christmas time is here

well hello!

i decorated for christmas the day after we got back from dallas

but did not post pics until now :(

we drove to evergreen to get our tree

and there was a storm a brewin so we didn't stay long enough to get pics

our stockings

with our model dog
the short fat tree, and it smells sooooo good!

the chandelier i made :)

the peeps

cold dog.

it's been in the single digits here

so we have been bundling up.

the high yesterday was 10*

when you have a lot of ornaments that were on sale

from last year and all else fails...

put them in a bowl

dog

homeless looking liz

sideways cameron

birthday present from sus

it came a month late

and took 2 months by boat to get here,

but I LOVE IT!!!!!

new dishes from ikea

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all these pics were taken with my new camera.

it was a gift to myself for the overtime i have worked

and holidays i have worked.

and i mainly got it for when i go see sus in africa.

the road trip to Dallas

So, Friday morning after thanksgiving

The Blankenships and The Cannons

headed to Dallas for Becky and Wes's Wedding

(and a little place called ikea)

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So, it took us like 15 hours

(with the time change, stopping to eat, going the wrong way for 20 miles, and traffic)

we got to cam's parents house at like midnight.

we pretty much crashed when we got there.

then saturday morning we got up, got ready, and then

had some lunch at a great tex mex place.

then headed to the wedding.

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stephen and bethany
cameron doing stephens tie, b/c he never has to wear one.

me and cam at the usual picture taking spot

at the cannon house

all of us

becky and her dad

hunter marrying them

blurry i know

but i had to show you her dress!

katie singing and steve playing

at the reception

allison (wes's sis), me, katie, bethany

steve & laura beth

flowers

partick, cam, dave, & hunter

walking in!!!!!

mr and mrs wes gentry !

her friend made her clip

and the bridesmaids necklaces

isnt becky just stunning?

classic

the reception was in some boathouse on the lake

and it was perfect!

his and hers cakes

the flower girl and ring bearer

(who carried the pillow and basket i made)

katie and patrick

first dance :)

steve stole my camera

erin and liz
(oh how i loved her dress, from banana)

cutting the cake!

kim, bethany, becky, liz, katie

all the denver girls
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then we went and hung out with some friends from college

someone's great grandma's hat from a long time ago

love it!
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sunday we went to ikea

and ate david's homemade jumbalaya

and played boggle

and watched Up

(super cute if you havent seen it)

then we went to bed.

we got up early and headed home

and it only took 12.5 hours going home :)

cameron played some new video game for 8.5 hours in the car

while stephen read his kindle and played Fishing on his iphone.

see how the back of the car is kinda full

well, all this stuff from ikea accidentally jumped in our car...

what were we to do, but take it home with us :)

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we had a great time, but are definately glad to be home.

thanks david, lea ann, and alec for opening your home to us!

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congrats becky and wes!

thanksgiving dinner at the cannons

Saturday before Thanksgiving

we had our own dinner

i worked on actual thanksgiving day

so we thought this would be PERFECT!

and it was.

(although that morning i went and saw

New Moon, then went to a baby shower

and was slightly stressed)

the 3 tables we had to use

2 from the basement + ours with the leaf
settings for 14!

before the silverware

real apple from Whole Foods

$4/lb

yes yes, the candle looks like it is about to fall over.

it didn't.

the buffet table.

the thing the pie is on is Shellie's idea.

3 trays, with cans in between.

you can glue or tape them together, i did neither.

bethany, stephen, seth, betsy, partick, katie, jill

lindsay, rose, autumn

the happy engaged (and posed) couple

patrick and katie

seth and betsy

(who i thought showed up an hour early,

but actually i told 1/2 the people the wrong time

and my evite said another time) oh that was not good, but it turned out fine.

stephen pouring the water out of the potatoes

ella in her new sweater!

cam carving the turkey!

bethany and stephen looking all posh!

the spread!

doesnt it look freaking amazing!

people

everyone - me...

no one ever took a pic with me in it,

but that's okay by me :)
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it was a perfect thanksgiving with friends!

schnooze gets her teeth cleaned

schnooze's teeth were SOOOO bad

she hadnt ever gotten them cleaned in her 7 years.

but... then along came liz.

i decided it was time.

before and after pics from the vet.

she had to be intubated

and given 4cc of diprivan

her DOGGY BAG (hahahaha)

with a toothbrush and instructions

on how to brush your dogs teeth

see how white!


her little bandage from her IV

little baby.

christmas card voting

Bethany took these of us

we were going for Anthropologie Style here.

please vote for your top 3.

it's for our christmas card.

