Strawberry Pie and a Friends' Birthday

My friend, Tonia's, birthday is this week so for her birthday I made her favorite pie, strawberry. I have never made a strawberry pie before. So, I searched online for a recipe and found one on allrecipes.com, and you can click on the hyperlink for the exact recipe.

First off I should say that I did not make the crust...this was a frozen crust that I baked.

I mashed up about 2 quarts of fresh strawberries and added sugar and let them cook on the stove. This picture is for my friend Colleen, she says that when I post baking recipes I show every step, so in an effort to keep up with that, I whisked cornstarch and water that would be added to the mashed strawberry mixture.
The pie needs to chill in the refrigerate for a few hours.
The recipe on recipes.com just had you whip heavy whipping cream together to add to the top of the pie. But I had another idea! I read some pretty awesome books last week about a girl that went to Paris to learn how to be a pastry chef. In the books the author also added some recipes to go along with the story. I remembered that she had talked about whipping cream. So, I scanned the books and found the recipe and boy is it sure yummy!

The finished pie with some pretty cute candles I found at Wal-Mart.So, on Tuesday some friends met at Johnny Carinos for Tonia's birthday. I know all these ladies from my days at Lithia and while known of us are still working there we have made an effort to see each other every month and I enjoy the time that we spend together.

Tonia with her daughter, Callie and Callie's daughter, Alyssa. Jackie and Jonelle. Jackie (on the left) was my office manager when I first started with Lithia in Caldwell and she was recently laid off when Lithia closed the dealership in November. Jonelle (on the right) was my office manager when I transferred to Boise. She is going back to school to become a nurse. Group photos:

Time for a change

I am a huge chicken when it comes to changing my hair, because I have had numerous bad experience. However, last night I took the plunge and cut 6 inches off! I also have long bangs that swoop to the side, while they are long enough to pin back this is a huge step for me because I haven't had bangs since I was like 10!

Game Time!!! BSU vs TCU ~ Fiesta Bowl

Game time!!!! BSU vs. TCU in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl in Glendale, Arizona.
Bronco Fans getting on their feet and chanting BOISE....STATE!!!!!! As with all the BSU games the horse runs out first.

Then the team! YAY!!!!
Team captain's from both teams walk to the center of the field for the coin toss.

Wrestler/Actor, John Cena was the official coin tosser.

BSU won the coin toss! They deferred to the second half, so they kick the ball to TCU to star the game.

Here are some plays from the field.

BSU offense:

BSU kicking team:

BSU kick returner: Kyle Wilson:

BSU defense:

My friend Karla's husband being shown on the big screen in their Elvis outfit and sporting some blue turf.

Coach Pete reminding us fans to be respectful. They also used the TCU coach as well. They showed the announcements several times during the game.

Every time there was media timeout certain people were on the field for different accomplishments. These are astronauts.

Information about the Eagle that flew over the flag after the National Anthem. It brought tears to my eyes.

TCU scored their first and only touchdown right before the half.
Halftime score:

The teams coming back on the field after the halftime. Let the 2nd half begin!!!!!

My friend Lori Jo was a few sections away from us, so we took pictures of each other:

I have never been to a game with so many people! It was really loud in there with the roof closed and all of us screaming and clapping - it was electric!

Touchdown BSU!!! It was the only offense touchdown for BSU the entire game.
Bronco Nation getting ready to celebrate:

The Boise State 2009 football team has won the 2010 Tostitos Fiesta Bowl!!!!

It was amazing! I cried! I am so glad I was there to experience it.

The teams congratulating each other on a great game!!!!

The players celebrating:

The trophy presentation:

Coach Pete with Fox Sport Reporter Chris Meyer's accepting the Trophy.

2010 Tostitos Fiesta Bowl Defensive Player, Bradyn Thompson.2010 Tostitos Fiesta Bowl Offensive Player, Kyle Efaw.
I like this picture of Coach Pete finally smiling! He is such a serious coach and one of the best in the entire country and thankfully BSU has him for at least another 5 years!
Stacy and I after the game! We were so happy!!!

YAY! BSU!!! It was an awesome season! I am so proud to be a Bronco!!!!! We will see how BSU ends in the final BCS rankings soon. A fun fact is that BSU finished 14-0, only one other team ever has gone 14-0, Ohio State in 2003.

Morning & Afternoon of the Fiesta Bowl

I had to break the day of the Fiesta bowl into two parts because there are so many pictures! Thank you to Stacy for taking over 600 photos for the day, but I just couldn't upload all of them.

On Monday afternoon, Lori Jo and her friend Mark picked Stacy and I up from our hotel room in Tempe and drove us to the stadium in Glendale. However, just as we were tuning out of the hotel parking lot a cop flashed the lights and we had to pull over. Lori Jo had made a left turn out of the hotel parking lot, but that was not allowed because of the light rail tracks. Thankfully the female cop was a BSU fan and let Lori Jo off with a warning.

We have arrived at the stadium!!!!!!We ran into my friend Karla's husband, Brent, in the parking lot. He was dressed as anElvis for the game. The Kyle Wilson motorhome driven by Kyle's older brother all over the country to watch Kyle play.
BSU tailgaters everywhere! We laughed at this because this car is from Texas but it was supporting BSU!!!!!Walking around the the stadium.
We walked over to Westgate to grab some lunch and as we were going in the TCU band was going out. We ate an amazing lunch at Margaritaville! We thought that more people were going to join us so we were able to get a table in one of the boats. But in the end it was just Stacy, Lori Jo and I. While we were waiting for our food three individuals game in on stilts and making balloon things for people. They were also very comedic.

