cooking when compacting

Well our family continues to compact. We have fallen off the wagon a couple of times and heeded the call of the golden arches, but mostly we've done great. Last night however, we started a new chapter in compacting. How long can we go without an oven? After we put dinner on the table, our oven started beeping at us and flashing the message F-2 on the display . By hitting the oven cancel button, the stove would stop beeping for about 30 seconds and then it would start to beep again. We decided to google our oven (it's a Roper Nouvelle) and see what we could find. What we found out was that our heat sensor was gone. It was going to cost between $80-$160 plus S&H to replace the part. Our oven is really old- maybe 25 or more and we were trying to decide whether or not to fix it. While we both want a new oven, our current one vents underneath- a way that is no longer done on ovens, which means buying a self venting hood or microwave to go with it. This would be very expensive. We decided that we were going to buy a new oven if the part we needed was the $160 part and that we would pay for part of it with reward point gift cards from one of our credit cards. This meant waiting a month or so for the points. So, i have a month of menus using just the stove top (which still works), the crock pot, and the grilled. Then Shawn called, it's the cheapr part and it will be here later this week. Still, I have the next's week menu done all w/o an oven- and I'm sharing it because i can. Tuesday-pasta, Wednesday Tacos, Thursday roast pork (in the crock pot), Friday a huge sub sandwich, Saturday BBQ pork sandwiches (in the crock pot w/ the leftovers), Sunday Shawn's chicken noodle soup and next Monday Breakfast for dinner. So, happy eating every one- and no trips to the golden arches for this ovenless compacting family. :)

Superbowl Sunday

We had a few friends over for the super bowl. We started with a pregame dinner. Shawn made some of his fabulous chili and we did a potato bar with chili and all the fixings. Our friends brought all the best sides including fabulous nachos, buffalo chicken dip and chips and oriental salad. We finished up with Lisa's famous bars and a

football cake that Nessa made. Sadly, I was too busy talking and laughing to take many pictures. It was a great time. But here's what I've got.

The Minnesota Way

Yesterday was a very warm day- about 40 degrees. Lily wanted to spend some time playing in the back yard, so out we went. We had already been sledding and as hot as Lily felt, she decided to take her coat off. She then went down the slide and decided to play in her play house. Unfortuantely, she was unable to get in. She kept ringing the bell, but with all the snow in the yard, she couldn't open the door. As our only child born in Minnesota, Lily has really embraced her home state and shown us how real Minnesotans play in the snow!!!

A perfect Day

We had a perfect day with friends. A miracle occured and it was almost 40 degrees out on Saturday. We had already planned to go sledding with friends, so this was a massive bonus. We had a ton of fun- especially when the guys were running sled trains. I almost peed myself laughing! and Nessa and I got a great work out running up and down the hill.

More holes in her head

Charlie decided that she wanted to pierce her ears. We found a reputable place in town that does piercings and went and got it done. The whole eperience took less than 10 minutes and she is already planning what earings she wants next. Cute and fun.

Emily Turns 9

Emily had a great birthday this year. We had our family (those who are willing to claim us) over for cake and ice cream and had a really great time. I especially enjoyed the cake, which Nessa made. We decided we'd ask her to make Lily's cake this summer and then she'll have made every birthday cake in our family for a whole year. We haven't had Em's friend party yet, but we're planning to do that this month (Feb).