Thursday night = Family night

So we have one night a week where we try REALLY hard to have some good family time - no interruptions, no other committments, etc.  It's virtually impossible during football since Troy doesn't usually get home until 7....but I'm not complaining (stopping now to pray for a dear friend who's hubby is going to be leaving for Basic Training!).  However, tonight we had some fun - nothing major, just trying to enjoy the small things.  Like trying not to laugh at Ryan's version of telling me off:  "Mom, go buy the farm!" (said in the same tone as "Mom, go take a hike!").  Or Seth tearing open a bag of chocolate chips and helping himself to a snack.  The best part was that after getting all slobbery and chocolatey, Seth grabbed an open bag of powdered sugar and some of it floated down on top of him - it was a sugary version of being tarred and feathered.  Sigh. 
But Troy's highlight of the night was a yummy dinner.  I'm no chef, nothing fancy here in this house...but every once in awhile I find a connoction that is JUUUUUUUST right.  This meal is super easy, can be made in about 5 minutes of prep time, can be left alone in a crockpot, and men LOVE it.  Well, at least I know that Troy does:

"Best-Ever Barbecued Ribs"
1 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon course salt
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper
2-3 pounds well-trimmed pork baby back ribs, cut into 4 rib pieces (with bones - not the boneless kind)
1/4 cup ketchup
2 tablespoons packed dark brown sugar
1 tablespoon (or more!) Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon (or more!) soy sauce
1 tablespoon (or more) A-1 sauce

Coat your crock-pot with cooking spray.  Combine paprika, salt, thyme, black pepper and red pepper; rub mixture onto meaty sides of ribs.  Cook ribs on Low 7-8 hours (or on high 3-3 1/2 hours although the low method is better) until ribs are tender.

Combine the remaining ingredients; mix well.  Remove ribs from the crock-pot and discard cooking liquid.  Coat ribs with sauce and return to crock-pot and cook on High for 30 minutes or until ribs are glazed.