Over coming my cookie trial!

I gave a talk in our church this week.  The topic was about how trials stregthen our lives.  I used an example of my little sister asking me to help her bake cupcakes, which made me realize how far I have come in Ted and I's 7 years of marriage.  The first few years were rough in terms of cooking and Ted having to choke down a lot of horrible meals and desserts.  I am still  not there in terms of cooking buy after many burnt, flat and gross final dessert products I mostly make pretty sweet treats :)

After I used this example in my talk to explain how we have to go through the hard times to appreciate and understand the good times, I realized I still HATED and was HORRIBLE at baking cookies.  It was the one thing I always avoided at all costs.  Mine are always better used as hard frisbees than used as a dessert.

So after church Ted went to work on some homework, and I did too, cookie homework!  I decided to make Ted's favorite cookie: Peanut Butter Soft Cookies.

It was scary but I did it.  I tried a Mrs. Fields copy cat version.  They turned out pretty good for the most part.  Some batches turned out a little crispy, but I think the more I try baking cookies the more I will get the hang of it.

I know each of us has some type of "cookie" challenge in our lives in terms of baking, cooking or crafts, let's all try to challenge ourselves in the next few weeks to take it on!  Here's to a few more dozen cookies coming your way!

I decided to take some to Ted's family and also to a few friends and people from our church, so I put a cute tool bow on them.

Have a great week!  Love you all!

7 years!

Monday the 24th was Ted and I's 7 year anniversary!  Does that make me old?
We had a low key night since Ted had to work till after 8.  I made dinner and we went to the hot tub and just relaxed.  Ted is taking me next weekend to The Chart House.  He is so sweet.  He is taking me there because it is across the lake from the resort we had our Arizona reception at 7 years ago.  We can look at where we were 7 years ago and have a fancy dinner.  I am just excited to be able to get dressed up and wear my red heels!

Here is a walk down memory lane:

1.24.2004

Salt Lake City, UT

17 degrees...

Wow...we were young!

Ted being tuff with his roommates.

Love this one.

First month of marriage.

First family trip with the Cross' to San Diego.

Ted's 1st (of 3) graduation!  BYU.

One graduation still to come summer of 2013.  Dr Ted!

Our first trip to the east coast

(What was I thinking with dark hair?)

In Philly.  Wow.  Not looking our best.

Last Sunday in Philly after 2.5 years.

Pictures on UPENN campus to commemorate our east coast stay.

Visiting Utah.

Ted's sister Amanda's wedding Oct 2009

(4 days post major abdominal surgery for me)

Self Portrait after her wedding

The 1st year of Amanda (Ted's sister) and Brannon's now annual Halloween Party

We went as the Amanda and Brannon...

Thanksgiving 2009 in Utah.

2010 Anniversary in Mexico.

2010 Easter.  

Our trip to Cali for Ted's interview for his Doctorate program at Pepperdine.

My first time at Sea Wolrd!  LOVED IT!

Our first week living in Cali

Our short but amazing time living in Cali.

Sept 2010 at our friends wedding.  

Congrats Kurt and Meghan!

In Boston Nov 2010 for a Brazilian wedding!

Thanksgiving 2010 in El Segundo

Dec. 2010.  My first degree!  Finally!

At my graduation party Ted through me!

This is us.  Ted in a sporty classic '66 Karmann Ghia.

I prefer a big '07 Toyota Tacoma

You really can tell a lot about a person when you look at their car :)

Best 7 years of my life!  And I don't think any couple has had as many different looks as Ted and I :)  Here's to staying active, healthy, spontaneous, and living it up!

Going Ons

Hello!  Ok here is a little update on our lives in AZ as we are starting to finally settle down (still have a ways to go though...)

Arizona Sunsets!  Clear skies!

Something I took for granted the other times we have lived in AZ

Love them!  The sky was orange right before I could take this.  GORGEOUS!  

My new shoes I got at last chance, Lola even likes them! 

Made Ted Chicken Madeira(copycat recipe from my FAVORITE restaurant: The Cheese Cake Factory...YUMM! )
It turned out pretty tasty too!

Another thing we missed about AZ: The Abney Family

Jane LOVES Ted!

This night she told me to be a baby so I was laying down and she was giving me a pretend bottle when she looked at Ted and said "this is our baby Ted," I almost fell off the couch laughing soooo hard!

My new favorite workout pants now that I can fit into them again.

Love working out 6 times a week, feel off the band wagon this week...glad the week is almost over.

Baby sat Ted's parents dogs for the weekend it was fun!  They are cute little snuggle balls.

Ted is enjoying work and doing LOTS of HW.  People ask me how I do it, but they don't realize we have been married 7 years and this is all we know!  We LOVE life!  Hope all is well with you guys!

Check out this cute blog!

I am in LOVE with the idea of this new blog!  My friend is starting this new project and has some amazing necklaces that inspire us to remember to "shine" every day!  Check it out!

Read the most recent post...you might recognize someone in it!  :)

The Shine Project:
http://ashlemieux.blogspot.com/

Safari Cake~!

My good friend (who is also Ted's cousin's wife) Lindsey asked me to help her make some cupcakes and a little cake for her nephew's 1st bday!  It was a lot of fun.  Lindsey and I baked a lot of cake on Friday and then Linds, her sister, and I decorated cake on Saturday.  They had never decorated with fondant before but you couldn't tell they are naturals.  It was fun to teach them and also fun to hear creative new ideas.

Here is the process:

Red Velvet, Chocolate, and Vanilla!

55+ cupcakes and a two layer cake

Linds just covered her first cake with fondant!

She did good!

Emily scared but doing good!

Making the cute little Safari animals

Lots of little details

LOTS of Buttercream icing, some of the cupcakes had cream cheese frosting too!

Close up of the finished product.  

2011~!

2011 is here!  And it is bringing sooo many new and exciting adventures with it!

Ted made his first trip back to California to start his distance program to finish his Doctorate in Organizational Leadership.  He had some intense schooling!  3 days of 13 hours of classes, and the last day only 8 hours....But don't feel too bad for him, he was on the Pepperdine Malibu Campus, here is a picture he sent me from one of his breaks on a balcony near his class room:

While Ted was gone I was able to unpack the house and get everything save the office organized and done, pictures to come of that.

This past Monday January 10th Ted started his new job!  Full time faculty at Grand Canyon University.  It is a for-profit non-denominational Christian University.  Somewhere Ted could work forever....meaning we could be in AZ forever!  

The only move we have left is once we buy a house we will move one last time!  I am a big fan of even numbers...that would bring our move to 14!

This year also brings the possibilities of new little ones in our family :)  We are going to work the next few months to get certified to adopt.  We have to transfer over the application from California so it could take awhile, but our goal is to be on the list and waiting for our first little one by the end of the year. 

We are excited for this year!  I will be 27, Ted 31 and our little Lola will turn 5!

Have a Happy Healthy Year!  

New Photography Blog - Life Images

Hello!  Yes that is right, as many of you know I have always loved photography and have taken many of your family photos.  But NOW that I have graduated I am going to get more serious!  I am very passionate about photography and also passionate about families and the comfort they are in the storm of life.

http://creatinglifeimages.blogspot.com/

I am really excited to give people photographs to bring up old memories in years to come.

Call or email me for more info!