Playing Outside

All winter Eryn's been begging to go play outside with this...

(OCD Brooke lined them all up every time the other kids stopped playing with them.)

We invited a friend to come play with us.

It was so windy that day.

This was about the happiest he looked the whole time we were playing. For whatever reason, Ian hates being outside! Sorry kiddo, that's going to have to change.

My Garden

Desert and arid climates aren't stopping my amazing gardening skills! Look what I can grow...

MOSS!!!!!

It takes tons of talent and skill to neglect a flower box and be sure that the snow piles up on it and fills it with water to totally saturate it throughout the year in order to grow such amazing moss, but I did it!

Seriously though, the moss was a happy accident. I miss the green softness that the forest type yards the overly humid Michigan provided me as a child. When I spotted this, I nearly cried. It was a bright splash of color and a beautiful reminder that no matter the surroundings that anything can survive and thrive.

Gushing About Mike

Prepare for a seriously sappy post...

This mug was purchased in Seattle on a trip I took with a friend and his roommate many years ago. My friend's roommate was from Seattle and they were driving up to visit his family and my friend asked if I'd want to come.

It was on this trip that my friend Mike went from more than a guy I was dating to, "the guy I wanted to marry." It's difficult to explain exactly when I had that official "ah ha moment," but I know for sure that it was on this trip.

For many years I'd wanted to go to Seattle. No idea why really, but I always wanted to go. Mike helped me get there.

As we continue out life together it seems (at least from my perspective) that a lot of the things that I've always wanted to do or places that I've always wanted to see are being checked off my bucket list because of my husband. He helps me to achieve my goals and to know that everything is eventual if you have patience.

Go to Atlanta Braves game in Atlanta - check.

Be married in the temple - check.

Go to Germany - check.

Have children and go insane -check and check.

His birthday is right around the corner and I just can't stop thinking about how blessed I am to share my life with him.

OK, gushing done now. I'm returning to the massive pile of laundry that 2 of the 3 children are playing in now.

Lasagna Soup

Lasagna Soup stolen from KSL.com's Studio 5. Here's the link .

http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=204&sid=19345997.

I made mine with the Italian Sausage, so I should have backed off of the Italian seasoning a little and didn't realize it until it was too late. Amazing soup though. The kids really liked it and it made for good leftovers.

Oh and I'm probably going to make this for the Soup Cook Off Dinner at the end of the month. Mostly because I liked it and I really don't have experience making soups at all.