A Mouth Watering, Friend Filled Weekend

Our friends Lia and Katrina, who I met when working at Sbux in Vancouver, came to visit over the weekend. The three of us became friends just weeks before Brian and I moved, which makes it all the more special that this was their second time coming to visit since we've settled into life in the greater Seattle area. Our time spent together never fails to be filled with uncontrollable laughter. This past weekend was no exception.

They arrived on Friday night within an hour of Dad, Mom, Sydni, and Kolt leaving. Brian and I gave them a little home tour which ended in the backyard. Before we knew it there was a bonfire and the tree/shrub/brush burning party began. It was unplanned and so, so funny. I can't explain why, it just was. (I guess you had to be here.) Katrina whipped out her camera and captured the following craziness...

Gotta love Brian lounging in the background, looking up at the trees.

We needed a bigger pit.

Self proclaimed pyros!

When tired of the fire we went to the grocery store to fetch some indulgence. Again, so funny. The people of Safeway must have wondered about our sanity as well as what could possibly be so funny in the freezer section...

For breakfast Saturday AM we had loaded egg sandwiches on cheddar jalapeno bagels. 

So yum.

Our quest for good food continued at The Saturday Market where we discovered a berry booth from McPhail's Farm in Lynden! I was beyond excited. Master Baker Lia made us a beautiful raspberry pie with a lattice top. 

Absolutely Delicious.

(Once out of the oven there was not a moment for photographing, only enjoying.)

On the grill for dinner was steak, chicken, mini heirloom tomato skewers, corn on the cob, and a vegetable medley supplemented by Mom's pasta salad and an abundance of watermelon.

It was a healthy, melt-in-your-mouth feast.

 Now that is a plate of food.

Waking up to another woman baking in my kitchen on Sunday AM was strange and surprising, but exhilarating. I'll never forget it and neither will Brian, he's a cookie cinnamon roll monster. :) Breakfast was the Pioneer Woman's Cinnamon Rolls (minus the maple.) Lia, you're welcome back in our kitchen a.n.y.t.i.m.e.

(Again, there was simply no time for food photography once out of the oven.)

It seems gorging ourselves was the priority but I promise our activities consisted of more than just eating ourselves silly. We laid in the sun, played with FinnOlay, went to the grocery store (more times than we'd like to admit) and the girls caught me up to date on the latest Sbux scoop. Somewhere in the process of their stay Baby BamBam scored herself/himself a new nickname. Because BamBam was claimed to be a whopping 16 ounces, in true Starbucks style, Lia and Katrina nicknamed our baby 'Grande.' We spent the weekend joking about how I am 'growing a grande.'

Lia and Katrina, thank you both so much for making the drive and coming to see us! Our time together was fast, yet leisurely, and oh-so delicious. I hope it repeats itself again someday.