Tuesday, November 30, 2010

SparksThanksgiving

Saturday the Sparks family gathered at the home front to celebrate what we are thankful for.  We started with our annual feast that including our deep fried turkey (not a healthy choice but very juicy), Grandma Mattie's yummy mashed potatoes, Grandma Sparks famous homemade bread and our Mom completed the meal with all the traditional trimmings!  After the feast we all played games and laughed the night away. 

Uncle Drew and Layla
 
     Part of the Crew (Doug, Dathen, and Dad ran when they heard the phrase famiy pictures) and I am obvioulsy taking the picture.      
                                                                 My wonderful Grandma's
                                                                        My 2 favorite Boys
                                    Lisa and Addison ( she is not a fan of my camera at times)
                                                                               Me and My Love
Max was thankful for all the food the kids dropped on the floor!
                                                                     Part of the meal

                                                     Doug and Eric getting ready for another game
Mom with Liv and Kinsey
                                                            Brandy with the 3 babies of the family

                                                                 

Thursday, November 25, 2010

Thanksgiving Strobel Style

What a great Thanksgiving! Eric and I started the day off at the Mary Rigg Community Center.  We volunteered to serve lunch at the center.  I have always had a passion for helping others.  I am so thankful that I was able to be apart of such a great community effort to help others in the name of God.  After our community service we headed back to the Strobel condo and we decorated the Christmas tree.  After all the festivities we went to McCormick & Schmick's for our Thanksgiving dinner.  Dinner was absolutely delicious and I loved the part where I did not have to cook or clean up!

                                                                       Nancy and Dan
                                                       Eric Getting Ready For His Thanksgiving Feast
                                                                             Cheers

                                            Eric's Thanksgiving Feast With All The Trimmings
                              I Went In A Different Direction...Stuff Shrimp, Fillet, Salad, & Mac & Cheese
Eric's Favorite (Pumpkin Pie)
                                              Of Course I Had To Be Different (Baked Apple)
                                                                           

Monday, November 22, 2010

Science Central

Sunday Eric and I keep Makalya.  After church and lunch we headed to Science Central.  Science Central offers two floors of learning and fun.  I recommend Science Central for a day of fun.  The admission was only $7.00 each and offered activities for all ages.    




Sunday, November 21, 2010

Maternity Shoot

I have been exploring all kinds of photography. I have done children, family, engagement and now maternity photos. This last Saturday I had the pleasure of taking Candis and Jon's Maternity photos. I wanted to capture the beauty of Candis’s pregnant body and the love they have for each other and their future son. Congrats Candis and Jon and thank you for letting me capture this moment.












Saturday, November 13, 2010

Easy as Pie

Today I decided I was going to made Eric a Birthday feast.  I made a salad with a homemade bacon dressing, BBQ shrimp appetizer, steak kabobs, creamed spinach, and seasoned potatoes.  I just needed something sweet to end his birthday feast.  Eric likes apple pie but I have never made apple pie.  So I hit the cookbooks and found a beginner apple pie recipe.  I changed a couple details of the recipe to make it my own.  I think it turned out OK for my first try!

 Pillsbury ready made pie crust (never work harder than necessary)
5 peeled and sliced Apples ( I used 3 Granny Smith, 1 Golden delicious, and 1 Fuji)
3/4 Cup Sugar
1 tsp Cinnamon
1/4 tsp Nutmeg
1 Tbsp Flour
1/4 Stick of Butter
Place one crust  in the bottom of an ungreased glass 9 inch pie pan
Mix apples and sugar in a bowl
Add  cinnamon, flour, and nutmeg to apples and mix well
Pour apples into pie crust and place small pads of butter over the apples
Place top crust over apples (I used a leaf cookie cutter to add a little character to my pie)
Brush uncooked top pie crust with either milk or egg whites and sprinkle with sugar
Bake at 375 for 50 minutes or until done


Blue Men

Last night Dan and Nancy  treated us to The Blue Man Group at Bulter University for Eric's 27th Birthday!  We had a great time.  The performance included music, lights, paint, and comedy!


                                                 The Men Do Not Talk Or Make Many Facial Expressions
                                                                The Men Are Covered With Wet Blue Paint
                                                               The Blue Man Touched My Ticket