The First Month of 2022

 Our new year has started off well!  Here's a few of the fun things we've been up to.

Mia has been working so hard all Fall semester with her drama group for the Junior Theater Festival which was a couple of weekends ago.  All the groups perform 15 minutes of their show for this competition.  Mia's group is performing High School Musical Jr, and she has the role of Kelsi.  The group did really well and was recognized for excellence in choreography.  Mia thoroughly enjoyed performing with this group of friends who love drama too!  Now they are rehearsing to learn the whole show which they'll perform in the Spring.

I felt so gourmet one day when I topped my vanilla ice cream with this fruity balsamic vinegar that Ryan and I bought in Sorrento.  It's so good!

I am so thankful that I got to meet up with my friend, Joy Hill, one morning at Rev before the rush of tax season truly gets going.  I'm so thankful for friends.

I love it when the girls are creative.  Look how cool these paintings turned out.  Lily did the paint by number Harry Potter scene while Mia made this Captain America tribute.

Ryan and I both love Spanish tapas.  There are a few restaurants around here that serve it and we enjoy.  Of course, we really enjoyed it when we were in Spain in November.  I was so excited to find that Chef Jose Andres ships a delicious tapas meal via Goldbelly!  I got this for Ryan as a Christmas present.  It arrived a few days after Christmas so we enjoyed it on New Year's Day.  Seems like a great way to start the year!  The tapas included iberico ham, salchichon iberico de bellota, choirzo iberico, Manchego cheese, chicken croquetas, a loaf of Pan de Cristal, olive oil, and fresh tomato paste to make pan con tomate.  This was such a fun surprise and meal!

I also ordered the chef's Burnt Basque Cheesecake.  We did not actually have this when we were in Basque Country, but I thought it would compliment the tapas well.  I was right! It's such an unusually creamy cheesecake; it was way creamier than any others I've tried.  The "burnt" part on top actually gives it this delicious caramel-nutty flavor.  This was a delicious treat.

There are a couple of other items in other posts, but these are a few of the more "ordinary" items we've done so far.  What a great way to start the year!