Anniversary!

Last Wednesday was our 4th Anniversary! And I am still in awe with how time flies! It's funny how it doesn't seem like all that long ago since Eric and I started dating and yet it feels like I have known him forever! How is that possible?

cutting our wedding cake

Walking out of the temple together

Eric and I met at the Institute of Religion at Palomar. He was up in Utah the semester I enrolled to Palomar and while he was gone I made friends with his friends. So naturally when he came back he asked me out, "to get to know me better". Needless to say, we connected immediately! It was very obvious to the both of us, within a couple months, that we were going to get married. We both felt that neither one of us had dated anyone so easy to get along with, who had similar priorities, tastes, and interests. We both prayed about our relationship and knew that there was no point in waiting to get married. So Vuala! Four years (and 2 kids) later, our love for each other has only magnified. We are very happily married!!

on our honeymoon

To celebrate our Anniversary we both decided that we would drop off the girls at my moms and spend the day at Six Flags! I have been dying to go there for about 3 years, but haven't been able to go because I was either pregnant or injured (both of which happen quite often to me!!! hmmm....) We were all ready and excited to go until Wednesday night when both of us began to get "that feeling". We pushed it to the back of our minds but eventually when neither one of us was able to sleep, we decided to talk about it! I was really scared to mention it to Eric because, 1, I didn't want to miss out on Six Flags just for some "mom" feeling and 2, because I thought that he might think I was being silly or something. But as soon as I said something, he told me that he was feeling the same way and that he didn't want to say anything because he knew how set I was on going. Knowing that we both felt that way, we knew it would be really dumb to ignore it. So we came up with plan B. We decided that we would drop off the kids for the day at my moms and just go the beach! And let me tell you, I haven't had more fun in my life! I am sooo glad we decided to do that instead. It was soo much better than standing in line for 2 hours for a minute and a half ride! Too bad I forgot the camera!

But nonetheless, Here is how our day went:
The girls woke up at 9!!! Normally they only sleep til 7, so we figure it was their Anniversary present to us! On the way down to my parents we stopped by Smoothie King for breakfast ( I of course ordered my fav: Caribbean Way, but the girls ended up drinking most of it, so Eric shared his with me!) After we dropped off the girls, we headed to La Jolla Shores but found it difficult to find parking so we decided to go out to Islands for lunch instead! Eric ordered his favorite, the Kilauea Burger, and I ordered Buffalo Wings, which I have been craving for forever! (...And just because I'm craving something does not mean I'm pregnant! ....I know some of you were thinking it!) Then we went to The World Market and just browsed. ( I could buy everything in that store, but I resisted) We were actually looking for a present for a friend. Then we went to Deseret Books to buy a Willow Tree figurine!. (Every year on our Anniversary Eric and I pick out a "Willow Tree" carving. We bought one on our honeymoon and that started the tradition. We are determined to someday to be married for more years than they have figurines! collecting figurines may seem silly but it holds a great deal of importance to us because it symbolizes not only the years that we have been married but what happens along the way! )

This is the one we bought this year: "Our gift"

These are the other "Willow Trees" we have gotten over the years starting with the one we got on our honeymoon in order all the way to our 4th year together!!!






After that we went back to La Jolla Shores and sure enough our patience payed off. We ended up getting a spot right next to the beach! So we set up our stuff, played frizbee for a while and then set off for the waves! The waves were Huge!!!! They were literally crashing over our heads! It was great! I haven't gone boogy boarding for such a long time! We played in the water for a long time swimming, splashing, and catching waves. It really took me back to the days when we were dating! When it was just us! When we were finally beat from the waves, we laid down and napped under our umbrella for a while. When we woke up we decided, what the heck, lets go to Seaport Village. So off we went! On our way, we passed a street fair. So we parked at Seaport Village, got some Ben and Jerry's ( to validate our parking ) and walked over to the street fair, ice creams in hand! There were many "interesting" people and things at the street fair, but nothing really worth buying for twice its value, so we walked back to the village and continued to look for our friends particular present! And after wondering around for awhile we finally found it! YAY!!! We walked inside a lot of different shops, but my favorite was the Wooden Toy Store! They have so many little Knick Knacks that I know my kids would get a kick out of. I love toys! We were kinda tired and sat down on the bench for awhile and talked as the sun began to go down. As we watched a little toddler with curly hair run around (with her mom chasing close behind), we began to miss our girls and decided that it was time to head back. After all ,we were still really full from lunch! So hand in hand we walked back to our car and drove to my parents only to find two, tired but happy little girls wearing T-shirts that went down to their ankles for PJ's! Both were very happy to see us! On the way home, Evey feel asleep and Lucy sung I Am a Child of God quietly to herself over and over again. And as I listened to her sing, I felt overwhelmed and so blessed to have such a wonderful family.

