Pancake Day 2015

Since Pancake Day is such a special random holiday to me, it's only fitting that it gets it very own post.  This year was no exception to the grandness of Pancake Day.  It was celebrated all day long - breakfast, lunch and dinner!

As I was preparing for the day, I came across a post-it note from last year.  It was a recipe from a friend that celebrated with me last year and I had completely forgotten about.  When I saw it, I knew that those had to be my breakfast pancakes.

If you can't read it, the bottom of the note says,
"You owe me $1.00 if you don't make this next year."

They were definitely hearty, healthy, and a nice change to the typical pancake.  Since they were a little odd, I just made two for myself to eat for breakfast.

For work breakfast, I set up a make-your-own-pancake bar.  I had the buttermilk base with different add-ins to choose from.

 International Pancake Day happened to coincide with Mardi Gras this year, so I had to incorporate it somehow.  Lunch pancakes were also Mardi Gras pancakes.

Green spinach pancakes
Yellow curry hummus
Purple cabbage

Mardi Gras Pancake!

After work I hurried home to get ready for the big pancake dinner.  I learned from previous years that people go more for the sweet pancakes, so I tried to make more of the sweet options.  But I always have to try some savory too; otherwise I would be totally pancaked out and sugared out by the end of the day.

So glad I got a new range with 4 working burners

Sweet potato kale, spicy black bean, blueberry,
chocolate chip, peanut butter chip, chocolate & peanut
butter chip, funfetti birthday, banana, buttermilk

and a plethora of topping options!

It was a great night with my little place packed with happy pancake eaters.  I still need to make more sweet pancakes.  They go so quickly!  We already started planning for next year's celebration.  Lots of ideas.  The biggest request - bacon!  Good luck with that one ;)

Winter 2015

Winter is not my favorite season, but the longer I live here the better I get at it.  I learn how to dress for the cold, how to drive in the snow (or how to avoid driving in the snow), and find things that I enjoy.  This past winter involved a lot of snow and the cold doesn't seem to end, but it's Colorado so there are always bits of warmth and sunshine throughout.  

Probably my favorite winter activity is snowshoeing.  I don't know why I never end up going more, but I did at least get my one snowshoe outing in for the season.  Christine and I headed out for the trails at Mueller State Park.

Great snowshoeing buddy!

Most of the trail was snow covered...

but there were a few patches of dirt-shoeing :)

Snow does make a beautiful landscape

I had a few days that I probably could have used some snowshoes just working to and from work.  They made for quite the adventurous treks.  I throw on my snow boots and snow jacket and have fun with it!

Trekking up the hill towards home

So happy to be making foot tracks and
not tire tracks

Maybe I should have gotten a ride home?  Nah!
This is way more fun.

I tend to celebrate more random and not so random holidays in the winter.  It's probably because I tend to have more time at home avoiding the cold plus people need a little more cheer to get through winter.  Here are a few that we celebrated.

Maria only got to visit for a night and day, but we still
managed to find time to celebrate Chocolate Cake Day!

Each of my co-workers brought in a can to add
to the Chili Day celebration - like stone soup, but chili

It turned out to be some really tasty chili thanks to everyone's
contribution plus T-Doe's cornbread

Surprise Valentine's box from my wonderful mom & dad
Malvi Mallows!

My friends and I did a tasting so that we could compare all
the flavors.  The winner for all of us was Peppermint
Chocolate.  Vanilla Salted Caramel was a close 2nd.

Scott is our very own Cookie Monster, so
this cake was perfect!

Strawberry Ice Cream Day

My co-worker had a precious baby girl in February

We played a fun matching game that involved a bunch of
candy associated with pregnancy and new baby terms
Ex: Contractions  = Whoppers

We got more and more snow...

The start of a mountain outside my place

We even got a couple snow days, which I totally took advantage of to do some quilting.

Perfect snow day = hot cup of tea + crafting

I'm thinking I might take up sewing as a winter hobby

And then one random weekend in February, it was unusually warm and sunny.  So some friends and I decided to do The Incline and take advantage of the warmth in the middle of summer.  It was our first time since the upgrades were finished.  They did a nice job of keeping the rustic look, but making it a little safer.  Once thing is for sure, they did not make it any easier.

Here we go!

Always worth it when you get to the top
and are able to turn around and see the view

Everybody thought it was a great day to get out for a challenge

They fixed up the social trail to get down!

I am so thankful Colorado is not a place of constant snow, gloom, and sub-zero temperatures through the winter.  The sunny days carry me through!

Christmas 2014

As many of you probably know or can imagine, the first time for everything after losing a loved one is hard.  You don't know how it will be or how to handle it, but you know it will be different.  I wouldn't be walking across the game room to lightly knock on Zach's door.  I would be the only one coming down the stairs; the only one seeing what "Santa" left me.  But despite all of the things that filled me with sadness, as Christmas approached, I found myself being more thankful than ever for the real reason that we celebrate.  Jesus, my Savior, was born!  He came into the world to save me, to save you, to save all of us.  And it is that hope of eternal life that I was hanging on to, that we were celebrating.  It's amazing how much God teaches us and grows us through the hardest times in life.

Through the strength of God and the power of many prayers, we were able to celebrate Christmas.  Yes it was different, but it was still joy-filled.  There were Zach touches, continued family traditions, and possibly a new family tradition that made it all very special.

The new family tradition was volunteering at an Operation Christmas Child warehouse.  I personally think there's nothing better than giving to someone else and serving with other people to lift yourself out of whatever you're going through.  It was a great experience and amazing to hear the impact that this ministry has on so many lives.  What a cool thing to realize that each box that you pack is going to share the love of God to children all around the world!

A perfectly packed box!  Good work Dad!

The team at station 2

I really hope we get the opportunity to do it again!

Of course the tree had to go up.  This year it was adorned with a special ornament that everyone knows is totally Zach.

Heinz 57

So thankful for great cousins!

Christmas Eve still consisted of our traditional homemade pizza making and games.  Delicious and fun as always!

We have really perfected this process!

Some friends of mine, who are game players and know that we are too, sent us a new game this year.  We got to battle it out to see who is the most famed and feared pirate in all the seas.

Who will it be?

The most famed and feared Pirate Jim

Christmas was filled with great family time by the tree, in the kitchen, and of course around the table.

Grandma with her amazing Red Velvet Cheesecake Layered Cake

Can you believe that cake?

It was delicious!!!

How cute is she?

20 something years later and we still love taking
matching cousin pictures 

Christmas shoes!

Making some new marshmallows - mint with a dark
chocolate drizzle

Great little gifts and continued practice for a future business?!?!

This little man is quite the blessing.
The humor is courtesy of Zach :)

I am blessed with so many great cousins!

Not sure how he feels about it, but I'm loving some Baylee time

It's always shocking how fast the time flies by, but I am so thankful to get to celebrate and spend time with all of my grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins.  What a great family!

And before I knew it, we were celebrating the new year.

Putting my new stocking stuffer to use
A make-it-yourself banner
Perfect for all my random holidays!

Happy 2015!!!