I Stink at Baking

Over the last six months or so I have taken it upon myself to learn how to bake. I have learned something quite valuable...I can't. I have been very vocal about this information to my patient and loving husband. For my birthday, Stephen gave me a gift that not many husbands would have the guts to get their wives. He purchased me a book entitled, "Baking for Dummies" and I LOVE it!!! It has been extremely helpful, however, has not changed my skills.

Last night I tried, yet another, baking endeavor. Stephen's love of brownies and my love of cream cheese sent me towards a recipe in my "Baking for Dummies" book entitled, "Black and White Brownies". They had a TON of cream cheese.

I followed the recipe to a T. I am not kidding. When the recipe said to beat, I used my beaters. When the recipe said to stir, I put away the beaters and used my plastic spoon. I leveled all of my ingredients to an exact measurement. I felt for sure this would be the time I would succeed.

The recipe called for a 9" pan. I scoured my kitchen and came up empty handed. The closest I came was a 7.5"x10" glass pan. Stephen and I figured that would be very close to the same measurements as the alternative, so we put the ingredients into the pan and put it in the oven for the allotted amount of time.

Forty-five minutes into the sixty minute time allotment I started to smell the, "Oh crap, it's burning" smell.

Stephen and I ran to the oven and opened it up.

Our brownies looked like a volcano with batter running down all sides and falling to the floor of the oven.

Stephen put a cookie sheet under the pan to catch any other left overs. We decided to let it finish its time as it was still extremely gooey.

Two minutes after we sat down from checking the brownies, Stephen glanced back at the oven and exclaimed, "Kami! It's on fire!"

I looked at the oven and couldn't see anything. I figured Stephen was making a joke, but he raced over and opened the oven. The element on the bottom had brownie goo encased around it and was aflame. GGGGRRRRRRRR!!! Getting the fire under control we again sat down to wait out the remaining time.

When the timer finished I pulled out the brownies. They were totally gooey in the middle and perfect on the outside. AAAHHHHH!!!!! I flipped through my baking for dummies book hoping to find an answer. This is what I read, "If you use a glass pan rather than a metal, remember to reduce the baking temperature by 25 degrees...Always use the correct pan size. If you substitute a larger pan, your brownies will be too thin and may dry out when you bake them. If the pan is too small, it will take a much longer time to bake, and the inside may still be raw when the outside is done cooking." OR THEY COULD BECOME LIVE VOLCANOS AND SPIT HOT BOILING BROWNIE BATTER ALL OVER YOUR OVEN!!! (They forgot to add that part.)

I pointed this section of the book out to Stephen. He began to laugh...and then seeing my frustration he said with indignation, "Why wasn't that written on the same page as the recipe!"

Thank you Stephen for being such a great support...and to the writers of "Baking for Dummies", you should make your book more dummy proof for people like me.

Fourth of Julio

Belated, I know.

This year since the Fourth of July was on a Sunday it felt like we had three days of a holiday...it was great! On Saturday we had a BBQ with a couple in our ward. Good food. Anytime I can get good food! :)

On Sunday night we went with Morgan and Jess to Ann Morrison park to watch the fireworks. I love fireworks. Every time I watch them I feel like a little kid watching something for the very first time. It kind of makes me think of that part on the Sandlot. Thank you for fireworks!

Monday we went to Dierkes Lake with some of my family and went cliff jumping. I have some seriously sweet footage of Stephen cliff jumping. Lots of other crazy things too...just watch.

I get a kick out of this one too. It's Karli...

After Dierkes, Stephen and I stopped at Shoshone Falls. That is really a beautiful waterfall. Check out Stephen's cool pix!

Sometimes I forget that I look abnormal

Yesterday I went to the bank. I was the only one there besides the workers. When I walked in everyone stared at me. I asked, "What are you guys staring at...is it because I'm the only one here?"

Reply from lead teller,"...No...you're really pregnant."

I just laughed. I ended up going and getting my stuff done with the lead teller. He was really funny...and brutally honest.

After the bank I went to the grocery store. Because I am pregnant, I have to use the restroom EVERYWHERE I go. As soon as I walked in the door a little three-year-old girl just kept looking at me. She watched me walk from one side of the store to the other, where the restroom was located.

As I was walking out of the restroom, the little girl with her mother, was entering the restroom. Again she stared until she physically couldn't look at me any longer.

Honestly I thought, "I wonder what she is looking at?" Then two seconds later it dawned on me that I was super-pregnant. Again I say, sometimes I forget that I look abnormal.

