Happy Birthday Jamie

Warning: my camera was not in agreement with me last night. Bad lighting, the wrong settings and I was rushing.

Because Jamie is out of town most of this month, and Makena will be at her dad's for half of the Christmas Break, we celebrated Jamie's birthday last night. We aren't too far off tho, his birthday is on the 9th.

We picked Jamie up from the airport at 5pm. I started dinner the minute we got home. One of Jamie's favorites; spaghetti. I even bought him the crappy garlic bread that he likes and used normal noodles and plain sauce. Meatless Monday was skipped this week for Jamie.

Then we caught up on an episode of Amazing Race - a family favorite. (We're still one week behind, so don't give anything away!!)

Then it was time for gifts and the brownies Makena made him.

Moxie was very happy that Daddy was home.

And she loved the new watch we got him.

Then I tried to get some pictures of Jamie and Makena. They were laughing and moving around, not good in dim light for my camera settings. And, as always, they were making silly faces.

Blurry, dark and bad contrast photos.

Oh well...the brownies were good!

Happy Birthday Jamie - we love you.

my little baker

Because we enjoyed the brownies so much from The Merry Kitchen, Makena decided that she wanted to make them for Jamie for his birthday.

Jamie likes brownies. Maybe even a little more than Makena does.

So...we gathered our ingredients.

And got to it....

There is some stirring.

And some folding.

And some pouring.

Then it's ready!

The bakers always get the good stuff.

an ill tempered gnome with some jubelale

So last night, I tried Oakshire Brewing's Ill Tempered Gnome. Good stuff!

I took Makena and Hailee to the mall today (even though I pouted and told them that I didn't want to go) and headed straight for the Made in Oregon store. I knew I could find some beers there.

Lucky me...there were a few new ones!

So tonight I had Deschutes Brewery's Julbelale. Deschutes never lets me down. Yum!

Can't wait to see what I'll try tomorrow...

It always starts with the bottle...

It started last year at Christmas. You may remember this picture.

Me + Beer = happier Me. Always.

Then I found the bottle in with my Christmas stuff this year.

Tami bought me this beer during a Christmas party at their house last year. I'm still trying to figure out why she got me the Bad Elf one.

So I thought I would try other seasonal beers this year and add the bottles to start a new little holiday collection. I mean, why not?!? Who doesn't put out beer bottles at Christmas time right?

I first found this one...Insanely Bad Elf from Ridgeway Brewing. (Do you see a pattern starting?)

And I'll admit, I didn't enjoy this one.

Not. At. All.

I couldn't even make myself drink it. It was probably the second time in my 20+ drinking years (don't count backwards here) that I poured the beer down the sink, on purpose.

And I knew that Tami was shaking her head at me, so I found a Mirror Pond and drank that one instead. I knew she'd be happy again.

Last night I tried the Abominable Winter Ale from HUB.

Much. Better.

I'll keep you posted throughout the season.

The Merry Kitchen + 5 Girl Scouts

My Girl Scout Troop went to a cooking class last week. We found Julie, from The Merry Kitchen, in Portland. She runs this little business from her home. She created an Italian menu, with vegetarian options, for the girls to learn to make.

They quickly, and quietly at first, took over the kitchen.

After making the dough for the calzones, it was time to start the brownies.


Chocolate brownies. From scratch that is. (Lisa had me at the word Ghirardelli.)

There was a lot of measuring to do. And a little laughing at each other...

And stirring melting chocolate.

And then licking the bowl of course!

Lisa then gave the girls a lesson on using their knives. (Extra "thank you" for this Lisa.)

And then the girls learned how to break, peel and mince garlic.

Some girls were faster at the mincing than others. (Makena was not one of those "faster" ones by the way.)

They then moved on to grating cheese for the calzones.

And there was a little lesson on egg separating. There may have been an extra egg or two used for this purpose, but Jessica became a pro.

And then all of the wonderful smelling garlic was added to butter and spread on to bread.

The girls then got the dough ready for their calzones.

And there was even some dough left over for us parents!

A dipping sauce was made.

If I could insert {scratch and sniff} here, all would be perfect.

A pomegranate, apple and spinach salad.

And then the calzones were done baking.

And the kitchen was quiet again.

Until the brownies came out of the oven.

Dinner was wonderful girls. Thanks!

2011 Relay For Life Summit

The 2011 Relay For Life Summit was held in November. There were around 500 wonderful, energetic, hopeful Relayers all together in one large room. I think this was my 5th Summit, and favorite so far.

Amazing.

I saw these beauties - can you think of a better way to start a conversation about Colon Cancer?

I may need a pair...or two. I can already see a "mission delivery lap" in my future.

Always fun to see the decorations for the year's theme.

And the new goodies! How cute is this piggy bank?

And we were awarded a Pacesetter Award again for 2010. It's taken a lot of sweat, and some tears, but we are building back up the Hillsboro Relay For Life - the committee, the teams and the community!

Here is part of our 2011 Committee.

The Relay For Life of Beaverton was also awarded for being a 2010 Pacesetter event. Yeah Beaverton!

And here is my new shirt...to add to my ever growing Relay tshirt collection.