . .
6. Because this is still a pretty "non-seasoned" stone - I used a paper towel to season the stone with olive oil.
7. Don't forget to sear the sides of the cut also! - and then transfer meat into stone.
8. Add beef broth or stock to pan.
9. Pour broth over meat. - Put in oven at 350? or so - for a few hours. (Go to Eagle's Nest with your favorite 3 year old while this slow-cooks.)
10. After a few hours - Cut up potatoes, carrots, onions to add to roast.
11. Look at that color! I kind of had a lot of veggies in this - thus the need for a larger stone! I tried to get as many potatoes as possible under that meat!
12. After another hour or so - lift the meat and veggies from the stone - arrange nicely on a serving plate. Pour the remaining juices from the stone - back into the same pan you used to sear. In a covered tuperware - mix water and flour together - then slowly add it to your juices as you whisk over heat. This makes The.Best.Gravy. You may want to add a little Worcestershire to spice it up . . .and my mom's secret ingredient - gravy browner (which hadn't been added yet in the photo) - makes it look pretty.
ENJOY!
