Color Night and Graduation

Although I'm back in classes now, and my weekends are once again consumed by school work, moments of joy and happiness always seem to creep to my side for a moment of two.

This weekend was a wrap up of for institute classes (religious classes taken through our church). We had color night, which was fantastic. There are so many talented people out there! It was entertaining to watch musical acts mourning the loss of the 19 year old girls leaving on missions. Guys, your dating pool has just been significantly depleted. Or to see the most eligible bachelor/ettes have their first dance together to 'My Heart Will Go On' played on the kazoo, recorder and nose flute. Slide shows made by friends who had hacked someone's computer and stole their pictures.  

And today was institute graduation. I got my four year certificate of achievement, as well as Wade. Kyla got her advanced certificate II, and Levi got his mission call!! (Halifax, Nova Scotia!). Which obviously meant I dragged them all over to my house to get pictures. You never know, maybe someday I'll show my kids these pictures.

It was a great weekend. And I'll be working hard 5 days in anticipation of the next.

Easter

In the distance, just over the hill, you can see the mountains. Aren't they just calling to you?!

Easter. At Grandma's. With a car load of friends. Buckle up.

     Road trips make me happy. When I was a kid and my mom was going out to pick someone up or run a quick errand I would always go with her for the ride. Sometimes I'd wait outside in the parking lot while she ran into the store. I just really liked to go places in the car. So being crammed into the back seat of a car for 3 hours with friends and snacks was a grand old time! We played ridiculous games and made a million inside jokes.

     Arriving at grandma's was perfection. Insta-love. Driving into the foothills at sunset, the spring season nipping at your heels and having an entire long weekend span before you. Nothing better. After we'd unloaded at the house, and Levi exclaimed there was "a copious amount of wood!", we sat down to hot home made, Grandma home made, dinner. I laughed to see my friends eat heaven in bread form. Pretty sure it's the same recipe they used to make manna for Moses and the gang.

    Our first evening finished by making a fire, listening to the eerie song of wolves howling and star gazing until the full moon rose above the trees.

    Saturday was a week packed into a day. We ate croissant french toast and made apple pie that was delicious. We stood by the piano and sang easter songs that filled the house with music. Decorated eggs. The 'bush' was thoroughly explored hour after hour.

 We braved the creek and crossed it without falling through, climbed hills, crossed fields and braved steep rocky slopes. Upon our return to the house, because this is such a magical place, the Easter bunny had made a visit. Exhausted from our adventures we sunbathed and slept on the porch. The 'wildlife' came for a visit and the overly friendly cat and Zach were inseparable. Before bed we read the Easter story in the bible then played a game while drinking cider from our mugs with cattle on them.

Victory in crossing the creek without falling through

     Of course this kind of thing always comes to an end. But I guess we wouldn't appreciate it half as much if it didn't. We did so much and had a beautiful time together. Late night talks. Belly aching laughter. Living care free. So many wonderful memories were made and maybe some traditions. Definitely one of those 'glory days' stories my kids will get sick of hearing. But they'll just have to deal with it because I'm not going to stop talking about it any time soon.

And by chance we all packed the same shirt. 

My Weekend as a Domestic Goddess

    So the title might be a little bit deceiving. I probably haven't made it to Goddess status yet. But amongst my fellow students, who don't usually make more than 2 real meals a week (that's more than just me...right?), I've been doing pretty well for myself.

This weekend I made Cinnamon buns for the first time. They were stinking amazing. Pardon my humility.

Also fried chicken for the first time. And I didn't go out and buy a mix. I had to buy obscure spices (once again obscure to a student cook means anything more than salt, pepper and things I'd put in pasta) like dry mustard, celery salt and paprika. Then, like some sort of sorcerer mathematician (pretty much the same thing in my books), I had to mix them all together myself while halving the recipe. And I still had wayyy too much mix.

Finally, because Grandma sent me home with turkey, and I don't eat that stuff plain I made exorbitant amounts of turkey soup. Like there is another container that got cut off in that picture. Thankfully Grandma also outfitted me with a deep freeze.

Just A Spoonful Of Sugar

Seriously the inspirational messages on the Halls are my favorite!

How life's been looking for me lately.

More soon on my fantastic Easter!