They don’t even have similar heels. I managed to run all of my errands in these babies!

I can totally see one of my identical twins saying this to his brother!

Too bad it’s just a prop scooter in fake Italy! Check out the real Grouchy Herbie in the background!

Universal Studios January 2012

So, last night when I realized that the only meat in the house was stew meat I went on a hunt for a new recipe.  The criteria was simple:  I had to have the ingredients on hand.

I came across this recipe for Beef Stew with Beer and Paprika.  I don’t know if I would have tried it except that everyone I know who has tried a recipe from Pioneer Woman has loved the outcome.  So away we went.

The recipe was easy to read and follow.  My house smelled amazing.  It was perfect for a rainy, cold Pacific Northwest kind of day.

Personal Experience Notes on the Recipe:  My sauce did not thicken.  I did not have a can of cheap beer, so I used some Belgian Ale that had been in the fridge for quite some time.  I can only assume that my husband won’t mind!  I did not have fresh garlic cloves so I used minced.   Everyone loved it.  The flavor was good.  The presentation lovely.  And, the aroma enticing.

Ingredients:

• 3 Tablespoons Olive Oil
• 1 Tablespoon Butter
• 2 pounds Stew Meat
• 1 whole Medium Onion, Diced
• 3 cloves Garlic, Minced
• 1 can Beer, 12 Ounce Can
• 4 cups Beef Stock (or 4 Cups Water + 4 Beef Bouillon Cubes)
• 2 cups Water (additional, If Needed)
• 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire Sauce
• 2 Tablespoons Tomato Paste
• 1/2 teaspoon Paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon Kosher Salt
• Freshly Ground Black Pepper
• 1-1/2 teaspoon Sugar
• 4 whole Carrots, Washed, Unpeeled, And Roughly Sliced
• 4 whole New Potatoes, Quartered
• Minced Parsley (optional)

Preparation Instructions

I quickly set her straight.  The other end of this hose is attached to a sump pump in my basement.

What a welcome home!  When we flew in, it was snowing and then it quickly turned to rain.  And, by “rain” I mean total down pour, the likes of which we haven’t seen in 16 years.

I have been trying to remember that sometimes the journey from a land, from a far away place is as important as the destination, but in this case, we were all about the destination.  After all, we were on our way to DISNEYLAND!  And, it did not disappoint!

As I stood watching The World of Color show (the show that I was determined not to like), I was reminded of my 17 year old self.  While my friends plastered their walls with posters of Sinead O’Connor, John Cusack, Matthew Broderick, and Kirk Cameron, I wallpapered my room with Disney calendars, postcards, and labels.  I wore Mickey Mouse earrings, Minnie Mouse socks, and a Goofy watch.

I had almost forgotten that version of myself.  Daily life with one plus twins had almost erased the memory of life before parenthood…almost.  In true Disney fashion, I felt the magic (and my youth) around me.  For this, I will always be thankful.

We stayed at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel and Spa.  The first night was a bit rough as we were awakened by the tune of a jackhammer at 2 am- the sound of it was something quite atrocious.  The second night was better, but we were still disturbed by the rattle of the bunk bed our youngest was tossing and turning in.  The third night, after we changed rooms and had a visit from maintenance, was much better.  The last three nights were quite peaceful.  This hotel is beautiful AND clean.  The staff was eager to ask “what will your pleasure be?” and the food was tasty (if not very expensive).  It was great to experience their problem free philosophy.  Hakuna Matata, indeed!

We just kept swimming between Disneyland and Disney’s California Adventure for five days.  We were able to ride our favorite rides repetitively without too much wait time.  Taking the kids out of school for a week in January was a great choice as far as the crowds were concerned.

I think we might hold the record for most consecutive rides on the Grizzly River Run in the dark in the rain.  For some reason, riding in a raft after dark was a thrill for the kids.  They felt we were living on the edge (of my sanity).  After the third ride, The Pilot and I were checking the map for the “great chiropractor ride”; unfortunately, we never made it to that adventure.

The trip was such a success that I might venture into my own attic and look for that one box labeled “Disney Stuff”.

This picture is dedicated to SM, she CLAIMS this is her favorite ride!  I say, “Ha, no one loves this ride”.

“This is our hotel, Mama?”

“Yes, Baby”

“WOW.”