High School Graduation

Our Graduate!

 

We couldn't be more proud of him.

 

 

May 31, 2013 - Salem Academy Graduation

Look Who's 18!!

 Can it be true?  Where did my little boy go? 

Hard to believe - but my baby is now 18 years old!!

 

We started the day at iHop for a fun breakfast before school and work.

 

That evening we went to John's favorite restaurant in Salem - Rudy's... Home of the famous Baseball Cut Sirloin Steak.  He also had the Sirloin Steak Salad to start... the boy does love his STEAK!  Unfortunately the flash on my phone was so bright that our features are a bit washed out... but here's proof we were there.

  

 

We had just a few friends/family over for dinner to celebrate the birthday boy.  I wanted to get photos of the birthday boy with everyone... but it quickly dissolved into a lot of silliness... which is often times the BEST kind of photos! 

 

 

~ John and Alyssa ~

   ~ Add Kerry & Dodi ~

 ~ Quickly add Darby, Scott and Rob ~

 

 

 ~ Time for Mom and Dad to get into the act...
hmm... some of us seem to have grown horns or possibly antlers ~

~ And then we all fell into a fit of giggles ~



~ It's hard to believe that this little guy, who lit up our lives 18 years ago ~

 ~ Has grown into this handsome young man who we are so very proud of! ~

Happy Birthday John - We love you VERY much!



Brazil Grill - Our Tradition

Last year we decided to begin a tradition, which we continued tonight.  A few days before Christmas we travel to Portland to have a scrumptious dinner at Brazil Grill.  If you are a meat lover - you'll think you've died and gone to heaven! 

 

The meats are all served at your table by "roaming gauchos".  They wander around the restaurant with various cooked meats on swords and they carve the meat right at your table.  You begin at the salad bar (but why fill up on salad when a veritable meat feast awaits you!) and when you return to your table you turn what looks like a hockey puck from the red side to green.  Green let's the gauchos know you would like to be visited with the various meats.  When you want to "rest", turn the puck over to red.  Tonight we dined on: 

 

Marinated Prawns
Chili-Lime Pork Loin
Marinated Chicken Legs
Bacon-Wrapped Chicken 
Marinated Lamb
Linguicia Sausage
Beef Tri-Tip
Bacon Wrapped Beef Filet
Mustard Beef Sirloin
Beef Sirloin

 

And we ended with a sweet treat - which is AHHHH-MAZING!!!...Roasted Cinnamon Pineapple. 

 

Of course, we probably just HAD to partake of a Caipirinha - or two!  (Brazilian cocktail - think yummy - and kind of like a margarita but with sugar cane rum - and better!)

 

 Happy beginning of the Christmas weekend!

Given with Love

When I visited my Aunt last month she passed along some beautiful treasures to me.  I'm saving some of them for my Christmas table - but last night I used some of the gorgeous glassware when entertaining our friends for dinner.

In the 1960's my Uncle bought these gorgeous purple hued glasses trimmed in gold for my Aunt.  He purchased them at auction; they were from the 1920's.

There are five glasses for each place setting.  I only used the water and wine glasses last night.  I have a beautiful service for 10 people.

The occasion last night was our monthly Dinner & a Movie with Kerry & Dodi.  We take turns at each other's home every four or five weeks.  Last nights movie was the Alfred Hitchcock classic "Vertigo".

Since "Vertigo" takes place in San Francisco, I chose a "surf & turf" meal; tri-tip with Bearnaise sauce, twice baked potatoes and Argentinean Red Shrimp.  We began with Shrimp & Corn Chowder, a green salad and Sourdough Rolls. Dodi made an incredible assortment of appetizers, with warm brie and we enjoyed a couple "Cable Car" cocktails. Those were QUITE yummy!

Of course, while the food was delicious - the company was excellent as always.  And, I was so thrilled to be able to use the incredible gift from my Aunt - who love tremendously!  I feel that I've been entrusted with a treasure - that will cherish forever!

Birthday Celebration

Richard celebrated his birthday in style this year - with TWO parties.  

On his birthday we celebrated at our favorite restaurant, "Rudy's".  Richard's sister Kelly and her husband Jay joined us to celebrate the birthday boy.

On Cinco de Mayo we had friends over for a combination Cinco de Mayo / Birthday celebration.  I took photos before the party, and of Richard blowing out his candles... but somewhere along the line I completely forgot to take photos of the party itself.  Well - guess I was having a really good time!

Happy Birthday to my wonderful husband who I love so very much.  He's loving, charming, handsome, kind, generous and keeps me laughing.  I love you Richard!

Ringing in 2012

It's just another New Year's Eve... Which means fun and merriment with our neighbors/friends - who are much more like family.  We celebrated with fabulous appetizers and drinks at Kerry & Dodi's house, followed by  a delicious dinner, fun and games, champagne and cheers all around as 2012 began.

Here are some views from our evening!

