rain, rain, snow???

It has been raining for the past week here. Normally we do see some snow on the mountains near our house but it's usually just on the top. I don't think we have ever seen this much snow before. It was so beautiful for the short period the sun was out.

the guy's first 2008 fishing at the lake

Brian, Clyde and Jeff had their first fishing day of the year at a lake near our house. Trout is stocked periodically so the fish isn't from around here. They left home at 4:30am and fished most of the day. They caught a bunch of trout. It was really cold but they had a good time.

Lots of boats on the lake.

Clyde

BrianJeff???

(he was the photographer)

Maybe next time it will be warmer!!!

our first dinner

Still recovering from our crazy adventures so this was a first dinner we cooked in our new kitchen. It was just broiled frozen salmon from Costco, frozen Fettuchini Alfredo from Trader Joe's and spinach from a bag. It was really good and nice to eat at home. We are still getting used to our new downstairs. It doesn't feel like our old house any more except when we go upstairs and see all our old junk then it feels like home again. In time when we get more stuff done we will get used to it. Our main goal for now is to clean out the garage so Jeff can park his car in again. I am sure we will be cooking on a regular basis when we find all our kitchen stuff and unpack our pots. There still is some work to be done so we might wait till that's done before we totally move everything back.

the holidays-2007 a look back

Hope everyone had a great holiday!!! The past 6 months have been a whirlwind for us and our kitchen is still not 100% complete. Just last week the flooring was finally done. Still have some repairs/adjustments on the cabinets, install the kitchen blinds, the back splash and many small details to finish. It's hard to imagine all that has gone on in the remodel of our downstairs. We still have not unpacked all the stuff for our kitchen or even cooked anything since Christmas dinner but slowly it will all get done. We look forward to many more adventures in 2008. Hoping to travel more and maybe start the remodel of the upstairs. Yes, we are crazy...

Christmas Part 1- At home

We finally got our tree a few days before Christmas. Mom told us if you wait till the last minute, trees are only $5. That was not the case...

As usual we had to use the convertible to haul the tree home since it would not fit in our other car either. Yes, we did freeze. Good thing it was a short ride home. We are getting an SUV so next year we won't have to find pine needles in my car all year long!!!

Marissa and cousin Kai

Our annual Christmas day dinner with the family. It went good considering we stayed up till 4am on Christmas eve trying to get our house ready. Sadly we couldn't get everything done but hopefully next year our house will be finished. Thank you Marissa for taking the photos. It was the only way for us to see our party since we spent most of the time in the kitchen. It was fun and we look forward to next year. Hope everyone enjoyed themselves. We promise it will be better next year!!!

The appetizers

Wow, all those people in our house.

Kai and Grandma Mary

Great to see you Jack. Hope you come back before next Christmas!!!

Banana cream pie, I made...

Christmas part 2- Trip to PA

Day after Christmas we spent the whole day cleaning and packing. Then flew from LAX to Dulles (VA) on the redeye flight and arrived at 6am the next day. Jeff's parents picked us up at the airport and drove us 2 hours to get to their home in York, PA. It was a short trip to visit with the family for Christmas. We forgot to take pictures at Jeff's Mother's get together (sorry) but it was lots of fun and as usual really good food... The best part was that it SNOWED, at least for a short while and didn't last the next day. It was a great trip and look forward to going back again soon...

We never miss a trip to Lattuca's. Jeff loves the Stromboli and we have a new favorite, 3 cheese pizza. Yummy

Stromboli

Grandpa liked this restaurant (near Lancaster, PA in Amish country) a lot and it's nice to go when we can to remember our times together there. It also has the best chicken corn soup. We try to go every time we visit, if we have time.

Chicken corn soup

Tapioca

Jeff's family Christmas gift exchange at his parents house.


Oh so many gifts

Mother and Dad

On 12/29 we had Christmas lunch at Jeff's Grandma's house with the family.

Grandma

Jeff's Dad's side of the family

We did some shopping at King of Prussia Mall and ate these interesting cupcakes. They were called up cakes (upside down cupcakes). They looked really good but tasted just OK. Not like my favorite Sprinkles cupcakes.

Up cake

Happy New Year!!!

We left PA on New Year's eve in hopes of celebrating the New Year at home but our plane had a mechanical problem (they tried real hard to fix it) and after spending 3 hours sitting on the plane with a total of 7 hours at the airport we finally got a hotel at 11:30pm. We ordered room service (champagne and some snacks). Had to wake up at 4am to get on the first flight home. To say the least, it wasn't a very good way to start the New Year. On the way home we stopped at Clyde and Kelly's house to have some Good Luck Mochi soup in hopes that 2008 will be a better year!!!

Christmas part 3- Disneyland

Laura and Kassidee stopped over for a short visit on their way home from Orlando to Hawaii. It was a rainy weekend but we spent 2 fun days together at Disneyland. A great way to spend the last weekend of the holidays...


It was supposed to rain all weekend (the biggest in 5 years) but it just rained a little and it wasn't too cold. Kept the crowds away and most rides were just a 5 minute wait.

Jeff and Kas enjoying a turkey leg

Jeff, Lisa, Kassidee and Laura

at

the castle
Time to go
One last look, Christmas at Disneyland.

Can't wait till next year!!!