cruising back to 2007...

So Philip did a slide show of the HISTORY OF PDP (Progressive Dairy Publishing) at work the other day and he had some pictures from a dinner cruise the company went on back in 2007. So i had him find me the pictures cause i liked one he had used of Kevin & I.

So a little back history...

Kevin & I were living in Rexburg very happily and we had just bought (had built for us) a townhouse that was darling! We were so excited about it. Well we moved into that lovely home end of May beginning of June. Then a few weeks later the crushing news that Kevin was being let go from the company he was working at. We weren't too surprised the business wasn't doing great, but we wanted to leave on our terms. Thankfully they gave Kevin 2 weeks notice to find a new job. We were EXTREMLY blessed that he was technically only out of a job for 2 weeks! Unfortunately the new job made us move about 3 hrs to the west. But then again blessed to sell our townhouse very quickly (and even made some money on it). Tho Kevin had to start his job in August of 2007...and i didn't make it out here until the 2nd-3rd Nov 2007. It was thru the generosity of Kevin's brother Jeff to let Kevin live with them that whole time! It was hard on all of us, but so thankful how it all worked out.

Well, Kevin worked for PDP for about 5 weeks when they had this cool Company dinner cruise. It was a cruise down the Snake River checking out all the natural springs/water falls that are throughout that section of the canyon. It was really cool and pretty good food from what i remember. This was also the first time of meeting ALL of Kevin's co-workers. I was quite nervous. Thankfully my now good friend Emily and I had been emailing since Kevin started working there. She wanted to make sure i knew someone when i made the move out, which was very cool of her.

Anywhos...here are some pics.

Loading onto the boat.

Us with Ray & Emily waiting to leave the dock.

Some houses down in the canyon.
How cool would that be to live there?!

One of the falls.

Lastly...Kevin & I.

Kevin's Kitchen Creation

So last weekend Kevin was hungry for some lunch and didn't know what to have. So he went scavenging in our fridge and cabinets. He found things and came up with this yummy creation.



They were SO yummy. We called the Black Bean Pot Stickers. The pile of beans next to them is what is actually inside the 'pot stickers' themselves. I had it write up what he used, he totally had to guess at the measurements cause he just threw in what he thought looked/tasted good.

Black Bean Filling for Pot Stickers

1 can black beans drained
Minced onion 1/2 to 1 cup depending on how much you like
2 cloves of garlic minced
fresh or powdered ginger to taste
1 tablespoon lemon juice
tablespoon of sesame seeds
tablespoon of soy sauce
Sesame or Olive oil
Won Ton wraps

Cook the onions, garlic and ginger in oil until the onions are translucent. Add the can of beans, lemon juice, sesame seeds and soy sauce. Cooked till heated thru.

Place a spoonful in your favorite won ton wraps, pinch closed, cook and serve.

* we fried them, but on the package of won ton wraps all the recipes it provided were supposed to be bake in the oven. we may try that next time to see the difference.

Halloween in January

So these are WAY LATE. But we wanted to take pics of them and i don't know what happened to all the pics that were taken at our Ward Christmas Party. We wanted to clean some boxes out of the garage yesterday and these were two that needed to go.

These were our costumes for Halloween 2009.

We're LEGOS!

what a waste...

... of my 'home' time.

Yesterday was an especially long day and i was really tired when i got home from working-out, then to work for 8hrs with no lunch, then running over to Twin for my eye exam and then home. I was gone for 12 hrs yesterday. And what did i want to do when i got home?? NOTHING. And that's exactly what i did! i made a quick easy dinner for myself since Kevin wasn't hungry and then i seriously sat in the bean bag from 5:30pm till dragging myself to bed at 11pm.

What a WASTE of time!

And the only time i am "home" during the day. Sleeping doesn't count. I could have done alot during that time. Granted...this does not happen often...but still. i could have at least done the dishes. But nope...now i need to do them this morning. ugh.

Somethings gotta change. I have many a projects i could be working on.

