Snow, Snow, Snow

Preventing Slips, Trips and Falls

I plan to post more snow and Christmas pictures, but in the meantime, I had to get this one up. It cracks me up every time. The snow this year had layers of snow, ice, snow, ice - which made it very difficult for all of us to walk across (including our furry friends).

Just a Little Dancin' From Our Home to Yours

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Fav Holiday Recipes: Autumn Punch & Cranberry Bliss Bars

Here are two often-requested and well-loved recipes you might like to try this holiday. The first is from my friend, Jessica. She served this punch at a recent party here and it was a huge hit. I have to tell you, I have NEVER enjoyed anything attributed to wine, but I really enjoyed this! It is called Autumn Punch, but we won't tell if you want to call it Christmas Punch or New Year's Punch or... Enjoy!

Autumn Punch

Prep: 20 minutes
Chill: 4 hours

2 tsp. whole cloves (ground cloves OK too or just put whole cloves in directly and strain them)
½ of a vanilla bean, split lengthwise (or 1 tsp. of vanilla extract instead)
1 64 –oz. bottle apple-cranberry juice (you can also use plain apple juice)
4 medium purple and/or green plums, pitted and sliced (or apples or pears)
1 750 – ml bottle Gewurztraminer or other fruity wine

Place cloves and vanilla bean in center of a 6-in square of cheesecloth. Bring corners of cloth together; tie closed with clean string. Pour apple-cranberry juice into a large container or pitcher. Add plums and spice bag. Cover and chill for 4 to 24 hours. (For easy preparation just add a tsp of vanilla and ground cloves to the mix). Remove and discard cheesecloth bag. Stir in Gewurztraminer. Serve beverage and plum slices over ice. (Or omit the ice and heat the juice mixture and wine in a 4-quart Dutch oven until hot. Serve in heat proof mugs.)

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This next recipe is adapted from a holiday favorite served at our favorite coffeehouse that ends in "Bucks". Many of you have already requested this recipe of me and taken one look at it and said, "Never mind, can I just eat the ones you make?" The answer is - SURE! I will not stop making them for all of you, but wanted to share the recipe if you wanted to give them a whirl.

Cranberry Bliss Bars

Cookie/Cake Bottom:

1 cup butter, softened
1 1/4 cups light brown sugar, packed
3 eggs
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup diced dried cranberries (Craisins work just fine!)
6 ounces white chocolate, cut into chunks (I use chips)

Frosting:

4 ounces cream cheese, softened (I use light cream cheese/neufchatel)
3 cups powdered sugar
4 Teaspoons fresh lemon juice (about one regular sized lemon)
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 cup diced dried cranberries

Drizzled Icing (Optional):

(This is to get the __Bucks full effect. I omit this step because it is more time consuming and I think it makes them too sweet).

1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 tablespoon milk
2 teaspoons vegetable shortening

Makes 16 servings - 1 hour 20 minutes / 40 mins prep
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Make cake bottom by beating butter and brown sugar together with an electric mixer until smooth. Add eggs, vanilla, ginger, and salt and beat well. Gradually mix in flour until smooth.
Mix 3/4 cup diced dried cranberries and white chocolate into the batter by hand. Pour batter into a well-greased 9x13-inch baking pan. Use a spatula to spread the batter evenly across the pan. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until cake is light brown on the edges. (Watch it in the oven - you do not want to over-bake! This was my mistake the first time making this recipe). Allow cake to cool.

Make frosting by combining softened cream cheese, 3 cups powdered sugar, lemon juice and vanilla extract in a medium bowl with an electric mixer until smooth. When the cake has cooled, use a spatula to spread frosting over the top of the cake. Sprinkle 1/4 cup of diced cranberries over the frosting on the cake.

(Optional Icing Step): Whisk together 1/2 cup powdered sugar, 1 tablespoon milk, and shortening. Drizzle icing over the cranberries in a sweeping motion or use a pastry bag with a fine tip to drizzle frosting across the top of the cake.

Allow cake to sit for several hours (I stick in fridge until entirely cool), then slice the cake lengthwise (the long way) through the middle. Slice the cake across the width three times making a total of eight rectangular slices. Slice each of those rectangles diagonally creating 16 triangular slices.

Serve and watch your friends and families scarf these babies up!

The Libster

So, I found these lighted reindeer/santa hat antlers at PetSmart and just couldn't resist. I attempted to pose Libby in front of the Christmas tree, but she kept turning around and looking under the tree.

Then, I found out why!

Wilson is getting braver and braver!

