The Greatest Show on Earth

On April 29, we surprised the girls with a trip to the circus.  We only told them we were going on an "adventure" and it was killing Brooke.  She was full of ideas ... "Are going to Home Depot, cutting down trees, or are we going to Cape Cod????"  She was so non-stop with the guesses we encouraged her to take a nap in the car to rest - no such luck. 

We broke the news in the parking garage and the reaction was great.

We made the short walk from the garage to the arena and found our seats --- they gave us the perfect vantage point.  The show started at 3:00 and ended about 5:30 with a brief intermission.  It was such a fun afternoon and the girls are still talking about it.  Brooke said the circus was fantastic and we should go again. 
Daddy loved the tigers, Mommy's favorite part was the elephants, Kristen loved the horses, and Brooke had trouble deciding what she loved the most - she thinks the acrobats.  She told Paul he should be an acrobat -- I think he should stick to delivering packages from the Big Brown Truck -- I don't think the spandex outfits are really his style.

The captive audience

Yesterday, I had a hot dog for dinner

Yesterday was Ash Wednesday and, yes, I had a hot dog for dinner.
Some important history for the story follows:

• The girls and I are Protestant, we attend a Congregational Church, we don't give up meat during Lent.
• Paul is Catholic and observes the practice of giving up meat on Ash Wednesday and Fridays during Lent as does most of his family.
• I don't eat fish .... I don't like fish .... or any seafood really .... yes I leave near the ocean and NO I still don't like fish.

When Paul and I started dating way back in 2002 he bowled on Wednesday nights. He was on a team with 4 other guys and they were hysterical to spend a few hours with.  We had a routine, Paul went to the lanes on the way home from work (those were the days when he used to get home between 6:00 and 6:30) and I met him there.  We'd order dinner from the snack bar in the 2nd game and order the first pair of pitchers of beer.  Paul's dad, Joe Ro, came faithfully every week to watch for an hour or so.  Joe loved bowling, he was a bowler back in his hay day and even worked at the lanes.  He was serious about bowling and shook his head in disgust every time that food and beer arrived on the counter behind the seating area.  You were there to bowl, not to eat and drink.  There would be time for that later.

On Ash Wednesday 2003, I ordered Paul a fish sandwich instead of his standard burger and dog and I ordered my usual, "the split" - a hot dog and fries.  I walked back with my food and set it down on the table in front of Joe.  It took me a few seconds before I realized that he was looking at me, then my hot dog and then at me. 

"Oh crap, should I tell him, I'm not Catholic and I'm not breaking the rules?" I thought to myself. 

While I continued my internal struggle, Joe blurted out with a bit of an annoyed tone "Are YOU Catholic????" 

I quickly replied "No" and he seemed relieved. 

"Oh, I can't eat that today" he replied.

"I know, I'm sorry."

It is one of my favorite memories of him .... silly I know ... but it was so him.  He said what he felt, when he felt it, whether you wanted to hear it or not and sometimes you seriously wanted to crawl under the table. 

Yesterday, I was bowling in the CSC League at 4:30.  The girls were staying late with Miss Carol and eating dinner there, Paul was having the frozen fish filets he picked up on his grocery shopping trip on Sunday, so I had the perfect excuse to treat myself to dinner out at the lanes.

I walked to the snack bar and ordered a split and smiled as I walked back to our lanes.  When Paul got home we talked about our day and I laughed as I said I had my "traditional" Lenten meal.  It wasn't an official tradition but last night I decided that as often as I could, on Ash Wednesday, I'm having a foot long hot dog and french fries at the bowling alley. When the girls are older we're heading to the lanes together, ordering Splits and I'll tell them that story.  So even though they never had the chance to personally know their Grandpa Joe, they'll have funny stories and happy memories to hold onto. It stings a little less that way.

You are always in our hearts, Joe Ro !!!!!

I am not a gourmet cook ......

I am not a gourmet cook ........ but I try. 

