the wedding

this picture is being posted to prove to the hubbers that his eyes are always closed in pictures.


we huddled together, nice and close, to keep warm


the groom waiting for his bride


the beautiful bride!


the wedding party


and.....


ta-da! it's official!


the three ladies and a groom


i've known the bride since birth.
the hubbers knew her ever since middle school.
and yet - the hubbers and i never knew each other.




it's not everyday that we get all fancied up.
so i made the hubbers take a pic with me, too.

the festivities.

last week's festivities all started with bachelorette party.
kates is getting married tomorrow so we had to send her out in style.
the lovely bride is in the middle with her awesome sash.
made some scandinavian boys jealous.


then came the Christmas festivities.

party #2 of 4






uncle troy


our little family


4 generations


a happy boy - after all the parties and food and noise and craziness.
i'm just glad he's still smiling.

and here's my favorite recipe from the festivities. i made this for the first time - it was soooooo easy and soooooooo delicious. i'm sure a lot of you have had it - but i don't remember eating it a lot. it's just all around good.

Seven Layer (Green) Salad
6 cups chopped lettuce
Salt and pepper
6 hard boiled eggs, sliced
2 cups frozen peas, thawed
1 package bacon, cooked and crumbled
2 cups shredded cheese
1 cup mayonnaise
2 tablespoons sugar
¼ cup sliced green onions
Paprika

Layer the following:
3 cups lettuce in bottom of trifle bowl
Sprinkle with salt and pepper
Egg slices
sprinkle with more salt and pepper
Peas
Remaining lettuce
Bacon
Shredded cheese
Sprinkle with salt and pepper

Mix mayonnaise and sugar
Spread over the top – spreading to the edge of the bowl to cover the whole salad.
Cover and refrigerate overnight or 24 hours
Top with green onions and paprika

Serves 12 to 15

explanations all around.

does the chubber not look happy here?


the hubbers insisted that the chubbers didn't like this snow outfit.
but you can't tell me he doesn't look happy in this pic above - he's all smiles!


this is Christmas at our house so far.
the hubbers told me "i'm going to go put your present under the tree".
does that look under the tree to you?
i'm dying to know what's in that big box.


ahh....the cripples.
there's been some health issues in our family lately.
sad - husband and wife both on crutches.
but chase loved his birthday cake. :)

my friend-since-birth Katie is getting married next week.
she flew home this week and we had a bridal shower lunch yesterday for her.


the chubbers was a little intimidated by all the women folk and tried to hide in his car seat.


me and Kates, the bride-to-be

favs

i was just chatting with my dear co-worker Ms. B.
we were talking about oldie-but-goodie movies from back in the day.

so - i'm asking for your help.
leave a comment and list some of your favorite movies you used to watch all the time.

here's a few to get your brain thinking:

Weekly Recipe -

now, i know this is too late to enjoy this Christmas - but i'm posting it anyways.
i LOVE this stuff. but i know a lot of people don't like getting a starter bag - cause they feel bad throwing it away if they don't want to do it.
but you see - it's safe to post it here. cause you can just ignore this post if you never want to use it. :)

i'm only thinking of you, dear readers.


Amish Cinnamon Bread – the very beginning STARTER recipe
DO NOT REFRIGERATE and DO NOT USE ANY METAL BOWLS OR UTENSILS

Day 1 mix 1 cup flour, 1 cup sugar, 1 cup milk in large Ziploc bag.
Day 2 mix bag once
Day 3 mix bag once
Day 4 mix bag once
Day 5 add 1 cup flour, 1 cup sugar, 1 cup milk. Mix bag.
Day 6 mix bag once
Day 7 mix bag once
Day 8 mix bag once
Day 9 mix bag once
Day 10 Pour contents into a large plastic bowl.
Add 1 cup flour, 1 cup sugar, 1 cup milk. Mix bag.
Take out 4 one cup starters – put one cup of mix in 4 different large Ziploc bags.
(You’ll have 4 bags with 1 cup of mix inside each bag.) These are the starter bags that you pass on to friends. Whatever mix is left, add the following:

1 cup milk
1 cup oil
3 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla

In separate bowl mix:
2 cups flour
1 cup sugar
1 ½ tsp. baking powder
½ tsp. salt
½ tsp baking soda
2 tsp. cinnamon
1 large box instant vanilla pudding

Alternate mixing wet and dry ingredients.
Mix ¼ cup sugar and 1 tsp. cinnamon and set aside.
Spray 2 loaf pans and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar.
Divide the batter in half and put one half in each pan.
Sprinkle the top with cinnamon sugar.

