I have never really liked to cook or bake. (I have liked baking a bit more because I love sweets!) I do love to eat, but I had the attitude that there was no time to spend cooking, it took too long. Well, it's been really fun being married and having someone to cook/bake with! I think that was my problem, I LOVE being with people and cooking was lonely. Adam and I decided to try to bake this incredible dessert that we tasted at a party my mom had. It is an Australian dessert named after a Russian princess....Pavlova. It is divine! We thought it looked hard to make, but we didn't anticipate trying it out 4 times. The first attempt just stayed in liquid form. We did everything wrong that you could while making meringue..we fished out egg shell with our fingers, we used a plastic bowl, a drop of egg yolk was in the egg whites, the egg whites were cold. After reading how to do it, we were laughing so hard because we checked off everything on the list that you shouldn't do!
Here is our 3rd try...at 2 o'clock in the morning

Ahh..the finished product. It was worth coating the entire kitchen in sugar, going through 36 eggs, and doing lots of research about meringue!

Friday's Fabulous Five!

1- Hooray for no work today! I took a day off and loved, loved, loved being home with Caroline and Adam. We baked a very difficult dessert that took more than one try, we went to Discovery Gateway with Adam's sister, Erin, and her family, and now we have a surprise party. I enjoy eventful days.
2- Adam and I just finished watching the Anne of Green Gables movies. He checked them out for me at the library. I have always loved them and I forgot how the tears just flow when I watch them!
3- I am grateful for my physical and mental health. My eyes have been opened to all of the pain and heartache that problems with these two things bring. Working with the population that I do makes me realize how blessed I am. A lot of these people come from such chaotic childhood's, many with no intact family. Some have had stable lives, and then something tragic hits and they are suffering immensely. They come and pour their heart out to me and I have become very good at holding back the tears. In the past, I have been very ignorant regarding mental illness and I am glad that I can be more empathetic towards those that suffer.
4- Caroline is now just breaking into song. Yesterday she sang "Twinkle, twinkle little star". She just started singing it and didn't stop. We didn't know she knew the entire thing without help! Another thing that melted my heart was we sang her a bedtime song and then she folded her arms and said "Prayer". Then she said quietly "Heavenly Father....good day..." and then paused for help. Oh, I hope we have a billion!
5- I love peonies! They are beautiful and grow in so many colors. I was excited to find some fake ones that really add some pizazz to our home so we can enjoy them year round!

Our latest excursion up the canyon with my sister Erika.



Liam and Caroline enjoying the zoo last week. Couldn't you just eat them up!?

And speaking of zoos, these are some pictures from way back in Nov. when we were in Colorado Springs. I just love how close they are to the giraffes!

Friday's Fabulous Five!

I know Friday has passed, but I have had some requests to bring back the weekly fab five, I've been slacking.
1- As I said previously, SPRING is HERE!! I feel like so many opportunities for fun have just opened up....blowing bubbles, the zoo, swimming (not quite yet :) , walks, sidewalk chalk, flying kites, hiking, laying on the hammock, swinging at the park, yard work, sitting on grass...ok I am very excited to do all of this with Adam and Caroline.
2- We survived that LONG week without Adam. Thanks mom and dad for letting us stay with you and for all of the delicious meals! Also, thanks Gae for checking up on how Caroline and I were doing!
3- It was Emily's (Adam's sister) birthday last week! Happy Happy Birthday! She is one of the funniest and most talented people I know. She LOVES kids and is always right there with Caroline and the nephews. We love you!
4- We went up the canyon last week and played in the snow one last time. It was also great because my sister, Erika, came with us. It was sunny, gorgeous, and Caroline couldn't get enough of that delicious snow.
5- We continue to await our fate of where we will be going to law school in the fall. Adam has been so patient waiting for responses. I love the anticipation of all this, and I can't wait for an adventure, wherever it may be!

Spring is here!...and look who's excited!

The warm weather has not only had me so excited, but also little Caroline. This captures some of her excitement perfectly. I wish I would have had the video camera at my parent's home last week. She was playing outside with her cousins, Uncle Clark, and Daddy and she stretched her arms out to the side, threw her head back and repeatedly proclaimed, "Ahhhh!" then pause, "Ahhhh!" She did it over and over exclaiming her excitement to be outside in the warm weather.

A trek with Caroline!

On Valentine's night we took Caroline snowshoeing for the first time. She absolutely loved it. If we stopped for a rest, she would say "walk, walk, walk" until we started going again. There was nobody around and there was fresh powder to trek through, it was incredible. We can't wait to go again!