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1.

2.
(a joke people a joke)

3.

4.

(love it)

5.

(love it too)

6.

7.

(love it except he is wearing his stupid jacket)

8.

9.

(he had just told me i was really pretty)

10.

(love the blue in the background, this was across from the coffee shop)

11.

12.

(ps it was totally snowing at this point)

13.

(love it love it love it)

14.

15.

16.

17.

18.

(inside bethany's house)

19.

(drinking hot cocoa by the fireplace)

20.

21.

(kissing the baby)

22.

23.

(love it, but the fact that you can see my pores and

wrinkles doesn't make me excited for this one)

24.

(my studly husband)

25.

(love it love it love it)

26.

27.

(anthro catalog here i come)

28.

(we were SUPPOSED to look angry)

29.

(another fav)

30.

(eating a dandelion)

31.

32.

33.

(snow, not dandruff... this was in bethany's backyard, by her garage. I like this)

34.

(like this too)

35.

(love this too)

36.

Just a cute one of little ole me.

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dont forget to cast your votes on the comment.

happy 25th birthday sus!

norah jones concert 2004
i don't know 2005

1989 mayfest

happy birthday my little sister! you've celebrated your birthday in many different places: india, spain, stillwater, edmond, houston, and now africa. you are my bestfriend and i love you so so much. may you be blessed with many more years to come. i can't wait to visit you in may!

wes and becky sitting in a tree

wes asked me to make their flower girl basket and ring bearer pillow

and i was thrilled.

bethany and i picked stuff out at fancy tiger

and i got to work on them yesterday FINALLY!

their colors are "honey and plum"

wire basket from hobby lobby

fixed up with my touch :)
i weaved in the yellow ribbon through the "plum" felt

wes's last name is Gentry

the ribbon it to hold the rings on

back of pillow

in the right corner i put their date 11.28.09

but it's hidden and i kind of like that


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anyway, i loved making them, and shopping for them!!!!

CCRN

I passed my test!
I am glad to be done studying.
It seemed like a forever long process.
Now I have more letters after my name,
and more time to do nothing :)

sushi bowl

I made this for dinner Tuesday night.

It was one of the most delicious things I have ever made in my life.

SOOOO easy and sooooo good!

*found these 2 bowls at the thrift store for $1.49 each

just so happens i found them the day we were making this dinner!

the most amazing book i got for my bday

from camille!

finished!

yummy!

Sushi Bowl Recipe
I've included the instructions for cooking brown rice here, but when I'm pinched for time I just grab for frozen, pre-cooked brown rice

(freeze it yourself, or look for it in the freezer section at Whole Foods).

2 cups short-grain brown rice

3 1/2 cups water

2 teaspoons fine grain sea salt

2 (4-inch) square sheets nori seaweed

6 ounces extra-firm tofu
grated zest and juice of one orange

grated zest and juice of 1/2 lemon

2 tablespoons (raw) brown sugar (reg. sugar is ok too)

2 tablespoons shoyu sauce (or soy sauce)

2 tablespoons (brown) rice vinegar
4 green onions, chopped

1 avocado, peeled, pitted, and thinly sliced

3 tablespoons sesame seeds, toasted
Rinse and drain the rice two or three times.

Combine the rice, water, and salt in a heavy saucepan and bring to a boil over high heat,

cover, and simmer gently until the water is absorbed, about 45 minutes.
Toast the nori in a preheated 300F degree oven or a medium-hot skillet for a few minutes. Crumble or chop coarsely.
Drain the tofu and pat it dry.

Cut the block of tofu lengthwise through the middle

to make four 1/4-to 1/2-inch thick sheets of tofu.

Two at a time, cook in a dry skillet or well-seasoned skillet over medium-high

for a few minutes until browned on one side.

Flip gently, then continue cooking for another minute or so,

until the tofu is firm, golden, and bouncy.

Let cool, enough to handle, then cut crosswise into matchsticks

(see photo). Repeat with the remaining sheets.

To make the dressing, set the sheets aside.

Combine the orange juice lemon juice, and sugar

in a small saucepan and bring to a gentle boil.

Cook for 1 or 2 minute, the add the shoyu and vinegar.

Return to a gentle boil and cook another 1 or 2 minutes,

until slightly thickened. Remove from the heat and stir in the zests.
When the rice is done,

stir in 1/3 cup of the dressing and add more to taste.

Scoop the rice into individual bowls and

top with the toasted nori, green onions, tofu, avocado slices,

and a sprinkling of sesame seeds.
Makes 4-6 servings.

i added tuna (sashimi) and omitted the tofu b/c we already had it once this week.

and it was perfect!!!