These pictures are just because. Just because she is too darn cute to stop taking pictures of.

And because she has been so good! We went for a walk tonight she did SO WELL on the leash! And - no accidents in the house!

Oh, and I finally decorated the Christmas tree. Thus, all the needles you see on the carpet in all the puppy pics!

Our Christmas Present

I did it. I'm in the Christmas spirit now... Here are the lights Bill put up. Aren't they lovely?

It does help to come home to these every day. And look - we even got snow!

Then, we went to look at these. Can you believe it?

We felt it was time to get a dog now while we still have Annie - so she can teach her good doggie lessons. So, we just went to look (yeah right). Ten puppies! Can you even stand it?

Bill picked his girl - they called her Cici. They said she was very sweet and the most athletic.

I was learning about how to give shots... But, I think I'll find a friend willing to help. Neither Bill or I think we can do it!

We stopped at Lynn's house on the way home. Doesn't she look cute posing by her tree?

Her name is Libby. This was after bath - which she did NOT like by the way.
Annie already showing her the ropes on going outside to "potty". Good thing these pups were used to being outside. Training a puppy when there is snow on the ground is not exactly what I had in mind.

Molli brought the kids by when she heard the news. She just told them they were coming to Uncle Bill's and Aunt Courtney's to see something - they were so excited to find out what the surprise was. But, I think Maggie was a little disappointed when she was leaving empty-handed - she kept saying, "But, where's my present?" Tanner just kept saying, "But, where did you get the puppy?" and "I didn't see this dog the last time I was here."

Libby slept in the crate last night in the family room and it was a looooong night of puppy yelps and cries. Oh my goodness. We think we'll put the kennel in the bonus room tonight instead - hopefully making it a little easier to sleep.

So far, she's been a good girl. No accidents and she is pretty mellow. Please God, let this continue! More to come...

NKOTB

My friend Heather and I reunited to do something we hadn't done in TWENTY YEARS! It just felt fun to say that! We're getting old. And before I tell you what (if you don't know what the headline means) you are not allowed to say, "Why did you do that?" You think I haven't heard that before!

At 14 years old, Heather and I were IN LOVE with Donnie, Dannie, Joey, Jordan, Jonathon... Yes, the New Kids on the Block or just NKOTB. I had remembered what huge fans we were and that we had went to their concert. She reminded me - we went to THREE of their concerts. She said my Mom took us to every single one of them.

So, NKOTB reunited and we went to see them as our own "reunion" of sorts. We expected to laugh and reminisce, but weren't expecting to enjoy ourselves as much as we did. They still had all the same dance moves to their old songs - and we just laughed and screamed with delight watching them! It is funny how you think you forget things like song lyrics from so long ago, but wow - how they come back to you and suddenly you feel like a kid again. We sang our hearts out and had a great time.

We were touched remembering Mom too - she was so great about taking us to those concerts and I know she was with us that night too. We were bummed we didn't dress up with side ponytails and flourescent legwarmers like many other gals did. That was a crack-up. So many women were there - groups of girls from all over the place re-living old memories just like us.

Oh, don't tell our husbands, but we thought our guys were still pretty cute. She always liked Jordan and I was a sucker for Joey. Oh, to be fourteen again.

If you were a fan, here is a little Please Don't Go Girl with my fav - little Joey. Oh, and Happy Birthday, Heather! You'll always be my BFF!

Oly Pioneer Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving this year was pretty quiet. It was just Bill and me, Sue and Scott (until they had to leave because Scott was sick), Corey, Keri & Carson and Tom, Molli, Tanner & Maggie.

I did almost all of my recipes from The Pioneer Woman. Have you been to her site? I adore her! She has great recipes that are easy to print out, but on her site has step-by-step instructions with photos for you to refer to if you have trouble. We had the Roasted Thanksgiving Turkey, Delicious, Creamy Mashed Potatoes, Whiskey Glazed Carrots, and the Scrumptious Caramel Apple Pie - among other things.

Here is Bill carving the turkey...

Gathered round "THE TABLE". Note who is "under" the table. Can you blame her?

The aftermath in the kitchen. Bill did great on clean-up!

Ugh... I had to take pictures. Our kitchen was such a mess!

Toys everywhere - the kids had fun!

Mr. Carson - he is getting so big! Tanner and Maggie were excited "Baby Carson" (as they call him) can walk now!

Magster - with her new haircut she did all by herself!

and Mr. Tanner.

Besides getting sick and being so stuffed up I couldn't smell anything - it all turned out really well and I think everyone had a good time. We certainly have a lot to be thankful for and it was good to spend time with everyone who came.