Bake at 325 for 1 hour.

Copy the following directions and include them with a starter bag of mix and a loaf of bread (for them to taste). Then they have a starter to mix for the next 10 days
and be able to have 4 starters to pass along.
*The directions below are different than those above. these directions go with the starter bag you give out*

Amish Cinnamon Bread
“Friendship bread”
DO NOT REFRIGERATE


Day 1 Do Nothing
Day 2 Mush the bag 2 times a day
Day 3 Mush the bag 2 times a day
Day 4 Mush the bag 2 times a day
Day 5 Must the bag 2 times a day
Day 6 Add 1 cup flour, 1 cup milk, and 1 cup sugar. Mush the bag until mixed.
Day 7 Mush the bag and let the air out 2 times a day
Day 8 Mush the bag and let the air out 2 times a day
Day 9 Mush the bag and let the air out 2 times a day
Day 10 Perform the following:
Pour and squeeze the contents into a large plastic bowl.
Add 1 cup flour, 1 cup milk, and 1 cup sugar.
Stir together and pour 4 one cup starters into 4 large Ziploc bags.
Give these bags and a copy of this recipe to your friends.

You’ll have some mix left in the bowl. Add to it: 1 cup milk, 1 cup oil, 3 eggs, and 1 tsp. vanilla.

In a separate bowl, mix together 2 cups flour, 1 cup sugar, 1 ½ tsp. baking powder, ½ tsp. salt, ½ tsp. baking soda, 2 tsp. cinnamon, 1 large box instant vanilla pudding mix.
Mix wet and dry ingredients together.

In a separate bowl mix ¼ cup sugar and 1 tsp. cinnamon and set aside.
Spray 2 loaf pans and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar.
Pour half of the batter into each pan and sprinkle the top with the rest of the cinnamon sugar.

Bake at 325 for 1 hour and enjoy!

the BEST! Christmas card EVER!!!!

i know this is a really bad scan job of this Christmas card.
but i just had to share this with you all asap.
this is from my co-worker and her husband (some of the most funny people EVER - and they don't even have to try - they are just naturally funny).



don't worry - at first glance i saw the sweaters and laughed out loud.
but then i went back for a 2nd look and saw the dog.
haven't laughed that hard in a long time.

this week's recipe

i have 2 i want to share today -

this first one i stole from Emily.
it's splendid.
and my kitchen smelled so good while it was baking.

Orange Spice Banana Bread
2 cups flour
1 1/4 cups walnuts
3/4 cups sugar
3/4 tsp baking soda
2 tbsp orange zest
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp salt
3 very ripe bananas, well mashed
1/4 cup plain yogurt
2 eggs beaten lightly
6 tbsp butter, melted and cooled
1 tsp vanilla

Preheat oven to 350.
Adjust rack to lower-middle position.
Grease AND flour bottom and sides of loaf pan.
Toast walnuts on a baking sheet until fragrant 5-10 minutes.
Whisk the dry ingredients and orange zest in large bowl. Set aside.
Mix the mashed bananas, yogurt, eggs butter and vanilla.
Lightly fold the banana mixture into the dry ingredients until just combined and batter looks thick and chunky.
Put in loaf pan.
Bake until golden brown, about 55 minutes.
Cool in pan for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack.
Eat it fast, because if you don't, someone around you will!



this one is from my Grandma.
she was a WONDERFUL cook.



i made this on friday - and i'm still eating the leftovers - right now while i'm typing, actually. that's how good they stayed over the weekend.
my parents came over for dinner and i made this for my mom. i don't remember eating this as a kid - but she said she's had it before and liked it. so i figured it was going to be good.
yummmmmy!

a first

last week was festival.
and this week it is over.
:)


a first for the Comish's - their first broken bone.
isn't it funny that it happened to their youngest? they made it so long.....


the chubbers came to visit me at Festival

and a first for the chubbers: cereal!
the wind up.....

the delivery.....


he likes it, he likes it!
and so does his shirt.

yep.
Santa and the chubbers are friends.

Festival 2010

don't forget - Festival of Trees 2010 is going on now!

