Freaster Sunday

We decided to stay home for Easter this year. We've missed the past few years and seem to be okay with it. We still celebrate in our own way.

For breakfast I made oat bran. This time I sweetened it with a little agave. Scott seems to think I only like my oats bland, but that's not true.

I make truly interesting oats. Agave, my friends, does not make oatmeal tasty. If you're looking for a quick, but complex variation try this recipe the next time you have a few extra minutes -- unless you like bland-meal.

Steel-cut Oats w/ Apple Chips, Raisins and Cinnamon

1 C Water
2/3 C Steel Cut Oats
Handful of Apple Chips
1/4 C Raisins
2 T Brown Sugar
1 t Cinnamon
Pinch of Salt


Cook the first two ingredients for a few minutes over medium heat. When water starts to simmer lower heat and add dried fruit. Cook until tender. While still on heat add a teaspoon of cinnamon, two tablespoons brown sugar and a pinch of salt.
Eat.

Scott looked for his Easter basket the second he got up. He checked if it was in the map...

Nope it was behind the couch in the sun room.

She really didn't hide it that well. I found it in the second or third place I looked. Nonetheless, Brooke is the best fiance a man could have.

Since I don't have any children, Scott is forced into my holiday traditions. My mom has always been big on holidays and doing the same things every year. A part of me feels the same way. Hopefully Scott doesn't mind the goofy gifts I give him.

Look at all the nifty cooking gadgets and candy she got me!

I eat his candy anyway.

Peanut B. is caught in action. He got into my bag of yarn and wasn't ashamed.

Tyler, Emma, and Olive decided to stay in Minnesota as well. So we joined them at church. We sat in back with the other families with antsy children.

Being around all the children was really distracting.

I hope I'm a good parent like Tyler and Emma when I grow up.

I like that, "When I grow up." Like we're younger than Ty and Emms. Well, I am. 

 It was, indeed, distracting in the back so I made my way around the church. This is going to be part of a photo project called "52 Weeks in Purgatory." (Read Dante's Inferno if you don't get the title.) I meant to start it last year, but I got sidetracked. I say, "not this time."

What better place to have Easter dinner than IKEA!

Heh. Brooke, totally, was against this idea.

Emma had brought up the idea a few weeks before and I was a little skeptical about going here for an Easter dinner. I am usually disappointed with the food there so I wasn't expecting anything spectacular but they had "real" food along with the usual meatballs and desserts. Plus it was all you can eat!

They had lots of seafood, even deviled eggs with caviar.

Olive was very excited to spend her first Easter at IKEA.

A band played during our Easter feast. Freaster, as we like to call it, was so surreal. Mall of America, flags, big wicker lights and Swedish folk music: I think this might just have to be a Easter tradition.

If you spent over $100 you got your meal for free. Luckily we needed to get more blinds and curtains.

Another item we got at IKEA were solar powered lights. We wanted them for our sun room, but they're even waterproof for outside use.

Note the dead Box Elders in the windowsill.

Olive was a nancy pants so we went home. I was finally able to plant my strawberry seeds. I hear growing strawberries is difficult, but the seed packet claims they're "Guarantee to Grow!".

I'd feel better if they were guaranteed.

We convinced them to come over for a sushi dinner. Another tradition we started last year. Emma brought the milk and beer.

This was Tyler and Emma's first time making sushi. I think they may make it every week like us.

I had only charged the solar power lanterns for a few hours during sunset. I was pleased with how bright these little lights get.

They just couldn't get enough and ate what was left in the cookware.

After that strange set of events we called it a night. It was a good Easter. I hope we'll tell our kids about it someday.