A German Christmas

My BFF Marla grew up in Germany.  Her precious mom passed away the beginning of December and she was feeling homesick for Germany - so we went to "A German Christmas" up in Vancouver, BC.

It was POURING down rain, but we had a blast - that's just what you do with BFF's - no matter what the circumstances right?

We bought our admission through Groupon which included a carousel ride!

Me and Captain Randy standing in front of Captain Randy's Seafood - how fitting!

A mug of hot wine and a BFF-ahhhhhhhhhhhhh!

Cold and wet - but smiling!

In case you are wondering -" hmmmmmmmmmmmmm I wonder if Janice made a Daily December album"  - I'm sure you don't have better things to wonder about :)  I am NOT - surprise, surprise.  I actually decided after 3 years of the Daily December that I am going to to a mini album and title it a "During December" album.  These will definitely be in there! 

Sure - why not!

It's a beautiful sunny day and now that I'm working almost full time (and then some!) I have a list a mile long of things to do..............................but I'm finally sitting down with my latte and I thought - why not shock them all and do a random blog post?

I have such mixed feelings about this ol' blog.  It's seen me through some really fun times, some really rough times and some really boring times.  I don't want to delete - but I just don't have time to be a faithful blogger.  As I type I am comfortable and loving the feeling of posting a blog - just like the old days, and I do miss it.

So today - a couple pics and we'll call it good.

Our family - LOVE! (that's Nathan's girlfriend Miranda)

My mom - an amazing lady - especially for being 82!!

Spent New years eve at the cabin with the BFF's  - it was FREEZING loading up to go home!!

2012 was full of fun and memories. As we enter a new year, I have learned, that no matter what God brings our way it is to make us better - NOT our lives better.  He is faithful - ALWAYS - and in that I will rest.

2013 Blessings to you all - and maybe, just maybe I will blog again soon - if anyone is still out there!  I do have some awesome new recipes I've found! :)

Soooooooooooooooo - how about twice a week?!? 

2 restful days in a row, at home - WOW!

Yesterday was just a delightful day! Randy decided to take the day off, we had coffee, did some dreaming about some outdoor home projects (can you believe we've been in this house 1 1/2 years and the projects aren't all done :-), and then we called Jeff and Kathi last minute and headed to Mt. Vernon on a research trip! Hopefully this project we're dreaming about will come to fruition and I'll be able to share pictures of progress.

We got home about 2 and I just putzed around the house for the next few hours, cleaning, DUSTING - yikes!, rearranging some decor, and taking down the garland with lights and snowflakes above my cabinets - I mean who am I kidding - I'm never going to get that snowstorm I wanted :-( ! I know it CAN happen, but all the forecasters seem to be saying "not this year". We got married Feb 21 and there had been snow on the ground for a couple weeks, and we woke to a fresh 7 inches that day - so it can happen- but most likely not this year!

Our Valentines Dinner was AWESOME!! Of course once we got there, we moved right into appies and I was so relaxed and enjoying the company, beautiful table, tasty dinner, etc.I completely forgot to take any pics :-(. We had Beef Bourganeon (However you spell that!) served with pasta, and french bread and a yummy salad! I'll have to get the recipe and share - it was fabulous!! Thanks Deb!

Here are a few pics of the dessert I made for the night.................
add some pink frosting and sprinkles - I love sprinkles!!!
Now I'm afraid these things have got to go - they're beautiful - but I love "frosting lifters" (isn't that a much more fitting name?) way too much!!!
The main dessert..........creme brulee', if you've never made it, you have to try! It's so awesome and EASY! My favorite - good ol' vanilla! I added the sugar and torched the tops just before we indulged!
Back to reality today - good thing I LOVE my job! I think I'd better bring some frosting lifters for everyone at work today :-)♥♥♥♥♥♥

Happy New Year!

Wow - 2010!! Kathi and I were talking today about how strange that sounds - 2010! It seems like just yesterday we were discussing Y2K :-)!

