Welcome 2012

New Year's in New York City

Ringing in 2011 in Central Park was so much fun, I had to do it again for 2012. 5 of us drove up to New York on NYE to meet my dear friend Traci for a rockin' New Year's in the city. There was some eating, strolling through Central Park and down 5th Avenue, sights at the Rockefeller Christmas Tree, and then Martinelli's, fireworks, and a four mile run through the park at midnight. Traci and I ran while others enjoyed the firework show and cheering the thousands of runners. I can't think of a better way to ring in the New Year. 

Happy New Year!!

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas! 

Christmas celebrations started in DC with friends, then continued on in Portland with the fam. The whole month was wonderful! 

(and yes, the roommates all got matching pj's...we might have even gotten the boys matching ones as well, which they liked even if they don't admit it!)

Christmas this year meant lots of treats, good food, energetic kids, and lots of sister time! (as evidenced by the pictures). We had everyone together, except for Kurt and Co (the Utah Didenhovers). With our families ever expanding, it's doubtful that we'll ever be in the same house for Christmas, but I'll take what I can get. I loved the family time!

p.s. I'm trying a new picture tool, so let me know what you think.

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving 2011--magical and momentous

I don't have the reputation for being a great cook, or a cook at all actually. My best dishes consist of: scrambled eggs, grilled cheese sandwiches, waffles, and chips and salsa. This Thanksgiving I found myself far from family, but with two of my best friends. Since all our families were far away we decided to make our very own Thanksgiving feast by preparing our "best" family favorite dishes. I rave about my Dad's turkey and stuffing, so it was time to step up and prove to everyone that I CAN COOK!

The three of us went to town and prepared a marvelous feast! We each chose our favorite parts of Thanksgiving dinner and enjoyed the day preparing, eating, lounging, and eating some more.

The menu:
Turkey (Brea)
Stuffing (cooked inside the turkey)-Brea
Mashed potatoes (Whitney)
Rolls (Steffany)
Green beans (Steffany)
Craisin Salad (Brea)
Yams (Whitney)
Veggie Tray (Brea)
Drink (7 up and cranberry juice)- Brea

Washing the raw turkey 

 13.1 lbs!!!

 Flavoring the turkey

 So delicious!

 The FEAST

For not being home for Thanksgiving, this was the next best thing. The dinner was DELICIOUS! I'll admit, I was quite (and still am) proud of myself and the girls.

October 18

To finish off the birthday celebrations, Mike surprised me with a fabulous evening! We had flown in from Boston that morning and Mike told me to dress up and that he would pick me up from work. I work downtown and I know Mike always talks about dressing up to go out, so I figured we were going to a nice restaurant and maybe a walk around the city.

Well he did pick me up and take me to a nice dinner in Georgetown. He knows I LOVE seafood, so we ventured to a seafood/steak restaurant that sits overlooking the Potomac River. The meal was fantastic, the view was beautiful, and the company was even better. I felt quite special.

After dinner, while taking a walk, Mike offered to run back to the car so he could get my flip-flops so we could walk more (I am terribly slow in heels). I didn't think too much of it, but when he got back he insisted that I put the flip flops on...so we could run to the Kennedy Center to see LES MISERABLES!!

 

I have wanted to see this show for years!!! And it lived up to EVERY expectation. Moving. Memorable. Magical. We had some pretty sweet seats and I ate up every second of the show.

I have to hand it to Mike for a great birthday surprise. I love birthdays that last and this one definitely did. Starting with birthday celebrations with Mom and Dad to Boston and ending with Les Miserables.

Happy Birthday to me!!!