Ahhh...the Food

Here's some of the food we enjoyed on our Up North week-end.  (First, so sorry Myra and Sue that I did not photograph your fabulous soups and salad.  I guess I was just too hungry to remember to take a picture.)

Krissy and Caity made this for breakfast on Saturday morning (I am kindly not posting the photo of the girls with their food as it was morning and no way do I want to hear Caity's comments on putting up a picture of her without her hair done or make up on.  I don't blame her...I'm the same way, sort of.)

Sausage and Monterey Jack Breakfast Strata

PW's Cinnamon Rolls

These rolls were off the charts delicious and will likely become a regular at family events.  

Kathy made this beautiful and wonderful for dinner:

 Poached salmon with roasted potatoes, asparagus and green beans

I made a Flourless Chocolate Cake for desert and...no photo.  (Kathy please send me one)

For Sunday dinner, I made this pasta:

Italian Sausage Penne Pasta

I'm sure we all put on a few extra pounds, but it was worth it.

Guess Who's Visiting Oma

Watching Luke tonight and having a great time.

He's now standing in the corner grunting his head off.  Bet you can't guess what I get to do next!!

Girls Up North - 2011 Edition

Well, back to reality but what a magnificent week-end we had.  The Michigan weather was on it's best behavior and the company was...outstanding.

Our normal little "Up North" rental had a pipe bursting issue, so this year we stayed next door at his sister's little 6000 square foot house.  (Ha!)  Here's the house from the roadside.

And here it is from the lakeside:

Not too shabby.

Lake Michigan at it's best:

And here's the gang:

Plus the girls, who were still in the winery when the above picture was taken by a kind passing stranger:

More on the wineries and the food later.  Thanks to all my girls for making the trip.  It was a blast!

By the way, did we remember to put the big UofM magnet back on the fridge?   And did we put the scary doll back in her chair instead of facing the wall by the TV?  If we didn't, I guess they will figure out that the house was mostly full of State fans (sorry Kathy) and that we aren't doll fans either.

Love you all.

Northern Bound

We head up north tomorrow.  Can't wait to spend a few days away and with my girls.  Here's the plan...eat, drink, go wine tasting, play games, watch a movie, talk and laugh.

Here's the menu so far:

Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup & Salad
Sausage and Monterrey Jack Strata
Pioneer Women's Cinnamon Rolls
Poached Salmon
Homemade Apple Pie
Cheesy Eggs, Grandpa Bob's Pancakes and Bacon
Italian Sausage Penne Pasta in Tomato Cream Sauce
Flourless Chocolate Cake

Sounds decadent, doesn't it.

Will post lots of pictures when I get back.

Count Down to Up North

Last year I coordinated the first "Girls Gone Up North" trip.  I gather up all my favorite women and we spend a long week-end at a beautiful home on Lake Michigan.  Here are a few of the photos from last year:

This year's trip is next week-end and most everyone is returning, plus a few who couldn't make it last year. 

We have an interesting twist this year as the home we rented last year had a pipe burst so it's not available at the last minute....BUT, fortunately his sister lives next door and we get to stay there this year.  I clearly remember thinking how much I wanted to see inside the house next door.  It was beautiful as well.  So...wish granted.

Hoping for some nice weather, not that it really matters, but it would be nice to go wine tasting without the rain.  

I'm so excited and I'm really looking forward to the getaway this year.  I can really use some girl power.

Darling is a Pacifist

We play a lot of Fantasy Football in our family.  Frequently, it leads to some very interesting team names. Mine...typically very boring.  The rest of the family...very clever.

For our Pro Pick-em League, Krissy's team name is "Darling is a Pacifist".  I had to ask where that came from.  Here's the story....

One day while driving home with the boys, Ryan is chatting about a cartoon that he is watching lately.  It would probably help the story if I could remember the name of the show, but I can't.

During his ramblings he says, "Darling is a pacifist".  Darling is one of the characters on the show.  Obviously, this intrigues Kristen who gently pursues the topic.  "a pacifist, are you sure?"  "Yes" he says with complete confidence.

Later...at home, while watching the cartoon, she finds out that....

Darling is a Passion Fish.

He comes up with the best stuff...