The Park & Fancy Food

A week ago I took some pictures of the kids at the playground. Our neighbors Linhong and Winfred came over to see if we wanted to go outside with them. We love playing with Winfred. He is so easy to get along with and has this infectious smile and laugh. He is so calm and just likes to play.

Lately he likes to hold Adelaide's hand!

The kids took turn sliding down the hill on this snow sled. It worked pretty well on the grass!

While Linhong and I were sitting on the park bench talking, I told her we want to have them over for dinner again soon. They like to try American food and we like trying authentic Chinese food so we take turns hosting. Also they don't have ovens in China so she likes to learn how to bake things since she's never baked before. After watching me make chocolate chip cookies one day she said, "Well that was pretty easy!"

So this particular day we were talking and I told her that Spencer wants them to try something Northern European, like Stroganoff (also his favorite food!). I told her we thought it was German but we recently found out its actually Russian. She likes to try new things but, like me, gets very nervous about it. Her husband Roger, and Spencer for that matter, will try anything without hesitation, but Linhong and I both are a little more conservative! Anyway, so I could tell by the look on her face she was starting to get nervous like she was thinking too much about it, so I started telling her what stroganoff is. I pretty much just listed the ingredients: ground beef, noodles, cream of mushroom soup, sour cream..... Then she said, "Whoa. That sounds fancy!"

I tried not to laugh out loud because it is so not fancy at all! Maybe she thinks we cream the mushrooms ourselves....?? At least now we can feel good about serving them something that's so cheap and easy to make because they are Already impressed! =)