We enjoyed a drink, while waiting for food.

The people on stilts we also outside in the courtyard.
While walking back to the stadium there was a billboard on a trailer for Bronco Nation to take pictures in front of.
Why you may ask, do I have a picture of three TCU fans walking away from us? Well that is because the guy in the middle got onto the BSU billboard trailer and mooned everyone. I do have pictures of his bare butt, but I have chosen not to share those. It was actually really funny and the three guys were pretty nice. Walking back to the stadium, it looks like a giant UFO. In front of our entrance, number 1. The 1 was giant size! Finally inside the amazing stadium!

Pre-game warm ups on the field.

Pre-game ceremonies. First up the TCU Marching Band.

Fiesta Bowl staff and Jared Zabransky (BSU's quarterback from the first Fiesta Bowl) and Ladainian Tomlinson (Former TCU player that is now playing for the San Diego Chargers)

The BSU mainline dancers: BSU Marching Band:

Professional singers:

The Flag being carried out:

This is a short video clip I made of them rolling out the flag. It was amazing.

Mike McDonald signing the National Anthem. They released an Eagle, after the National Anthem it was beautiful! I have tried to focus the picture on the eagle flying across the stadium.

Bronco Nation is ready for the game to start!!!!!!!

Fiesta Bowl Day 1 and 2

Stacy and I left Boise on Saturday morning. We decided instead of having a direct, easy, flight to Phoenix we would take the Northwest city tour. So, our first stop was Spokane, Washington!

As we were waiting for our plane to taxi in, we saw the Oregon Duck plane (I am not a fan of the Ducks!). I was gagging until I realized that it was the plane we would be taking to our next stop, Portland, Oregon....at that point I thought I was going to die.

As much as I complained about the Duck plane we made it to Portland just fine and then onto Phoenix. In my previous post I talked about the great time I had with Zach, Hailey, Cory and Stacy.

However, I failed to mention that Stacy and I did not go to bed until 3am....and then I got a text from Cory at 8:30am saying that they were up and loading the truck. So, we got up and went and said goodbye to them. It was hard. I cried. I love my brother so much and I am sad that we don't see each other that often, but I do know that no matter what we will always be there for each other. After the goodbye and tears. Stacy and I took the Phoenix metro light rail to the downtown area of Tempe for breakfast at Starbucks. After getting some caffeine we wandered around the virtually empty downtown, though there were some blue and orange fans along the way.

Christmas tree in 70 degree weather - seriously? We had never seen an orange tree before. Later on that day there was going to be a pep rally at Tempe Beach. So we decided to walk over there before all the action started. By now it is about 11am so we decide to go back to the hotel and chill for a few hours until we leave for the Pep Rally.

Time fore the Pep Rally!!!!!! Not sure how many BSU fans were at the Pep Rally but we are guessing around 1500 people.

Can you see me in the crowd? There I am!

A friend of mine, Dena was also in Phoenix and wanted me to stop by. She is also a crazy die hard BSU fan.

We went with a group of friends to the pep rally. Here is Parker, he is 2 1/2 months old and he loves the Broncos! Now time for the action!!!! First up - Coach Pete!!!

Then the team captains' spoke, first up, Senior, Richie Brokell:

Next up, Senior, Kyle Wilson:

Next up, Junior, Ryan Winerswyk

Then, Sophomore, Quarterback, Kellen Moore.

They had asked if any former BSU players were in the audience and if they were to come over to the stage so Bronco Nation could thank them for helping make BSU what it is today. Our friend Brandon went up there after some pushing and prodding ;-)

The legendary, Coach Lyle Smith, was also there.

Now let's get the Pep Rally rockin'!

Then some DJ came on stay and did a pretty cool and uplifting song about BSU.

We also found another friend at there, Lori Jo.

The group: Tyler, Brandon, Dustin, Vicky, Baby Parker and Stacy.

The Pep Rally was a little to much excitement for Parker.

Stacy bought a program for the game.

After the Pep Rally we took the light rail into downtown Phoenix to have dinner at the Hard Rock Cafe.

Tomorrow (well I should say today) is Game Day!!!

GO BSU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

First Night in Phoenix

After a long day of traveling and many airports Stacy and I arrived in Phoenix about 5:30pm. My brother Zach, his girlfriend Cory and their daughter, my niece, Hailey met us at the airport! I hadn't seen Zach in 6 years and had never met Cory or my my adorable niece! There are a lot of pictures but I know that a lot of family wanted to see them so I hope you all enjoy the pictures.
After we checked into ghetto hotel (and I do mean ghetto) we decided to go to Ruby Tuesdays.
Zach and Cory at the restaurant.

Hailey!!! Seriously is she just the cutest baby ever! So, I am a little biased, and I do think a lot of other babies are adorable but Hailey is so cute!!!!

Hailey LOVED the salt off the french fries and loved the fries as well.

After dinner we walked over to a water fountain and took some group photos:

After dinner we just chilled in the hotel room. Hailey loves her daddy and mommy so much! She is such a happy baby!!!

Hailey and her daddy playing! (sorry the video is grainy but the sound of Hailey squealing is so funny!)

I had a great time! It was short but well worth it. Thank you Zach and Cory for driving 6 plus hours to see me. I am so happy that I got to meet my niece.

Couple more photos

I was looking through my blog and realized I forgot two photos. I really like these photos of my little cousins and I so I had to share! The first one is Sydney and I. The second one is Sarah, Sydney, me and Hannah on Christmas Eve.