Ridin' Wild at Slidewaters

I have an outrageous number of water park pictures...and some of these just crack me up.  It's hard to believe that all of us rode the same rides.  (Do you ride a ride at a water park?  That sounds all wrong.  I guess you go on a ride.  Or go down a slide.  Or whatever.  It's Friday night.  I'm tired.  I'm easily distracted when I'm tired.  Actually I'm just easily distracted.  Period.)

ANYWHO!!!  Back to what I was saying.  I love how these pictures show the personalities of all involved.  Some shots were not captured, so I regret to not be able to show you the shot of Brad and I coming out on a double tube, flipping in the air and landing upside down underwater.  Oh, you know the way that did NOT thrill me.  Brad and Alex assured me that being on the front of the tube is great.  I so easily forget that their idea of great and my idea of great are not the same idea.  And how easily they forget, too.  I think they both harbor a quiet hope that one of these times I'll come up from under the water, sputtering and stumbling and say, "WOW!!  That was GREAT!  Can we do it again???"  Silly boys.

So here's the recap of our great day at the water park:

this is the view from the top of the body slides.  beautiful...

Now, for the people shooting down the slides: please note the looks of utter delight on their faces.  Please also note the way they are laying down, to achieve the greatest speed...

Amanda, a beautiful smile,

Emily, a beautiful smile,

My beautiful Brenna, a beautiful smile,

And then there's Alex...

And Brad...

And here I finally come.  I'm trying my best to put on a big smile.  And note that I am sitting up ram-rod straight, trying not to gain the most speed, but to stay in the most control.

And then Emily plops into the pool, still smiling!

And now we will move onto The Downhill Racers!  This is one that took me forever to build up the courage to ride last year.  This year I knew exactly what to expect, which is exactly what I prefer to know.  So I got into it right from the beginning, and was determined to make it further than the last finish line.  I kept being told, "It's all technique!"  And the lifeguards even got into the teaching mode, trying to coach me on "the technique".  Well, I'm proud to say that after going down more than 20 times, I finally got it figured out!!  And you know what was slowing me down?  I was keeping my head way up so I could keep my eyes on where I was going.  Right before my last run, the lifeguard told me to try to put my head down behind the mat and to just trust that I'd go the right way.  He told me, "You can look at the finish line after you finish."  Hmm.  Good advice, huh?!  So I tried it, and I sailed right past the 3rd finish!  Woo-hoo for me!!

me, Amanda and Brenna ready for the first run

coasting into the finish...

looking up at the finish, too soon

A few minutes after this shot was when I finally made it all the way down!

Jack, Alex, and Thomas.  I love how much air Alex gets on his decent!

And finally, some shots of the the River Rapids.  Oh, my.  This one was new to me this year.  It was a wild ride, for sure.  I kept getting stuck in all the "pools" on the way down, and needed assistance just about every time.  Even from small children.  Who weren't even mine.  And I love, love, love the different expressions on the faces:  serene smiles, panicked excitement...we had it all:

Alex, preparing to throw himself down the final slope...

Beth, gliding down gracefully...

Emily, trying the backwards approach...

Amanda, taking the serene journey...

Now here we go.  This is one of the times I was stuck, that Brad so kindly captured on film.  Please notice the oh-so-kind 5-year old who tried valiantly to come to my rescue.  That's some fine husband material, if any 5-year old girls are looking:

Bless him, look how hard he's trying to throw me down that cliff...

And here's the evidence that it was a wild drop to the bottom:

And now I offer photographic evidence that the ever-so-sweet Brenna is truly my child:

'nuff said!

Next a break for the hot tub:

Scattered throughout all this fun there were the wild double tubes that sent me a-flying.  Here are pictures of those who enjoyed that part:

Like father, like son...

Like big boy, like little boy...

Even Amanda and Brenna!

I do love Brenna's expression in this picture!

At one point in the day, Brad and I sat on the edge of the pool and watched Beth try (quite successfully!) to swim against the current.  It makes us smile.  And it makes us remember how beautiful the simple moments are.  We never take them for granted.

"He has made everything beautiful in its time..." Ecc. 3:11

And this is a beautiful time, sweet girl...

and this is what exhaustion looks like at the end of a fabulous day!

Water and Words

Time to add some vacation memories...

This time I will share all the joy we found in the water and with words.

The words were actually all my joy.  I read 2 1/2 books while we were gone that week!  It was glorious.  I love to get lost in a good book.  It rejuvenates me, relaxes me.  So I was thrilled to not only read so much, but also to read with such beauty all around me.  Here are a couple examples of the view over the top of my book:

 

is there anything much better than digging your toes in the sand while reading?

