Christmas Eve...

Leavenworth

We love Leavenworth! Last year we actually spent Christmas there and had such a wonderful time. We would have loved to do it again but it's just to expensive. So we opted to spend a day there. We talked my mom into going along with Michelle, Nick and Landon. There was no convincing my Dad to tag along though. He really hates the snow and just couldn't see the value in purposely walking around in it. It sure was cold, about 15 degrees out there. We had a good time though. I always love to shop and the kids had a great time sledding on their hill. We ate traditional German food that was way over priced for lunch, then decided Subway was a good bet for dinner. Here's a few pictures I stole from my Mom's blog since I left my camera in the car. Lucky you, you get a rare picture of me and might I say I'm looking quite fabulous without makeup and in Taylor's hat! Not to mention the fabulousness of Alan and Lu's hats as well. I think Alan is one of the few men in this world that can buy a hat like that and pull it off!

Oh the snow...the dreadful snow!

So it's been snowing on and off since Saturday night. It's now Thursday...I think! I'm a bit delirious from being cooped up for the week. When it snows people go bonkers around here and desperately need snow tires. So Alan has to has to work like a dog. We're talking, he leaves around 6:30am and he gets home between 9:00 and 10:00pm. This has been going on for 5 days now. Tonight were not sure if he'll make it home at all.
I got so sick of being cooped up with the kids that this morning I said, "screw the snow and ice, were going to the mall!". So we left the house at 11:00 this morning and we spent the day shopping and going to lunch and a movie. We finally decided it was time to head home at about 5:00. Apparently today was not the day to say "screw it" to the snow (excuse my language, sometimes there's no other way to say it)! It took me over an hour and a half to go 5 miles. Actually it took me over an hour to go about 1 mile. Once I got off the main roads it was smooth sailing. When I say smooth, I mean really smooth and slick! I'm grateful for a gigantic 4X4 SUV today. Last month when it was costing me over $100 a week to fill up I wasn't so grateful, today I am. I'm also grateful for a husband who taught me how to drive in ice and snow without panicking 12 years ago. We had a bit of drama in that hour and a half but we made it home safe and sound. We had the inevitable pit stop to pee behind a dumpster (3 of us)...yes, me included! I blame it on this gigantic movie theatre soda! It's like a 2 liter for crying out loud! I think I'm going stay holed up in the house for the next few days, I learned my lesson.
Here's a little reminder to never get your tires at Les Schwab. Discount Tire is the only way to go. Support my poor, dear husband who works so hard to keep you all safe and sound! He just called and he's on his way home now at 8:15, who know when he'll actually get here!

Snow, Sunday & Yumminess!

I was a cynic and I didn't believe it would snow. Whenever they start forecasting a "winter storm", I roll my eyes and expect the least. Well it did snow but it wasn't any kind of storm. We got an inch or two, just enough for the kids to wake up and feel like a storm blew in while they slept. Alan and I slept in thinking that surely they would cancel church (when it snows in western Washington, everything shuts down) but we were wrong. We missed sacrament meeting but made it to class at least. Hopefully we get points for our effort to get there, even if it was only for half.
The rest of the day was spent lazying around, taking naps, kids tracking snow in and heat out. I had the makings of two of our favorite appetizers in the fridge begging to be prepared. So we decided to forget about having a real dinner and just eat appetizers. I have to share these two recipes because they are simple but OH...SO...HEAVENLY!

#1 - We'll call it Jalapeno Heaven! I can't take credit for this, I got it from The Pioneer Woman website. Here's how it's done.

First of all buy way more jalapenos than you think you'll need!

Half them and scrap out the seeds and membrane (unless you like hot)

Next fill them with softened cream cheese.

Cut a pack of bacon in half. Roll half a piece of bacon around the jalapeno and secure it with a toothpick.

Bake at 325 degree for 20-25 minutes and Voila, glorious goodness!

I can promise you that even if you don't do jalapeno (I do not) you will drool and salivate at the mear thought of these once you have tried them.

See! I told you. Even Lula thinks she's gonna get her hands on them. Don't worry, we did not feed Jalapeno heaven to the Lu!

#2 Cowboy Caviar

Oh the yumminess!!! This is soooo goooood! Did I make that clear enough with enough !!!!! and extra letters?



I won't give you the play by play, just dump all this in and stir.

1 can of black beans drained
1 can of corn drained
2 or 3 avacodos diced
2 roma tomatos de-seeded and diced
1 handfull of cilantro chopped
1 bunch of green onion chopped
1 garlic clove minced
1/4 cup olive oil
1/4 cup balsamic or red wine vinager
1 t of cumin
3/4 t salt
1/2 t pepper

1 bag of scoops tortilla chips, because you'll want to spoon this into your mouth!

Bad Santa

Ok so Santa wasn't really bad but meeting him WAS! Every year we go to the Super Mall with Alan's family for Santa pictures. Side note: Alan never comes, he's always working. My mother in law loves to have a picture taken with all of her grand kids surrounding Santa. There's twelve grand kids now so you can imagine how well that goes. It never fails that at least one kid is crying every year. We all expect it and it's really fun to see the pictures progress over the years. It's really a great tradition...but this year...oh this year! I'm still in recovery right now so the wounds are so fresh. Not literal wounds but mental and emotional wounds. We got to the mall at about 3:30 and got in the insanely long line...with 11 of the 12 grandkids. I of course own 4 of those 11 and I was doing this alone, no hubby. So an hour and 15 minutes into waiting in line Santa needs a break. Apparently Santa needs to eat and pee like the rest of us. But when waiting in line for over an hour we become a little more naughty than nice and I for one didn't care what kind of physical needs Santa needed to take care of! But Santa didn't care how I felt and took his 45 minute break anyway!!! Now 2 full hours have gone by and most of those I have spent holding a 20 pound tub of baby lard. While holding the lard I am pulling Tanner down from any thing that can be climbed on, keeping Tate from hitting every person that comes near him and convincing Taylor that she does not need every piece of clothing the mall has for sale! Santa comes back from break with great fanfare, hands waving, people clapping. Me...still feeling naughty, I would like to hit the guy up side the head right about now. I promise I did not hit Santa, I waited like a good girl for our turn. An hour later, I was paying for my precious little picture that only took 3 hours to obtain. For the price I paid for that one picture I think I could have hired the guy for 3 hours! Remind me to do that next year and stay far away from the mall! Ok, I have to go take a nice relaxing bath now because my entire body hurts.

Just in time!

There's nothing like a bright sparkly tree to motivate a 7 month old to learn how to crawl. She's been trying for a few weeks now and just hasn't gotten it figured out...until now! The tree went up, the lights went on and Lula found her muse...

My little sister!

I love this girl/woman. She'll always be a little girl to me. This is her little family and there's another little boy on the way. Aren't they just to cute!!! These were taken up in Marysville at Jennings Park. That park is a photographers dream come true, I just wish it wasn't two hours from my house. I need it in my backyard!