Ava's First Birthday!

I can't believe how fast time goes! Ava just turned 1 yesterday and I know it sounds cliche but it seems like just the other day she was still a little baby. Now she's a little person. We love her so much and enjoy her fun, happy personality. We went to Chuck E. Cheese for her birthday because she is just now starting to really enjoy rides. She's also always enjoyed food. She quickly ate two slices of pizza, drank a full 20oz. cup of lemonade (I let her have it almost full strength since it was her birthday and boy could she tell the difference), and polished off 2 cupcakes in about a minute. And she still wanted more!

Monthly Recipe

I've made pretty good friends with one of my neighbors out here and we have started a little recipe sharing. Her husband loves to cook (but doesn't bake much) so when I started bringing them cookies and such, he would bring me over part of whatever gourmet dinner he was preparing that evening. It's been pretty fun to show off our favorite recipees to each other. Beau and Brittney don't mind the yummy food either. Anyways, it gave me the idea to put some of my fave recipes on my blog so I'll put one on every month or so over on the right side of my blog. Let me know if you try any and Enjoy! Just to clarify, these are not MY recipees (I'm not that creative). Just favorite ones that I have found and tweeked a little.

Half Way There!

So, you all may remember back in February I set a goal to run a 10K. This past weekend I ran my first 5K. It was harder than I thought because I've run further than 3 miles on my treadmill, I pushed myself harder without realizing it while I ran the race. Towards the end I was pretty tired. Sad, after only 3 miles, I know. It was cool though because I got to do it in D.C and run past the Capitol, the Washington Memorial, Supreme Court, etc. I finished in 27:25 not too fast compared to all the good runners there, but almost 3 mins better than I'd done at home.

Thought I'd also post a picture of the real reason we went to D.C. To visit the temple! It was so nice to be able to go since it's been a few months. Beau and I had to take turns watching the kids (we've taken near-by temples for granted). We also had a little bit of time to visit a couple museums. We went to the Museum of Natural History and the Air and Space Museum. CROWDED but awesome!

I Have a Husband Again!!

Beau just finished his difficult semester (we've been told it is by far the hardest of the two-year program)! The past 5 days have been awesome, he comes home earlier, doesn't have to study nearly as much when he is home and may not even have to study on Saturdays!! HUGE improvement. The semester went by pretty fast and he did great of course! I admire him for how well he's doing and for all of his hard work in providing a good future for our family. In short, I just love the guy and I love having him home! By the way.... we are 1/3 of the way done! It's hard for me to believe. I guess time flies when you are stressed out and lonely!

I'm Pathetic!

DO NOT READ THE COMMENTS ON THIS POST UNTIL YOU HAVE FINISHED "THE HOST!!" BUT HURRY AND READ THE BOOK SO YOU CAN RESPOND. PLEASE!!
Ok. Let me start by making excuses for myself. Beau's hardest semester of his whole program ends today and we are going on a little weekend vacation to D.C. I'm so excited to spend time with him and I didn't want to be only part of the way through my book. So, I finished it last night! I stayed up till 1am. Kailee woke up at 6am and went back to bed, but I couldn't. I stayed awake just THINKING. I love Stephenie Meyer's books but she just makes me feel so dang involved that I obsess when I'm done. Am I the only one that reacts this way? I hope not! Please make me feel better! Anyone.... Help!! Beau is laughing at me right now as he just read this over my shoulder. (update: Beau read the book now too and is not laughing anymore cuz he got into it too!)
Ok, again, now don't read my comment unless you have finished the book, so I don't spoil it!
*P.S. sorry about so many comments (most of them are mine) I figured I'd just work through my frustration all on this post so that it wouldn't look like all of my blogs were about this book!

Yuuummm....

I have In-n-Out in California, and Cafe Rio in Utah, and now when we move from Pennsylvania, I’m gonna miss The Meadows. They have the best frozen custard ever! The girls like it too. I think it may be at least a weekly trip this summer. What does this post say about me? I may love food a little too much.