We finally got SNOW!!! Yesterday, the weather people were forecasting 3-5 inches in Charlotte. We didn't want to tell the boys because we NEVER get snow. Not since Ron bought the sleds and snow shovel 4 years ago. But, this morning, I woke around 4 am, looked out the window and sure enough, there was snow on the ground and still falling! I went back to sleep, and then was awakened at 6:45 by two little boys who were so excited! They couldn't wait to get outside. School was cancelled and Ron stayed home from work to play with the boys in the snow. The boys were so excited they both said they were going upstairs to get 'three shirts and 2 pairs of pants on- so they would be plenty warm!'. We made them wait until they had eaten breakfast. Then I went into the attic to get their ski clothes. We bundled up and headed out! Boy was it fun. The boys went sledding down the neighbors yard and made a snowman. When we were all cold enough, we headed in for coffee and hot chocolate! The snow kept coming down most of the morning. We had about 4 inches total. After lunch, we went back out for a snow ball fight while Kate napped. The sun is out now and our snowy wonderland is melting. So much for snow!! That is one nice thing about snow here. You get to have fun, maybe get to stay home from school and work, then it melts and we get back to normal! Hope you enjoy the pictures!
Will came home last week and told me that he had one an ice cream cone at school. I asked him how and he said he knew about the 'goliath beetle'. Okay... When I was at school on Wednesday (I get to read to his class every other Wednesday- such fun!!) his teacher Ms. Szura filled in the holes. She told me that each morning the school asks a question of the students- usually it is more like 4th or 5th graders that answer the question. So the hint was 'name something that is named after a very large man'. Will immediately raised his hand and said 'the Goliath Beetle' (good thing he had a Goliath beetle t-shirt and Ron is reading the David and Goliath story to the boys). Ms. Szura said she had no idea! She told me that he had also told the class something about Sperm Whales that she didn't know. What a little scientist!!
Okay, so I want to toot my horn a little today. Most of you know that I am a pretty good cook (well, atleast I think you know that!). Anyway, last week, I was looking at two packages of cheese tortellini from Trader Joe's thinking 'I cannot eat noodles with red sauce, AGAIN!' The kids all LOVE TJ's tortellini we do,too. I had just had it with red sauce. I thought, could I make a tortellini soup? I pulled up a couple on line but had none of the ingredients. So, using a little kitchen magic, I whipped up the most delicious soup I have ever made! Ron agreed, even said it could be served to people outside the house. That is a great compliment! Anyway, I just wanted to share it with you, in case you, too, are staring at a package of fresh tortellini today! Hope you like it as much as we did!!
3 links Italian Sausage (or about 3/4 lbs.)
1 meduim onion chopped
1-2 cloves minced garlic (I like the kind that comes in the big jar)
1 stalk celery diced
2 carrots sliced
3 cans chicken broth
2 beef boullion cubes (I know ckn and beef?? But it was what I had and made it good)
1 can Rotel tomatoes
1 small can tomato sauce (oregano, basil seasoned)
10 oz. cooked tortellini
Brown sausage, crumble and drain
Wipe pan of most of oil from sausage and saute onion, garlic, celery and carrots until soft. Season with salt and pepper.
Add broth and boullion cubes, bring to boil, reduce to simmer.
Add sausage, tomato sauce and Rotel- season with a pinch of oregano.
Simmer for about 30 minutes. Add tortellini just before you want to serve- heat it throughly.
Next time I make it I will take a picture- It looked so yummy!!!
Sorry, it has been a while... Not much has been going on here lately. Just the normal wintery colds and ear infections! The weather had been warm but rainy for the last few days. Now that the sun is shining, it is FREEZING!! Hopefully, we will be able to get out for a bike ride this afternoon. Kate loves her bike seat now. Will and Ben are back in school and we are getting back to normal around her.
Kate has learned a new trick- she can shake her head 'NO!'. This comes in handy when I am fixing her a meal. It is so much easier to fix her something she will eat!! We are getting ready to sign the boys up for spring sports. Ben is very excited about playing soccer and Will can't wait for t-ball. Of course, he wants to play baseball because he 'can already hit pitches!'. Hopefully some of you can make it for a game or two.
Hope all is well with everyone and that your new year has started off well!!