New year - new computer. Randy and Brandon went and bought me a laptop on Wednesday. Randy needed a computer upstairs in his office for his business, so he got mine and I got the new one! I hate "moving" into a new computer more than I hate moving into a new house! Which is probably why in the last 5 years I've had one computer and 4 moves!!

My brother Dave and family were up staying with us for a few days and Dave knows EVERYTHING about computers! I told him he amazed me, but then I changed that to - he scares me. People like him could do ANYTHING with computers! He set me up to be able to do a lot of my work from home and when he was setting up my new laptop he was in Corvallis doing it all remotely through a share session. I just sat on the phone and watched him maneuver the mouse around my computer - weird!!

Monday night Dave took us all out to Pad Thai - it was so good! An absolute treat - Thanks Dave and Sue!!

Dave also plays piano - how cool is that! I love listening to someone else play!
Dave and I have this ongoing joke about out blogs (in the last year he has blogged twice), and I always tease him about not reading my blog - so we'll see if he checks in now.

Merry Christmas - a day late!

Yesterday was Christmas, so I'm a little late in my greeting.

We had a wonderful relaxing day! We started with breakfast - orange bow knots, scrambled eggs, and sausage..............
Then we opened our stockings - no wrapped gifts this year.....................
Then it was such a beautiful day, we actually sat outside on the patio and had coffee with the friends (we even turned the heater off at one point because it was so warm - quite a contrast to last year!)..................................
Christmas Eve was our traditional family dinner of flank steak before church. We had a guest chef in the house - he did an AWESOME job!
Today Nathan took Brandon, Emily and I shopping and out for lunch. What a treat - he spoiled us! He's so generous and enjoys treating others!

Tonight my brother and his family come in from Oregon to stay with us a few days, and tomorrow the whole Brim clan is coming over - fun times! I love having everyone together! I know how I love it when I have all my kids together - I can only imagine how my mom feels when all of us kids are together!

Last Sunday night

Okay - here are the pics from our evening with the College Age Christ Group! I can't show all the pics as some of those involved would be incriminated :-)

These group of people are a lot of fun....................................
In this pic, Debbie had just given each group a bag of misc. items and told them they had 10 minutes to make one person in their group a Christmas item ie: package, tree, toy, reindeer......you get the idea! Here is where they are all just beginning to brainstorm.......
This young lady happens to be an elf..................................
This young man is a Christmas tree.............................
It was great fun to watch, and I learned something new about my friend Debbie. She always offers to plan the games........................and now I know why..................................
......she's the one in the red sweater leaving the scene of the crime................she plans these games and then walks away......................SHE PLANS THEM SO SHE DOESN'T HAVE TO PLAY THEM! I always thought she was so gracious to be the game planner - but I've got her number now!! :-)

They did a gift exchange, and someone received.........basically, a snuggie for dogs, and just had to try it on Max!
I tried a fun dessert/cookie/bar to serve that night.............................next post!

I'm stuck................

USUALLY- I love to decorate for Christmas

USUALLY - I do it in a very organized fashion, tree first, then living room, get a bin out and empty it put it away.....etc.

USUALLY - once I get the stuff out I'm done in 2 days...(here's where the breakdown begins....)

USUALLY - is NOT happening this year.

Mon - dear hubby and I got ALL the boxes down and into the garage, then Mon. evening after work, my goal was to get the tree all done. Made dinner, started a batch of bread, got the tree out of the box,(I got the tree up and that's as far as I got - I went to bed at 9:30 and left a naked tree)
Tues - worked and went to the basketball game

Wed - home ALL day to decorate - had Christmas Tree decoration crisis, cleaned the bathrooms, made homemade soup and crusty bread, MADE A BIG MESS by hauling in too much and working in a very disorganized fashion. I DID get the tree done and a couple small areas.......but lots left to do!

