Starting 2013 right...

HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Well, we made it to 2013, past the Mayan end of the world and everything! We're still working on our Zombie Apocalypse plan around here though. Can't be too careful.

I have so many things to share right now. So many memories to be recorded, put in black and white to prevent them from becoming those wisps that fade away with time. Some are so good that when written it doesn't do them justice. Some are pretty bad and scary. 

The last couple months of 2012 were a roller coaster ride. The high points were sky high. The lows mostly involve my dad's health and those continue to be a struggle. I'm much more optimistic but it's still a worry. It's hard to be all these miles away. My brother and sister, like always, have stepped up and helped in so many ways. Feeling very guilty about that for sure.

Here's a quick peek at the best thing about November...

We took a little trip. Halfway across the Pacific Ocean. Funny thing about being that far away and being gone as long as we were, you relax. We still had phones and tablets. But email was checked only once a day. Instagram  was the most used bit of tech that I used.

Fun partner in crime

I had a "few" of these

Waikiki at sunset. It gave me a lump in my throat. Corny, but so true.

The water was only a few feet from the covered lanai 

Ate quite a few of these... from different places

Did as much of this as possible... the sand time AND the beer

We even went to one of these. So much fun!

There's a lot more of our island days to share, as well as the holiday- they're coming soon!

Do you make resolutions? That's kind of a tricky one for me. I usually start the year with some ideas of how I want to make the new one better. Sometimes they stick, sometimes not. One that hasn't stuck in recent years has been to loose the Columbia weight that I put on when I moved here- 5 1/2 years ago. I do some minimum gym time, and do well for a while and then I get a better offer. Food, wine, beer, TV, computer, friends- they all seem like better offers. So the only goal I'm going to make on that front is to be wearing a pair of my favorite Levi's again. Not sure how many pounds it'll take but I want my butt in those jeans. Oh, and they need to actually look good.

I want to be a better writer, a more consistent one. I've said this before too, but if it's something I REALLY want, I'll be able to achieve it. 

There are a lot of upcoming events around here in the next couple of months. Miss America,  6 birthday's , a new grand baby- Gwen. I'm sure I'm forgetting something!

We love 13's in this family, so here's to making 2013 a great year. 

xoxo

Lissa

And the hits (babies) just keep on comin'

The last few years of my life has brought a steady stream of babies. My 4 baby girls (with another on the way) and then you add friends and other family members to the baby makers, that's a lot of babies.    

The most recent celebration was for Danee's friend Kasey. I love being around these girls, seeing what great little mommies they're becoming. 

Looking for games on my phone

Big brother Mikah got to come to the party too

Tutu party

Love the cake!

So did Miss Myla

Love this face

I'm helping Mama!

xoxo

Lissa

Bathroom reno

I've shown you before what a talented, self taught carpenter/ cabinet maker Adam is. The pieces of furniture around my house are many and he's made a lot of pieces for friends also. 

This particular project came about more than a year ago. Dinner with good friends and a discussion about the renovation they wanted to do on their bathroom and by the end of it Adam had asked if he could build a cabinet for it. I really think it took some time to convince them that he was serious about it, but once Jen & John decided on Midwest Remodeling and Renovation   to do the work Adam started his drawings. 

It turned out better than even I had anticipated! Just beautiful. 

They decided to go with oak. That thing is going to last FOREVER

Door panels were a great excuse for new router bits

Almost there!

The hardware choice and dark stain made it much more contemporary

Jen & John did all their own demo for this project and even found some cool old wine bottles inside the walls. The rest was done by the remodeling company, but the before and afters are so amazing I've got to share. 

Before...

After... the tub and pedestal sink were re-glazed since they are original to the house  

Before

Almost done

After!

It was such an amazing transformation, and that cabinet is absolute perfection. There's still the upper to make when he has time to take a breath. 

xoxo

Lissa

Tailgate food Vanderbilt edition

We have season tickets for Mizzou Football this year, their first year in the SEC. Not that this is magic or anything,  I think it's like taking AP classes in high school .. it's really hard and at first you don't really measure up, but in the long run it makes you better. Now until this year we went to about half the home games each year so when some friends thought they'd let 2 of their seats go Adam bought them instead. 

 This season got started with 3 weeks of home games, all in the evening, and when you add tailgating into the day and the fact that Adam has been working most Saturday mornings, it makes for a reeeealy long day. 

So this week brought Vanderbilt to town and it wasn't the outcome we hoped for with a loss and a few injuries to the team. Also, this week our weather turned from crisp to cold (in my opinion) and even with quite a few layers on, I froze. 

