Small Spaces

 We warmed up a tad yesterday, though the mornings stay chilly and breezy.  Whoa, that first trip outside with Cooper in the morning really wakes me up!!  After that, this is the position of preference for the kid.  As soon as the computer work is done however, the games begin.

It's a little difficult in small spaces.  Somehow Santa found us and dropped off a couple of new toys for Mr. Cooper.  Squeakers are the name of the game.  Here's a short sample that I KNOW you will enjoy.

From that, it turns into THIS!  All morning long.  I actually prefer THAT to the next part where he just rolls it off the edge with his nose ... on purpose of course.  The Playee (that's me) has to pick it up so the Player (Coop) can just drop it over the edge again ... and again ... and again.  You get the picture.  But what can I do ... he's loves the GAME!!

It being Sunday, it was Football all the way.  Dan always records everything and watches it later.  I'll explain why in a bit.  In the meantime, this is my induction stovetop.  Pretty small and NOT my favorite to cook on.  If you barely graze the ON button, it turns on.  No biggie, it doesn't heat if you don't put metal on it, but that has happened quite by accident, and anything laying over it can melt.  

It's also bad if you scratch it up.  It takes up so much room that it has become an annoyance.  I mentioned to Mr. Chance that if he was bored, I had a project for him.  He's one of those handy guys that can literally make anything.  I asked for a cheap little serving platter, that when turned upside down, would fit completely over the plate and give me extra room to set things.

Here's what he came up with.  SO much more than I ever imagined.  It's made of maple I think he said, sits down over the plate top so it won't slide off the counter and doubles as a cutting board.  WOW ... now I can set my computer up there out of the way and not worry about it melting!!  You know I sing the praises of handy guys!!  This was above and beyond!!

For the next hour or so we watched the football game he had taped.  He can zip through those like crazy, skipping over all the commercials and catching only the football plays.  I think the entire game took maybe an hour?  That's what I'm doing from now on!!  

Dinnertime showed up rather quickly, so out came the ugly steaks.  Not the prettiest you've ever seen, but I'm here to say they are as tender as fillet mignon.  

Dan threw them on the barbecue while Patty whipped up the rest of the meal in a flash.  

This was even better than that blooming onion.  Fresh green beans with onion, and my all time favorite, scalloped potatoes.  Wasn't I shocked to find the potatoes came in a heat-it-up pan from Costco.  WHAT?  When did they do that?  They were just as good as the ones I make from scratch.  I see a trip to Costco in my future!!

So far routines are coming together in the small confines of the van.  I haven't left the vent open and I remembered to turn the charger off.  We overheated a tad bit last night with my little heater, so a wall thermometer will be on my list of necessary items.  Otherwise, we are getting along quite well.  If Mr. Cooper and Jonathan are happy, MOM is happy!!