Thur - needed to do the B'ham run and was planning on FINISHING decorating when I got home cuz' I had to work tonight. Got home from B'ham unloaded and put everything away, made dinner and went to work.

Tomorrow - I work - I'M PLANNING on finishing tomorrow night - but so far my plans haven't worked this week and I'm living in a mess and it's stressing me out BIG TIME!!!!! (which of course makes no sense as to why I'm sitting at the computer blogging - but it's too late to dig in tonight!!)
....................the best laid plans of mice and men!

I am Thankful

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Just a quick list to reflect on a FEW of the things I am thankful for! (these are not in any particular order- just as they come to mind)

1. Salvation and Grace from my Heavenly Father!

2. A husband that loves me - and boy has he proved that! He is SUCH A HARD WORKER, and I ride on the coat tails of his work ethic!!

3. A Godly heritage, and parents on both sides that taught us to fear, respect and love the Lord!

4. My children, each one so different from the other, my heart is full to every nook and cranny because of who they are, and are becoming.

5. Our friends, ...................comfortable is the word that comes to mind. Friends we can pray with, laugh with, eat with.........all with common goals and a love for the Lord.

6. A beautiful warm house with great neighbors.

7. 3 vehicles that are paid for AND running! (I thank the Lord EVERY time I hop in my van and start 'er up and she purrs - she's almost 9 years old!!)

8. A job that I love and employers that treat me very well!

9. A church family (for 23 years now) that we adore and BELONG to!

10. Hobbies that I love, when I have time. I love to sit and scrapbook, make cards, crochet.....

11. A dishwasher that works, (my friend's just died - ouch - makes me grateful!)

12. 5 brothers whom I adore (and quite frankly, I hope it's mutual). I have the best SIL's and nephews and nieces, and I LOVE having them all together.

13. A mom who lives a mile away and is always praying for and encouraging me.

14. At this very moment - BLUE SKIES TO THE WEST!!!!! YEAH!!

15. Getting to decorate my house for Christmas this weekend, and look forward to lots of fun get togethers with friends and family.

16. Knowing that I have $$ saved for Christmas gifts for my kids ( no stress!!)

17. That for RIGHT now, my husband has work - my husband reminded me that this time last year we were in the same spot, and for a solid year AGAIN, God has been faithful in bringing jobs for Randy.

18. That Brandon's first year of college was affordable (praying hard about next year!!)

19. Boating memories.......so many fun times and memories. God has given us a beautiful place to live and enjoy (I think it's time - I haven't been on the boat in a couple months!!!!)

20. A latte' machine at home - A MUST!

21. My girlfriends - there are SOOOOOOOOOOO many - how could one be so blessed?!

22. HEALTH - so good, so far. Thank you Lord!

23. A school that teaches from the same perspective that we are teaching at home - a blessing!

24. A FREE country, where we can pray, go to church, be self-employed, and not HAVE to live by someone else's ideas for us.

25. I'm sure there would be tons more - but right now - I'm heading to #20!!

Enjoy the food, family and friends today! God is good - ALL THE TIME!!!!

Happy Anniversary!

Today was our 23rd anniversary! It blows me away that in 2 years we'll hit our 25th! I remember my parents celebrating their 25th! I am blessed to have Randy as my husband! He is the consistent, non-dramatic, "staying point", in my life! He is my friend - and he has proven his love for me over and over through the years! (I know I couldn't handle being married to me! :-)

Tonight we had dinner with the Jansens and Raskes. It's always a special treat to get together with our "Dinner Group", but it was even more special because they wouldn't let me bring anything. Well, anything but the makings for Lemon Drop Martinis.........so we started off with those.

Then of course, Kathi had the table all set up with the "LOVE" theme! It was beautiful!


The dinner was delightful and then we hot tubbed for about an hour at the end! It is such a blessing to have friends that have the same values, beliefs, likes and dislikes, the men get along as well as the women do, but best of all friends that have been friends for years!

