Don't Knock 'Em Until You Try Them

We recently decided to try out a new vegetable that we both had never tried. Enter brussel sprouts. Here is how things went down.

Letting the little guys steam in their sauna. They are actually very pretty.

Here we have the finished products: steamed brussel sprouts, baked parmesan tilapia and rice

Cory looking a little hesitant to be the first one to try them....

Not sure what to think yet....

I can already see the struggle we are going to have with our future children! Just kidding. They weren't that bad. They taste a lot like broccoli. However, it was more of a texture thing for me. A little too mushy on the outside. Next time we will try to steam fresh brussel sprouts instead of frozen ones.

Final verdict: we'll let the empty plate speak for itself.

How Bout Them Cowboys!?!

Cory and I received Cowboys Stadium tour tickets from my sister and her husband for Christmas. We asked for them because we figured that was the only way we are going to see the new stadium...at least for now. It. Was. Awesome. Seriously, everyone should go and experience the tour. The tour guides are very knowledgeable and professional and the stadium is incredible.

This place was massive. The entire tour was about an hour and a half and I am pretty sure we could have spent five hours in the gift/pro shop alone.

The super comfy seats in the boxes.
The INCREDIBLE screen. Apparently there is an elevator that comes out of the bottom that lowers to the ground to pick up workers. We also learned that when the Jonas Brothers were doing a concert at Jerry's World they payed $4000 per HOUR to play a video game on the giant screen. They rented it for 2 hours....that's $8000 people....to play a video game! That's crazy! The screen is really clear though and massive.
Yes, there is a chandelier as well. Who would have thought a football stadium could be so classy.Cory posing with Romo and Witten

Needless to say, we had a wonderful time. Thanks Korey and Kelly!

A little catching up....Christmas 2009

Apparently we are super behind in blogging. You know it's bad when you see a friend at church and they tell you it's time to update your blog. I have the day off because of snow... so, here we go.
We spent Christmas Eve and Christmas day with my side of the family (The Thorn's) and then we spent the Sunday after Christmas with the Mauritzen/Werley crew. Somehow I didn't get many pictures of Christmas Eve/Christmas Day and none of the Mauritzen/Werley Christmas. I need to work on that!

It is a long-standing tradition on my side of the family to do the same thing every Christmas Eve. We first go the the Christmas Eve service at one of our churches and then we go back to my parents house for Subway sandwiches (random, I know) and queso. We then each get to open one gift from "Santa." This year Cory and I got a GPS!

Yummy queso....I used this recipe from pioneer woman and it was fabulous. I also recently made her restaurant style salsa and used that instead of the can of rotel and jalapeno and it was even better!

The beautiful Christmas tree!

Cory and I spent Christmas Eve night at our own place so we can start some of our own traditions. Cory read about Jesus' birth from the Bible and we opened up a bottle of sparkling apple-cranberry cider. We opened up presents/stockings from each other the next morning and then headed back over to my parents house.

This was by far the best gift this Christmas. My sister and her husband Korey are expecting their first child in July. I had suspected for about a month that my sister was pregnant and had Cory convinced as well that she was pregnant. I would ask her every time I saw her how she was feeling and if she was pregnant. She always denied it. My sister never let the secret out until Christmas day when she gave my Mom a bib that said "Here comes trouble." We are so excited for them and can't wait to meet this precious gift from God.

Hotel....Motel....Holiday Inn....
Actually the Grand Hyatt!

Cory and I realized several months ago that a credit card I have had since college has been accruing bonus points each month. After you earn so many "thank you" points you can go on a website and redeem different rewards. Cory and I decided to use our points for a gift certificate to a Hyatt Hotel. We booked a night at the Grand Hyatt DFW, where we stayed on our wedding night. When we got to the hotel, my sweet husband kindly asked the lady working at the front desk if she had any upgrades available. Lo and Behold they did and we were upgraded to an Executive Suite once again...which is what we stayed in on our wedding night. It was awesome! It also included breakfast in the package that we booked. Here are a few pictures. Everyone should stay at this hotel at least once. It is pure luxury!

Our very own Keurig that they delivered to our room so we could enjoy some coffee in the morning. They knew we were coming!

The awesome bathroom that included a bathtub and a SEPARATE shower....how many hotels have that feature?

The living room

The bedroom with its own separate flat screen tv

Our robes and slippers

The super comfy bed with an ihome so you can bring your own ipod.

The view from our room where we could see planes landing and taking off....but you don't hear any of it!
Cory and I on our way to dinner....Cheesecake Factory....where we used more of our reward gift cards. Even though we didn't go far, it was awesome to just get away for a night.

Christmas Tree O Christmas Tree . . .

Here is just a small taste of our Christmas decorations. Enjoy!

Black Friday: Go big or go home!

One of my many favorite things about thanksgiving: the paper with all of the ads!

You can't participate in Black Friday unless you have some coffee in your system. You have to have your game face on and coffee pumping through your veins!
Notice the clock says 4:45....that's am people. Yeah...we aren't as hardcore as some people we know! We didn't sleep in a tent and we only got up at 4:15.
Trying to get a little pep in his step!

Cory braving Target and running people over with the cart. We would show you our purchases, but we don't want you to see what we got you for Christmas.

Turkey Day 2009: Mauritzen/Werley Style

Blessings!

The Werley family decided to go big this year and fry up Tom the Turkey

Soaking in the "hot tub"



This is what we call "manning the turkey"

The beautiful table

Turkey Coma

I think these two might be related...entertainment with an iphone!