2009 memories in photos

We cooked a lot - and are starting to become quite competent in tex-mex and mexican recipes:


Our mailbox was destroyed. Again.

We thoroughly enjoyed Pi Rho festival (the rocket festival we go to with our friend Sally):


Having baseball to softball sized hail hit my car with me in it is not something I want to do again:


Having old friends move to Austin has been a very good thing. It's been fun cooking and playing Rock Band with Brian & Angela. We've also had fun making sure they've experienced almost all of our favorite Austin restaurants:


We may not be fast when it comes to home improvement, but we did finish our half-bath:


I like doing Hawaiian Applique:


We toured the Astros Stadium in Houston, and Matt posed in the dugout as the manager:


Colorado was beautiful, especially the aspens.


It will be tough to top these Halloween Costumes:


Matt got 2nd place in the Central Market Hatch Green Chile cook-off:


Mi Tierra at Market Square in San Antonio is as kitschy as anything, but wow, is it tasty:


No trip to Cornerstone is complete without a James Brownie Funky Jackhammer from Andy's Frozen Custard in Springfield, Missouri (and this year, a bonus trip to Kansas City)


Our elitist & Cornerstone friends are among the best people ever. It was really great having Sara there this year!


Going on sabbatical is the best. I wish I could do it every day!

Being delayed in Dallas, then re-routed to Vegas did not make for a great start to our Hawaiian vacation. But, we did have the most expensive hamburgers ever (when you factor in cab fare from the Las Vegas airport to the nearest In-N-Out burger). Delicious!


We both hiked Diamond Head in Oahu. This was a big accomplishment for me, considering that 2009 has been the year of heel pain. :(


Hawaii was gorgeous, of course!


Having my parents visit us in Hawaii was wonderful! (and warm, other than the day on Haleakala)


We drove through West Texas. Not a whole lot there, honestly. But, I will remember that it's always fun to road-trip with Matt.


Here's a slideshow of other photos from 2009:

Family Fun

My parents are visiting us for a few days, from Connecticut. We've had fun going shopping, watching Nebraska win their bowl game, and eating BBQ & Tex-Mex together.

Here's mom, making corn tortillas, from scratch. This was the first time she had ever made them. We ate them with homemade posole and green-chile-chicken-breasts on Tuesday night. Last night, we fried the leftovers to make home-made chips.

I just had to take the picture, since I don't think you'd expect someone who grew up in Minnesota and now lives in Connecticut to be making corn tortillas from scratch!

Here's dad, singing along to Rock Band. We play via XBox live and connected our group in Austin to a friend who lives in Atlanta. Dad played guitar a few times and then sang on several songs -- having to sort the songs by decade to find some he knew! He did quite well! We may have him try drums later today, and have mom try the guitar.

We've also done a mini tour of central Texas BBQ joints, visiting the Green Mesquite in Austin (for baked potatoes w/ BBQ), Rudy's near our house (for breakfast tacos) and Kreuz Market in Lockhart (for the whole experience of BBQ served without forks or sauce).

Today, family tradition dictates that we'll have to go to Chuy's! (and I'm definitely not about to change that tradition!)

Tomorrow, they'll head up to Nebraska to visit my brother & sister-in-law. We'll miss my parents, but we're always so glad when they visit!