So much other fun happened in the water...

like handstands in the pool

and launching water balloons with the neighbors

and riding around on wave runners

and getting new hair-do's from riding wave runners at high speeds

and posing for family pictures

and digging in the sand

and getting some lake-weed therapy from Dr. Emily!

That last scene was a sight and a half.  My son is freaked-out by lake weed.  The only sense he can make of it is that he's not sure what's in or under or around the lake weed.  So he hates to see it, touch it, imagine it...he just freaks out.  So somehow the sweet Emily convinced him to paddle out beyond the lake weed on the noodles.  It was so much like the scene from "What About Bob", where Bob gets pushed into the water by Dr. Marvin and he paddles on his back to safety.

And here is a total bonus story for you!  Brad and I took a long ride together (we got the wave runner up to 53 mph, thank you very much!) and we went back to get a peek at Matt's house.  You know, Matt...one of my beloved Seahawks.  Last year I actually posted a picture of his house, and I think in the picture you can see his snazzy boats lined up at the dock.  All shiny, candle-apple red.  I don't know why he didn't choose Seahawk blue...but anyway.  I digress.  This year, as we were approaching, one of those shiny boats was making it's way towards the house.  When we were on our way back???  I am 99% sure that the tall, buff, mostly bald man parking the boat at the dock was no other than #8 himself!  I did have my camera with me, but I unfortunately also brought along my dignity.  So we just drove by and stared.  And really, after meeting Kari earlier in the week, my cup was so runnething over that I couldn't take in another brush with greatness.  But still, it was exciting.  And he looked relaxed.  And in great shape.  And ready for August, if I do say so myself.  And I am not being paid even a cent in scouting reports.

And goodness me, but I have not even made my way to the water park pictures yet!  I will have to save that for another day, another post.  Just looking at these pictures makes me want to hurry back over there and do it all over again!

Monday Menu ~ Chicken Pesto Pasta Salad

Hold on to your hats, Monday Menu is back!  After a very unintentional hiatus, it's back.  Life just gets in the way of good intentions sometimes, and Mondays seemed to come and go with no thought given to this.  And it's so funny...because these menu posts very rarely get comments, which is fine.  I really do this to document things for my kids.  And I'm glad to have these recipes in an accessible way.  But, because they get no comments, I assume they would not be missed.  And then I start hearing a low, gentle rumble headed my way...and it gets a bit louder and rumblier and it comes out in the form of, "when are Monday Menus coming back?" "How come you aren't posting recipes anymore" or "I really like the recipes, are you going to post any more soon??"  or my FAVORITE: "you aren't putting very many Monday Menus up anymore, does that mean you aren't cooking very much anymore?"  I wish it were that easy.  "Sorry, kids, mommy didn't blog today, so there will be no dinner."  That just makes me chuckle.

So, in the interest of all the silent but lovely people who are missing Monday Menu, this one is for you!  And actually for all of you, because it is sensational.  I snagged this from Marlece, made it for the first time on vacation, and have made it already since we've been home.  It makes a huge amount, and tastes great as left-overs.  In fact, I ate it for dinner three nights in a row.  It's a perfect summer meal!

oh, sorry...there I go fantasizing again...

THIS is the real salad!

Creamy Pesto Pasta Salad With Chicken and Asparagus

Creamy Buttermilk Dressing:

1 large garlic clove, minced
1/3 cup mayonnaise
1/3 cup sour cream
1/3 cup buttermilk
3 TBSP rice vinegar

Pasta Salad:

2 TBSP salt
1 pound penne pasta (Marlece uses bow tie, I use penne, the last time I used a mix of penne a small shells, so do whatever)
8 oz. trimmed asparagus, cut into 1-inch pieces
1 pound cooked chicken (I just cooked a whole chicken a pulled off a bunch into bite-sized pieces.  or just use a Costco rotisserie chicken, or be all healthy and do just chicken breasts.)
8 oz. cherry tomatoes, halved (I'm such a rebel: I used 4 Roma tomatoes, chopped coarsely)
1 (14 oz.) can whole artichoke hearts, drained and chopped (the 2nd time I made this, I only had a jar of marinated artichoke hearts.  I used 'em and it was fabulous.)
3 green onions, thinly sliced (or just finely dice a good amount of sweet onion, tastes great either way)
1/2 cup pine nuts, toasted in a small skillet over low heat until golden (I have yet to add this, but I know it would be great)
1/3 cup pesto (homemade or refrigerated prepared)

directions:
mix dressing ingredients in a small bowl; keep chilled until ready to toss with salad.

bring water and salt to boil in a large pot.  add pasta and cook according to package directions.  Add the asparagus the last minute.  Drain thoroughly and dump onto a large, lipped cookie sheet to cool.  When cool to the touch, add to a large bowl and toss together all remaining ingredients.  (Can be covered and refrigerated for several hours at this point.)  When ready to serve, add dressing, toss to coat and serve.

