American Idol Junkies

So David and I are quite the American Idol fans. He hates to admit it, and he probably hates me saying it, but we both are totally into it. I love it though because we have so much fun together just hanging out at home watching it and then voting afterwards (yes, you have to vote...you absolutely cannot watch American Idol and then not vote!) Our favorites are, of course, David Archuleta for the guys, and Brooke White for the girls. David A is such an amazing singer and he is so cute about the crowds and judges reactions afterwards! So now everyone who isn't already watching it, make sure you do next week and then you HAVE to vote! In case you missed it this week, here is the link to watch David A's performance--you will be totally amazed. http://www.americanidol.com/videos/?vid=966&pcs=499
I was trying to figure out a way to put the actual video on my blog, but obviously I'm not that technically advanced, so you'll just have to follow the link!

My Latest Project

Our ward started an quilting Enrichment group just recently, which I was SOOOO excited about. I have always wanted to learn to quilt, but just didn't really know how to get started. So here we go! We are just starting with a pillow so that we can have the satisfaction of completing a project (making a big quilt with a group of beginners might not be such a good idea!). Anyway, here is mine so far...I need to find fabric for the border and the back and then finish putting it together. Oh and I have to unpick one row again, which will make it 7 times, because I can't quite get the lines and points to match up on that one row and it is driving me CRAZY!! Hopefully when you look at the picture it will all look just PERFECT. It has really been fun though and I am learning a lot. Next we learn how to hand stitch the border on, etc. so it might get a little more technical and time consuming, but it is really fun. Before our four years are up here, it is my goal to make a big quilt. I better get started now....

Fun, fun, fun

So I had to steal this picture from my friend Megan's blog (thanks Megan!) because she was the only one that took pictures at our latest game night get-together at the Shaheen's house. You can pretty much count on us playing games over there at least once a month. We have so much fun....we play and play and play until we are just too tired to play anymore. And if we look tired in this picture, it is probably because it was taken at about midnight (okay so that's probably not late for a lot of you, but that is WAY past my bedtime!) Anyway, we have made such great friends out here and are having the time of our lives!

My Lil' Snow Bunny

Happy Valentine's Day! I hope you've had a great day filled with lots of love! Maia and I have had some fun Valentine's Day activities...yesterday we went to play group with about 20 or so other moms and had a Valentine party and then this morning we went to a Valentine breakfast at our friends house. They were both so much fun. I love watching Maia play with other kids. She is getting so grown up! Tomorrow night David and I get to go out on a date to celebrate Valentines , so that will be really great too. Anyway, I know I've posted some cute snow pictures recently, but I couldn't resist putting more up that I just took the other day. I especially love this first one of Maia...it is so dang cute!! We are trying to make the most of the cold weather and still getting outside to play...just not for very long periods of time! And even when she is freezing cold, Maia still hates to come inside.
As a side note, if you haven't noticed the poll off to the right, take a look at it and place your vote....I go back and forth on who Maia looks like and it seems one day someone will say she looks just like David and then the next someone will say she looks just like me. It's just fun to see what people think.

A little bit of depression..

Okay, so I am starting to get over it being winter time.....and I know that this is a bad sign for me, seeing how I've been told by several Buffalo winter veterans that Spring doesn't show her pretty face until at least April--sigh. I just looked up the 10 day forecast for Buffalo (shouldn't have done that!) and the outlook is, well, really bleak. Meaning that for the next 10 days, I don't think we are going to break out of the 20's. Then I made the REALLY big mistake of checking the 10 day forecast for Cedar City (our hometown).....and guess what???? There are sunny skies and mid-fifty degree weather coming their way!! I really, honestly felt tears coming on. Anyway, that is my little sob story for the day and now I am going to buck up and get over it! Because you know what? In four years (actually in 3 1/2) I am going to be so sad to leave here. We have made the best of friends and it will be really hard when we all have to go our separate ways. And I'm sure I'll find myself in the middle of winter somewhere (probably somewhere warm!) and I will be missing Buffalo and the good times there, and wishing I could go back. So now that I've just put myself in check and given myself a total attitude adjustment, I'm going to post a recipe so that this post won't be totally worthless to everyone!

Angel Hair Pasta with Fresh Basil, Avocado, and Tomatoes

8 oz. uncooked angel hair pasta

½ - ¾ large avocado, peeled and cut into cubes

2 Tbl. Olive oil

4 Medium tomatoes, diced

2 cloves garlic, finely chopped

½ tsp. salt

¼ tsp. pepper

¾ cup chopped fresh basil leaves (or 2-3 Tbl. Dried leaves)

Cook pasta and drain. While pasta is cooking, heat oil in 3 qt. saucepan over medium heat. Cook garlic in oil, about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until garlic is tender, but not brown; remove from heat. Stir basil, avocado and tomatoes into garlic saucepan. Toss vegetable mixture and pasta. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.

This recipe is super easy and tastes really good--a winning combination right?

We Love Outside

We love to be outside!! Maia loves it rain or shine, warm or freezing cold....hmmm, we should be more like kids huh? Why is it that we get wimpy and whiny about the cold as we get older? On this day we had to stay outside until Maia was so cold that she didn't cry when we came back inside (and you know that had to be COLD!). She loves to eat the snow, she just can't get enough of it. She is so much fun, we love her to bits and pieces!