Ensign Peak

Loved going to Music and the Spoken Word this morning, to Ensign Peak, for a picnic at Brigham's Park, and then finally to Church in the Avenues. It was SUCH a good day!

Czech Republic Missionaries..and Mason asleep

Antelope Island

On Friday after the graduation we went on a little adventure to Antelope Island. We had a lot of fun especially because Nate's mission trainer was here from Germany. They are HILARIOUS together, as you will see from some of the pictures. Stephan is a lot of fun to be with, and a great person as well. We will miss having him around.

Nate floating in the Great Salt Lake

That's me

Buffalo

Crown Burger

Ranch at Antelope Island

MANLY Men

Mason trying to get to the water

Stephan pretending to 'Christen' Mason

Woman (left), Man (right)

Jason's Graduation

Friday was a special day, because Nate did not have work, and his brother Jason was here from New York to graduate from BYU in Marketing. He already landed a great job in NYC, but he came back to celebrate graduating from BYU, and to be with family and friends. We really enjoyed having him here, but we missed his wife Ashley who was still in NY.  

Sunday pics

This was the first sunny/warm day we've had in a while. It feels like Spring has finally sprung, and we took full advantage by having a little picnic outside. Nate started playing with Mason, and it was one of those moments when your heart swells up, and you just have to take some pictures. These are the results.

Mason's eating at the table

My first cooking class

For those in my family who have birthdays in April (Amy and Isaac on the 7th, Emily on the 16th, and myself on the 30th), we had a fun family weekend. Friday night at Bajio, then the BYU Ballroom Dancers, and Saturday Morning, a Cooking class.
'The Really Big Cooking Show' hosted at Thanksgiving Point and sponsored by Seagull Book and others was a lot of fun! Just my sister Amy and her daughter Anna and I went together. I learned about making super yummy bread for 35 cents a loaf. Her bread looked so delicious! I'm going to try her recipe:

10 1/2 C bread flour

1/2 C sugar or 1/2 C honey

1 T salt

3 heaping T Saf Instant Yeast

mix

add

3 big drops of lecithin (her secret ingredient) or 1/2 C Oil

then 4 C very hot water

plus 2 more T of water (to get the right consistency)

Mix for 5 minutes if white, 10 minutes if wheat, and 7 minutes if mixed

divide in 4

let rise for 25 minutes

Then make a loaf, regular or cinnamon rolls, or pizza, or Italian bread, or cream cheese dessert braided.

bake for 25 minutes @350

Yum! It's an awesome way to save money and know the ingredients you are eating. The site is
http://howtomakebread.blogspot.com by 'Pantry Secrets'. 

We also had a class from Lizzy Early who started the blog: yourcupofcake.blogspot.com. She's a BYU student in Broadcast Journalism, and she also has a cook book that sells at Costco, Deseret Book, Seagull Book called 'Your Cup of Cake'. I showed Nate her blog and his mouth immediately started watering. Unfortunately he's only eating desserts once a week, so I guess I'll just have to make some for his birthday or something.

We also had a class with 'The Food Nanny', Liz Edmunds. She raised 7 children and made family mealtime an important part of the day. It's amazing how family mealtime has slowly been declining in America as an important time for family. Studies have shown that families who have family dinners together have kids who have better grades, better relationships, and happier lives. She talked about having a food meal plan. I'm excited to try it out.

Monday - Comfort Food Night (like Chicken and Mashed Potatoes, Chili and Cornbread, Stroganoff) 

Tuesday - Italian

Wednesday - Fish or Meatless Night or Breakfast

Thursday - Mexican

Friday - Pizza

Saturday - Grill

Sunday - Traditional

Good times ahead! Bon apetit!

Mason & Co

New things Mason did this week:

Sing/Hum/Babble the melody: 'Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star' (when this happened, my heart swelled up so large! He knows just how to make his Mommy proud!) It's also fun to hear him try to sing with us in Church or other settings

Started sitting at the table with us when he eats (he is so cute at the table)!

Called out really loud 'Daddy' when he woke up (of course that's me (Joanna) when he's calling for 'Daddy' in the morning). Yes, he calls me 'Daddy'. It's the running family joke.

He also still says "juice" whenever he wants to nurse (I like that 'code' word in public ;))

He had fun playing with his buddies

He looks and acts like a little boy now - no longer like a baby! (which is sad for me in some ways!)

This is Mason and Daddy when Nate gets home from work. So cute I had to take a picture!

I love how Mason and Will really enjoy playing outside together

Mason, Will, and Wade eating cookies and milk together. Pretty stinking cute little buddies!

Like Daddy!

Like Mason!

Yes - that's his breakfast :)...at least part of it

Mormon Passover

Our yearly tradition of Passover has become more and more special to me over the years. My Dad says that my Mom is half Jewish because of her fascination with and love for Jewish traditions and customs. I think my Mom loves them, because to her they are so connected with Jesus Christ. As I've gotten older, I've seen how incredibly symbolic the Passover is, and how Jews all over the world celebrate Passover, without even knowing that it was all a foreshadowing of the events of the Savior's life.