Maiden Voyage

For Christmas this year Kevin's parents bought Kevin a ladder! It's a very nice ladder. We were able to borrow the work ladder when needed but it wasn't always convenient or available. Kevin was super excited. For a few days following Christmas every time we'd pull into the garage Kevin would say "hey look babe we've got a ladder". So thank you Doug & Linda!

Kevin busted out the ladder this morning to take down our outside Christmas lights. The last thing of decorations that needed to be taken down. Thankfully this morning was tons warmer then the past two mornings where it's been 7 degrees with a windchill of Neg 13. This morning it was at least 27, with little to no breeze. Very nice.

Alas...its the Maiden Voyage of the Brown Family Ladder.

ROAD TRIP!

(Not quite a So Cal Beach)

I am SO excited to say...

WE ARE GOING TO CALIFORNIA THIS SUMMER!!!

We just got the OK from our bosses.

Nothing like having a goal to get you motivated to the gym!
(Brown Family pics and So Cal beach time)

Merry Christmas

I don't have a cute family letter or even a family photo.

But i do have a funny video for you.

Hope everyone has a Merry Christmas.

so tempting...

so as we drove to work this morning. We passed by a Maverick gas station and has a big sign outside stating the Power ball lotto is up to like $92 million. We could do a lot of good for people with that kind of money. So tempted to play.

Is it bad to pray to win money?!

Gingy

So today at work is our Christmas Party Luncheon.

Along with that we are doing a Gingerbread Man decorating contest.

Natalie was SO kind and cut out probably 35 of these...

Here is Kevin's Design...can you guess it?

And finally mine. It just makes me smile.
And Yes she has on a bikini-bottom under her grass skirt.


** UPDATED **
Kevin WON 1st Place!!!

Good Crap!

So as winter hits and we aren't using yard equipment (mower, dirt shovels, wheelbarrow, etc..) it drives me crazy having them take up room in the garage.

We always say:
"We need a shed to put all this in."

So I look up Home Depot & Lowes and search for sheds.

GOOD CRAP!!!

Have you seen the prices of these things?!?
It's just a freaking Shed!
I could not believe it.

Well, I guess we won't be getting one of those anytime soon. *sigh*

Christmas Cards?

Every year i debate...

Should we do cards?

Not do cards?

I feel like if we don't then people won't send me there's.

It's like trading.

If one always gives and the other doesn't....then they won't want to 'play' with them anymore.

Oh, i don't know.

We're aren't very exciting.
No news to share.

Probably you'll just have to check back here for a Christmas picture.

There is always next year...which i hope & pray we'll have news.
Only the Lord knows if we will...cause obviously i have no say or control over it.

updated

Well i should say the Background is at least updated to match the current holiday.

I guess i really don't feel like there is alot to talk about. And no pictures to post. It's getting really cold now. It's currently 28 degrees at 530pm. No snow tho. :( I wish we would get alot this winter. But i don't know, it's hard to say what it's going to be like. I just can't wait to try snow-shoeing and cross-country skiing...as well as tubing again.

No yard work to complain about. Just hope the bulbs we planted will sprout in the spring. We have just been working and keeping busy. We got the house all decorated for Christmas, but we still need to get a tree. Probably something we will do this weekend.

I've just been hitting the gym alot and hoping that it will all workout that i will loose weight this holiday season and not gain it from all the yummy treats.

We were able to head to SLC this Thanksgiving weekend. We spent the actual day of Thanksgiving at Kevin's parents house. Which was really low key and nice. Then Friday we headed for UT. We planned on hitting In-n-Out as our first stop in Draper...but the line was crazy and we were starving...so we passed it up for my second favorite...Panda Express. LOVE IT! We need one closer than Boise! We are so excited that In-n-out is now in "upper utah" not just in St George.

We then hung out with (and stayed with) our bestest friends from CA, Chris & Sarah. Their boys were waiting very impatiently for us to arrive...so they can play with Kevin's star wars legos that he was bring down. Max & Sam had to show us the Death Star lego set that they'd would LOVE to have on the internet. Kevin was drooling over it too!

Sarah and i hit the movies Friday night to see 'New Moon'. LOVED IT! Can't wait to go see it again. Any takers on going with me?