Where: South Towne Expo Center
When: Wednesday - Saturday
Time: 10:00 am to 10:00 pm
Why: it's a FANTASTIC cause. 100, and i mean 100 PERCENT of the funds raised go straight to needy families at Primary Children's Medical Center.

so go on down, get your picture taken with Santa Clause, have a scone, and see some BEAUTIFULLY decorated Christmas Trees.

gobble gobble

bring on the turkey!

and maybe a burp cloth.

monday's tasty treat -

this week - something deliciousioso.
very bueno.
we cooked this last night for our anniversary dinner.
i can't remember where i got this recipe from - so thank you to whoever just made my life better.
it was soooooooooooooo easy to make, too.

Beach Street Lemon Chicken Linguine
1 lb. linguine (or fettuccine)
2 T. olive oil
Zest from one lemon
Juice from one lemon
½ c. chopped green onion
¼ c. chopped fresh parsley
Salt and freshly ground pepper
Parmesan cheese
Marinade:
½ c. olive oil
2 cloves garlic, whole
2 T. Cajun seasoning
2 T. lemon juice
2 T. minced parsley
1 T. brown sugar (or more if you like it a little sweeter)
2 T. soy sauce
2 chicken breasts, sliced. (OR 16 extra large shrimp)
Combine the marinade ingredients in a Ziploc bag. Slice thawed chicken (or shrimp). Pat dry and toss in marinade to coat. Refrigerate 1-12 hours. Cook marinated chicken with the marinade sauce in a large saute pan on medium heat until chicken is cooked. If using shrimp, preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Bake for 7-10 minutes. Be sure not to overcook shrimp.
Cook linguini in boiling salted water until done; drain well and rinse noodles. Combine juice of one lemon, zest, olive oil, green onions, and fresh parsley together. Add hot pasta into bowl and toss well. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Add chicken (or shrimp) with marinade into the large pasta bowl. Toss in parmesan cheese to taste and serve warm.

i sure hope this is going to make good leftovers - cause it feeds like 4 or 5 people comfortably.
cook it.
tonight.
your family will love it.

happy, happy, happy and still happy.

2 years ago.
and we're still happy.
awesome!



sure do love my hubbers.
happy A-day, love!

Monday's need an umph.

monday's in my world are not my favorite day of the week.
so i'm going to try to spice them up a little by sharing a recipe that i've made from the past week that i really enjoyed and that i think you'll enjoy, too.

so - here's one from saturday. i've been eating the leftovers for the past couple of days and realized i could eat this almost everyday. i say almost because i would really miss my raisin bran if i didn't switch it up once in awhile.


Waffles from scratch – my dad's recipe (i know it says waffles - but i promise - you can make pancakes from this recipe, too. we do it all the time)
1 3/4 c milk
1 3/4 c flour
1/2 c oil
2 eggs
3 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla
dash of sugar


grandpa and the chubbers.
i *LOVE* these dinosaur pajamas.
thank goodness for carter's brand at costco.

Vanilla Buttermilk Syrup – from Festival of Trees
½ cup butter
½ cup buttermilk
1 cup sugar
½ teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon vanilla

Bring butter, sugar, buttermilk, and baking soda to a boil.
Turn off heat and add vanilla.
Store in refrigerator.


SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO good.
a PERFECT combination.


here are some birthday pics from last week:


our little family


keyan thinks he's funny.
he kept making our bowling balls kiss.
i know you can't tell - but this is his kissy-face.


the following picture needs some explaining.
this is obviously the chubbers working on his tummy time.
but could you please take a moment to look at his outfit?

nope - you're not color blind.
his father really did dress him like that.
his explanation: "but they're both stripes! i figured stripes went together"
this is what happens when i leave the hubbers in charge.
where is quality control!?!?

i took this pic on the way to work this morning.
it was beautiful - a cloudy day and this one mountain peak highlighted in the distance by the sun.
beautiful.

happy birthday and other nonsense -

two words: leisure suit.
love it.
the chubbers is just chillin in his leisure suit.


not kidding - we left a full bucket of candy on halloween on our doorstep. came back hours later - nothing had been taken. sad.
i think trick-or-treating is a lost art.


i just LOVE the chubbers look in this picture.
critter, chubbers, and pais.


mommy and her lil' monkey


my monkeys with the grandparents


nothing says happy birthday like a big 'ol chocolate cake


yes, the chubbers has to fend for himself sometimes.
here he is showing off his newest trick - wiggling out of his little chair.
and his socks are falling off from all the wiggling.
sad.


the birthday boy with his presents: a bowling ball and sweet polyester shirt - both engraved with his nickname.




a match made in Heaven


buddies


i love the chubbers in this one, too - it looks like he's coming to my defense

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY HUBBERS - sure hope you like me after all the surprises today!