"Remember, as far as anyone knows, we're a nice, normal family." -Homer Simpson

What: Epps Family Reunion 2010
When: August 6-10
Where: Estes Park, CO

It's been about 9 years since the Epps family gathered together for a reunion. Unlike many of my friends families, my family is scattered all over the country--Wisconsin, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Minnesota, Virginia, Texas, California and Oklahoma.

AUGUST 6th
Travels started at 7 a.m. with plans to drive halfway to Pueblo, CO. The road was filled with naps, chats and books (or magazines).
Lunch: Marla's Restaurant - Guymon, OK. How can you pass up green chile chicken fried steak? Dad and Blake tried this venturous meal American-Mexican while the rest of us opted for a taco salad. All yummy but nothing out of this world. On the road again...

Detour: Capulin Volcano National Monument. Dad and I climbed over 8,100 feet above sea level while the others lagged behind. We reached the top where if we looked in one direction, we were looking at Oklahoma. On the trail to the top and back, we saw lizards, bugs and skunk bushes. Very interesting!
Last stop: Pueblo, CO. I was driving this last leg and after a couple of wrong turns, we made it to our hotel. After a quick freshen-up, we ventured to Shamrock Brewery for dinner. And a beer, of course! They change their beers often, but if you happen to be around there now, you should try their IPA. It's one of the best beers I've had in a while! Dad ordered World Famous Scotch Eggs for a side and they were deceivingly delicious. I was jealous. Blake bought a t-shirt from the pub that said "the liver is evil and it must be punished!"
After a long driving day and a couple beers, the bed was calling my name. Although we were now an hour ahead of our body clocks, waking up at 5:45 is still early!

AUGUST 7th
Big day ahead!! The drive to Cañon City was pretty short but well worth the early wake up call. Located in Cañon City is the Royal Gorge amusement park. We arrived early, walked over the bridge and petted elk - this really wasn't allowed, but they were so sweet and gentle! The bridge at Royal Gorge is the highest suspension bridge in the world.


The Royal Gorge is also home to the scariest sky coaster in the world. Courtney, Blake and I acquainted ourselves this "near death" experience and looking back, it's one of the most fun things I've done! Misson complete. Now off to Denver for lunch.

Warning: the next subject is something very near and dear to my heart. I am a changed woman because of it!

I love food just as much as anybody else. However, I prefer to not order burgers at restuarants because they never turn out just the way I want them. Diners, Drive-ins and Dives featured a restaurant in Denver that specialized in burgers and their toppings - The Cherry Cricket. The list was endless. Prior to reaching the restaurant, I did my research. My heart was set on "Little Cricket" with blackened seasoning, fresh jalepenos, onions and (are you ready?!) peanut butter!! I have never had a more delicious burger in my entire life. I'm completely serious. I think I even made a vow to not ever attempt ordering burgers anywhere else. Although pictures can't do this peice of heaven justice, I'm still going to share. I'm in love.

We also shared an appetizer of fried macaroni and they were tasty little bites, dipped in ranch of course. However, nothing - food related - could compare to The Cherry Cricket.

We pulled into Estes Park, Colorado a little before dinner time. Let the family reunion begin!
To be continued...

Secretly Nestled Table Rock Lake

I'm a little late to post this because I have been traveling and attempting to get back into a routine! Forgive me. Now back to my Big Cedar & Table Rock Lake trip (July 30 - August 1).


Summer is coming to an end sooner than expected and to say the least, I needed a vacation. My trip to “Uncle Sam’s” lake house in Texas was cancelled due to mismatching itineraries. I won’t say any names, K. Hanlon, but I was super bummed! (I forgive you).  My summer lake vacation was ruined. That is until mid-morning Friday, I received a text saying “we’re going to Big Cedar!” I think I did a little happy dance in my office chair and I know I was smiling from ear to ear for the rest of the day. I guess you could say I mentally checked out, but according to my employer, I was in full force work mode. As soon as work was over, I dashed home and packed my bags. Not much needed—swimsuit, cover-up, flip flops—but of course I packed too much. What’s a girl to do when the unexpected is inevitable? I like to say I’m well prepared for many situations and scenarios. I don’t know that Blake appreciated the weight of my bad when he offered to carry it for me. What a gentleman!