There's always a wide variety of food to eat. I tried a new recipe to take this week, it was good but needs some tweaking.  

Jalapeno Popper Dip

6-8 slices of bacon  Confession- I used the whole pound minus what I snacked on. Don't judge.

2  8 ounces packages of cream cheese, softened

1 cup mayo

4-6 jalapenos copped- you know the rules get rid of seeds and veins if you want less heat

1 cup shredded sharp cheddar

1/2 cup shredded mozzarella

1/4 cup chopped green onion  

Topping

1 cup crushed crackers- they suggested Ritz, I used Town House

1 cup Parmesan.

1/2 stick butter- melted

Pre-heat oven to 350 

Combine all the ingredients and mix well. I just put them all in my Kitchen-aid and let it do the work for me. Spread in baking dish- I used a browning pan and it worked well. Obviously, the bigger the pan, the less baking time. Combine the toppings, and cover the top.  Bake approx 20-30 or until bubbling.

We used Frito's scoops but it would be really good on crackers too.

Like I said it needs something... more heat for me I think. Since I wasn't sure who liked spicy and who didn't I played it safe. 

I use a grapefruit spoon to get seeds out

Yummy bacon

Cookies travel well and are always a hit

Here's hoping for more wins, and more warm games! Go Tigers!

xoxo

Lissa

Much loved visitors

Hope you had a great weekend. I know I did. Two of my favorite ladies in the world came for a visit! Kelly & Emerson were here and we did as little as possible. We worked very hard at relaxing.

We did head over to the Farmer's Market just to look around and see what we might need. This week, what I need ended up being some meat and a pumpkin. 

I didn't catch their names but they were really good!

These gourds were so cool

I got a pumpkin with lots of warts

Emerson is a great pumpkin picker-outer

Love them

This kid is one mean bubble blower

Hangin' at the park with Aunt Lissa

  Saturday, my friend Jenny came over for dinner and Adam grilled us an amazing meal.

I'm so thankful for the weekends I have with my friends. 

xoxo

Lissa

Another one turns 1!

Adam's cousin Chad & his wife Jennie's little boy Cooper turned 1 this last week. A birthday party for a 1 year old is an sketchy deal... most of the time the little one doesn't enjoy it very much and yet we put them through  the circus of it.  

Jennie & a friend made the cake and did such a great job.

 And the smash cake looked to adorable to eat

This little guy is a trooper. And he can eat some serious cake! He didn't seem too interested until Daddy put it up to his mouth and then it was on.

This...

 Turned into this! Auntie Erin to the rescue.

 On the way home week took the scenic route and stopped at Peter's Market  for some apples... but mostly just because it's fun.

Hope you're able to take the fun, scenic route soon! 

xoxo

Lissa

A visit to the Titanic

In April of 1912 the Titanic did what everyone thought was impossible. It sank. And since that time the world held the ship, crew and all aboard in complete fascination. 

We visited Union Station in KC with Danee, EJ, Jamie & Miss Myla to see the exhibit for the 100 year anniversary. I've always been fascinated with the subject and it doesn't hurt that Cameron is obsessed with all things Titanic, and has been since he was pretty young. 

We visited the permanent attraction in Branson , a few years ago and I really enjoyed it. They kept me happy with the history, even teaching me a few things. But kept it entertaining too. 

This exhibit was smaller than I thought it would be, but just like the introduction said, it really is an an artifact exhibition. A lot of heart wrenching, take your breath away artifacts. Shoes, glasses, a brief case.The thought that they once belonged to someone, held by them, worn by them... Wow.

I got in trouble for taking pictures. Yes, I'm very well aware that photos are not allowed inside an exhibit. When we walked in I took the 2 pictures above. The little old lady (Walmart greeter variety) at the door made a comment about this being the last room I could take photos in. What she MEANT was that the entry was the only room. I took one in the foyer of some period costumes and she went Photography Nazi on me. So I apologized ( a little) and off we went. 

We each got a boarding pass- even Myla. They chose a random male or female card and in we went.  At the very end there's a wall with the names of all passengers and you search until you find what your fate was.

Adam's passenger- he lived

My passenger- I lived too. 

Pete was pouting when we went to meet them. She had been standing on the coffee table so Mommy called her a  "bad baby". Think she  knows how to play that one?

After Union Station we went to The Cashew  a cute little spot downtown with great sandwiches. I've wanted to go for ages but never think of it when we're close by so this was the day. 

She was such a good girl even though it was a long day for her.

It was a good day. But what day isn't when you can hang out with some of the people you love the most.