A GOLD MEDAL DAY AT THE 2010 OLYMPICS

Our second trip to the Vancouver 2010 Olympics was also amazing. Combination of perfect weather, good company and lots of action! We went with Bill, Jodi, Alex, Hana, Randy, Janice, Wyatt, Jeff and myself - quite a crew of Olympic fans. We watched the "Bobsled" or "Bobsleigh" 2 man final round. The U.S. and Canada were in the top six so it made it very exciting to watch.
Lots to cheer about -
-Janice got the "red mitten medal" for finding the last pair of adult red mittens in all of Whistler (hiding under the bin).
-Randy and Janice also received the "Almost Silver medal" celebrating their 24 year anniversary that day
-Hana got the "best fan" medal for joining a bunch of crazy Swedish fans and singing.
-Bill and Jodi received the "best photography" medal - check out www.simpleeverydaylifeonthehill.blogspot.com
-Alex got the medal for braving the cold (the event started after the sun went down-3 hour delay) - and with NO complaints in only a sweatshirt! Brrrrr!
-Wyatt was awarded the "most Olympic pins" medal -see collection on hat.
-My loving husband got the "best chauffeur" medal, driving 2 trips to Whistler in 8 days.
It was definitely a GOLD MEDAL DAY - one to be remembered for a long time!

2010 Vancouver Olympic Fever-We've got it!

I have always loved watching the Olympics on TV, but never thought I would be able to watch them in person. Yesterday was the day! We left for Whistler at 6:00am, had a wonderful day with family and friends and when back home at 11:00pm. It was the first of 2 trips to Whistler during the Olympics. Jeff, Wyatt, Alex, Mark and myself drove up early and then met friends Jim, Stacy, Graham and Janelle at the event. It was the one-man luge at the Whistler sliding center. What a great day!
Highlights included:
-A beautiful sunny day (after a short down-pour right before the start)
-NO traffic or border waits
-THE EVENT!! - cowbells, flags and a lot of Vancouver 2010 Olympic spirit!
-Being in Canada during a historical gold medal win for their country
-A great Valentine dinner at the Keg
-Hot tubing at The Aspens after a long day in the cold

Pre-Olypmic Adventure to Whistler

My sister Tami and cousin Melinda made a special pre-Olypmic run to Whistler to make sure everything was just right for our guests staying during the games. We had a great time shopping, snowshoeing, hot tubing, checking out the pre-Olympic activities and of course, cleaning the condo.

Derek turns 21

I'm a little behind on posting, but wanted to get you current with the Jansen family. Derek turned 21 last month, so we celebrated by getting out the martini glasses - not for drinks, but for appetizers! We had his friends Jordan and Brittney over for dinner. We tried new recipes form a cookbook Derek received for Christmas from his boss, along with some favorites of Derek. It was a fun evening together!

"River Road Rats"

My good friend Lisa has a great imagination and a wonderful writing talent-- I know that from when we were in Journalism class together at LC High School back in the 70's. So it did not come as a surprise when she decided to write a book. With the encouragement of her husband Mark, she wrote her first "River Road Rats" mystery and had it published. I was one of the special few to receive one of first 25 copies printed. It's a great kid's book set locally on the "River Road" with friends and neighbors (names have been changed) she grew up with. It's not in the bookstores yet, so if you want to read it we'll have to borrow my copy. Congratulations to Lisa - I hope you keep writing!!

The Perfect Gift

My "love language" is "gifts". I love to give gifts and I have to admit I love getting gifts. Finding just the right gift is fun and exciting and I work on it because there is nothing better than giving just the "perfect gift".

This year Jeff and I struggled with finding just the "perfect gift" for our oldest son Derek. Every year I ask him what he wants and he usually answers - "I really don't need anything", however, I normally come up with something by just by spending time with him and listening to clues. This year he's not living with us so unfortunately we don't spend as much time with him and had trouble coming up with something. We finally settled on gifts card (which I really dislike giving to people because it's just not as personal). Our other son Wyatt was easy, he told me DAILY that he wanted Touch IPOD, and that all the Eek's (Everybody Else's Kids) were getting them.

On Christmas Eve we had dinner, opened our gifts and then sat and talked together for about 3 hours. We spent quality time as a family, during it I a figured out about 3-4 different gifts we could have given to him (good thing his birthday is in January).

I realized after the night was over the "perfect gift" for ME was spending time with him and my family that evening. I thought about how Jesus came to earth to spend time with us because He loved us. He knew what we need before he came, but spent about 30 years with sinful man and then gave us the MOST "perfect gift", our salvation.

No more fretting over finding the "perfect gift" I know what it is - Spending time with the ones you love. Have wonderful New Year - Happy 2010!!!

New Traditions

The Seven Fishes--Tuna, Crab, Halibut, scollops, prawns, salmon and cod

I love family traditions. For years at on Christmas Eve my family would sleep by the Christmas tree at my parents house. Then we grew up, had babies, who needed a good night sleep in their cribs so the tradition ended. As our family grows and changes we start a new traditions.
Last year we started a new one with our kids. We are not Italian, but we saw a show on the Food network of an Italian family who did the "Feast of Seven Fishes" on Christmas Eve. Well, we love seafood so gave it a try - a start of a new tradition in the Jansen family...