The day I chose to married Eric I began a new chapter in my life and I have never been happier!!!

Cinnamon Rolls

Due to popular demand... The Cinnamon Roll recipe!!! But prepare yourself for a ton of butter and sugar...YUM!!!

Ingredients

• 1 (1/4 ounce) package dry yeast
• 1 cup warm milk
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/3 cup margarine
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 eggs
• 4 cups flour

FILLING ( I double this)

• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 2 1/2 tablespoons cinnamon
• 1/3 cup margarine, softened

ICING (I double this too)

• 8 tablespoons margarine
• 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
• 1/4 cup cream cheese
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/8 teaspoon salt

1. For the rolls, dissolve the yeast in the warm milk in a large bowl.

2. Add sugar, margarine salt, eggs, and flour, mix well.

3. Knead the dough into a large ball, using your hands dusted lightly with flour.

4. Put in a bowl, cover and let rise in a warm place about 1 hour or until the dough has doubled in size.

5. Roll the dought out on a lightly floured surface, until it is approx 21 inches long by 16 inches wide.

6. It should be approx 1/4 thick.

7. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

8. To make filling, combine the brown sugar and cinnamon in a bowl.

9. Spread the softened margarine over the surface of the dough, then sprinkle the brown sugar and cinnamon evenly over the surface.

10. Working carefully, from the long edge, roll the dough down to the bottom edge.

11. Cut the dough into 1 3/4 inch slices, and place in a lightly greased baking pan.

12. Bake for 10 minutes or until light golden brown.

13. While the rolls are baking combine the icing ingredients.

14. Beat well with an electric mixer until fluffy.

15. When the rolls are done, spread generously with icing

Nutrition Facts
1 Cinnamon Roll =

517 calories!
Calories from fat 192
Total Fat 21.4g
Total Carbs 75.6g
Dietary Fiber 2.0g
Sugars 40.9g

( I Warned Ya!!)

On a Roll !!!

I have been soo busy lately with my little "mini projects" (as Eric calls them), that I haven't really had much time for blogging. One of my more recent projects... Jamming!

My grandparents who live in Escondido have 2 acres of land full of fruit trees and a huge veggie garden. Plums, Peaches, Apples, Nectarines, Apricots, Oranges, Grapefruit, Tangerines, Lemons, Corn, Carrots, Eggplant, Zucchini, Onions, Pumpkins... OK, you get the point!!! Basically, you name it, they've got it! So when ever the crop comes in Eric and I go over to help harvest. We are so fortunate to have them so close. We hardly ever have to buy produce!(The picture above is one of our many bowls that were full of plums)
So about a month ago my grandma taught me how to make Jam! And now I will never, ever, ever go back to store bought jam. I am addicted! I made both apricot jam and plum jam. Don't they look yummy!?

This was my first batch!

Later that same week I made Cinnamon Rolls! Not to brag or anything but if you ever need a Cinnamon Roll recipe, I have one that you will love. You will never be satisfied with anyone else's again (and that includes Cinnabon!!! Shocking I know!) This isn't the best picture of my Cinnamon Rolls but it still looks tasty! Warning though... Major Calories!!!!!
The picture says it all...everybody makes out well when I am in a cooking mood! (Ha ha!!! Lucy looks like she is on a major sugar high!!! Messy Messy Messy!!!)