+ Valentine's Day +

He gave me flowers and chocolate, I made him pizza and Strawberry Shortcake. It was a good day.

Samoas cupcakes

Uhh...does this not look like the best idea anyone has ever had?! Samoas in cupcake form. Brilliant! 

You can find the recipe here.

I need to make these someday. Someday when my oven decides it wants to be my friend.

4 years ~ man time flies!

Four years ago today I packed up my car with what I could fit in it, and drove up to Washington. I had NO idea what to expect, NO idea what was in store for me, NO idea what the heck I was doing, and NO idea that this place would become my home. I look back and wonder what in the world I was thinking leaving my jobs that I loved, my friends, my family, my whole life. All of that to move to a place I had never been to, a place I didn't know a single person, I didn't even know the family that I would be living with and nannying for. But for some reason when I got that phone call and she asked me if I could be up in two weeks I immediately said YES! No hesitation at all. It just felt completely right and good. I gave my two weeks notice to my employers, packed my car up, and headed off to my new adventure. (which I swore wouldn't last longer than 6 months.)

As I sit here and think about if that call had never come, if I never would have put the add up on that nanny website 6 months prior (that I had totally forgot about), if those things wouldn't have happened, I wouldn't have this life that I have now. This life with Erich. It kind of makes me sick to my stomach a little to think about. Yes, my life was good in St. George. And I'm sure my life would have turned out just fine and dandy if I would have stayed there. But where I am right now, in our cute little one bedroom apartment that we are quickly outgrowing, is exactly where I'm suppose to be. I can't even begin to thank my Heavenly Father enough. Everything worked out so perfectly and just fit together so nicely. Not only to get me up here, but to make sure I stayed long enough to meet Erich. It all happened because the big man upstairs was pulling all the strings. And for that I am forever grateful!

Rattlesnake Lake

{January 29th}

I was going to attempt to go hiking while Erich had to work this weekend. It was pretty miserable outside but I wanted to go anyway. Erich, being the prepardness freak that he is, stuffed my backpack full of extra jackets, a first aid kit, a survival kit, food, a heat wrap thing, a giant knife, pepper spray, a fire starter kit, and I think that's about it. (I'm kinda glad he's like that because I'm more of a wing-it kind of person) He'll probably end up saving my life one day. :) I got up to the start of the hike and by then it was POURING. A lot! I decided it probably wasn't the smartest idea to go ahead with the hike so I just walked along the lake and got soaking wet instead. It was beautiful and peaceful. Just me and the ducks.

Vitamix

We bought a Vitamix a couple months ago and I just have to say that I love it!! Yes, it is a little pricey, but the benefits way outweigh that. I highly recommend anyone and everyone to get one. I have been using it to make fresh fruit smoothies every morning for breakfast. Fresh soups, vegetable drinks, salsas, etc. I've been really concerned lately with all the crap that is in processed and prepackaged foods, and all of the pesticides that are on our fruits and vegetables. I've really been trying to focusing lately on the importance of eating unprocessed foods and fresh, organic fruits and vegetables as much as we can. I want to make sure that I am taking responsibility and feeding my family good, healthy foods, especially once we have kids. (I'm excited to make fresh baby foods in it!) I just think it's really important to be conscious of what we are putting into our bodies. I feel like I have been really out of touch with just how important it really is. I want to make sure that my family and I are healthy and strong for all the years ahead of us!

Broken : (

Erich broke his ankle on Monday while he was playing basketball. He was running down the court and as he jumped up to shoot, he launched off a fellow players foot instead of the ground and it snapped sideways. He has had plenty of bad sprains before but he could feel that this was different so he decided to go into the doctor the next morning to get it checked out. Turns out he broke a piece of his fibula bone off at the bottom. He doesn't need a cast but he needs to wear a boot for the next 4 to 6 weeks.

He came home and felt so bad because we had our trip all planned for California this weekend. He tried to tell me he'd be fine to still go but I decided the best thing would be to postpone the trip since we had a packed schedule full of amusement parks, hikes, and basically 5 days of go go go. Even though it's his personality to always be so optimistic, I knew that it would not end up being fun for him. He would be miserable and in pain the whole time. So even though it's going to cost a bit to move everything, I think it's definitely the right choice. And while I'm glad he's okay and thankful that it wasn't worse, I was sooo looking forward to that sunshine and 70 degree weather. Bummer! : (

A new year

Well here it is, a brand new year. 2010 was so good to us. So many good times and great opportunies. We have been blessed with so much this year. I feel really lucky and am so excited for what 2011 has in store for us. We have a lot of fun things planned so it's bound to be a great year!

 There are quite a few things I want to accomplish this year, or at least start. I need to start being more productive with my time, especially since I have lots of it with Erich either at work or school all the time.

Here are some of my goals for 2011:

Read at least one book every month

Train to run the Seattle marathon

Learn how to crochet better

Loose some weight (Why does this ALWAYS have to be a goal??:)

Start learning the piano

Read and pray EVERY day

Ride the Seattle to Portland bike race
Start my Spanish speaking videos
Complete a sewing project every month

Read the Book of Mormon by the end of the year

I hope that I'll be able to look back at the end of 2011 and say that I had a year filled with growth, learning, and adventure. It's going to be a great year!!