Date Night

Last Friday, Stephen and I had the funnest date night ever...WE GOT TO GO SEE BRIAN REGAN!!!! About five months ago Stephen called me at work to ask if we could get tickets with a few of his co-workers. I was a little iffy, but I knew that Stephen really wanted to go, so we bought the tickets and Stephen counted down the days.

On the appointed night we went to Ono Hawaiian Cafe with three of Stephen's co-workers and their wives. We ate amazing food and then ran to the Morrison Center for our evening full of laughs...

I really had no expectations going into the comedy routine. I had been to a few comedy clubs, but they only mildly funny. Brian's brother opened for him and he was SO funny. As his brother walked out I knew that we were in for it. Brian Regan was SO FUNNY! I was crying and laughing almost the whole time. My mouth was making noises that were not normal because my side hurt so much from laughing! Highly recommend going to see Brian Regan.

Father's Day

I know, I am a little behind, but at least I am catching up.

This is Stephen's first Father's Day with a little one...kind of, but we still had to celebrate! It took me a long time to figure out what I should get for him. This is what I finally came up with:

Stephen LOVES basketball and one thing that he really wants is for his kids to love it too.

I gave Stephen this book with a little message that read, "Here is something to help begin the brain washing process." This book is about a little girl whose Dad gets her a basketball. Her dream is to be the best basketball player in the world. It really is a cute little story. Hopefully our little one will like it as much as Stephen.

....And now for MY dad!

This year Stephen and I drove down to see my Dad on Father's Day. It was a very quick trip, but it was really great to see my Dad show him how much I love him.

I had told Mom that we were coming, but not my Dad. We got to the farm at 3:30 and Dad was out checking water. We sat and talked to Mom and Karli and Grandma until we saw Dad's motorcycle coming up the driveway. Stephen and I hid in the closet and when Dad got to the house Karli told Dad that his present was in his closet. When he opened the door we scared the tar out of him. It was really funny to see him startle and then realize who we were.

Thanks for letting us spend the afternoon with you Dad! You really are the greatest. I've really been blessed to have you as my Dad. Thank you for your love and support and advice. I know that you are supposed to be my dad.

Mom...I'm sorry we didn't come see you on Mother's Day! I didn't forget about you. You are one of my best friends and confidants. Thank you for your shoulder to cry on and your dependability. I couldn't have picked a more perfect mom for me than you.

It's Stephen's Birfday!

Stephen turned 27 last Friday. He will be older than me for six days. Six days that I totally take advantage of...he he he. I love that man!

Here is my shout out to the perfect man...MINE! Thank you Stephen for marrying me and letting me be your forever birthday planner. If you think things are great now, it will only get better, I promise! I LOVE YOU!!!!

Gas is cheaper in McCall...

Who'da thunk!?

This last weekend we went to McCall with Stephen's family. It was great to go and have absolutely no responsibilities. Here are some pix from our adventure!

Thanks for the fun y'all!!

Before & After

Stephen and I have numerous projects that we want to get done this summer. We can finally check one of those items off of our list.

Ever since we moved into our house 2 years ago we have been going back and forth on what to do with our side yard. That thing has been riddled with weeds and finally got a face lift. We started working on it about a month ago. Here are the beautiful before and after pictures.

Yes...those really are ALL weeds. It took us three separate days to get those out. It was freezing cold every time we went out there.

Doesn't it look amazing! My hubby does good work. Thanks Shane for all your help!

Poster Girl for Preggo

Here are the results. We actually took these on Memorial Day, so I was 29 weeks and three days OR six months along. Time is really flying by. I can't believe that it is getting so close to our due date!

Where is Baby?!

We have the coolest neighbors! We actually haven't seen them since we went over to visit during Christmas, so they just found out that we are pregnant. They have a little boy, Michael, who just turned two and is quite curious.

Jalene, Michael's mom, began to explain to him that I had a baby in my belly. Michael looked very confused. Jalene continued to explain the baby and then turned to me and said, "This is the first time that I have had this conversation with him. He's never seen anyone pregnant before." Jalene put her hand to my belly and said that Michael could touch the baby.

Michael slowly put his hand to my belly and then pulled it away, still staring at my stomach. After staring for a few moments he reached his hand to the bottom of my shirt with the attempt to lift it up and look for the baby underneath. I stopped him just before he lifted my shirt and started to laugh. He thought the baby was under my shirt! Little kids think so literally!

Kids "do" the darnedest things...