Valentine Getaway

 Our passes this year came with some days at Steamboat. It's been over 30 years since we've been there so we left early on a Monday morning and did the 3.5 hr. drive.  We skiied Monday, Tues, and Wed. morning. It was nice to get away even though the snow wasn't the best.  Gma went out to eat with Stan and Bea, spent a couple of hours with Rachel playing cards, had her favorite Valentine meal with Mere (spaghetti), and went to lunch and bingo with the Seniors.  One place we will return to if we get back there is Mahoghany Ridge Brewery. They have great food and a great happy hour!

Copper Mountain

We've been skiing Copper more often this year and can get there in two hours.  Our friend Per has gone with us a few times.  This dead tree is on one of our favorite runs.  I think it is a bristle cone pine and it's neat how the trunk is all twisted from the wind.  We've been checking out happy hour spots on the way home too.

Easiest Oven Baked Rice

 From reallifedinner.com

Easy Oven Baked Spanish Rice (found by Val on Pinterest)
2 1/2 cups rice
4 3/4 cup chicken broth
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/3 cup oil or butter
1/8 tsp chili powder
1/8 tsp cumin
1 large clove garlic or add some garlic powder
Mix everything in a 9 x 13 dish and cover with foil.
350 degrees/1 hr.

Fluff with a fork before serving.  The chili powder and cumin are optional.   So far everyone has loved it and it comes out perfectly everytime.  I've even tried giving it an Asian spin and that worked too.

What did we ever do without Pinterest????

Ski Time 2017

We bought ski passes this year and have been trying to go every week.  In December we skiied Winter Park two days and spent the night in Frasier.  Randi's Irish Pub is now a favorite stop (Guiness and Kilkenny - yum).  In early January we planned on Copper but ended up at Winter Park due to the traffic and road conditions. It's unusual for me but we even got in some powder, tree skiing, and moguls!
Sadly there is not enough snow yet to cross country ski at home.

Christmas 2016

Drinking Val's apple jc. from her trees.

Caroliing!

Worn out!

Christmas morning Biscotti!

Loves her new snowflake jammies and jacket from Stan and Bea.

A neck massager will get lots of use!

Popcorn making Lessons

Some tall guys (Gma used to be 5'6" and has shrunken.  Trevor has  passed Josiah in height and is now 6' 8 or 9")

Even taller than their Dad!

Christmas was lots of fun again this year.  Everyone came on Christmas Eve (the Banks family were here from Ga. too).  Ciopinno and Potato Cheese soup was on the menu with lots of great apps and Swedish Creme too.  We tried caroling and it was a big hit!  On Christmas day we usually make prime rib and we used Pioneer Woman's version and it turned out great.  Arn even became a butcher and bought the whole roast, cut off the ribs and we will try that later (post to follow).  Stan, Josiah, and Trevor stopped by another day to visit and learned how to make Gma's popcorn balls.  Gma had another day out with Stacy , Mason, and CB to paint pottery.  All in all it was an wonderful holiday!  Watch for more pics as I gather more from the fam!

Happy Birthday Valerie! 12/22/2016

Happy Birthday to our girl, Val! Hope 33 is a good one for you!