Back in 2021 we set a goal. We needed to be outside more. We need to get more fit. We set a goal to walk 500 miles and bike 500 miles as a family. And we crushed it!
For 2022, we decided to step it up! This year, we're going to do 600 miles of walking and 600 miles of biking! Let's get started!
Update from an earlier post. Earlier this year, before Christmas, we visited the library and the kids wrote letters to Santa!
Today we've got a special treat from a friend! I know her as Mrs Gayla because she was my Mom's friend growing up.
It's a Collin Street Bakery Fruitcake!
Just in time for the Holidays, Skinny Syrups has brought us a huge selection of flavorings for our coffees and drinks! Theresa was shopping at TJ Maxx and found all these different flavors! Sounds like a taste test is in order to see which one is best and if there are any standout favorites!
Merry Christmas to us all! It has been wild getting here, but finally we’re all together to celebrate!
All of us were flying to Washington via Denver on the 21st. Two families made it, but one had their flight cancelled. The next few days were crazy trying to get everyone together but finally on the 25th they made it! Too bad none of their luggage did. And no sooner did they show up than my brother Jon, the pilot, get an emergency call-in to fly some passengers to Los Angeles. Now on the 26th we are finally together to celebrate! The kids were all so patient waiting until 2pm on the 26th to have Santa come and open presents.
The Flowers Family wishes everyone a very Merry Christmas! Thanks for reading along and joining us on a year full of adventures!
My latest Micechat article is live! Go see how we make my favorite snack available at the Disney World Resort!
Walking through the local Aldi, Theresa and Jacob found a special treat that's here just for the holidays! Authentic German Strudel!
Every year I try to attempt a new Christmas treat that I've never made before. It's a tradition I started way back in 2014 when a friend of mine shared the recipe for Disneyland Gingerbread cookies (2014). Since then I've made Homemade Candy Canes (2015), Fudge (2016), Peppermint Marshmallows (2017), Figgy Pudding (2018), Eggnog (2019), A Holiday Yule Log (2020), and last year English Toffee (2021).
This year we're going back to gingerbread cookies, but instead of chewy gingerbread, we're going the other direction. Crispy! Just like one of my favorite holiday cookies from the store. Pepperidge Farm Gingerman cookies!
We're very fortunate to be able to visit both our families during the holidays. We split our time between Colorado and Michigan, and this year we're headed to Michigan for Thanksgiving!
Merry Christmas! It's the holidays and we're getting into the Christmas Spirit in all sorts of ways!
Even though we're in the RV we've still got a little bit of room for a tree. We found this one at the Dollar Store and it's worked out perfect for us. We made sure to hang our stocking above the electric fireplace.
It's Christmas Time! How do you get into the Christmas Spirit? We've got a few traditions.
Today is our last day at Arches National Park. It's been a blast, but there's one of the famous arches here that still eludes us. Delicate Arch! Let's go there!
My sister in law Megan loves loves loves eggnog. I jokingly send her pictures of eggnog creations I find during the year. When I showed her this new seasonal donut creation at Epcot she insisted that I taste it and report back.
After spending a morning at Arches National Park, Jacob hopped in the truck with us and we all took a drive out to Canyonlands to see Mesa Arch!
It's time for another holiday treat!
Alli and Theresa were shopping at the grocery store while Ian and I were at the hardware store next door. When we met back at the car, Alli was so excited to show me what she found! A new flavor of Mountain Dew for the Holidays! It's Mtn Dew FruitQuake!
Today we're visiting Arches National Park again, but today is special because we're going with a friend! It's Jacob!
Who loves cotton candy?
Actually it turns out that cotton candy isn't for everybody. I put out the call for a Holiday cotton candy taste test and get very few takers. That's okay. Alli, Amy, and I all love cotton candy.
Another fun taste test! This is one that everyone will enjoy! So many people here love popcorn! And the people at Cookie Pop and Candy Pop have brought us two new flavors for the holidays!
We spent the morning at Arches National Park, but nearby there's another National Park that we wanted to go see. Canyonlands!
It's time to try another Peppermint Milkshake! After the disappointment that was the Wendy's Peppermint Frosty, we knew we'd need to find a peppermint milkshake that could deliver.
We spent the morning exploring Double Arch here at Arches National Park and now it's time to eat lunch! Earlier in the day Theresa and I got everything packed up so that we could have lunch in the park! Yesterday we visited Skyline Arch and found the perfect ledge to eat lunch on. Only thing was, we needed to wait until a little past noon so the sun would create some shade for us!
It's Day 2 at Arches National Park and there's still a lot of cool stuff to see!
Stuffed Crust pizza on a Thin Crust dough? They said it couldn't be done!
Who said it? I don't know. I'm just assuming someone has said it.
But today I'm here to prove them all wrong! Today I will be making my very first Thin Crust Pizza with a Stuffed Crust!
It's time to start getting into the Holiday Baking Spirit! Let's start with something a little different!
Let's continue the rest of our day here at Arches National Park. As you drive through the park, you see something that looks almost unbelievable. This massive boulder is balanced atop a much smaller column.
It's been a fun, albeit hot, morning already, checking out the different arches here at Arches National Park. We started at the back of the park, visiting Landscape Arch and Skyline Arch, and we're working our way forward to the front. Next on our list is Sand Dune Arch. It's hidden among the fins in the large rock outcropping here.
I was so excited to see that Wendy's is releasing a new Frosty flavor this year!
We love the regular Chocolate Wendy's Frosty, so much so that we've even taste tested Wendy's Frosty Chocolate Cereal! And then when Wendy's released the Strawberry Frosty, we did a Neopolitan Frosty taste test, stopping at two different Wendy's restaurants to get Vanilla and Chocolate as well!
What an exciting next few days we are going to have! This is a park I've wanted to come see for a while. It's Arches National Park!
This week we are in Utah! When I looked up what kinds of dishes Utah was famous for, I kept seeing something called funeral potatoes. Funeral potatoes, also known as cheesy potatoes, are a staple for social gatherings for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
Since we're in Salt Lake City, of course we've got to stop by the Great Salt Lake!
Who likes SweeTarts? We do!
Yellowstone has been incredible! We've had an amazing time! But now it's time to go. There's more of the US to see!
You might remember when I pulled into this location I was concerned about the trees at the end of each spot. Well instead of going forward to leave, I decided to put it in reverse and back it out. That worked much better!
Happy Thanksgiving! We were so fortunate to be up in Michigan with Theresa's family to celebrate!
It's our third and final day at Yellowstone. Jacob is busy working so it's the Flowers family going back to explore our favorite places.
