New Cooking Blog

 

 Cookbook Overkill Blog

Okay, I have hemmed and hawed (does anyone even know where this saying comes from?) over this stupid blog and cookbook challenge long enough. I didn't have a very busy work week, so I decided to get it up and running. I finished it up tonight.

You can all make fun of me as much as you like for being "blogtarded" but I don't care. I have to do what I have to do. If nothing else this blog is going to help me get organized, and that's good enough for me!!!

Check it out and tell me what you think. I of course only have one recipe on there right now, but there will be plenty to follow!

Snoqualmie

Dave and Marci had an open house for their oldest son, Adam, for his mission farewell. We decided to leave early and hang out in Snoqualmie. It was a great day. Loved being out. Just wish we would have had the sunshine we were promised, but whatever.

 

Jess's Prom Report

Jess had an amazing time at her prom. I was so glad to see her come home in such a good mood. First, Alex took her to Ipanema Brazilian Grill in Seattle. She texted me half way through dinner to tell me how amazing it was.... I have to share a video Alex took however. Let me give you the background first.

It was a little rainy outside, and Jess (of course) was in heels. Ipanema is a buffet style, really expensive restaurant, and Jess was kind of slipping on the floor getting her food. Alex didn't want her to fall so he told her to sit down and he would get a variety of foods for her to try out. She got part way through her plate and found this:

Jess just looked at that, then looked at Alex. Umm.... Then he laid on the "I am paying for this really nice dinner, you really need to try it", "do you want to hurt my feeling?"... little punk. But, he got her to try it!! I was so amazed that she did, but here it is - ha-lar-ious!!!! You can tell that she is trying so hard to keep her composure and not throw up.

 ***(Sometimes I REALLY HATE BLOGGER!!! It is so finicky, and I am slightly considering trying a new blogging server. Anyway, it will not let me load the videos at this time. I will continue to try, and hopefully the problem will be fixed soon. I really am close to bailing on blogger though....... boo!)***

Poor thing. I am totally impressed and proud of her for at least trying it. She really is growing up, my little picky eater. Still picky though! Then, and here is the really gross part, she looked over and didn't see it on Alex's plate any more. She asked "where did the octopus go?", and then looked at Alex. He had stuffed the entire thing in his mouth and was chewing away. After about five seconds he reached up and pulled something out of his mouth....... "Hm. The beak was still on there." GROSS! And, he continued to finish it. Oh Alex, our little garbage disposal. After dinner they went to the dance and met up with some friends for the rest of the night. She really had a blast dancing all night long and walking through the EMP (Experience Music Project, that crazy building in Seattle shaped like a guitar from the sky) where the dance was held. 
 

They all went out to Cheesecake Factory for dessert and visited to all hours of the morning. I've been walking around half dead today because I waited for her to get home last night and then had to get up and work this morning. But, it was all worth it to hear about her wonderful night. You only get one prom!

Jess's Senior Prom

Sniff... my baby is almost all growd up. Today was her Senior prom. Yup, my littlest niño is getting closer to flying to coop. We had a lot of fun today getting her ready for her big event, and even more fun down at the park taking pictures.

Alex really wanted to wear his fedora so we decided to go with a 20's theme with their outfits. It was SO fun! Especially since Jess has cut her hair off, it went with this perfectly. We designed the dress, got it all made, found her some rockin' shoes and tights (and yes, garter too ;o), did her hair up in a finger wave complete with feather headband and.... whala! She looked amazing and can be guaranteed she won't look like anyone else at the dance.

Here is what the dress looked like to start

We found this little dress at Ross for $18.00 and thought it had potential. So we brought it home and started to work our magic. Thrifty shoppers we are. We were able to do the entire outfit for about $100. Not bad considering a lot of girls will pay more than that for their dress alone.

Here is the final product and my favorite shots from our fun photo shoot down at the lake. We had a blast, and the kids looked great!

Photo Scavenger Hunt Weekend

As you know, I posted on Family Strong last week about our photo scavenger hunts. It really made everyone want to do it since the kids weren't involved the last two times we've done it. So, we got together and thought of a theme - Colors - and took off in pairs. We met up afterward at Dairy Queen for ice cream.

I had a GREAT time hanging out with Aaron for the day, and had a lot of fun playing around with my new camera. I really think I need to take some classes to get my full potential, but I am reading and practicing. I'll get there some day ;o)

We took off to an nursery in Enumclaw, and if you know us you know we LOVE to drive out to Enumclaw. It's just so beautiful out there Aaron and I turned our Photo date into a mini- road trip. It was great. 

Our challenge - take pictures of red, yellow, blue, green, orange, purple, black, white, brown and rainbow. Here is what everyone got. (pictures in this order: mine and Aaron; Jeff and Shanon; Jess and Alex)

Red

 

Yellow

 Blue

 

 

  
Green

 

 Orange

 

Purple

Black

 

 

White

 

 

Brown

Rainbow

 

It was the perfect date because Aaron and I got some time out together, we got to do something with our kids without having to be with them.... lol.... and then meet up with everyone afterward. We had a lot of fun hanging out at Dairy Queen too - and you know me out with a camera, had fun taking pics there too