The Start of Something New

I don't know if I already posted this, but for Christmas my handsome husband enrolled me in an "Epic Date of the Month Club."And I'm sad to report, that this is not a gift you can find online, friends. He literally wrapped up a folder with 12 fabulous dates outlined: some out of town, some overnight, all insanely fabulous. Let's just say, there's a Boys to Men/ Paula Abdul/ New Kids on the block concert in there... think about the glory of that night... but January held a trip to my hometown of Tucson, AZ. Ryan travels sometimes for work, and he had a lecture in the old pueblo, at a fancy hotel, so he whisked me away! He even planned a little tour of our romance (bc we met in Tucson.) We stopped at the hotel that Ryan used to work at. We drove by the shop I used to work at (which no longer exists. We hit both of the apartments that we called home. Swung by the church where we first met (The LDS Institute on the U of A campus) and then, of course, we grabbed some Eegees (think 7-11 slurpee... but better.) We celebrated our "start" together, our start of something new. Epic date of January was a smashing success!

... until I got a call from Utah

(...to be continued, tomorrow)

The drive to the airport!

Stopping in at Rincon Market, close to the U of A and one of our favorites.

Ryan is inside the Desert on the Lodge hotel. He worked here whilst wooing me, and our parents met for the first time her at their restaurant.

Our first apartment. It was sooo affordable, and a total dump!

Seriously. This was our shifty little back porch area.

Our Second place was infinitely better. I had Preston (our oldest) just a few weeks after moving in.

Darling. And the place is good looking too.

The gym area at the Institute where we became friends, and then a whole lot more.

One of our first dates had me donating blood in this very room, then promptly passing out. Ryan caught me (like a ninja/viking) and then he took me back to his apartment to eat burritos.

It wasn't particularly tasty, but bc I was already madly in love, it still got 5 Michelin Stars.

Chinese New Year!

Annie and Owen spend half of their school day listening to their fabulous Chinese teachers, who speak only Mandarin during the 3 1/2 hours they are together. Being a Chinese immersion school means that we get to celebrate the Chinese New Year! And celebrate, they did!

Look at the dragon!

She's flashing her Chinese New Years smile.

I love that red outfit.

Not sure where they all got the sunglasses from, but he looks cool!

January 26th, 2017 (bc the actual new year was over a weekend.)

Marching to the Beat

So, in spite of blizzard weather in Park City, UT on January 21st, my dear friend and I drove through thick snow to participate in the World Wide Women's march. It was incredible.  We listened to tunes, picked up some marchers (who couldn't find parking close enough but still had quite a way to get to the actual march location.) We chanted, sang, walked, and consumed some of the best fresh donuts I think I have ever had.  I was marching for all the women in the world who deserve safety, peace, opportunity, justice and dignity.  I was marching to the beat of my own drum. Many dear friends joined me on that historic day and marched to their own beat as well. Other fabulous friends were listening to different music, with a different beat, and were no where near any marches... I think one of the best attributes we ladies possess is the ability to cheerlead each other.  To encourage our sisters (and brothers) to try their best, to reach for the stars, to help and love and encourage those around us, and those across the globe. We are all not going to do that in the same way.  And that's okay. Marching was part of my way.

Isn't Park City beautiful?! And my signs were made with love,

and faith in the future.

I don't know the name of this tasty little shop, but they had a restroom (which was wonderful, bc it was soooo cold I had to use the loo like a racehorse!) and they had 45 different donut options, topping, glazes, fillings to choose from... Mercy, they were small but worth every single calorie.

My favorite donut was the Maple Bacon Beauty, but that was the first one I tried, so I'm curious if I fell in love at first bite...if I had sunk my teeth into the German Chocolate Gem first, if that would have been my soul mate instead... 

Weather like this separated the brave from the cowards (or just the nuts from the sane:~)

One Last Visit

My dear 96 year old Opa went from working out with his personal trainer (whilst drinking his Diet Coke) to falling ill and passing away in just 6 short weeks.  He lived up here in Utah (Sandy) and my Mom still lives in Tucson.  When the family relayed the news that he wasn't doing very well, I'm so glad my mother was able to hop on a plane and have one last visit with her father.  I too was able to spend some time with him saying thank you and goodbye.