I've made it a goal, resolution, a mission if you will to learn how to cook.  I mean stuff that doesn't come out of a box that you just add water, eggs or butter to .... but really learn how to cook.  I'm all about setting realistic goals - so I have no designs on landing my own Food Network or Cooking Channel show - I just want to cook basic, delicious and mostly healthy meals that we really LOVE to eat.  I feel this is a good time to mention for those of you who are not aware of this, my husband does NOT eat cheese .... no seriously, I am NOT kidding.  He does eat pizza with cheese but that is the end of it - no grilled cheese, no mac & cheese, no deliciously gooey, melty Mexican cheese on burritos, enchiladas .... NOTHING.  Let me also point out that when we met I could cook about 1 thing (meatloaf) that didn't have cheese in the recipe. It still to this day amazes me that I was able to win his affection ..... (that's a story for another post too)

Its another little known fact that I DVR The Oprah Winfrey Show every day .... there are 18 episodes on the hard drive and I'm listening and sort of watching an episode right now. Some time ago Jessica Seinfeld was a guest on an episode to promote her newest cookbook.  That episode has changed the face of our dining room table - since then we have roasted chicken almost once a week.  Another recipe I learned on that episode is her crock-pot lasagna.  We don't have this as often as the chicken - remember that whole "husband doesn't eat cheese thing" ... but its my favorite dish to prepare if I need something to take to a friend's house.  I rave about this whenever I make it  ... we had it again Tuesday night when Auntie Cindy and Uncle David came for dinner. 

So here is what you've all been waiting for .... the piece De resistance'

 

If you're inspired to give it a whirl here's the recipe (with my customizations in brackets)

3 cans 14.4 oz crushed tomatoes [I usually use 2 28 oz cans]

3 cloves of garlic, finely chopped

2 tbsp dried oregano

1/2 tsp kosher salt

1/4 tsp red pepper flakes

1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper

2 containers fresh ricotta - 15 oz each [I use one large 32 oz container - part skim]

2 cups (8 oz) grated mozzarella [part skim or fat free]

1/4 c grated Parmesan cheese

12 lasagna noodles (about 3/4 of a 1 pound box)  [I use whole wheat pasta]

5 oz baby spinach

3 - 4 Chicken Italian Sausage links - cook ahead of time [I don't know if you need to but the thought of raw chicken totally grosses me out.  There is a name brand one I buy that says on the package it is already cooked, but when I buy the store brand I bake them in the oven first and then dice it up]

In a medium bowl, combine the tomatoes, garlic, oregano, salt, red pepper and black pepper. In a separate bowl, mix the ricotta, 1 c of the mozzarella and the Parmesan.

In the bottom of a 5 to 6 quart slow cooker, spread a thin layer of the sauce. Top with 3 of the noodles (breaking to fit as necessary).  Spread about 1 cup of the sauce over the noodles and layer with 2 cups of spinach, 1 1/2 c of the cheese mixture and 1 diced sausage link.  Repeat twice more with the noodles, sauce, spinach, cheese mixture, and sausage. Top with the remaining 3 noodles, sauce and 1 cup of mozzarella.

Cook on low, covered, until the noodles are tender - especially in the center of the lasagna about 3.5 - 4 hours. Serve with salad and garlic bread and enjoy!

This post is dedicated to my friend and co-worker May (she introduced me to one of my new favorite blogs The Pioneer Woman ) ....... I hope this helps you "picture" it.

Happier Times

My last Romanskiville post was not filled with pictures of my girls or stories about their antics.... it was somber and sad, but I felt a little better after I wrote it.  That post was written on February 8, the same day our beautiful little niece (and cousin), Olivia, turned one.  I didn't forget it was her birthday that day - sent her my wishes that morning but the big shindig wasn't until that weekend so it wasn't really "real" to us yet.

From very early on, my sister started calling Olivia "Lady Bug" and not too long after that, Brooke followed suit and then we either heard someone else say it or we just slipped into calling her Livy Bug.  She is going to be 40 years old and I am still going to be calling her "Livy Bug", the same way I, to this day, am "Heather B" (that's a story for another post).  Her party was all pink and lady bugs - it was ADORABLE and she looked soooo sweet in her Birthday Girl outfit. 

She was the perfect guest of honor delighting her guests with her charm and personality.  Opening gifts with excitement and enthusiasm - clapping and laughing and flashing that smile that just melts your heart. We gave Garrett a rocking chair for his first birthday, so it was only fitting that Livy get one too!  I found the perfect one - pinks, purples with a butterfly that matches her room theme. 