Saturday we chilled and ran errands with Chris & Sarah, then Kevin & I met up with his family to attend my sister-in-law's choir performance. Which was really good! They sang at the Tabernacle in SLC. Then we saw the lights at Temple Square. They always do such a great job. Then went to Applebees for dinner...DO NOT eat at the Applebees in Midvale UT. Horrible service, bad food (on Kevin's meal) and they have charged us MULTIPLE times for the same meal. We are not happy with them!

Sunday we then went to brunch with my old roommate Cat. It was SO good to see her. And the food was yummy. We then headed up to Syracuse to see my Ostler family up there. We walked around the Layton Mall for a little bit. We got our 2009 Christmas ornament. Then headed to my Aunt & Uncle's place. It was SO FUN to hang with them. Of course we got totally spoiled there with yummy food, good company, and left with a few extra surprises. One i will hopefully post about on Saturday...so stay tuned!

Then it was back to reality of work, bills, laundry and setting up for Christmas. it's been a busy but fast week so far.

Looking forward to volleyball on Thursday & Friday as well as dinner with my Cousin Greg on Friday night. He is a cool guy!

My forever favorite

Last night was my first time back on the volleyball court in a LONG time. Especially since moving to ID (four years ago this past week)! I did play in a Rec League back in CA a few times after we got married. It felt SO GREAT to be back on the court! Not saying my playing was perfect, but it was better then i expected it to be....especially since i attended 'bootcamp' class yesterday morning also...and now i can't move without pain. And i have the war wounds (floor burns & brusies) to prove it!

I LOVE VOLLEYBALL!!!

so wrong...but funny...

** Please no one be offended. But i thought this was pretty dang funny -- especially after living in Alhambra CA for five years (which i affectionately call Asian Nation).

Confuscius says....

If you can't find

the book you want

you are probably shopping

at the

interesting...

I just ran across this interesting little 'fact'...

Cinnamon
1/2 to 3/4 tsp. of cinnamon with every meal helps keep insulin & blood sugar levels under control. It contains a phytochemical called methyl hydroxy chalcone polymer (MHCP) which improves cellular glucose utilization and increases the sensitivity of insulin receptors.

my Achilles' heel...

Soda has always has and probably always will be an "Achilles' heel" for me. I was joking with a co-worker today who also is a soda lover...then i 'pop' onto Yahoo and find THIS article staring at me.

Lovely.

brutal honesty

it is currently Halloween and the trick-or-treaters are in full swing in the neighborhood. Last year we had no one, but this year due to more houses being built by our house we have loads of kids. Plus this year it isn't raining.

I love to see the costumes...especially the young toddlers and slightly older ones. Tho they can be brutally honest. Thankfully they didn't complain about the candy we are handing out. It's our house! Kevin was currently cooking dinner and i was handing out the candy. Well you must be able to smell our meal when i open the door.

here's the the scene....

(doorbell rings)
I grab the candy bowl and answering the door.
Kids: trick-or-treat
me: here you go (and place candy in bag)
kids: thank you
Me: you're welcome, have fun!
girl to her mom: Her house stinks! (as she is waving her hand in front of her nose)

I shut the door and start laughing my head off! I replay it for Kevin. He laughs.

and we are still laughing about it.

And by the way this new chicken recipe....SO GOOD!!!!!

blue ones

We thought it would be cool to grow some blue one's (along with some regular russet's)....

Our haul of potatoes
(5 gallon bucket full)

Outside of a Blue potato

Inside of a blue Potato
Cool huh?!?
They taste just like a regular russet.

apple day

So at the end of our sick week we decided to keep our plans of canning apples with Kevin's family. Here are just a few pics. None of our finished products... 28 Quarts Apple Pie Filling (thanks Tegan for the recipe), 14 pints "death apple rings" and 35 pints apple sauce....all in about 10 hrs. Not too shabby! We were EXHAUSTED afterwards tho.

a few of the 13 boxes of apples

Linda stirring our first batch of pie filling
*yes we had propane going in the house all day*
**and yes we had ALL possible windows open all day**

And then the COOLEST invention ever!!!