Only 20 More Days

I've been negligent of creating any new posts lately. Actually, I've been negligent about doing a lot of things.


I've gotten sick twice in November - like you think you are better and a week later - BAM! I think I've pretty much rounded the bend now, just a bit of annoying hacking.


Work has been very intense. I don't even have to tell you why - you know what I do for a living.


Family stuff has been difficult and stressful. I'll leave it at that.


My friend's husband's passing away - that has been tough. That was my first time seeing a military service with honors - Taps and the 21-gun salute is enough to shake anyone up.


I've tried to just bury my head in the sand a bit to deal with all of it. It is working for now. But, it is Christmas! Where have I been? I'm normally knee-deep in the flurry of the holiday by now. I've bought like one gift. We have our outdoor lights up (thanks, Bill), but still no decorations and certainly no tree. Ugh.


I'm going to get with it here soon. This post is to hold myself accountable. I hereby swear to get into the holiday spirit! Amen.

And here is just something funny. Wilson is incredibly obsessed with mealtimes. Here is the OCD cat in action.

Prayer Request

Many of you know my friend, Evelyn. For those that don't, Evelyn is like a mother to me and also a dear friend. Please hold Evelyn and her family in prayer today. Evelyn's husband is losing his battle with multiple myeloma. Things are progressing much more quickly than expected. Hospice is involved and families are saying their goodbyes.

Bill and I were gifted with the opportunity to be with them this morning. As you might imagine, it was difficult for me and brought back many memories after having gone through this with Mom. However, I wouldn't have chosen to be anywhere else; it truly felt like a privilege. There was so much love in that house, it was that feeling that comforted me as we left.

Please hold Evelyn and her family in prayer today during this incredibly difficult time.

UPDATE: Dick passed away tonight at approximately 5 p.m. surrounded by his wife and his children. My heart breaks for my dear friend and her entire family.

Halloween Fraud - Part Two

We never did figure out how our credit card number was "compromised." Don't you love that term? I have good news and bad news about this episode - fortunately, mostly good. I did found out that the charges - to the tune of $86.00 and some change - were to what was referred to as a subscription to an "adult entertainment site." The charges were made from some other country, as international assessment fees were also charged.

The billing company reversed the charges when I called (the good news). The bad news is that I still don't know for sure how this happened. My hunch is that it surrounds a website I visited a few months back where I purchased some magazine subscriptions for my brother's birthday. He let me know they'd never arrived. I found the site again and tried to check into the delivery. Funny - no response, but suddenly these charges started relating to a much different kind of subscription.

Bill and I have had our jokes around this. Couldn't they at least tell us what the site was? What was the password at least? haha. Yeah. Trying to keep up the humor in a frustrating situation sometimes doesn't last long.

Any advice on not having this happen again? We're all ears!

Halloween Fraud

My credit union is really good about notifying me when there are out-of-the-ordinary charges on my credit card. At times, it feels they are too good. Several months ago, Marcie and I were shopping up North and I got a call when we were in the car on the way home. I had to call their fraud department and verify charges I'd made that day. I remember saying to Marcie, "Geez, I haven't spent that much money have I?" She told me that it was just different than my normal spending pattern. Charges made in a different location, close together...

I got another one of those verification calls yesterday right after I got home from work. I didn't think much of it, called the 800#, but this call was different. I didn't recognize the charges they listed off. I went on-line to look at my account and there was a $1 I-Tunes charge and right after it four charges within seconds of each other from some odd "billing" website. I have used I-Tunes, but haven't done anything with that account in a couple of months. I didn't even recognize the other website and when I pulled it up it listed only very generic information. To even look up a charge you had to enter your credit number (I'm not that dumb!). The credit card company said it appeared to be fraudulent use of my card and it would be canceled. I have to report this to my local police department and then pick up a "fraud packet" at the credit union. This is the card I use to pay all almost all of our bills. This is going to be as much of a pain as changing my name! Grrrrrr!

I'm thankful that this was caught early, but feeling very confused and angry this has happened. Wow - some Happy Halloween! I think I need some more candy.

We Love Jim Claskey Rose!

Girls weekend was VERY fun! Marcie had a conference in Las Vegas staying at Mandalay Bay, so Alyson and I both went along for fun. Marcie attended the conference with a co-worker, Heidi, who also invited a friend, Rachel. We also got to visit my friends Lisle and Diane - which was great.

