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Saturday, December 31, 2022

Hitting our 600 mile Biking and 600 mile walking challenge for 2022!

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!

Thursday, December 29, 2022

Letters to and from Santa! Thank you Cagan Crossings Community Library!

Update from an earlier post. Earlier this year, before Christmas, we visited the library and the kids wrote letters to Santa!

Wednesday, December 28, 2022

Holiday Treats - Collin Street Bakery Fruitcake and North Carolina Ice Box Christmas Cake

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! 


Collin Street Bakery started back in 1896, and they're famous for being the first mail order fruitcake company in the world! 

Tuesday, December 27, 2022

Holiday Taste Test - Skinny Syrups Holiday Flavor Mixes

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! 


In all she found 5 different flavors including Gingerbread Latte, Christmas Cookie, Peppermint Bark, Salted Caramel Mocha, and Brown Sugar Cinnamon. That's a lot of syrup to try! 

Monday, December 26, 2022

Merry Christmas from Washington - Happy to All Be Together!

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. 

Sunday, December 25, 2022

Merry Christmas from the Flowers Family!

The Flowers Family wishes everyone a very Merry Christmas! Thanks for reading along and joining us on a year full of adventures! 


Saturday, December 24, 2022

Thursday, December 22, 2022

Holiday Treats - German Strudel

Walking through the local Aldi, Theresa and Jacob found a special treat that's here just for the holidays! Authentic German Strudel! 


Imported all the way from Germany and still only $3 for two of them! They come frozen, so you can heat them up whenever you're ready for them!
There's three different flavors they found for us to try. Apple Strudel, Caramel Apple Strudel, and Fruits of the Forest Strudel. 

Wednesday, December 21, 2022

Holiday Treats - Homemade Pepperidge Farm cookies

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!


They are thin, crispy, and dusted with colored sugar. A wonderful holiday treat!

Tuesday, December 20, 2022

A Michigan Thanksgiving Christmas

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! 

Monday, December 19, 2022

Getting into the Christmas Spirit - At Home

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. 

Sunday, December 18, 2022

Getting into the Christmas Spirit - At Disney World

It's Christmas Time! How do you get into the Christmas Spirit? We've got a few traditions.

Friday, December 16, 2022

The Flowers Explore - Delicate Arch at Arches National Park - 2022/09/04

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!

Wednesday, December 14, 2022

Holiday Taste Test - Eggnog and Cream-Filled donut from Epcot

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.


I was surprised how large the donut was. And it’s topped with cinnamon icing and gingerbread. Yum!

Tuesday, December 13, 2022

Visiting Canyonlands and Dead Horse State Park with Jacob - 2022/09/03

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!

Monday, December 12, 2022

Holiday Taste Test - FruitQuake Mountain Dew Taste Test with Patrick and Megan

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! 


This is Dew flavored with a Blast of Artificial Fruitcake Flavor! And so of course we had to try it alongside a fruitcake! I wonder how it will compare to the Ginger Snap'd Mountain Dew from last year? Is this going to be a new holiday tradition for Mountain Dew going forward? 
I'm really glad Alli picked it up when she did. We've gone shopping lots of times after that and I haven't seen the FruitQuake Dew since!

Sunday, December 11, 2022

The Flowers Explore - Arches National Park with Jacob Day 3 Pt 1 - 2022/09/03

Today we're visiting Arches National Park again, but today is special because we're going with a friend! It's Jacob! 

Saturday, December 10, 2022

Holiday Taste Test - Holiday Cotton Candy Sampler from Fun Sweets

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. 


Theresa was shopping and happy to show me what she found, but definitely didn't want to participate. There's 5 fun holiday flavors in this Cotton Candy Sampler from the Fun Sweets candy company. Candy Cane, Sugar Cookie, Cheery Berry, Vanilla Snow, and Hot Cocoa!

Friday, December 9, 2022

Holiday Taste Test - Iced Gingerbread Cookie Pop Popcorn and Peppermint Hot Chocolate Candy Pop Popcorn

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! 


From Cookie Pop we've got an Iced Gingerbread Popcorn, and from Candy Pop there's a Peppermint Hot Chocolate Popcorn. Both are looking great!
Theresa - I'm excited right now. 
Joe - Richard this should be right up your alley. 
Which do you think will be the best? Many think it's going to be the Peppermint Hot Chocolate, but we'll taste them and see!

Thursday, December 8, 2022

Mesa Arch at Canyonlands National Park - 2022/09/02

We spent the morning at Arches National Park, but nearby there's another National Park that we wanted to go see. Canyonlands! 

Wednesday, December 7, 2022

Holiday Taste Test - Chick-Fil-A Peppermint Chip Milkshake

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. 


The Chick-Fil-A Peppermint Chip Milkshake promises to provide just what we're looking for. 
From their own description - Hand-spun the old-fashioned way, this festive peppermint flavored milkshake is made with Chick-fil-A Icedream® dessert and features chips of peppermint bark, topped off with whipped cream and a cherry. Available seasonally for a limited time.

The Flowers Explore - Lunchtime at Skyline Arch - Arches National Park Day 2 Pt 2 - 2022/08/31-09/05

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!


And it's not just lunch! Theresa is bringing her guitar to serenade us!

Tuesday, December 6, 2022

The Flowers Explore - Double Arch - Arches National Park Day 2 - 2022/08/31-09/05

It's Day 2 at Arches National Park and there's still a lot of cool stuff to see!

Monday, December 5, 2022

Pizza at Home - Stuffed Crust Thin Crust Pizza

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!

Sunday, December 4, 2022

Holiday Treats - Bacon Cinnamon Rolls

It's time to start getting into the Holiday Baking Spirit! Let's start with something a little different! 


Some said it couldn't be done. Others said it shouldn't be done. Who are "they"? I don't know, I'm just making it up, but it sounds good. On Sunday morning I wanted to try making something me and my Sister-In-Law were talking about earlier in the year, in preparation for Christmas. A Cinnamon Roll with Bacon! 

Saturday, December 3, 2022

The Flowers Explore - Balanced Rock, Junior Rangers, and Night Shots - Arches National Park Day 1 Pt 3 - 2022/08/31-09/05

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. 

Friday, December 2, 2022

The Flowers Explore - Sand Dune Arch and The Windows - Arches National Park Day 1 Pt 2 - 2022/08/31-09/05

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.  

Thursday, December 1, 2022

Holiday Taste Test - Wendy's Peppermint Frosty

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!


Yellow Wendy's is just a little bit better than the newer signage Wendy's. And look! They've got the Peppermint Frosty! Let's go inside and get one!