Anne: It's that time again...

While everyone is posting pictures of the happy couple and beautiful decorations at the wedding, let's just all remember what's important. We may have come for the wedding, but we stayed for the bacon jam.

I'm sorry for those of you who haven't tasted this, it was one of the best foods I've ever had the privilege of eating. Luckily, the bride's mom was gracious enough to share the recipe.

Okay, fine here's one of the couple. The poor camera phone quality is eclipsed by how cute they looked dancing together.

Anne: Pseudo-Flashback Friday

Family converged in Minnesota this past week. My mom, brother, sister and I have not been all in the same place in 13 years when this was taken:

But we didn't take a picture all together. Instead there is more than a 20 year gap between the pictures below.

I'm the little one on the left (my niece is on the right)

Tourista Part 5 -- Theo Chocolate

Ben's mom and brother came to visit this past week, which basically meant we were tourists all weekend. This is what happened.

The baby roaster

If you've never had Theo Chocolate, available nationwide no excuses, you should stop whatever lame thing you're doing and put that in your face right this second. Theo has some pretty tasty chocolate and they do great flavor combinations, but what I really love is their company. They're a bean to bar chocolate maker, that's fair trade, organic and awesome. This was my second factory tour, another thing I highly recommend if you are in the area they give you chocolate!, and one of the things I really appreciated was the passion of the young lady giving the tour. You could just tell she loved what she was a part of and the mission of Theo. 

Tempering the Chocolate in the confections room -- intense QA assessment taking place

Tourista Part 3 -- The Motherload

Ben's mom and brother came to visit this past week, which basically meant we were tourists all weekend. This is what happened.

This post doesn't really need any description. You're in Seattle, especially for the first time, you have to go to the Space Needle. I am happy to report though we have still never gone up and don't feel any worse for it.

PS this should have been a chin picture :(

Tourista, Part 2 -- The Locks

Ben's mom and brother came to visit this past week, which basically meant we were tourists all weekend. This is what happened.

We visited the Ballard Locks where boats can move from one area of water to another area of water in Seattle. (No I still haven't really figured out which is which, I'm continue to work on my pronunciation of Puget.) There were actually two--yes TWO--salmon in the fish ladder and one tiny guy who was probably lost. And a seal hunting around the water. The Locks are so much more exciting right now because there are actual boats going through, including the largest barge and tugboat I've ever seen. But there aren't pictures of any of these things. This is a thingy they would use to tie off the boats I think. And apparently Pittsburgh had something to do with some part of the building or running of this place. Maybe I just got excited because it said Pittsburgh...don't judge me!

Tourista Part 1 -- The Crab Pot

Ben's mom and brother came to visit this past week, which basically meant we were tourists all weekend. This is what happened.

The Crab Pot has the whole We've-been-on-TV thing going for them, and I'm not going to lie they were packed. We'd been wanting to check out this place out for a while, at least to say we'd gone. Family gave us the perfect excuse. Besides I love crab and their Seafeast seemed worth a try if not a bit gluttonous. They have four types, each one with a little more added than the last--including expense. Then you order per person. For the four of us we settled on a three person Pacific Clambake. It was so much food. Definitely tasty though in a city like Seattle where there are SO many restaurants to try it's hard to say we'll be back. Though anywhere they give you a bib and a hammer has got to be classy.

Memory Lane

Though not my memories. I guess this could also be a Flashback Friday. Anyway, I was visiting my Grandparents and Mom last week and we got out some photos my Grandmother had found that I had never seen before. Like this gem below. Yup that's my mom circa 197-big hair. I'm not sure but either way enjoyable for all.

Indian Community

Yes all three of those tables are ours and that doesn't include the booth you can't see. Just a *few* of us went out to grab Indian buffet at the amazing Kastoori Grill after church. DCC calls each other family and it is so fitting. It's nice to have a home in Seattle.