Remembering the best Vacation Ever

Whenever I walk by the coffee grinder in Walmart or Target...I'm instantly

taken

back to the Vacation of all Vacations....I know you're not suppose to drink coffee, but It's okay to inhale deeply when walking by.

The best vacation ever was in 1988 or 1989, I can't recall which (without digging out the old pictures)

But the year isn't important.

My sisters and I were in "LOVE" with Johnny Depp on 21 Jumpstreet and we

knew they filmed the show in Vancouver British Columbia, so we decided to

take a road trip, like a bunch of groopies. Our Mom was so cool, instead of saying no, she said she would come with.

So we loaded up the tent and recorded some tunes off the radio onto cassette tapes

and headed off on an adventure.

We'd never been to Canada, and we had not idea what to expect or

where we would stay, but those vacations are always the best.

When we got there we found the coolest campgound, located right at the

base of the Lion's Gate Bridge, you could hear horns and clanking all night, but

it was awesome. The air was crystal clear, for being a pretty big city and the views

we're amazing.

Other vacations have come and gone, but this one will always remain with me.

Oh, and we never did see Johnny Depp, but that didn't matter either.

These are the gigantic totems at Stanley Park

This is Gastown, the oldest part of Vancouver

This is the Bridge we camped under

A view of the city

The clock at gastown

What is your pet peeve?

Here's one of mine...I was at walmart yesterday, checking out ...AND I stepped over by the spinney thingy to load the sacks in my cart and the next guy and his wife in line took my place in line. The checker wasn't even done with all my groceries. So, I had to stand at the end by my cart the rest of the time. When I swiped my card...he was standing right next to me, shoulder to shoulder. I thought he would get the hint, when I covered up my pin # with my hand, but he didn't move at all. In fact, when the clerk got the receipt, she handed it to him, and he pointed to me. Talk about annoying, that drives me crazy. There wasn't anyone in line in back of them either, so I don't know why they had to crowd right up next to me. Grocery stores need to have a red line on the floor for the next person waiting to stand behind that says "Please wait here, for your turn" Sometimes I wish I was from New York, they know how to tell people what they think.

Girls @ the Movies

Loni, Rena, Vera

That was a lot of fun to go to the movies on the spur of the moment with my sisters. We went to see Confessions of a Shopaholic. It was a cute movie, but more fun cuz I was with my sisters.

Susan's Shower

Susan Mecham, our cousin on Mom's side had a baby shower last Saturday. Rena and I were able to go. It was so much fun. This is a picture of Rena and Susan

Rena and me

Me, Rena and our cuz Tami

Cousin Kathie, Uncle Eldon, Me and cousin Laura, Rena in front

Tami, Vera, Kathie, Rena, Kelli

Karen, Susan and Laura

It was great to visit with all of our cousins, its been forever since we've seen each other.

Fun 19th Anniversary

We had a fun Valentines Saturday, we went out to lunch at Cafe Rio, then shopping, then out to dinner at Maddox in Brigham City (one of our favorite places) and it was so yummy "lots of food" Then monday for our Anniversary we went to lunch at this cool place in North Ogden called Moores BBQ and Halibut House. I love slow cooked bbq and every once in a while, I do like the battered Halibut (even though I claim to be a non-seafood person). I remember when I was little we lived near a Piccadilly (Fish) restaurant and I liked it. Then we found this movie theater in No. Ogden that was really cheap for new movies, so we saw Paul Blart Mall Cop, it was pretty good. Then we saw " Taken", which was really good. Then we went to Bountiful to our FAV chinese restaurant "The Mandarin" yummy. So we had a fun couple of days. February is super busy for us.

It always starts with Jordyn

That girl always brings home the germs...she's always the first one sick. She was sick a couple days this week, now she's better. But, she gave it to me. I woke up with a horrible sore throat and my head and ears hurt. Mike has let me lay around all day, so I can be better for the big weekend. He's really good at doing that. With Valentines tomorrow and our anniversary on Monday, I definately don't want to feel like this. I hope this doesn't go thru our whole family.

Chewy Oatmeal Choc. Chip Cookies (Like Great Harvest)

1 cup softened butter (don't substitute)
1 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar
2 large eggs
2 tbsp milk
2 tsp vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
3/4 tsp salt, if you use salted butter ( if you use unsalted butter, use 1 tsp salt)
2 1/2 cups rolled or quick oats, not instant
12 oz. choc. chips

Preheat the oven to 350F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper, this really helps to make them Chewy. In a large bowl, cream together the butter and the sugars until mixture is light in color. Beat in the eggs one at a time, followed by the milk and the vanilla extract. In a medium bowl, stir together the flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Stir in the oats and chocolate chips by hand. Drop 1-inch balls of dough onto the cookie sheet, placing about 1 1/2 inches apart so they have room to spread. Bake at 350F for 10-13 minutes, until golden brown at the edges and light golden at the center. Cool on baking sheet for at least 1-2 minutes before transfering to a wire rack to cool completely. Makes 4 dozen.

Cafe Rio

Cafe Rio Tomatillo Ranch Dressing

3 Fresh Tomatillos, quartered

1 Package Hidden Valley Ranch Buttermilk Dressing Mix

1/2 Cup Mayonnaise

1/2 Cup sour cream

1/3 to 1/2 C Buttermilk

1/2 bunch cilantro (less or more if you like)

2 cloves roughly chopped garlic (omit if you like)

1/4 tsp Ceyenne Pepper

Combine all ingredients in a blender and refrigerate at least 1 hour

(Make sure to blend it in a food processor or blender, I found that this makes a lot, so next time I'll 1/2 the recipe - unless I'm having it for a party.)