Family Fondue Night

Our kids are pretty simple when it comes to food. Foodies they're not! They would be happy most of the time with a diet of hot dogs & chips, apples, a grilled cheese or PBJ, with the occasional slice of pizza thrown in. You know, kid food. ( I know my mom cringed as she read that, right?)

Yesterday we decided to do something a little different... we did Fondue for dinner! Not just cheese fondue to dip bread/veggies in, either. I mean the actual "Coq Au Vin" style where we actually cook meat and veggies at the table.

They were pretty enthralled by it all. Liam had his own special dipping sauce (no cheese for that kid, allergies you know) for bread and veggies. They enjoyed the cheese, but the real test came with the main course. The only rule was that everyone had to try one of everything. Other than Luc almost gagging on a piece of shrimp, everything was a hit.

Lach declared it the best meal our family has ever experienced. Janelle and I declared it a family record as we spent one and a half hours happily around the dinner table. We think this may become a monthly tradition for our family. Perhaps we've nudged our kids down the road to "foodie-dom" or perhaps not... regardless, we had a great time!

If you're planning on stopping by for a visit in Sierra Vista, give us a weeks warning and the night you're here just may end up "Family Fondue Night."

This too Shall Pass...

Post from my favorite guest blogger follows:

My Husband is Leaving Me.
Abandonment Issues.
I Will Survive.

All are alternative titles that I tried out for this post. After I decided to stop throwing crazy amounts of guilt at my husband I came up with the current title. This too shall pass.

Sometimes that is the hardest concept to own. The idea that - yeah this isn't going to be fun, but it will be okay and in the end we will be together again. That might sound melodramatic from a woman who's husband has deployed twice to Iraq and has dealt with the raising of 3 and 4 kids all by her lonesome. I'm living with 3 other adults for pity sake! I know I am so blessed and I know it will be alright.

I just like my husband. I like to be with him. I'm pretty sure he likes to be with me. The kids seem to like him too. Who knew?

He is also leaving for a good reason. He is heading back to Tennessee to help his Dad and Mom out (hi guys!). Jon's parents are working on the Clarksville house, getting it up to snuff to put on the market. Kind of cool that Jon's summer of construction work is going to be of use (again!). We are glad to share him but we will miss him and are in no way jealous. Really.

So for those of you in Tennessee and Kentucky:

Jon will be flying in this Wednesday and returning to us on Monday. If you want to get together with him leave a comment, send him an email or give him a call on his cell.

Smoking

Got your attention, didn't we?!?

First, this has nothing to do with tobacco.

Second, Jon has found a new way to make deliciousness whilst cooking out of doors.

We spent the weekend with Janelle's sister and family in Victorville.  We went to church last night, so Jon had all morning to create our Easter Dinner.  Smoked Tri Tip is the new favorite recipe.  We should have taken a picture, because the meat had that "pink smoke ring" that happens when you smoke meat at a low temp for a long period of time.

It was good.

We'll do it again... maybe at your house!