Wedding Bells

The night they got engaged!

 

My younger sister, A, is getting married in August and we have spent the past several months getting ready for her big day!

Most recently we had a shower for A and R and I wanted to post some pictures from their shower day.  One of the games we played is called The Shoe Game and is hilarious!  The point of the game is really just another way for your guests to get to know the couple a bit better, but most of all, it's for laughs and comic relief.  Here are some of the questions we used (you can adapt them however you want):
1. Who is older?
2. Who has more siblings?
3. When you first met, who made the first move?
4. Who is the better driver?
5. Who has been in more car accidents?
6. Who studied the hardest in school?
7. Who got better grades in school?
8. Who is smarter?
9. Who is more creative?
10. Who is better at keeping surprises?
11. Who will be doing the cooking?
12. Who is more adventurous?
13. Who is more likely to get injured?
14. Who is more likely to get sunburned?
15. Who is more likely to be running late?
16. Who is the better dresser?
17. Who is better looking?
18. Who said I love you first?
19. Who starts the argument?
20. Who is first to say “I’m sorry?”
21. Who wears the pants in your relationship?
22. Who spends more money?
23. Who is going to pay the bills?
24. Who will be in control of the remote?
25. Who will be most likely to wake up grumpy?
26. Who is more likely to get lost?
27. Who is more likely to ask for directions?
28. Who is messier?
29. Who has the smelliest feet?
30. Right now, who do you love more than anyone in the world?

The beautiful bride in the middle, with 4 of her 5 bridesmaids.

We are very excited for their wedding and I think my dad and hubby are excited to have another man in the family!

Love you guys!!

DIY Baptismal Gift

For our niece and nephew's baptism earlier this year, we thought and thought about what we would want to give as a gift that they could keep and look at daily as a reminder of their baptism.  I finally did a little research on Pinterest and found this link.
Here's the version that I created:

Homeade Pita Chips and Avocado Hummus

T and I got together recently for our latest installation of our "unofficial cooking quest."  We decided to tackle hummus and pita chips as well as sweet and spicy pepita clusters (next post).
Everything was relatively easy and delicious.  However, here's a little disclaimer about the hummus.  With the avocado, it ended up tasting more like guacamole and less like hummus.  Still good none the less.

Here's the delicious recipe:

Ingredients

Pita Chips:

• 1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 teaspoon chili or dried chipotle powder
• Zest of 2 large limes, optional
• 2 whole wheat or plain pita breads, split in half horizontally
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Hummus:

• One 15-ounce can cannellini beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 large or 2 small avocados, seeded, peeled and coarsely chopped
• 1/2 packed cup arugula
• 1/3 cup fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 1 clove garlic, smashed
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt, plus extra for seasoning
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, plus extra for seasoning
• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

Directions

For the pita chips: Place an oven rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F.
In a small bowl, whisk together the oil, chili powder and lime zest if using. Brush the mixture on both sides of the bread halves using a pastry brush. Sprinkle the breads with the salt and pepper. Cut each bread half into 8 wedges and place in a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake until crisp and golden, 15 to 18 minutes.
For the hummus: Combine the beans, avocado, arugula, parsley, lemon juice, garlic, salt and pepper in the bowl of a food processor. Pulse until the mixture is coarsely chopped. Gradually add the olive oil until the mixture is creamy. Season with salt and pepper.
Spoon the hummus into a serving bowl and serve the pita chips alongside.

3 Years and Counting!

B and I just celebrated our 3rd wedding anniversary.  I know for a fact that today we are more in love with each other than we were on our wedding day.  Our love just keeps growing and deepening as time goes on!

I can't believe that it's been 3 years since our wedding day.  I love thinking about that day and looking back at pictures of all our family and friends who made that day so, so special! 

Milestones from the first three years of marriage:
     - Bought our first home
     - M got her first teaching job
     - B got a new job with "real" hours (not 2 a.m. anymore)
     - Joined a church that we love!
     - Purchased a our first car together
     - Ran our second (to be third after July) 5K together.
    

I found a really good quote on marriage:

 “A long-lasting marriage is built by two people who believe in -and live by- the solemn promise they made.”

Goodbyes

It's the end of the school year and I have to say goodbye to my lovely music room and all my kiddos.  I'll be moving on to two new schools next year.  Hard to say goodbye to my kids and staff, but I am looking forward to new adventures next year!

How Does Your Garden Grow?

An old coal bucket I bought at an antique store and turned into a planter.

The sign says it all.

My first run to the nursery for this year!

Isn't this beautiful?  From my parent's garden!

This is from B's parent's house, by their barn.  Just a lone tulip, growing by itself!