TA DA!

I did it! By myself! I got a new background for the blog. Simple enough. Matches the cool wedding backdrop!

family

We had a wonderful wedding weekend! I love my family!

innovation

On Sunday night we noticed our back patio light had a ton of 'stuff' in it. I wondered how that much dirt or dead bugs could fill it up so much. When Clyde took it down to clean it out, he found this birds nest in there.

From the looks of it, I am pretty sure the eggs hatched (all the poop tells me so). I did hear a lot of chirping, but I have been so busy I just thought there were lots of birds around this spring. They have all flown away and I didn't even see a one of them.

We have had nests before in places like the downspout, the ladder in the garage, even on top of the garage door opener, but in a light fixture is a first!

great cooks

We had a delicious meal on Mother's day, all cooked by Nicole, Erin, Michelle, and Casey.
Teriyaki salmon, lemon garlic snow peas and green beans, fancy salad with respberry jam in the dressing, whole grain bread, and bananas foster for dessert.
A few photos for you.

Quick sandwich meal

Saturday was a very busy day. Tons of errands, trip to Centerville for Derek's wedding, etc.
For dinner I had purchased some pre-sliced beef for a stir fry. When I started dinner, I sliced some red peppers and onions and tossed in the iron skillet. I decided I wanted a faster dinner so I just chopped the meat a bit smaller, tossed in the other half of the skillet and sprinkled it with some yummy Redmond Season salt. Put a lid on and sliced some white cheddar and two crusty ciabatta rolls. When the meat and veggies were done, I piled it on the sliced cheese on the roll, and then spooned some of the beef juice onto the top of the roll. The quick version of a philly beef sandwich. Yummy and FAST!

My life lately, in no particular order

THE TO DO LIST

DONE CALL Kneaders, ORDER FOOD --send check to Wedding ice lady.
DONE APPT WITH Kneaders for cake design
DONE Send photo to Mollie
DONE Proof invites
DONE Pay for invites, receive invites
DONE Finalize invite list, remove some,
DONE Get a few more addresses
DONE Get labels, address and return
DONE Buy postage for 500
DONE Label and stamps on invites, insert dinner and temple cards DATE___________
DONE CALL Wedding Ice lady, ask about set up, book table clearers – does she do water???NO
DONE Purchase plates, napkins, forks

Reserve heaters??? Ask Noahs
Almost DONE Buy dresses or skirts and sweaters two bridesmaids, two marrieds
FINISH ADDING SASHES
DONE Go to Noahs with Erin,

DONE Plan table layout
DONE Check out kitchen facilities
DONE Order wood chairs
DONE Layout of food tables, sign in, cake
Design florals; DONE order containers, DONE candle holders,
Determine what photos will be displayed and where. place in holders and add background
DONE print some engagement photos

buy large display for black and white backdrop, paint urns, add paper.

Plan food layout – do we need yellow puddling table cloths??no

DONE Get someone to help stock food – Melissa and Michelle Schow and Kathryn Paxman

Test music cd in their sound system

DONE Purchase cake stake 16”BUT CALL TO SEE IF IT WILL WORK!!

Purchase large gift bag to cover faucet
Purchase container for card and envelopes

DONE Find or buy water container,
DONE Choose photos for Pikabo book
DONE Determine background color
DONE Buy pens
Michelle plan music
DONE Call temple to sched endowments on May 9 ( Friday)
DONE Janice decide on dress –Black and ivory
DONE Gloria has a dress
DONE Call hotel for people to stay
DONE Email sent Find out if Gary can come
Dress:
DONE Go for fitting and alterations appt
Pick up after pressing

Find earrings
DONE make hair piece
DONE Get new outfits for dinner, temple yellow sweater and skirt?, dinner?
DONE Buy garments
DONE Buy temple clothes
DONE Buy temple dress press it
DONE Buy temple bag

Plan food for Friday after sealing, before and after recept., Saturday am

Plan schedule of who does what to set up reception: tie ribbons, set out florals, 166 votives lit and placed, hang photos on wall, set up cake, food, water, plates napkins,

Sugarless dessert?

Sunday we had cousins dinner. I needed to make a dessert that had no sugar in it, since Michelle is on Dr orders to avoid sugar. How do you make a dessert with no sugar? I dreamed up this recipe:
Filled crepes with fruit!
Nicole and Erin make crepes ( recipe for 20 had 4 t sugar - only a tiny bit)
I found sugar free white chocolate pudding - 2 boxes and mixed that with 16 oz of spreadable cream cheese and the milk called for in the pudding. This was pretty firm.
I drained two cans of pineapple tidbits for the juice ( just pineapple juice, not heavy syrup). I squeezed two oranges for juice. Then I added 2 T of cornstarch to the juices and cooked it till it thickened. I chilled that. I cut up 1 lb of strawberries and added one can of the pineapple tidbits.
To serve we spread a thick layer of the pudding mix on the crepe, added the fruit which had been mixed with the thickened juice sauce, and rolled the crepe. top with a dollop of Cool whip and more fruit. ( must be some sugar in cool whip?) They were a big hit and not much white sugar for Michelle. She said it was better than a cake - we sang happy birthday to her. Sorry no photos :( they just disappeared too fast. Michelle had hers half eaten before we sang!