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If you tuned in yesterday then you already know that last night we had a special night with our kids.  If you didn’t then I will tell you that Poppa and I super stealthily (not easy with a bunch of snoopy children) planned a special night of them eating at our own homemade restaurant. 

At 5 PM, I asked them to go upstairs and put on nice going out clothing and after to watch a movie (I thought that would be a dead giveaway right there).  Poppa jumped into the kitchen and started cooking up a storm while I pulled out the dry erase markers and drew up our “restaurant” sign, folded napkins, set the table, got water pitchers ready and made rootbeer floats.

We dressed up too, me as the hostess and Poppa, well he was already dressed from work in business attire and we decided that since he is the Executive chef at our restaurant, that he could stay in his work duds.

They came downstairs and I asked for their names and reservations in my best French accent (which made for some giggling on their part), then I sat them at our best table (also our only table). I read them our menu choices and took orders.

Then the food and rootbeer floats came promptly out of the kitchen and I poured water in everyone’s glasses.  Every five minutes or so I would come by to check on them and make sure they were enjoying their dinner, the table was to their satisfaction and most of all that no ones cup of water went empty (this was my favorite and I think theirs also).

Olivia who is now 4 played along so well that everytime I came around she would call me “Miss” and tell me lots of random trivia about herself as if I never met her before…she was a hoot and I had to bite my lip a few times to not crack up.

After dinner plates where collected and taken back to the kitchen, there were lots of request to send compliments to the chef so I promptly brought him to the dining room so his patrons could thank him in person.

The dessert menu coincidentally offered two of their favorite desserts and everyone ordered some except for Erica who was too full from her dinner entree.  They lingered at the table for some while after dessert and we heard lots of conversation from our post in the kitchen.  When it was time for the restaurant to close, they even left us a tip!  We believe this will become a new tradition for us.  It was a great night. (I apologize for the terrible pictures, it was late and in the winter our dining room gets very little light)

I also mentioned yesterday about a new addition to our farm.  Earlier in the day they received their first Saint Valentines day gift, a new bunny!!  We adopted her from a very sweet family who posted her on Craigslist (hi Jessica!!).  The big boys help me set up her coop the night before in the barn where she will be kept company while we work and spend our days outside. 

She is really a cuddle bunny.  The kids carry her around everywhere and she doesn’t mind one bit. her new name is Lola bunny.  They are happy to have yet one more furry friend to love and I am happy to have more fertilizer for the garden.

Tonight it is our turn (Poppa and I) to go out for our Saint Valentines day dinner and we are even going to try to catch a movie but that depends on what mood our tag along Matthew is in.  I’ll be back here tomorrow to share one of our Lenten traditions with you.

If you enjoyed this post, please consider leaving a comment or follow me by email at the top right hand of the screen to have future posts sent to you. Tricia (Crunchy Catholic Momma)

I woke up this morning knowing that something is different.  It is Lent.  Children are running around this house telling of what they will be giving up for the next 40 days and talking about all the fun they had last night at our Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday) celebration.

We had quite the celebration of glutony and truth be told, I forgot to get a single picture.  Terrible, yes it is.

Our celebration was shared by Alex and her beautiful friends whom we have adopted as our “other grown daughters” and new friends who have small children that have gotten on quite well with our small boys. There was lots of running around outside and playing in the barn in the darkness last night.  There was food, lots of it though I never got quite around to making the beignets we always have and the dough is now sitting in the same bowl where I left it to rise last night.  What to do with it since we have given up sweets?

We had a roasted leg of pork, not because it is a Mardi Gras thing but because we had it and Poppa asked me to make it since he is foregoing all foods except fruit and veggies for the next 40 days!!  We shared black beans and rice, cod fritters, yuca fries, fried plantains (tostones) yum!!, pineapple wrapped in bacon as well as all the candies that each child requested for the celebration, chips and cookies.

The adults tried a new drink this year to include something that is traditionally had on Fat Tuesday, Milk Punch!!  It was quite lovely and reminded me a bit of a lighter version of egg nog.  Here is the recipe we used and I believe we will be adding it to our yearly celebration.

Later on tonight we will all be going to mass to get our ashes.  I will post tomorrow what the kids will be doing during lent at my Stash Bash, I hope to see you there.

For me, I will be staying away from the computer during daylight hours unless it is important to school or farm and Facebook shall get visited only on Sundays.  Giving up foods and sweets is not difficult for me but the computer, well, it is a time grabber for me and it will be difficult.

As I did last year, I will be posting my meatless meals on Fridays and I welcome you to add yours to my blog posts via the linky thing.  I really could use some inspiration as we do not eat meat any Friday of the year and our variety has become quite stagnant.

If you enjoyed this post, please consider leaving a comment or follow me by email at the top right hand of the screen to have future posts sent to you. Tricia (Crunchy Catholic Momma)