~ My Tablescape ~

~ We played a little game with quarters... passing money back and forth around the table... too fun and a whole $6 at stake for each game. ~

 ~ Next we played B.S.... a fun card game where you call each other out when you think they're fibbing about what cards they are placing in the pile.  Cindy won, Alyssa came in second and then Dodi.  There was a lot of laughter during this game! ~

 ~ Apples to Apples was next.  Always a crowd pleaser ~

 ~ When we play, we say whatever cards you won describe you.  Here are our descriptions for the night... Hmm, my cards say I'm crazy!  What do you think?? ~

 ~ The guys waiting for midnight ~

 ~ Alyssa, Kerry & Dodi ~

Wishing everyone a prosperous and Happy New Year!

Christmas Day

Christmas day was quiet and wonderful. Our morning was spent at home where we opened presents, had breakfast, and just enjoyed each other. John had asked for only money, iTunes gift cards and salmon. Yes, I said SALMON! He loves baked salmon and wanted one all to himself. So, he got one! Along with some Ramen with iTunes gift cards attached.

~ John... Santa's Helper ~

In the afternoon we went to Richard's sisters house.  Kelly & Jay made a wonderful meal of Prime Rib for all of us to enjoy!  The whole family was there - almost.  We were missing Holly, D.J. and Canon.  I didn't take a lot of pictures - but here is what I did take!

~ Sweet Rowan coloring ~

 ~ Our nephew David and his beautiful wife Sara.  Rowan and Finley are their children. ~

 ~ Richard with Rowan hiding in the background.~

 ~ John - taking it all in ~

 ~ Our little princess, Finley.  She was so adorable and wanted me to take pictures of ALL of her princess accessories ~

It was a wonderful day full of family, laughter, love and excellent food.  Merry Christmas to all - and to all a good night!

Christmas Eve - 2011

What a lovely Christmas Eve! We usually go to a friends home but this year we decided to stay home and have a dinner party.  Here are some photos of my tablescape.

 Richard and me before we left for Church.

We enjoyed a lovely service at church and then headed home for our guest to arrive.  I love the tradition of "Christmas Crackers", so I made sure everyone had one.  Inside are little trinkets and paper crowns.  Here are Alyssa, Dodi, Richard and John reading the riddles contained in the crackers.  We had a lot of laughs trying to guess the answers to the riddles.

 Here are Rob, Kerry and Scott being silly with their paper crowns on their heads.

Truly, it was a really wonderful evening filled with love, laughter and good food.  We feasted on delicious salad, rolls, twice baked potatoes, barbecued tri-tip, salmon, broccoli and Bearnaise sauce.  Dodi made a super yummy oatmeal & applesauce cake with cream cheese frosting.  It was very dense and full of flavor.  I went to bed with a full tummy, sore cheeks from all laughter, and a very happy heart.

Happy Christmas Eve!

Brazil Grill

As our Christmas weekend began, we decided to have a small family celebration at "Brazil Grill" in Portland.  Brazil Grill is a Churrasco (shoo-rah-sko) which is a centuries old Brazilian traditional cooking method.  Their website says, "This unique way of roasting the meat on a special grill from Brazil conserves the natural flavor of each portion and leaves each cut full of its natural juices."

We feasted on all types of meat... to quote a friend - "the entire barnyard ended up on our table!"  There was chicken, and bacon wrapped chicken, shrimp, lamb, filet mignon wrapped in bacon, beef sirloin, sausage, tri-tip, and mustard beef sirloin.  There was also the MOST amazing grilled pineapple.  I had read about the pineapple in reviews from previous diners - and couldn't believe it could possibly be THAT good!  But, they were right... oh, so right!

In addition to all of the various grilled meats, there is also a wonderful salad bar - which contains much more than your typical salad bar items - and they also brought us a plate of amazing Beef Empanadas.  Oh My!  I really loved them.  John, however, referred to them as Brazilian Egg Rolls.  He's a funny boy!

We also had a Caipirinha cocktail which is Cachaca (Brazilian rum), sugar, and muddled lime.  It was extremely tasty!  We will definitely return to Brazil Grill in the future.  Our very carnivorous son was in 7th heaven... but then again - so were we all!  Click HERE to visit the restaurant website. 

Happy Christmas Eve!

Happy Father's Day

Father's Day is a bittersweet day for me.  Of course I want to celebrate my wonderful husband who is a fabulous father to our son John and to Kristi & Brian - but it's a difficult day for me because I miss my Dad so much. 

John Porter was a pretty spectacular man.  He left an impression on everyone who knew him.  He left a legacy in his work at Disneyland - and he left a legacy of love in his family and friends. 

My Dad was loving, talented, kind, honest, had an incredible work ethic with tons of integrity, was funny, smart, brave, an honest and loving husband, the best Daddy, and an all around "mans man".  

I love you so much Dad - and I miss you EVERYDAY!

Celebrate Richard

Richard didn't want a big "to do" for his birthday this year.  He opted for a quiet dinner at our favorite restaurant, Rudy's.

 Our friends Robin & Travis joined us for a fun evening - filled with really yummy food - a lots of laughs.

Richard is a loving husband and father.  He's a fabulous brother and uncle and a really good friend.  He's funny, smart and generous... and everyone that knows him, loves him.

Happy Birthday Richard.  Love you always, honey!