Spontaneous Trip Home

Hannah and I flew home to California to visit my family for 5 days. We left the 16th, which was the day after my birthday (I am now 1 quarter of a century. Wow). My little brother David was on a break from school, so he was home too. It was fun to spend time with my family.

Mom and David picked us up from the airport and then we ate some yummy Japanese food. There was this cute store next to the restaurant, so we went in and my mom bought me some cute necklaces, bracelets, and a sweater. (Jake broke my favorite bracelet so she was trying to replace it.) Yay for shopping. When we got home my nieces were there waiting to play. They stayed the night with us and we definitely played hard.

On Saturday I went out to lunch with my good friend Melissa while Hannah was napping. She is getting married in a week so not only were we catching up on each other's lives but we were discussing fun wedding plans. I am so excited for her.

Sunday we went to church and then Hannah and I met Melissa and her fiancé at Bidwell Park to play and chat. Later that evening David's cute girlfriend Alaina came over and we made funnel cakes. It was yummy.

On Monday David flew back to Rexburg for school. Punk. Hannah and I had the house to ourselves. We went out to dinner that night at the BEST steak restaurant in town, 5th Street Steakhouse. After dinner Hannah and I stopped by my brother Justin's house to see his family one more time before we left.

Tuesday we just hung out at home and then went out to dinner. The next morning we drove to the airport and said goodbye to Grandma. Hannah had a hard time saying bye to Grandma. They love each other a lot. But we will see them again soon. Thanks for the fun and relaxing trip Grandma and Grandpa!

Hannah with her cousin's Emma and Elissa

Hannah didn't feel very photogenic

Mommy and Hannah in front of the beautiful flowers at my parents house

"Look mom, a stick!"

Dan and Melissa with Hannah at the park

David and Hannah saying goodbye for now


Hannah eating a yummy lunch. She loved her first corn dog.

Grandma and Grandpa playing with Hannah after dinner

She loves eating with silverware and is getting pretty good at it

The CUTEST smile ever

Mommy and Hannah

Grandma and Hannah before heading to the airport

Car ride home from the airport. You can tell she was excited to see daddy again.

Recipe for Thai Lovers

My friend Ashley bought an amazing Asian cookbook and she let me go through and find some recipes to try. This one is a keeper. Jake loved it and started thinking of people we could make it for.

Stir-Fried Chicken with Holy Basil (Pad Kaprao Gai)

1/3 C Vegetable Oil
1/3 C chopped Garlic (I used less because that seemed like a lot and I'm not a huge garlic fan)
4 t chopped fresh Thai bird chiles (My hubs has a sensitive tongue so I didn't use any, it still tasted great)
14 oz minced chicken
2 T fish sauce
2 T soy sauce
1 C green beans cut in half and blanched
1 C Holy/Thai basil leaves (I used regular fresh basil)
4 eggs
1 qt steamed rice

1. Heat 2 T of veg oil in a wok or medium saucepan over high heat. Stir-fry the garlic and chiles until the chiles turn yellow, 1-2 mins.
2. Add the chicken to the wok and stir-fry until cooked, about 2 mins.
3. Remove the wok from the heat and season the chicken with the fish sauce and soy sauce.
4. Add the green beans to the mixture and stir in the holy basil leaves. Reserve warm.
5. Heat a small sauté pan over medium heat and add 2 T of oil. Once the oil is hot, add the eggs to the pan and fry until the whites are cooked through but the yolks are still runny, 2-3 mins.
6. Place the stir-fried chicken with the holy basil and fried egg on top of the steamed rice. (Serves 4)

Sooooo yummy.

Last night I made this with Indian flat bread (Naan).


4 C & 3/4 C all-purpose flour
1 1/2 t salt
1 1/2 t sugar
1 egg
1/4 C milk
1/4 C plain yogurt
2 T melted butter or veg oil
3/4 t yeast
1-1 1/4 C warm water

1. Mix all ingredients except water in bowl.
2. Gradually add water and knead until smooth, soft dough is achieved, about 10 mins.
3. Set aside for about 6 hours in warm place.
4. Make tennis ball-sized pieces of dough, and place balls in warm place until they rise again, about 1 hr.
5. Preheat oven to 475.
6. Flatten each dough ball and spread it with a rolling pin or by hand by tossing and slapping with both hands. Gently stretch each piece of dough into a round 7 inches in diameter, so that the center is 1/4 inch thick and there is a border 1/2 inch wide all around.
7. Place bread onto parchment paper-lined sheet pan and brush with a little butter.
8. Place the naans in the oven until golden brown and puffed, 4-5 mins.
9. Garnish with butter. (Make's 8)

For breakfast this morning I took one of the Naan's and melted butter on it and sprinkled it with cinnamon and sugar. Wow.

Family Vacation

3 weeks from today we will be flying to California where we will stay in these lovely beach-side villas:

And swim in this scenic pool:

So that we can enjoy 3 days at the Happiest Place On Earth:

As well as a day here:

A day here:

And a day here:


We are going to Southern California on a week long vacation with Jake's family. Can you tell that I am excited? We have been planning this vacation for about a year. The only reason we are able to go is because all we have to pay for is most of our food and half of a rental van. Did I mention that Jake and I have wonderful families who are extremely generous? Cuz we do.

Happy Easter!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Easter. I am so grateful for my Savior and this holiday we have to celebrate Him and His victory over death. Since Easter Sunday was General Conference, Hannah wore her Easter dress to church last week. She looked beautiful in the dress Grandma Geri bought her.

On Easter Sunday Hannah woke up to Easter egg's all over the floor, an Easter basket full of goodies, and a new toy (pictured below). What a spoiled little girl :-)

Growing Up

Today was the first time ever that I put Hannah down for her nap without nursing her first. She went to sleep without a fuss. She seems to be more ready for this than I am. I have a feeling that weaning is more for us moms because apparently she is fine without it. What happened to my baby???

Reading Binge

I was never much of a reader until September of 2007, when I was first introduced to the Twilight series. I was surprised when I read the whole series in a week. These days, reading is one of my favorite things to do. These are the books I've read over the last 6 weeks.











My favorite of these books would have to be the Mortal Instruments Series (City of Bones, Ashes, and Glass). I couldn't put them down. My husband kept complaining that all I did was read. I knew I was obsessed, but I couldn't stop reading. It was like being in the middle of a really great movie and being asked to stop it and take a break. No one wants to pause a great movie. I would highly recommend that series for anyone interested in a great read. The Hunger Games and Catching Fire were very good. A little violent, but a great story. I'm excited for the 3rd book in the series to come out in August. The Dark Divine and Hourglass Door were also very fun reads. I'm excited about their sequels coming out within the next year, soooo excited. The Other Queen was OK. I've never read a historical fiction before, so it was fun to read about people that really existed. Dear John was sad. I think I liked the movie better. If you haven't seen Dear John, you should. Great movie. The ending is better in the movie, the book just leaves you all depressed. The soundtrack is also a must. Awesome music.

And that is Gretchen's book review. Up next in my reading list is the Constant Princess, The Last Song, and Rough Stone Rolling. Any suggestions that I should add to the list?

Prayer

On Sunday Hannah showed us just how much she is learning through observation. She was sitting on my lap during Sacrament and as the prayer started (without being told to) she folded her arms, bowed her head, and stayed that way until the prayer was over. What a sweet little angel. Jake and I couldn't believe what we were witnessing. She knew through example how to be reverent for a prayer. We feel so blessed to have this amazing little girl in our lives.