And, as a bonus, here's a new favorite thing from Costo:

The Arends introduced us to this amazing bread on vacation:

A  piece of this toasted goes beautifully with this salad.

Enjoy!

Airports and Hair Nets and Rocks, Oh My!

It's time.  Time to share more vacation memories.  Time to put a post up that will bump that sweet waffle post down one.  I don't really want to do it, but I do want to get the rest of these memories on here while they are fresh in my brain! 

I left on vacation just about totally wiped out.  I had been running on fumes for quite awhile, just going in too many directions when my body and mind just wanted a break.  It felt like life had been ruled by the clock and places to be for so long, and I was ready for vacation!  We had one more deadline to meet before we could actually feel like we were letting down:

Alex had spent the week prior to vacation on his road trip to Washington DC.  He took some amazing pictures, and I will post those soon.  We picked him up at the airport Wednesday morning, our get-out-of-town day.  His flight was 20 minutes early, and we were racing to Sea-Tac, hoping to be there in time for me to be at the gate when he got off the plane.  We so barely made it!  I had to stand in line at the ticket counter, which was moving sooo slowly.  When it was my turn, the man was in a very chatty, jovial mood.  Great, but that plane is landing in FIVE MINUTES!!!  He said, "I'm sorry, ma'am, but you have to be 21 to pick up a minor at the gate."  Hilarious.  I said, "Well, the fact that you just called me ma'am speaks for itself."  He wanted to continue this banter, and I wanted to vent my impatience.  I kept it sweet, though, hoping to get out of there without ruffling any feathers.  I did, and literally walked up to the gate as the plane was taxiing.  It was so great to see him!

We were in no rush to get over to Chelan, so where did we start our vacation?  Costco!  We grabbed some lunch and sat there in the food court looking at Alex's pictures and hearing stories.  After about an hour and a half of stories and wandering the aisles of Costco, it was time to hit the road!

It felt great to have all my kids back in one place, to sit and read a magazine and chat with Brad.  A very peaceful drive in a van loaded with coolers, pool noodles, and happy kids.  Then we came into Wenatchee, and three of us had to use a bathroom and could not make it the rest of the way.  At the same time, we saw the big billboard for the Applets & Cotlets factory.  "Free tours and samples"  Well, I'm sure if you offer tours and samples, you must also offer bathrooms, so off we went.  What a hoot!  I have never even eaten an Applet or Cotlet.  I don't like the texture I see when I look at them.  I've never been much of a jelly candy girl.  I do have some standards when it comes to my food.  But my children will eat anything, so all was not lost.  And the bathrooms were a relief to behold.

And the little hair nets we had to wear?  Well, that was just a bonus.

this would make a smashing Christmas card photo!

That's officially two pictures too many of that experience. 

And then it was finally time!  Time to say hello to the Big Rock House for another week!

hello, Big Rock!

hello, Big Rock House!

It was so good to pull in and know that we were in for a fabulous week.  To know that there would be no ringing phones, no t.v., no computers...

How cool is this??  Brenda and I posed for HOURS to have this sign made.  And that's not easy to do on water skiis.

first dinner on the deck

first dip in the pool

and the sun sets on our first day...

And now it is time to run on that treadmill.  I went 10 days without running.  I ate too much on vacation - though I wouldn't change that for anything - and now it is painfully obvious!  My body screamed in protest yesterday, and here's hoping that today is better!  But I'll never know unless I try! 

Yet Another Thrill at Blueberry Hills!

We are back home after a glorious week of vacation!  Like last year, there are entirely too many exciting experiences to share in one post.  And the one that shines well above all others, for me, is the one I need to start with.  It needs its own post.  It really needs its own blog, but I'll keep it controlled.

My berry, berry, absolute favorite place to eat breakfast...actually I do believe it is just simply my berry favorite place to eat, is Blueberry Hills in Manson, just outside of Chelan.  I first ate there in June of 2004.  I fell deeply in love with a waffle like I had never known.  It's perfection.  The setting is so beautifully relaxing.  It's a place that makes you want to linger, not rush.  The food is all scratch cooking...makes me feel like my grandma is back there "puttin' something together" for me.  So.  Good.  We loved it so much, and intended to go back soon.  Our plan was to make a trip in the summer of 2006, and then that summer took on a life of its own with Beth, and waffles were not on our mind.  So FINALLY we made it back there last year.  FIVE YEARS after I fell in love, I had to wait FIVE YEARS!, to get myself back there.  And it did not disappoint.  It was so worth the wait.  I tell everyone about this place.  I have given myself the role of the Blueberry Hills Ambassador in Olympia.  I do think everyone I know, and many I don't, have heard all about Blueberry Hills.  Yeah, it's true, you'll find your th-rill.  You can go check out their website to get the whole story of the place... Leanne's Waffle Obsession. (Link name, not yet the website name.)