An apple peeler/core-er/slicer
this made pie filling a breeze to do!!!
I want to get me one of these!

flu bug

So Kevin and i were hit with the flu bug this week.
Thankfully we are on the up swing.
Kevin had to ask what day it was today. LOL.

new me...

So in the 31 yrs of my life i have NEVER EVER done anything with my hair. I guess other then a few cuts and nothing ever drastic. I wanted a change and i knew kind of what i wanted. So thanks to my dear friend Lauren and the nice lady a Sally Beauty supply....

Here is the new me!

First Snow Fall 2009

This is what i woke up to this morning.

Isn't it beautiful?!
Makes me excited for winter.

Fun with Uncle Kevin

We had the opportunity to watch our nephews today and it was super fun. Kevin is always so great with the boys. He took them to an elementary school near by and they had a lot of fun. i met them over there after i got showered. I am SO glad i took the camera. I love these boys!

Karson helping Kevin eat breakfast

Karter watching Monsters Vs. Aliens

Karter going down the pole.

Now it's Karson's turn.
He didn't understand to hold on with his legs

Karter just hanging

Karson just hanging
Kevin & Karter on the slide
Just some cute pics of Karter.
Now Karson
He was hard to catch with eyes open
Karson done with me saying "smile!"
Kevin showing the boys how it's done!
...almost.
Then my favorite for last.

got it!!

MY BOOK CAME TODAY!!!

WOOT WOOT!!!

*now i'll have something to read while i wait for Kevin at his doctors appt tonight.

Scary

So i was messing around with my "new to me" computer at work and i took this scary picture. Cool but Scary.

Ready for Halloween??

ordered...

I have ordered THE book (see two posts down)!
I can't wait for it to arrive!!!

Thanks D & L!!!!

Twenty-One!!

so today seems to be loaded with odd jobs that don't normally get done. We are cleaning the oven (self clean), cleaning & organizing the pantry, pulled massive weeds (not all in our yard - some was service) and just going thru some items that we don't need. Like old cell phones we've kept as we've "upgraded" phones. Kevin is mailing them in for recycling. I'm going thru our cookbooks. Apparently without realizing it...we had TWENTY-ONE cookbooks!! We are now down to ELEVEN. Not too shabby. Makes the shelf look better.

Happy Spring? Cleaning everyone!

could this be what i need??

I know there is "natural" stuff i could be doing to help with fertility problems (PCOS). I just ran across this book. Could it be what i need?! But we are talking $40+ here. But i guess that is better then the THOUSANDS we paid to just have another miscarriage. Plus it will probably help with weight issues.

Maybe for Christmas I can get it as a gift.

Quote

"Happiness keeps you sweet, Trials keep you strong, Sorrow keeps you human, Failure keeps you humble and Success keeps you glowing, but only Faith & Attitude keeps you going... " - Arthur Ashe

* Thank you Kate for posting this on FB. I needed this today.

gift giver

Today there was a blood drive up at the Stake Center and i signed up to donate. I use to do it alot in CA and since moving to ID I just haven't. So i am glad i was able to do it today. The lady there was VERY excited to see me...well not ME per se...but my O negative blood type. We were chatting a bit and i said my mom & i would get called ALOT to donate. She said...you'll get called alot now too. We are in NEED of your blood type.

So to those that can....Donate blood. Its an easy gift to be given.

55 cents

So they built a Valley Country Store near my work. We frequent it every so often. But the week Kevin was gone in PA it was a daily stop for me. Wasn't till Friday when i saw they had 44oz plastic cups for soda for only 99 cents. DANG! Why didn't i see that on Monday?!? Well i kept the cup to do "refills" with. Come to find out when they have this special cups for sale....the refills are only 55 CENTS!!! Other times it's like 70-90 cents--i can't remember. But you can't beat 55 cent refills for 44 oz of soda. Granted as previously posted about...i am trying to get OFF soda...but i'm sorry there are days where you just need some. And for those days...i'm glad for the 55 cent refills!

sunrise

Sunrise this morning at 6:50 am.
(taken out my back door)