Calling All McCains!

And Hendricksons too!

Does anyone have Grandma McCain's recipe for that dark, honey mustard that she used to serve with ham all the time? I actually think it might have been Della's recipe. If anyone has it or knows a good one just like it, please share! I want to make it in time for the holidays! Thanks!

Californ I. A.

Phill's parents planned a trip to California back at the end of October to visit Phill's brother Nick and his wife Stacy, who live in the Hollywood area, and we were lucky enough to go join in on the fun! We got to go to Universal, Sea World, Disneyland, California Adventure and even the San Diego Zoo! I'd never been to any! Can you believe it?! I'm so glad we had the chance to go. We had so much fun!


This is my niece, Elizabeth.


Oh, and her lashes go on for days...


That's her older sister, Brooke, posing as Forest.


Mel and the kids, Will, Elizabeth, Brooke and Jackson.

Ahhhh, love at first sight...

with a giant sponge.

Ahhh, love at first sight...

with a man-eating shark.

Kevin tried to cop a feel several times during this photo op.

Always breakin' rules, that one.

This was the Waterworld show at Universal. It was pretty amazing!

All the parks were decked out for the approaching holiday.

Phill's so happy here cuz Minnie just planted a big one on 'im. I wanted to rip off her bow.

We went to Disneyland Halloween night and got to get all dressed up! We had a couple of 50's ladies with us as well as a few Jack Sparrows.

Oh, and one cat.

They made the late night fireworks show at Disney all scary for Halloween. It was awesome!

Phill was everybody's surfing coach. And that's a white shirt he's wearing...

Will was rippin' it up.

As was Jackson.

Nick and Will were having a good ole time.

That's a leopard right behind us. It's kind of hard to tell, but it was RIGHT there! Yikes!

We had so much fun! Family vacations are the best and we're already looking forward to the next one!

You Tube Sensation!

Seriously, can't get enough of these guys! I used to watch Star Search back in the day just to see the kid acts. A friend showed me a video of them singing the National Anthem and I couldn't help but look them up on You Tube that evening. I found a whole load of videos! They are called the Cactus Cuties. They're from Lubbock, Texas and they are amazing! Give them a listen!

Here's the first video I saw a few days ago that floored me.



Here they are with Reba.



And here's a solo performance by Madeline Powell, one of the girls in the group.




Left to right: Baylee Barrett, Andi Kitten, Madeline Powell and Blaire Elbert.


Just stinkin' love 'em! Tell me what you think!

Lyndee's Big Day!

My bestest friends are gettin' married off faster than I can post about them! In the month of August it was Lyndee's turn and her wedding was absolutely beautiful, but we'd expect no less of Ms. Lyndee Star Giese's wedding, now would we?!

Amanda has the blue eyes I want, but will never have...

Lauren, a newlywed herself, was one of Lyndee's bridesmaides.

Sarah and Adam came too! I hadn't seen Adam in like 5 years! It was a mini reunion, which is seriously the biggest reason I LOVE weddings - you get to see everyone from high school!

Lyndee looked gorgeous as always.

Gotta have sassy shoes.

So much fun! Love you Dee! Best wishes!

We Love The Office!

With its new season underway, we couldn't be happier!

Video Recaps | Full Episodes | Webisodes

Trip to Seattle Part 1: First Day on the Coast

Ok, so we took a TON of pictures on this trip, so I thought I'd at least divide them into sections. Phill's family came up from Utah, and we thought we'd have the most fun over in Seattle...not Spokane.


We started out on our first day there (after a traveling day) by taking them up to Larrabee State Park to see the tidepools.

Some tiny purple starfish are on that rock.

Kurt's taking the pictures. He was our trip photographer.

That's Kurt up there. Made for a pretty cool picture.

In the evening, we made it back down to Seattle to visit the Chittenden locks.

Seattle Trip Part 2: A Day Downtown

Our first full day in Seattle started out with a trip to Pike Place Market. Where else would you start?!

Before I knew Phill really well, I thought that he and Kurt looked like twins.

This is either anise or fennel (both look similar and taste the same) that Gary bought at the market. He knew that I hate black licorice and tried to get me to take a bite since it looks just like celery. Tricky, tricky man!

This is Sylvester, one of two mummies at Ye Olde Curiosity Shop on Pier 54. They are two of the best-preserved mummies known.

And here's Sylvia.

The Seattle Aquarium was our next stop, afterwhich we went on a cruise of the harbor. Above, you can just see Phill through the hole in the rock.