 She was a professional cake messer upper and had no problem getting her hands dirty and digging into that cake.  You made your Auntie proud little one!!!!

Happy FIRST Birthday Livy Bug !!!!!!  We love watching you grow !!!!!

At a loss .....

It has been a long 24 hours and my mind has wandered frequently today.  I learned last night that an old friend from high school took his own life and is gone far too young.  I wonder how bad things must have gotten for him to feel this was his only way out.  I wonder how he ended up feeling so isolated and alone. 

We grew up in a small town - sort of like Cheers - where every one knows your name and your parents and lots of stuff - maybe even stuff you wish they didn't.  Word of this tragedy has spread fast and left many sad and bewildered.

I am sad that he is gone but even more so my heart aches for the family he has left behind.  I am certain they are devastated, confused, and maybe even angry.  They are left to pick up the pieces and go on without him.  They have dealt with so much sadness over the years.  It seems unfair that they got dealt this hand.

Bob and I lost touch for a long time, reconnected via email in the last few years and then were friends on FB.  I keep looking at his profile on Facebook, his profile picture is the perfect image.  It is the Bob that I remember from HS and I swear he looked exactly like that all those years ago.  He was gentle, kind, funny and sarcastic, but in a charming way.  You were happy in his presence and spent most of that time laughing.  It is unfathomable to me that his last hours were filled with violence and confrontation ... it just is not the person I knew and isn't the man I will remember.

I choose to believe in a God that does not intercede in tragedies, but weeps for them.  A God that offers strength and courage to go on when nothing makes sense.  I pray that God will allow the people that are overcome with grief to mourn and, in time, to heal. 

"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance ........ a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace" Ecclesiastes 3:1-8


For me, this doesn't seem like it was the "right" time, but I don't make the rules or shape the future.  I hope beyond all hope that this is his 'time for peace'

1971 ~ 2011

This CANNOT be Good

The other night I walked back into the kitchen to discover these shenanigans ... Kristen had carried her stool over to the gate, carefully placed it down and then ....... well the pictures speak for themselves.

She climbs onto her stool

Surveys her next move

I was not fast enough to catch a photo of her lifting her left leg and trying to swing it over the gate but that was the next move.  She is going to be the one that tries to climb out of her crib, jumps of the playscape from the tippity top, and jumps into the deep end with out any additional floatation devices.  Thank goodness we have good insurance and that is why we already have her enrolled in swimming lessons.

Go Red ....

Heart Disease is the Number 1 killer in women age 20 and over.  Heart Disease kills more women then the next four causes of death combined. Today is "Go Red for Women Day" to raise awareness and last year on this day I devoted a blog entry to the event. 

I made some pledges that day last year ......

• to personally exercise more (OK who am I kidding - this should really read START exercising!)
• to teach my children the importance of exercise
• to encourage healthy eating for our family

 Are you wondering how we've done on these pledges here in Romanskiville?  I'm happy to report (and sort of proud) that we have made definite strides forward.  We didn't get off to a blazing start in February it took a while to get going.  Last summer we swam, we walked, we biked every day on our Cape Cod vacation and we sweated off a few pounds on those days that were in the high 90's and WICKED humid.  Recently, we setup our Wii and I'm loving the Wii Fit Plus. Kristen and I do Yoga together in the wee morning hours.  I've tried to explain to her that we do NOT need to get up at 5:30 am, we would have plenty of time to get our workouts in even if we started at 6:45 am ..... we are still working that one out.

 

I cook more then ever and I'm not talking about frozen pizza, boxed macaroni and cheese or other dinner in a box concoctions .... these had been our friends in the past.  In the summer, we grilled almost every night and it was rarely a hot dog or hamburger.  This winter our new favorite is Jessica Seinfeld's oven roasted chicken.  Yup, I can actually roast a chicken and no one gets sick !!!!   The best part is that since I've been paying more attention to what we are eating, when and how much I'm 20 lbs lighter ... I still have some to go,  well a good "chunk" to go (no pun intended) ... but there has been significant progress.  

 

To learn more about the movement or get some great information on prevention, etc. Check out the Go Red for Women website.