Kenosha Pass Camp Trip 2009

Kenosha Pass Backpacking Trip 2009

October 31-Nov 1

Djamel, Camille, Shiner, Kimel, Shellie, Nelson, Chad, Bethany, Stephen, Ella, Macy, Brad, Matt, Jamie, Liz, & Cameron, Schnooze
cam & stephen

it was sunny and about 45* perfect!

macy, jamie, shiner, djamel, chad, cam

beautiful!

after about 3 miles; we got to the site

the gals put up the tents, while the boys started the fire and dinner :)

getting our frito chili pies on.

and if you note the nalgene bottles full of wine :)

ella

liz

liz and macy, and her awesome "plane size wine"

our awesome wine

around the fire.

it was about 20* at this point
but the fire kept us warm

tent city
we had like 5 tents

7 of us slept in our 6-man tent + 2 dogs!

moon

pretty

jamie and liz

shellie and liz

bethany and liz

*check out her new awesome hat

camille and liz

homeless liz:

with her clove cig & plane wine & winter clothes...

ho ho ho ho ho ho (that was how i was laughing...)

shellie & macy being silly

super smokey

chad & djamel

kimel & stephen

(kimel and i have the same jacket, just different colors)

Brad, Matt, Jamie, Cam

fire

i love this pic

my cute little husband
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after the fire hang out

we went to bed...

the 7 of us + 2 dogs in our tent; and the other people in theirs

shellie on the left, ella and bethany's arm on right

macy at me and cam's feet

bethany, ella, kimel, stephen
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it was super windy and in our janky tent

(*we wanted to use this big tent so we could have more fun hanging out, but we all have really nice small tents... so it's our own fault... but who cares, we could STAND in this tent :))

it collapsed on us so many times in the night, and would then just pop back up; bethany and i thought we were gonna suffocate, i felt like we were in an avalanche and there was no way out, and then it would pop back up. one of the poles kept hitting cameron in the head. but i got some sleep, others, not so much. but its a great story right????

boys packing up the tent

*still about 20*F at this time

my little angel bethany

(doesnt the light make her look like an angel?)

cameron all loaded up

still lighter than on the way in with the wood.
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we hiked out, stopped for breakfast, had to detour 285 because of a rollover, made it home, showered, picked up B for a bridal shower, went to the shower, came home for bible study, fell asleep watching Away We Go. Then started all over again today :).

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PS: another post on this later... but I got a great CookBook for my bday from Camille:

Super Natural Cooking...

got a letter!

sus sent me a letter oct 11, and i got it today!

this was on the front

Here's the day annabelle got a bath...it didn't do much, she's gotten a little bigger now. This pic is taken behind out house, it's where we hang out in the shade if it's too hot out. It was so nice to get to talk to you for so long the other day!

Yesterday it was still chilly and rainy out & the family was all hanging out in the indladla (the room where they cook on a fire) and so i sat in there with them for a few hours. Some of our conversations made me realize just how far removed from Western life we are...

Chris's parents asked if we had electricity and a fridge/ our family asked is chris's family had cows. They asked if there were black people in the US, I said yeah, Obama & many more. They asked if they could drive cars, I said of course; black and white people marry each other, they were astonished. They asked if England and America were the same; if we were ruled by the Queen. I said no, England is in Europe and America id far away, and then explained that England isn't even ruled by the Queen anymore. They asked if there were cities in America, I said yes, lots, and big ones like NYC, they didn't know what I was talking about!

Then I was showing them pics of our family and I think partly because Make (mom) was so excited to know there were black people in the US, but we were looking at the pictures of our family and from our wedding, and she pointed to Cameron and said Yeah, He's Black, I just said yeah, that's my sister's husband!!!

It's still grey and drizzling today. I made cornbread and tortilla soup last night that we'll have for lunch agan today. I finally got to smoke a clove last night (it was like heaven!). I miss you so much, I hope you have a great birthday! 8 more days til Chris's birthday da na na na na na.

Love,

Sus
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seriously, they thought cam was black?

his middle name is Freeman.... so there ya go!

YIPPEE!!!

BOUGHT IT!

*italy 1998*

I bought my ticket to swaziland!

I am so pumped!

I will be gone May 14-31

I can't wait!

there are a million and one things i want to do, but mainly see my sis!

*pics to come of backpacking on Kenosha Pass for my bday*

*taking CCRN test Thursday, send prayers and good thoughts my way please :)*