Utah State Fair 2009

I never knew my love for chocolate would one day bring me a blue ribbon. I'm glad the judges liked it as much as I do.

I'd like to thank my garden for producing such wonderful zucchini that gives this bread it's moisture and flavor. And Dave for encouraging me to make it all the time- I almost have the recipe memorized!

At least these Dollys got a ribbon! Maybe I should have added some secret zucchini...

Way to go Amber! This was no surprise- about 11 years ago, Amber joined the family and quickly had the sweetroll recipe perfected before any of the rest of us. My Grandma Jo should be proud- almost all these ribbon winners are her recipes. Any baking ability I may have I owe to her and my mom, for many years spent in the kitchen together :)

producing produce

One of the best things about working 3 12-hour shifts in a row is waking up the next morning only to find that Mother Nature has been hard at work herself. This is just a sampling of what I found one morning last week. Don't even get me started on the 50+ tomatoes I picked yesterday. I guess I better stock up on tortilla chips because I can smell some salsa coming any day now...

june

I miss her so much already. And her mom. Her dad too.

#3...meant to be!

Dave and I celebrated our third anniversary last month by dining at La Caille. I had never been there before, but we had some gift certificates to spend (thanks to the best neighbors ever) so we decided to indulge. And indulge we did! Everything was perfect- the food, the surroundings, the music, the lighting, and of course the company. Except for the swan biting Dave's thumb, we couldn't have asked for a better night.

I love the way Dave makes me happier than anything or anyone else in this world. In these short 3 years, I feel like we've already experienced so much together. I've learned that I never know what life has in store- I'm just glad Dave and I will be side by side through it all. Here's to a successful and joyous year ahead!

Flaming Gorge

Anyone that has ever been to Flaming Gorge knows how absolutely beautiful it is. I had never experienced its splendor until last month when we made a trip up there with Bob & Peg and their friends.

We loved the wakeboarding, waterskiing, tubing, and swimming mixed in with some naps, sunbathing, and time to delve into a page-turning novel.

The mountains surrounding us were a mix between desert red rock and green forest hills, with serene glass-like water in between. We had such a great time, we wish we could have extended the 3 days into many, many more!

stars and stripes forever

There's just something about the 4th and 24th of July that make them 2 of my very favorite holidays. I love being outside, the warm weather, the smell of the BBQ in the backyard, and the brightly colored fireworks that light up the sky at night. It's so nice to spend the day with family and friends without the stress that often accompanies other major holidays. Plus, I've always considered myself an exceptionally patriotic person and I love singing as many patriotic songs as I can think of. Here's a look at some of the holiday highlights:


3 cheers for the red, white, and blue...


s'more smores please!

I love being able to celebrate Alana's birthday and the Pioneers on the same day! Talk about a winning combo!

Grad school, here we come!

Westminster College doesn't realize how happy they have made Dave and I. Starting this Fall, Dave will be pursuing his goal of receiving his Masters in Accounting and then going on for his Matsters in Business! Just being accepted to this great program fulfills one of Dave's goals, and we are thrilled to be working towards more achievements. I know Dave will be an awesome student- I'm already so proud of him. It will be a slight change for us because I've never known Dave as a student! We'll really have to buckle down, putting studying before The Soup and budget before Zinn Bistro. But we're looking forward to the challenge- Dave with the academics and me with picking up some overtime at work! Congrats to you, Dave!