We left later that evening and headed northeast towards Big Cedar Lodge and Table Rock Lake. Trust me…you won’t want to leave ever! Vacationers for this trip included the following:

Zach & Jennifer

Tyler & Conner

Jordan & Kristin

Me & Blake

A little background information on Big Cedar Lodge: My first visit to this wonderful place was in January 2010. It snowed like crazy, but it was gorgeous and it felt like “home”. We immediately decided we needed to return for a summer visit so we could play with big toys on the lake. You should schedule your next summer lake trip or getaway to Big Cedar Lodge.

Saturday morning, we were scheduled to leave the dock on a pontoon at 11 a.m. And that we did with tube in tow! I was ready for a day on the water. We found a calm little cove and “shredded” as the boys would say. We enjoyed the water, sun, and a few beers. It was a wonderful lake day.

We spent the later part of the day getting ready and eating dinner at the Buzzard Bar. This little restaurant/bar is a very popular late night place at Big Cedar Lodge. There is live entertainment starting about 9 p.m. I would highly recommend the cowboy fries, formerly known as nacho fries. After the Zach Gray family went to bed, the rest of us decided to float the lazy river. Boy was it lazy— possibly slowest river in the United State, but very relaxing and enjoyable. Seeing that we had another full day of “shredding” to do, we decided to hit the sack.

Sunday morning, we left the doc on a 27 ft. Tahoe ski boat loaded with skis, wakeboard, and tube. We had to fight a couple seadoo riding kids for a nice cove, but we got right to the fun stuff.  The water was a little choppy, but it made for good tubing. With Jordan driving, we knew we would be in trouble. I think every time I attempted to ride, I lasted 5 minutes.  Thank you for the figure eights and tight turns, Jordan [insert sarcasm here]. However, I do not apologize for the nasty names I called you while I was skipping across the water. My arms didn’t straighten for a couple days. I was stuck in tube mode, as I like to call it. It’s been a week and I still have deep bruises on my legs. Overall, it was another fantastic day in the sun and on the lake.

As we packed to head back to Tulsa, we decided our dinner would include fried goodness and hot rolls being thrown at our heads. Good home cookin’ at Lambert’s – Home of the throwed rolls. If you travel close to Springfield, MO, you must visit this little place. Prepare to wait over an hour for a table, but it’s well worth it. The throwed rolls are HOT and delicious with butter and sorghum. They also serve unlimited  fixins’—fried okra, fried potatoes, macaroni and tomatoes and black-eyed peas—with your dinner and it’s all so scrumptious. Blake would recommend the chicken fried steak because that is all he has ever ordered the three times we’ve eaten there. I, on the other hand, have tried three different things and haven’t experienced a bad meal yet.

We arrived home about midnight and the weekend was over. I missed the lake already.

Next trip and post: Estes Park, Colorado for the Epps Family Reunion. The view of the mountains, cooler weather and being outdoors without sweating profusely was absolutely magnificent. 

delicious summer lemon pie

While flipping through the August issue of Southern Living, I found these lemon pie receipes and had to make them both right away! You can find them here and here.

Blake's grandmother used to make a lemon pie that many people in his family have the receipe too. I have never tried to replicate this pie, but after he indulged in a piece, he said it tasted very similar.

The difference between the two receipes is the ingredients. The "Your Way" pie is made with store bought items like lemon pudding, cream cheese, lemonade concentrate and a pre-made crust. The "Mama's Way" pie everything was homemade. Cracking and separating eggs, squeezing fresh lemon juice and pressing my own crust into a pan.

I squeezed this many lemons (plus another I already threw into the garbage disposal to make my kitchen smell pretty).

and I only got this much lemon juice. I suggest getting a large bag of lemons.

After starting the crust making process I realized that I didn't have a 9" pie plate the receipe called for (or any pie plate for that matter), so I opted to use a tart pan. It still turned out wonderful and golden brown.

I poured the filling into the tart pan and baked, cooled and chilled.

I devoured a piece of each pie. After all the stirring, mixing, baking and chilling, I think the "Mama's Way" (also known as Zesty Lemon Pie) is the winner! YUMMM...