Whistler Love

If you are going to the Olympics I just want to give you a heads up. It is pronounced twenty ten, not two thousand ten. Just looking out for you. I embarrassed myself and my people.

I know that boys don't have BFF's but really they are BFF's. I love these guys.

I was snow happy in Whistler, it was a Winter wonderland.


Holly did some stitching and I did some scrappin'.

Max and Brian are close friends.

This would be a great Christmas card except we're in a store instead of on a mountain. So maybe not.

If you are going to Whistler there is only one place to stay. The Whistler Connection. Check it out.

Whoo Hooo! to Boo Woo

It's all fun and games until someone gets hurt...

Max fractured his wrist. Not serious. The doc asked if we knew about growth plates...hahaha... why yes we do! Oh, because it is on the growth plate.

Holly was cooking and cleaning at the condo while we gone, we are blessed!

Don't worry Auntie Shelly, it's not his head.

Love Whistler

The new holiday Starbucks drink, the Creme Brulee Latte, is so yummy. The crunchies for garnish taste just like the scorched sugar on the top of the dessert. It is best enjoyed in Whistler Village, outdoors, under a heater, with the snow falling gently, with someone you love.


Opening Day! They won't be the first on the mountain. Some crazy guys were camping in line last night so they could have that thrill. Tyler, Brian and Max had a good night's sleep at the cozy condo and headed out this morning for a day on the mountain. Holly made a delicious breakfast and we sent them off for the day.

Snow makes me so happy!

DMV

Max needed to go to the DMV this morning for an enhanced driver's license. As I am enjoying my coffee this morning he asks me to check the web site and double check what he needs to take with him.
*Birth Certificate
*Social Security Card
*Proof of Address- but not a bank statement
*A Parent
WHAT?
Seriously. A freakin' guardian.
I was finished with the DMV.
Not so, not so.
Showered, called Troy (boss) and drove to the DMV.

Whoa, it's Thursday. They open an hour later on Thursdays. I forgot.
Whoa, everyone in line is talking about that the DMV computers have been DOWN.
Whoa, yesterday was Veteran's Day, so DMV was closed. Thus everyone who tried to go yesterday showed up this morning.
Fortunately, it wasn't raining. We jumped in line-fifth place, and waited it out.
By the time they opened the line was curling everywhere. Happy to be at the front!

We got to go right up to the counter, zip zap and we're outta there.

*Sidenote- We saw this kid in line and if the fashion police had been around someone would have locked him up and thrown away the key.
BaGGy, huge shorts, like Nike, only BIG! With black socks and patent leather black high tops. I mention this to Max, who I can tell is glancing that way and trying not to stare. It's hard not to look, like a big ole train wreck hard not to stare. I so wanted to take a picture to share with all of you.

Max- "He is a QB for ________JV football team. I hit him a lot."
Me- "Well, you didn't knock any fashion sense into him."
Max-"Mom, I can't do everything."

Too true kiddo.

Driving home I get a bad case of cell phobia. Can't find my cell phone. Flip a U turn at Horton, probably not legal. We're looking, calling my phone. Nothing.
I send Max back in, park and can faintly hear my cell vibrating...yep it was in my purse. Buried deeply in my purse.

I was punished. I had to listen to the Arctic Monkey's at a HIGH volume... all the way home.
Need a vacation? Yep.
Leaving tonight.

Happy Veteran's Day

Thank you to the Veterans who have so willingly served our country. Do you ever go to the store, a football game or church and just feel the freedoms we enjoy? Sometimes I look around myself and am overwhelmed with the blessing of freedom. Sometimes I see people doing things that I don't agree with but I do give thanks that they have the freedom to do what they think is right. Somedays I take it all for granted. Maybe that is the blessing of freedom, we don't have to think about it.

I am a military mom now. It changes how I watch the news. As a family we react differently when we read of Spc. Aaron Aamot of Whatcom County losing his life in Afghanistan while serving his country. His family must be so filled with grief and yet so proud of Aaron. We feel so sad for the tragedy at Fort Hood, we imagine if it was our son. All of these grieving families need our prayers and thanks.

Sam is doing so well. His Dad and I are so proud of him and fascinated with what he is doing in the U.S. Army. On Saturday he moves to the Blue Phase of Basic Training. He has passed many of the requirements. Graduation is coming and we can hardly wait.

Read Psalm 91 today. It's the Soldier's Psalm. Sam and his bunkmates have devotions together and have spent time in Psalm 91. Today because you have the freedom to do so, say Thank You to a veteran, read the Soldier's Psalm, pray for our military men and women, and ask for comfort for the families and friends of the soldiers at Fort Hood and for Aaron's parents and family.

God bless America-

Party Season Begins

Friday evening Hubby made salsa. We needed it for a Pioneer Woman recipe for Saturday evening. He made plenty and it was kind of my dinner plan. Pico de gallo and chips, and wine. We ran errands all day. Eye doctor, Lowe's, JoAnne's, Panda Express, Micheal's, Trader Joe's, Haggen's, Office Max, Goodwill, TJ Maxx and Bed, Bath and Beyond. It was grueling.

Then the phone rang.
Then Mike and Chela brought us Chela's famous tamales.
Then angels sang.
Then we had the perfect dinner.
I get to go to Chela's house to learn how to make tamales. This is a very happy thing for my guys. And for me.

Saturday evening we went to the annual pumpkin carving party at the Party Barn. Except this year we were late so we didn't carve. We just ate, laughed, visited and ate some more.
I made this easy appy.

Bacon Wrapped Water Chestnuts

Two cans of water chestnuts, facon*, equal parts brown sugar and ketchup(I used about 2/3 cup each). I wrap 1/2 piece of bacon around each water chestnut. You can make them earlier in the day and bake later.

Just wrap, drizzle, bake. I usually bake at about 350 degrees for 30-45 minutes. You want the brown sugar to turn into candy.
Candy + bacon=goodness
That is all the math you'll ever need.
I brought them to a barn, a very fancy barn. They did not come home with me.

It was very difficult to Eat Less, Move More this weekend.
I also baked Mariner Moose MoJo Bars. Don't ask.

The holiday are coming, the holidays are coming. I'm scared.