Germany

Beer and Brats! That's what we should have had for dinner last night. But no, I felt the need to try something different. After all, we weren't really going to feed our kids beer, and brats, although very authentic, are already mainstream U.S. fare.

So here's what happened to my poor kitchen.

 

One thing has become certain in our World cuisine adventure-- I really can't cook, but I can make a really BIG mess in attempting to do so.

We had Spaetzle and Schnitzel.  (Say that 10 times fast) I really wanted to make both of those just so I could keep saying it over and over again. Spaetzle Schnitzel Spaetzle Schnitzel Spaetzle Schnitzel. See.....wasn't that fun?!

To be honest they are both a little on the bland side for me, but Andrew and Ethan made pigs of themselves.

And for dessert we had?? Can you Guess? No, not German chocolate cake (it's not German at all). We had Black Forest cake--which is very German, but we had to Americanize it a little. Traditional Black Forest Cake is a dark chocolate cake with maraschino cherries, doused in alcohol. While I may have needed that after my Spaetzle cooking debacle, I just couldn't justify nasty cake and drunk children. 

And besides, there wasn't enough fat in dinner-- we needed loads of real whipped cream to top it off.

Next week Brazil!

India

This week was India and I have to be honest-- I cheated a little. You see, I really, really hate the smell of Indian food, and didn't want my house to smell like curry all week. So, World Market helped me out a little. They had these wonderful pre-made Indian dishes that were just enough to sample-- without the leftover smell.

We had:
Dal Makhani-- kidney and lentil beans in sauce (courtesy of World Market!)
Baigan Bharta- funky eggplant salsa- like mixture (courtesy of World Market!)
Tandori Fish- on the grill so the smell was confined outside.

Naan Bread- very yummy chewy grilled garlic bread- I would make it again.

For Dessert- Coconut Barfi-- Yeah Barfi, that's what I thought too, but it was really good- like chewy coconut candy!

Andrew helping make the Coconut Barfi.

And to top it off, my house still smells good. Well, as good as a monkey cage can smell that is! 

Next week- Germany!

New Do

Ava got a new haircut last night, courtesy of her little friend, and this morning I woke up determined that I just had to get on with it and cut the rest off. I wished I had been in the frame of mind to get the camera when I saw what happened-- it was quite cute-- one little hairdresser and one all too willing subject! Maybe they'll stay good friends and someday they can joke about the time one cut the other's hair. (Let's hope it only happens once-- I won't hold my breath!)
Unfortunately, I didn't get a picture, but sat down on the floor and cried as I picked up locks of hair. I cried for a really long time, and had trouble sleeping last night. Ridiculous I know, but I feel quite robbed of normalcy with Ava, and tend to be rather sensitive in matters with her. (It didn't help that she fell down the stairs a couple hours later). BUT... this morning as soon as she got up I got to the task. I can't say I like it, but I had to take a picture-- isn't hair cutting a rite of passage for little girls anyway?

She wouldn't hold still, so you can't see very well, but here it is. I had to take off an inch or two (a lot for her already short, thin hair)--we'll have to do it again later to even it up. (I'm not very good at cutting girl hair--can you tell)

In other Ava news--she had another scope done a few weeks ago, which I was certain was our next step to more food and more variety. I was wrong again. The scope was not clean and they put her back on reflux meds and pulled tapioca starch and oatmeal from her diet. She will be scoped again in 2-3 months and if it is not clean, they will have to start pulling the protein (beef, pork, turkey). Hoping that doesn't happen, as then we will be back to square one with her. With such a limited diet, we are already starting to have some food aversion and texture issues...not to mention she is very possessive of the food she can have, and I worry she is developing some very unhealthy issues.  So much fun!

Deep Thoughts...

"I don't have to be to church on Sunday until 8am. Do you know how happy that makes me? It's like Christmas!"

--Colonel Mustard (sad state of affairs when that's like Christmas!)

Just the Money

At Costco last night-- with all three kids. I sent Andrew up by himself to get some ice cream. He was hesitant, but I reassured him that the cashier would tell him exactly how much money he needed to give her.

I sat back, thinking how cute and little he looked up there counting out his money for ice cream...and I thought to myself, as the lady handed him the cup, "He must be so proud and excited to do it by himself.!"

Then he turned around, big grin on his face, and instantly I saw the light flicker on in his eyes.

"All this time I thought I needed Mom, when really, all I needed was her money! This is Awesome!"

I lament. What have I done?

Thank you Ziploc

Picture this.
Driving down the freeway on the Friday before the 4th of July. Three kids- 2 1/2 hours into the trip and suddenly, traffic stops. A two lane road winding up the Smoky Mountains-- and a brainless DOT crew decides it's a good idea to narrow traffic down to one lane for construction on a holiday weekend. It has been a while since we left home. Our not quite two year old has had diarrhea for the past two days. Suddenly, she begins to cry, "I want potty, I want potty."  Then the crying becomes more intense, and I know certain disaster is imminent. I glance around-- there is nowhere to stop. There is no shoulder on the road-- we are winding up the mountain. There are no exits for at least 20 miles and we are barely crawling at 3-5mph. I could panic, but it won't stop the inevitable. So I see a stack of trusty Ziploc bags I haphazardly stuffed in my purse at the last minute-- and there it is....the answer. Surely her little butt can fit in the opening of that bag? I grab the squawking child out of her seat and do the unthinkable....not once, not twice, but three times (we were sitting in traffic for over 2 hours). And while the smell was nigh unbearable when we had to reopen it, I was ever grateful for my ziploc bag!

I think I'll write a letter and tell Ziploc they can publish my story.....Me thinks they won't want to!

Sorry I grossed you out---and yes, I am a red-neck...evidenced by the fact that later in the weekend I also bathed myself and three children in a mountain stream that at best, was 40 degrees. I like to think I'm just resourceful.

So to reward you for reading that disgusting story I'll show you a few pictures of the less exciting parts of our weekend.

Our beautiful 8 mile hike to Ramsey Cascades.

We didn't think we could top that, but I think we did the next day when we hiked to Mount LeConte Lodge. An11 mile hike not for the faint of heart. (many times it leaves you standing on the edge of a cliff) At the top there is beautiful, peaceful, albeit primitive, lodge where you can stay--or just spend a lot of money on t-shirts! They (the t-shirts and hats) were worth every penny- especially for the 4 and 6 year old hikers. They more than deserved one after 19 miles of trail.

New View

You know how you start a big project and you're so excited about the possible end result? You know how a few months later, you're so exhausted from doing the project that the excitement has waned to merely a "whoop-dee-do?"

I promised to post pictures of our landscape overhaul, but frankly, it was an overwhelming and exhausting task. And now that it's over-it's exhausting and overwhelming to maintain. I AM very excited that it's done and I LOVE it, but forgive me, I don't have the energy for the slide show of pictures I promised. (though I should go take the pictures or someday I'll be sorry).

So here we are 11,000 sq. ft. of sod, 5 yards of mulch. 200 bales of pine straw. 10 gallons of paint. probably 100 or more plants, hundreds of dollars in water, and countless hours of sweat equity--here is my before and after view of my backyard. Someday I'll take a picture of the huge side yards and the patio that were overhauled also, but I'm too lazy to walk outside with the camera-- and besides it's dark-- and then I'd have to move the hose for the picture--and I don't want you to get too excited all in one day.

Before

After