Here are the list of fun memories:

Alyson wanted to go see Gym Class Heroes at the House of Blues. She and Marcie kept talking about it and I just couldn't figure out who Jim Claskey Rose was? Say it out loud - get it? Jim Claskey Rose / Gym Class Heroes was the joke of the entire weekend.

First night, Marcie headed out with the other two girls to Caesar's for shopping. She said for us to catch a cab and meet up with them. Al and I are cheapskates so we walked - in the wrong shoes. My feet were so messed up when we also WALKED THE ENTIRE WAY BACK. I took off my shoes - but that didn't last long once I started walking in glass. My feet were also solid black. It was sick. Alyson had bought tennis shoes at Caesar's so I wore her size 11s on the way back. They were laughing at me going "clippity clop" all the way home. I was so grrrrrumpy - which made them laugh all the more!

Alyson hit it off with a waiter - she named him Estefan and he was Gloria. We still are wishing they'd exchange numbers.

Alyson kept saying she couldn't believe how high up our hotel room was for being on the fourth floor (except we were on the 12th).

Alyson and I entertaining ourselves with hats and sunglasses at Urban Outfitters. We laughed way too hard!

We had drinks bought for us the last night and Alyson gave out her phone number only to get 13 text messages while we were at Mamma Mia wanting us to come meet them at the bar Minus Five (no, that did not happen). (But, we LOVED Mamma Mia!)

All in all - great fun with awesome friends. Good times!

CLICK ON ALYSON'S PICTURE TO WATCH THE SLIDESHOW.

It will bring you up the Picasa Web Album screen where you can click on "view slideshow" from there.

The Hole Punchers

This weekend Tom and Molli had a rare weekend away together and Tanner and Maggie came to spend it with us. Bill made ribs for Saturday night on his new Traeger smoker/grill. Man, he loves that thing and the results have definitely been delish! Fred and Francie came over with Bill's Aunt Julie and cousins, Mike and Amy, here visiting from Utah. It was our first big meal at the new table (woo woo). Ribs + kids + carpet = disaster, so we'd planned to set the kids up in the family room. Tanner wasn't so into that, so Amy helped me rig up a system to allow them to eat with us and save the carpet in the dining room (who puts carpet in a dining room anyway??).

Somehow Uncle Bill is always good at making up games with the kids. Below is the run and crash - "hole puncher" game they played with him.

Good times!

Five Mile Troopers

The Saturday, October 4th Walk to D'Feet ALS was definitely a success. Our group ended up being: Dad, Scott, Corey, Keri, Carson, Francie, Molli, Tanner, Maggie, OJ, Lynn and me! It was VERY wet. At one point Lynn said to me, "At least it isn't windy on top of the rain...." Well, we spoke too soon! It became increasingly more blustery, soaking our shoes and socks and tossing around our umbrellas (for those of us carrying them). The kids weren't very happy by the end of the walk - actually Carson held up the best. But, we did it.

We walked for ALS - for those just diagnosed, those currently suffering, for those who have lost their battles - and for Mom. We felt her presence heavily that morning. We laughed and cried for her and certainly - we missed her.

Afterward, in true Mom-fashion - we went to Mexican. It was Dad, Scott, the girls and I and we had a great lunch at The Matador in Tacoma. It is my new favorite Mexican restaurant. Jessica and I discovered it during bargaining last year. Have you tried it? It is very delish!

A Look Into Our Wedding Reception

The Cake Gardenias and edible shells...
Table Centerpieces

The D---- Family...There is actually a better pic, but I think this one is funny and typical!

Bill's godparents - I love this photo! Chatting with Sue Our nieces and nephews. Oh, how we love them!

Mom would have loved this picture - I do too.

She always said Corey gives the best hugs - she's right!

There is more of course, but that gives you an idea. Thanks to our great photographer - Lyndsey Pearson. Check out her site... We were fortunate to have Lyndsey take our photographs. Lyndsey is my friend Heather's little sister. I was so pleased it worked out and she did a wonderful job. Lyndsey was able to capture many of you - and your children. So, be assured - if we were fortunate enough to get photos of you, we will share the bounty!

A sincere thank you to all. I can't tell you how much it meant to us to have you celebrate with us. We knew a Friday night wasn't an ideal time for people to attend. I know many of you traveled to be here, raced here from work and the million other reasons it might have made it difficult to attend - so thank you! It was hard to be able to visit with everyone - that made it hard. But, it was incredibly meaningful that you took the time to attend. We felt very happy and loved. It was great to come home and share our happiness with our friends and family. And also to those who let us know they weren't able attend, but held us in their hearts - as they say in Fiji - Vinaka!