 

And this year?  Well, it not only did not disappoint, but it blue me away.  Yes, I meant to say blue instead of blew.  There's a theme being woven through here.  I truly had a happy moment there that shot straight to the core of my heart.  I said above that I'd keep it controlled.  Silly me.  I know myself better than that.

Here's my perfect waffle order:  hold on.  (I literally am salivating just preparing to describe it to you.)  They make Danish Yeast Waffles.  Not just your regular waffle, a Danish Yeast Waffle.  This waffle is the perfection of slightly crispy outside and fluffy inside.  Just the slightest hint of yeast-yness comes through, hinting of a fresh-from-the-oven warm yeast bread.  And the smell?  Oh, the smell!  All I can say is that if you were so blessed to grow up with grandparents that lived on a farm and a grandma that really knew how to cook, then you know the smell.  It smells like home.  Yep, that's it.  Like a warm, safe, cozy home.  A place where you know beyond a shadow of a doubt that you are loved and welcome.  That, my friends, is Blueberry Hills.  And the taste?  It completely matches all that you would hope it to be.  Anyway, back to my order:

I get the Coconut Creme Waffles.  Listen to this:

"Two Danish Yeast Waffles topped with our homemade creamy coconut syrup, shredded coconut, real whipped cream & slivered almonds."

Sounds great, right?  But wait, there's more.  Another menu option describes the Barn Waffles, which is two waffles topped with warm pie filling, either blueberry or peach.  Okay, peach pie is a food that speaks to my heart.  I just couldn't let either option go.  So I ordered the coconut creme waffles with a topping of warm peach pie filling.  I know, right?!  When I ordered this in 2009, the gal asked, "Are you sure about that?".  I enthusiastically assured her that I was quite sure about that.  Really, the level of assurance was matched by the level I had on my wedding day.  Not a waiver of doubt in my mind.  And both have turned out to be well-deserving of my certainty.

hello, my lovelies

I scrape my whipped cream off and divide it among the kids, because really now:  I want nothing to interfere with the perfect taste of the peaches and coconut and waffles.  And I learned a secret this trip, which is ridiculously obvious to me once in was pointed out, and that is there is a hint of almond extract in the peach pie filling.  So of course it meshes beautifully with the coconut/almond topping.  It was meant to be, all this time.

So this year, once again, I was telling the waitress how great that combination is, and that it really should be tried.  She said she'd pass that along to "Kari" (!!!!).  I said, "Oh, please tell her how much we love this place!"  And SHE said....."Well, would you like to meet her?"

Be. Still. My. Heart.

Uh, yeah, I'd like to meet her!  I'm not kidding when I say that my adoration for this place is right up there with Paula Deen, Trophy Cupcakes, Bobby Flay, and The Pioneer Woman, to name a few.

And she is as sweet as her food is divine!  It was honestly such a thrill on Blueberry Hills.  I can't even say enough about what a happy, bright spot that was for me!  To finally be able to tell someone that what they do brings you such joy...it was...a joy.  Our family has now made such great memories there, and I am so grateful for the chance to be able to meet the gal who is responsible for setting that stage.  And I know it was a crazy, chaotic day for her, and she still took the time to chat with us...warmed my heart.

isn't she the cutest?!

And then it gets even better!!!  (Now my heart is all a-flutter at the memory.  And I'm still salivating.  What a wreck.)

Brad went back in with Brenda after we had gone out to our cars to ask about local wineries.  I said to him, "Hey, have her sign a menu for me!"  Ha!  Well, she just went above and beyond with that, too!  She signed a menu, alright...but look what she printed up just for me:

check out the 4th menu option!!

I am having it framed (the signed version) to hang in my kitchen.  And every time I see it, I will be reminded of another great family vacation, a heart-warming place to eat, and a gal who is sweeter than the coconut creme waffle with warm peach pie filling!!  Thank you for your sweetness, Kari!!!

Many more vacation stories to come, but I had to give this one the place of honor...now you see why this deserved its very own post, huh?!

And, I can't leave out the biscuits and gravy...crazy good.

I promise there are some biscuits under that mound of gravy!

good friends to share it with??  even better!

my sweet family to share it with?  as good as it gets!