Disney on a wednesday...

After work yesterday I met up with Maria, Sheri and the kids at Disneyland. When I arrived the gang was eating dinner at California Adventure so I joined them for a taco. We road Soaring Over California then hopped across to Disneyland. The park was so empty we got to walk on tons of rides with absolutely no wait - it was awesome! For Christmas they re-did the Haunted Mansion to be Nightmare Before Christmas themed... it was amazing what they were able to do....

I haven't been on Splash Mountain in well over 10 years but since we were able to walk right on; we went twice... it was so much fun!

Its so nice that Bryce and Paige are getting tall enough to ride big kid attractions now... Sheri took Paige on Splash Mountain this time... slowly getting her used to the scarier rides...

Good times...

Egg Sandwich...

I love eggs... especially fried eggs on toast. I made this beauty with salt and pepper, toasted bread with mayo... it was a delight. Soon after taking the picture I gobbled it down over the sink... so good...

Blue... daba di daba die...

The sky was so blue and beautiful today... God has an amazing way of blessing us with the simplest things to prove he is the creator...

Yummy Pho...

After church today we all went for Pho... I got the vegetable soup this time... big mushrooms, mini corn, bock choy, carrots and big chunks of tofu... it was delightful...

Halloween at Work...

Due to budget cuts the Halloween celebration we usually have was pretty subdued this year. I didn't put much effort into my costume... I wore my bathrobe and walked around with my flask all day... Barb was a cool hippie chick... I think that's what she wears on the weekends anyway... Once a flower child always a flower child...

Crispy Chicken Strips With Mustard Sauce...

Before bowling the other night I decided that rather than eat the deep fried chicken strips at the bowling alley I should make a"lower fat" version at home to take with me...

I started with a hot pan of olive oil and butter spray...

I dredged the chicken in a light coat of flour, salt and pepper then violently tossed them into the pan so they would sizzle... (it was a Pioneer Woman moment)

They browned nicely....

Rather than a fat-laden ranch dip I mixed up a tangy mustard soy sauce... it was smooth and flavorful...

The chicken had a nice little crunch and a tender, moist center... wonderful with my mustard dip...

Halloween at Disneyland!

Sheri, the Kids, Maria and I met at Disneyland on Wednesday to celebrate Maria's Birthday... I think she is 27 now ;-) the whole place was decked out for Halloween... it was so cool!

The kids found an awesome cannon to climb on so I jumped in for a pic... wow even Paige is smiling in this one... they are so darn cute...

After riding pirates of the Caribbean we had some dinner over in New Orleans Square... the line was long but totally worth the wait...

The big kids had sourdough bread bowls filled with hot clam chowder... it was a welcome meal on a chilly October night...

The bread was so delicious! Maria convinced me that we are not to be judged for buttering AND salting our bread before we eat it... I like they way she thinks...

I couldn't help myself... after I ate the soup out I even grubbed on the bottom of the bowl... so good with the mushy clam-chowdery inside and crusty outside...

Once it got dark there were awesome orange lights in all the trees... Disney really goes all out for holidays... I can't wait too see what they do for Christmas... I am really getting a lot of use out of my pass this year... its a great place to hang with the people you love...