Christmas Eve

In my house growing up, Christmas Eve was a big deal.  We had a big dinner and opened presents that we got for each other.  Trying to keep some of the tradition alive, Owen and I wanted to make a giant dinner that would keep us going all the way through our Disneyland adventure the next day.  We thought we would try our hand at prime rib.  Owen researched recipes all day long! We decided on the "low and slow" technique for our first attempt.  Most people who know me know that I do not do well waiting for food.  I think the scientific term for what happens to me is hangry.  Hangry defined:

Hangry

word of the day: February 07, 2011

When you are so hungry that your lack of food causes you to become angry, frustrated or both.

An amalgum of hungry and angry invented to describe that feeling when you get when you are out at a restaurant and have been waiting over an hour to get the meal that you have ordered.

"Damn! Where is that steak I ordered? We've been waiting for an hour and a half here. The service here is terrible! I'm starving! I don't know about you, but I'm starting to feel really hangry!"

After 5 hours, I was still alive (barely) and we were ready to eat! Christmas Eve success!

Christmas at Disneyland!

Disneyland

Disneyland was great-very overwhelming, a lot of people...but the details! The detail that Disney puts in to their rides, shops, landscaping- everything is magical.

Indiana Jones
It was a very busy day at Disneyland.  Lot's of people wanted to go to the Happiest Place on Earth to celebrate Christmas.  With that being said, we had to wait a long, long time for every ride.  Below, we wanted to capture a moment of sarcasm mixed with a little frustration because the Indiana Jones ride had a malfunction and shut down when were were about six people away from getting on.  Oh the frustration! We stood in line for a long time to have that giant boulder come rolling toward us!!  Don't worry- Disneyland also has magic mechanics that know what they are doing.  They had the ride up and going in about 15 minutes and the giant boulder rolling towards us was worth every second spent in line.

Pirates of the Caribbean 

Space Mountain

Cinderella's Castle! I had to send this one to my nieces.  

Iron Man!

Splash Mountain

The Haunted Mansion- this one was my absolute favorite! It was decorated as Nightmare Before Christmas. AHMazin!

Everyone I talked to said that the lights are just beautiful at Disneyland during Christmas and I have to agree...

I'm so glad we got to spend Christmas with these two.  We had such a great time, good food, fun rides- a great way to spend Christmas!

Thanksgiving in Portland

For Thanksgiving, Owen and I went to see Jessye and Andy in Portland.  If the trip had a theme, it would be FOOD.  I seriously did not feel hungry the entire time we were there!  Jessye worked really hard to make sure all of the food was gluten free so that I could enjoy anything I want in giant quantities.

Olive is Jessye and Andy's pug that they rescued.  She was precious! What a great snuggle buddy!

VooDoo Doughnuts

Owen and I watch a stupid amount of Food Network and Travel Channel.  We could listen to people talk about eating and making food all day.  We were able to go to VooDoo Doughnuts in Portland which is a famous doughnut shop that has been featured by Anthony Bourdain:  VooDoo Doughnuts  and Man vs. Food's Adam Richmon: Man vs. Food- VooDoo Doughnuts


The shop is famous because:
1) They make crazy combinations of awesomeness into doughnuts
2) You can get married while you are waiting in line for breakfast
3) BACON maple bar....

Owen, obviously, went for the bacon. 

Tiki Bar

Jessye and Andy took us to all of the cool places in Portland.  One of our favorites was a tiki bar downtown.  You walk in the building and you hear thunder and it starts to rain-INSIDE! The drinks were amazing, and strong! This cute little pineapple you see below packed a punch!

The Slammer

The Slammer is one of Jessye's favorite places.  She kept talking about how they decorate for Christmas starting the day after Thanksgiving.  I was expecting a few strings of lights and some cheesy Christmas music, but these guys went all out! Every square inch of the bar, from the floor to the ceiling, was covered in lights and Christmas decor.  

Movie and Hard Cider=Yes

We watched the new Hunger Games movie at a theater/restaurant/bar. It was amazing! Owen was stoked about all the leg room, I was stoked about all of the Cider.

It was a great trip! Delicious in every way! We can't wait to go back!