A mom's reward - Pearfection Martini

Everyone once in a while... mom's need to stop and take some time to smell the roses -- or perhaps sip on a "Pearfect" martini. Well this mom (me) took some time out to celebrate with her dear friend, Karolynn. After raising her daughter, Karolynn went back to college and got her Bachelor's degree, which most certainly was cause to raise a glass (or two) in her honor.

It was such a beautiful evening in our childhood town of Edmonds and the perfect destination for this celebratory night. After a yummy dinner at Chopsticks, our favorite Chinese restaurant in Edmonds... we headed to Arnie's Restaurant to enjoy a perfect view of the sunset and, to our surprise, a fantastic martini called, "Pearfect!"

Neither one of us are big "drinkers," but this martini will be served at many of our future social gatherings -- or perhaps when "mom time" is overdue and Calgon is calling. Thanks to the very nice waitress who provided me with the recipe, I now have the pleasure of sharing this with you.

Pour the following into a shaker of ice:

1. 1-1/4 oz Ablsolute Pear Vodka
   
   
2. 3 oz White Cranberry Juice
   
   
3. 1/4 oz Simple Syrup
   
   
4. 1/8 oz Cassis
   
   
5. Shake & Strain into a martini glass.
   
   
6. Garnish with a lemon twist.

Cheers & Enjoy!!

Lowest tide of the year - Edmonds Beach with the EHS gang & our kids

June 23 was the lowest tide of 2009. So a bunch of us former EHS peeps grabbed our kids and headed to our beloved Edmonds beach for a daying of exploring. Low tide was a -4.1. Enjoy the photos!

From the Album: Low Tide at Edmonds Beach

An Edmonds Kinda Day with Bob & Austin

Enjoying the 75 degree weather at Sunset Beach on May 2, 2009!

January & February Fun

Some random fun things we did... Austin's Basketball Games, Choir Events, Shari & David's Wedding, Celebrating with Friends, Sunset in Edmonds

Getting Into the Holiday Spirit

The Rice Family is getting ready for the holidays....

We kicked off the holiday season with the annual Edmonds Tree Lighting Ceremony. Click the image below to watch the video feature.


One evening, while driving home from Edmonds, we discovered this wonderful Christmas House. Click the image below to watch the short video clip put to music.


Now it's time for the Rice Home Holiday Transformation...

First order of business is to put up the Christmas lights outside.



Next, the kids put together a Gingerbread House with all the trimmings. To keep the kids from squabbling during the construction, it helps to use some of the frosting to seal their mouths. ;-)



Then it's time to get our Christmas Tree and decorate it. It started to snow as we brought our Christmas tree home.

As night fell on December 14, the snow had made a nice blanket of white fluff and the kids couldn't resist playing in it.

The next morning, it was pretty as a postcard and I captured some photos of our holiday house in the snow.

Looking out my dining room window

Panoramic view from my back porch

Watching the kids play in the back yard from my living room window

From Rice Family Holiday Fun 2008

Edmonds Excursions - Episode 1

Now that Amanda is back dancing at Barclays…. I get to enjoy beautiful Edmonds three times a week... the town where I grew up. There is definitely something magic about that place. I feel so at peace when I’m there. It’s nice to think of my Dad too… I know he’s there, his spirit is sailing there forever!!! Austin and I have been capturing some photos and videos of our adventures. Here is our first episode of our Edmonds Adventures!!


Click the play button to watch.

Observing October

October came in with the first wind storm of the season. Bob had to go out and cut a big dangling branch off of a tree in our backyard. He rescued my bench too, which later was moved to our back porch for safe keeping.		We had a belated birthday celebration for Jesse. He was gone most of the summer feeding the fire fighters in Oregon and California... so we were not able to celebrate his birthday in August.
Amanda made it onto the Dance Theatrics Junior Company at Barclay Shelton Dance Centre in Edmonds. When she is at rehearsal... Austin and I go for walks in Edmonds.		Bob, Austin, and I went to the pumpkin patch in Snohomish.
Then, we had some pumpkin carving fun with Amanda and Austin.		Halloween was fun at the Rice house. I decorated our front walk and doorstep for the trick-or-treaters. check out the kids costumes. We had some fun visitors too.

Sensational September

This month we sent the kids back to school, Amanda to 8th grade and Austin to 5th. Then we helped Miss Laura West celebrate her 30th birthday. Amanda and I went to see a friend in the play, "The Wizard of Oz." That was a lot of fun and Amanda enjoyed being in the audience, since she is usual on stage. I got some time in the garden and spruced up the yard now that fall has set in. And, of course, the kitties were captured doing what they do best... being cute & sleeping. Austin and I get to explore Edmonds three times a week now that Amanda is back at Barclay Shelton Dance Centre.

Joyous July!!!

We start with the 4th of July festivities in Edmonds. Then, we celebrated Jasmine's 24th birthday on July 10, went to the Stevie Wonder Concert on July 11, and then spent the weekend of the 13th & 14th at the Mill Creek Festival where Amanda and Bob performed a 45-minute version of "The Great Penelope." Then it was more concert fun at Ringo Starr on July 19 and James Taylor on July 22, which were both at the Chateau Ste. Michelle winery in Woodinville. I hosted Bingo this month at my house on the 25th and captured some fun clips of the after-hour fun. We topped the month off with our annual camping trip to Kalaloch. Even though we were really busy... we still found time to hang out in the back yard and enjoy our kitties!! Enjoy the photos.