Kathi was a bridesmaid at our wedding 23 years ago and then I was her bridesmaid when she and Jeff got married almost 18 years ago!


We've known Dan and Marla for almost 18 years and we became fast friends and have just grown closer through the years.

Valentines day..................skiing style!

On Sat. (Valentines Day) Randy and Nathan had ski patrol. They headed out about 6:45 am and Randy left me this for Valentine's Day!!

I got up and baked a loaf of crusty bread, stuffed 40 mushrooms (to bake up there at the end of the day for the team), packed a lunch, and Emily and I headed up the mountain. We got there about 11:30 and met the boys for lunch. After lunch we headed out to ski with Randy for the afternoon. Here is Randy and Emily in the Ski Patrol warming hut at the top of Chair 8.

Randy had to leave right after this (His hand in his jacket is on his radio getting ready to respond to a call), to help out on a Code Red call. Here he is getting the tobaggan ready to go. He said it was probably one of the toughest accidents they've had as the guy was on about a 45 degree angle where they had to get in to rescue him.

It was a busy day on the Mountain accident wise. There were 2 Code Reds, which means pretty serious. One was flown out by Med Flight and the other was taken by ambulance. I forget to be so thankful for all the safe days of skiing we've had with our kids. Randy works so hard up there........all those guys do. It's not always such a fun job!!

Here Emily and I are at the top of chair 8. It was a pretty cold day, and it was snowing most of the day. Emily remarked how when you caught snowflakes on your glove, you could see actual flakes - it was beautiful!

We came home and cranked the fireplace and watched the 2 little neighbor boys for a couple hours and then went to bed nice and early! It's amazing how a few hours of skiing can wear you out!!

Christmas and Family Galore

We spent the weekend with my family. My brother Dave and his family came up and stayed with us, and then Sat. night we had all the Brim's for Soup and rolls. What a crowd - we counted about 45!!!
Here are four of my brothers, a sister in law and a niece. Just to total it all up for you, I have................ my mom,5 brothers (and sister in laws), 18 nephews and nieces, and 14 great nephews and nieces!!


We sat and chatted, ate, and then ended the night with Mad Gab and Catch a Phrase. It was so fun! I am so blessed with a wonderful family - I love them all!!

At one point I walked back to the laundry room, and was struck by how many shoes were there (which equals a lot of people belonging to those shoes!!). These are not all the shoes as a lot of people left their shoes in the garage!

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend!!

A White Christmas!

I'm dreaming of a White Christmas.........................

Randy and I went for a 4-wheeler ride in the beautiful snow and sunshine. He had me take a picture from the back side of our house - isn't that beautiful? I think I see a Christmas card for next year!! The best part is - you can't tell that we have absolutely NO landscaping.......just beautiful snow!

On Christmas Eve I mixed up the dough for Orange Bowknots and shaped them and set them in the garage overnight (because my 2 fridges were too full :-) and then I took them out about 6:30am and popped them in the oven at 8:30 and by 9:00 we had nummy, fresh rolls (with scrambled eggs and maple bacon! These are so good! If I get enough cries for the recipe, I'll post it. It's my friend Sally's recipe and they're a tradition at her house - and at ours now too!

My brother and his family arrived safely from Florida on Christmas Eve, so we went over for coffee at my mom's Christmas morning. This is me and my brother Steve, we're only 1 1/2 years apart so we grew up fighting like cats and dogs, but now I kinda' like the ol'guy! :-)


We are having my family all over on Sat. so the whole gang will be together then, as my brother and his family from Corvallis are coming up today! I'm so glad we'll all be together - this is the first time since my dad died (just over 6 months - can you believe?) that we'll all be here. That will be so nice - especially for my mom!

Even tho' none of us looked our best I had my brother take a picture of us by mom's tree. I don't have a picture of all of us together since last December - that is so sad!!