Ann's Dari-Creme

Monday we went out for Ann's famous foot long cheese steaks and a movie.  We saw Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.  Not as good as the Swedish version but still good.  The cheese steaks were very good and came with chili on top...insane!

Shawn made the comment that since he started dating me his eating habits have gotten bad.  Why does everyone around me blame me for their eating choices?! :)

Christmas in Maryland

This Christmas I stayed on the east coast and celebrated with Shawn and his friends and family.  We kept busy shopping, wrapping, and more shopping.  Did I mention eating?!  Oh man we ate!

Christmas morning Shawn, the boys, and I opened presents.  I had so much fun watching as they got excited with each gift.  Shawn loved his blanket and I have already received requests from others for their very own.  After presents we quickly made buttermilk pancakes and got on the road to get to M.  While we had M we opened more gifts and made lunch (steak, potatoes, asparagus, green beans, and root beer floats).  Meeting M for the first time went really well!  Shawn and her are coming this Thursday to spend the long New Years weekend with me.  I cannot wait!

After we took M home we stopped by Dina and Steve for more food.  I had ham, bagels, coffee cake, and cheese cake.  There were many more things I wanted to eat but I just had no more room.  After stuffing our faces we went home to relax on the couch and enjoy the rest of a great Christmas.

Holiday Party

Saturday was the SEI's Holiday Party at the Sheraton in Station Square.  They had great food, a photobooth, and a dessert and candy bar!  I am still eating candy from the party.  After the party we met up with all of our friend who don't work for the SEI at Walnut Grill and enjoyed people watching as well as good conversation and music.

 I think he tried every dessert they had.

 Liz and Kennedy!

 Rob and Coop!

 We ran out of room on the way home.  

Not sure what he was doing back here by himself.

On Sunday we went to the famous Big Jim's, where everything is BIG.  I ordered my usual Veal Parm Sandwich on homemade Italian bread (half a loaf).  Shawn is trying to steal some of my sandwich.

 Shawn's meal finally came out.  He ordered the hot sausage calzone.  It takes 30 minutes to cook and could feed a small country.  He was able to eat almost half.  He had some for dinner and took more than enough home this morning.

Another Working Weekend

This past weekend the boys and I drove down to Maryland to see Shawn even though he was working.  We were able to stay at Dina's while Shawn worked on her kitchen.  The house is always filled with friends and dogs!  We love going there.  The boys have a huge yard to run around in, dogs to play with, and Steve to throw the ball.

Chuy melted Steve's heart.  He carried Chuy around while he clung to the tennis ball.

 Figuring out measurements for the kitchen cabinets.

 I crocheted on the couch while he worked in the kitchen.  I also caught up on Game of Thrones!

 Shawn and I went to see ShawnMac at Friscos.  Rennicker had surgery this week and was unable to come out for a visit.  Feel better Rennicker!!

 After the best pizza in Columbia (Coal Fire's Margarita Pizza) we went to a small bar and played pool.  Here is the pro kicking my butt.

Novice.

As Promised

My mother came for her yearly visit in October.  I blogged but did not have photos to accompany my words.  I patiently waited for her to get them to me.  I received all 500 of them today.  Here are some of my favorites!

I had such a great time with her and Sydney.  I cannot wait till next year!

They got off the plane and wanted steak immediately.

Famous crepe pancakes at Pamela's.

Mom doing what she does best.

I make mom look so tiny.

At Cirque Du Soleil.

At Washington and Jefferson College.

Having fun at my old campus.

We won!  I always win when Walter is on my team.

She has been taught by the best.

Peeling apples for pies!

Kanye and Jay Z...finally

I have always wanted to see both in concert so when tickets went on sale for one with both of them I jumped on it.  I was sad when I bought and listened to their album...terrible.  I was not looking forward to the concert.

After I got there I was glad I went.  They did some of their new stuff but tons of their old songs.  I was pleasantly surprised and in heaven.

So hard to get pics at concerts.

 I look rough.  Just finished getting through the Thanksgiving weekend.  I was exhausted.

Barnes and I had a blast!  Mossy even joined us last minute.

Stanley the Christmas Tree

I have never been more excited for the holidays!  There is something (or someones) this year that has me ready to get this season started.  I am looking forward to the decorations, the baking, the snow, the time with family and friends, and the reason why we even celebrate this day!!  Today Shawn stayed a little longer than he planned so that he could help me pick out and set up a tree.  We did not have time to decorate it.  I will have to do that later.

This year I went with a live tree.  When I got to Lowes one tree begged to be taken home.  I also felt like he had a name, Stanley (weird because I have never named a Christmas tree before).  I fell in love with Stanley, he is tall and very full (fat).  I love how he just fills up the room.

I tired to help set him up but I was clearly going about it all wrong.  Shawn and Walter stepped in and took over the entire operation.  It was cute to see my boys getting things done together.  Chuy did not help with the tree; however he did go through all the shopping bags to see if we had bought anything for him.  Hmmm...he must get this from his mother; that is EXACTLY what I would have been doing as a child.

Shawn was clearly needing help.  Good thing Walter got right in there and showed him what to do.

Thanksgiving 2011

After several days of preparation Heyward, Kirsten, Shawn, and I sat down to a beautiful and tasty Thanksgiving dinner. Heyward's mother and aunt joined us for dessert. We enjoyed great food and conversation. I am so grateful for the second family I have here in Pittsburgh and on the east coast. They make being away from my family on the west coast a little more bearable. And I am of course thankful for my family back west! I miss them terribly and the holidays without them this year will definitely be different.

"Game of Thrones-esque"

Thanksgiving Preparation Day 2

The day before Thanksgiving I had to get the house ready for Shawn's arrival. I also ran to Target and bought tons of Christmas decorations so that we could get the tree up and decorated on Friday. I tried to do anything and everything to stay out of the kitchen after last night.

HOWEVER, I did try to make Shawn's mother's famous cornbread stuffing (at 10:30 pm). I think it turned out alright. He swears it was great (I am no southern cook). We shall see after I get to taste hers if he was lying or not.





I also thought it was funny what I needed to get through these Thanksgiving recipes...

Cooking Light: Recipes
iPad: Look up measurement equivalents and listen to music
Phone: Call mom to ask her any remaining questions the iPad and magazine couldn't answer