One last Daddy Daughter Date.

Mom also got to spend some time with her sisters. And we all know that sister time is the best!

I love this drawing of my Oma, and this painting of my Opa's father, who died when Opa was 12 years old.  I'm sure after being apart for 84 years, it was a very sweet reunion in heaven.

*** This post is for Friday, January 20th, 2017***

Ham Fried Rice

Because I'm a lucky duck, I occasionally get to do food demonstrations on television. TV is just super fun. I usually forget something during the demo, and when I watch it later, I wish I had smiled more, but theres something fantastic about sharing something you're passionate about with others.  I teach cooking classes occasionally, and also cater every once in a while, but t.v. is where the excitement happens. Even when the show isn't live, we always tape the cooking segment as if it is. For those doing a chatting segment, it isn't hard to stop the tape and start over, but if I've mixed an ingredient and royally messed up, I can't un-mix it. I love the pressure, I guess... and the leftovers!

Mmmm. Who doesn't love a nice bowl of Ham Fried Rice?!

My camera girl (Annie) took a million pics.

Here we are, packing up and heading out for lunch... at home... ham fried rice...

But after we ate, the bowling alley called our names!

Who doesn't love a nice game of bowling (other than my husband and Father in law)?!

***This post is for Tuesday, January 17th, 2017***

Happy New Year! (On Valentines Day!)

We rang in 2017 in LA, waiting for the rest of the Holman clan to meet us for our epic Family Reunion New Years Cruise. It was the short Carnival cruise that hits Ensenada and Catalina Island, but it was still great.  Advantages to cruising for a reunion: everyone can eat what they want. No one has to play hostess.  Plenty of time for family bonding. Disadvantages: going with a toddler (too young to attend any of the cruise stuff for kids, old enough though for fear of strangers, even loving family members), hard to coordinate where to meet on the ship with everyone on different floors and no access to cell phones, the 5 weeks (for real!) that it took for me to finally get rid of my motion sickness (strange enough, I had no motion sickness during the entire cruise.) Overall though, it was a winning experience and a once in a life time event: 2 parents, 4 siblings and 4 spouses, 20 grandkids, 1 sister in law, and 3 foreign exchange students from China. Boom. Holman Cruise 2017: party of 34.

Shopping for Donuts, waiting for the boat.

Family pictures. Shirts gifted by Nana and Papa, designed by Ryan.

Golf Carts on Catalina Island!

Formal dinner on the boat: I'm wearing a dress that I wore as a bridesmaid for a wedding from 20 years ago.  Gotta love a dress that is classic enough for that.

My brother set up a wild game of tag on the ship. Boom.

This is the most romantic/ horrible picture I think I have ever seen. I love it.

I wish Ryan had purchased it for me... Maybe he did and i'll get it on my birthday?!

My crew on the golf carts.

Parasailing bc were cool!

Norman wore a baby bear backpack like a puppy, and for safety.

Playing on the beach.

Walking back to the boat after playing in Ensenada.

*** Too many pictures to choose from for this epic trip ***

Calvin in the middle!

Calvin had a birthday last month. It's sandwiched between Christmas and New Years, and that has meant that almost every single year of his life he is on the road traveling home to Ut from our AZ list to family during the holidays. It's just not the best way to spend a birthday.  This also means that he usually does something smallish, before or after for his birthday bc the holiday season is nuts. But not this year! He was still in the car traveling on his birthday, headed to CA for a family reunion. But the night before, with the help of his friends, we threw him a surprise 15th Birthday party. He had no idea, and it was great to see all of his pals. we love our Calzone (a nickname he's had almost since birth:~)

Two birthday cakes: chocolate cake with peanut butter frosting. Mmmmmmmm.

"He's 15 for a moment, caught in between 10 and 20, and he's just dreaming..."