Wedding Bells

This might be a long post so bare with me:)My brother Phil has been dating a few girls this last year but nothing to serious. In January he started dating this girl Stacie that was in his ward. He had been her home teacher for 7 months but this was the first time they dated. When I came home in March he started talking that they had discussed marriage! I couldn't believe he was serious! He said well when you know you know! Next thing I know they are engaged and set May 7th as their wedding day! After meeting Stacie and seeing how they are together I couldn't ask for a better girl for Phil. They are perfect together and I am really happy for them. Here a few of the many pictures I took at the wedding. I was really happy that my 90 year old grandma could come. I got her ready the day of the wedding which is no easy thing when your legs dont work anymore! I think Phil was really happy to have her there. Enjoy the pictures! I did this backward so sorry that you are looking at reception pictures before the wedding:)

Amazing woman

One of the most inspiring people I have ever read about. I hope I can meet her someday and thank her for helping me through her example. I hope you enjoy watching and listening to her she is amazing!

Tulips as far as the eye can see!

Last year I went to this tulip festival and loved it! I had to make sure to go back this year. It didn't dissapoint at all it was so breath taking! There is a lady in our ward that Trish and I have taken under our wing. She is so sweet and reminds me of a mix of my grandma's. Her own family doesn't visit her very much so we have enjoyed taking her with us. She had a blast and of course she had to bring her toy poodle punkin:) I hope you enjoy the pictures!

I promise I am still alive!

Hi! Did anyone miss me? I have so many new posts that I need to do! I am sorry I haven't been around. I have had major issues with my computer like the cord started on fire so I had to get a new one:( Then the one they sent me has not worked either so I am hoping this next week it will come. I have really missed your blogs and being able to post. I hope I didn't lose all of my readers. Anyway stay tuned I hope to get a few posts done this week!

Thoughts

I have been thinking a lot about how different I am lately then what I use to be. I have struggled my whole life with my weight and hated myself. It wasn't easy being teased and made fun of especially by family members. Its been a difficult road and I have gone up and down back and forth with weight. I am at the highest weight I have ever been and I am not proud of that. After watching the biggest loser season after season I have come to realize a few things. 1.You have to change whats wrong inside before you change the outside. 2.You have to come to love yourself and make the change for you not anyone else. 3.You have to learn to eat right and be willing to keep excercising even when you reach your goal weight. There are lots more but those are the top ones. I have tried and failed a number of times with different things. I have lost lots of weight but because of the things mentioned above the weight came back. It has been harder to deal with then I could ever tell you. I am once again trying something new to see if I can get it to work. I have lost 3 pounds so far and I seem to be in a different mind set. I am hoping this is the time that I will finally make it and be happy with myself.

Easter fun

Growing up my mom always made the cutest bunny cake on Easter. I guess I am keeping that tradition going. I made this cake and then had to do the little nest cupcakes too:) I also remember sitting around my grandma's kitchen table dying eggs. It was such a fun time as she got out the same old mugs that have been stained through the years with the dye. We would write our names in crayon and then have the hard choice of what color to dye it. My grandparents were the best basket hiders in the world. It would take most of the day looking in the acre and a half of yard they owned. After my grandpa passed away I got to take on the project of putting the baskets together and hiding them. I can see why they had so much fun! There are so many hiding spots out there! I am so thankful for family traditions that have so many memories etched in my mind.

Cute chick for Easter

1/2 cup shredded coconut
1/4 cup white chocolate chips
1 Twinkie

Chocolate sprinkles
Orange frosting
2 candy lemon slices

To make a pair of nests, first spread 1/2 cup of shredded coconut on a cookie sheet and toast it under a broiler until golden brown, about 1 minute. Remove the coconut from the oven, stir it, then toast it for 30 seconds more. Repeat as needed until all of the coconut is evenly toasted, then let it cool.

Next, melt 1/4 cup of white chocolate chips in a double boiler according to the package directions. Remove the pan from the heat (keep the chocolate over the warm water) and stir in the coconut. For the nestlings, lay a Twinkie flat on your work surface and cut it in half. Press 2 chocolate sprinkles into each half for eyes and pipe on orange frosting beaks. Let the beaks set a bit, then stand the chicks upright on waxed paper and spoon the warm coconut mixture around them, shaping it into rings. Lastly, use frosting to stick on trimmed candy lemon slices (we used Brach's) for wings.