Gardens and Mac and Cheese

Last Saturday we put the garden in. And when I say we I mean mostly Jacob. I helped a very tiny bit. But I am excited about it. We planted three tomato plants, two hanging in baskets; Anaheim, green bell, and jalapeno peppers, zucchini, lettuce, and we are working on some herbs. Yummy. I can almost taste the fresh salsa already.

Then on Sunday Jacob and I gathered some folks for the great Mac and Cheese taste off. This was somewhat similar to the Carter Pizza Challenge we had a few years ago. Remember that folks? Good times. So, we bought all the different brands of boxed, original Mac and Cheese to see which was the best. Is it really worth paying the extra money for "The Blue Box?"

Turns out it is not. The King Soopers (Kroger) brand won out. It was really close between the Kroger, Safeway and Kraft brands. So, safe your pennies folks. Head to the local King Soopers (AKA Smith's) and buy that brand. But be very sure not to buy the Kroger Value box. There is a HUGE difference. Both in price and quality. That stuff was NASTY! And if you really like salty and bright orange Mac and Cheese, go for the Wal Mart brand.

And now you know. And knowing is half the battle.

I Should Be Sleeping

Really. I have an early meeting tomorrow and yet here I am, midnight and blogging.

It's just that it's been awhile and I wanted to post some pictures but needed to wait until we had decided which ones we were going to use on the invites. So, for your viewing pleasure.







These are low quality copies of the originals but you get the idea. Our friend Lori took them and I must say she did a really nice job for picking up the camera and learning as we went along. Thanks again Lori!

Moving

I really dislike moving.

But, it is even more strange moving into house that I won't really be living in until after I am married.

So in some respects, I feel like I am living in two places at once. Half of my stuff at the new house and half at my old apartment.

The bright side is the new house is going to be fantastic. It's pretty fun unpacking and trying to decide how to set it all up. It will be even more fun when we start deciding how to decorate and really get settled again.

I guess both fun and weird because I won't be "settled in" until July.

Lovin' a List...

Rules are, you highlight, bold, or underline any of the following things you have done.

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a Praying Mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris (I also went to Paris Idaho but I'm not cheater...Shannon!)
13. Watched an amazing lightning storm
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning...
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill (the beauty of social work is the "mental health" day)
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Ran a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied (I don't think I require much. I did enjoy spending my income prior to grad school and I was satisfied.)
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight (Take note Jacob, this sounds like something I would enjoy. I have walked at sunset...in daylight...and in the morning---but never by moonlight.)
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving
52. Kissed in the rain (more of a drizzle probably)
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies (I sure buy plenty though)
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper (nope, but I have had my name in the paper a few times. I was quoted for work sometimes.)
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House (soirt of...not the inside.)
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating.
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit (sort of. I had a bit of a settlement for my missed pay checks from Carousel back in the day.)
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Visited Italy

I get 31. That is a bit pathetic. But I am what I am.

Picnic and a Movie

Jacob and I spent our first night together in the new home. Okay, that is probably a little deceptive. We did spend some time together in the new home, but not like we "spent the night."

We celebrated home ownership by having a picnic in the living room followed by a movie projected on the wall. And then after the movie we discussed plans for moving in and decorating and just had fun being in our own home.


And then we both went back to our apartments.

It will be fun to begin moving things in to the house and start putting it all together. I think we are slowly going to move car loads over and then we have a UHaul scheduled for Thursday to move the rest of the bigger items. Should be a fun, busy week.

And in case anyone is concerned, those are bottles of root beer in the picture...nothing sketchy I swear.

Closing Day

I spent the morning with Jacob and a room full of Realtors and bankers.

Yep, that's right. The house is officially ours. We immediately went over after the signing to walk through it as our own. It was a little weird, I'm not gonna lie. Weird, but good. With the house all empty I really started thinking about how to decorate and paint and where to put things.

Well, really it's more about Jacob moving in as I won't really be joining him until July.

But it is exciting just the same. So, again, if any of you have decorating tips just you let me know.

Re-Easter

I've been meaning to post about this for days but haven't made the time to do it. So even though I should be spending this 5 minutes productively at work I am going to share the happenings from our Sunday "Re-Easter" dinner.

That's right, my friends and I had second Easter. There were official invitations and everything. Everyone contributed something to the day and, let me tell you, we had a feast. It was so good! I ate so much. We also had an Easter egg hunt featuring the Easter story of Christ's Resurrection. It was a really good time.

We also had a Pente Tournament with poster board double elimination brackets and all. There were 10 of us there and the tournament was pretty intense. And though I was concerned about losing based on the recent history of loses to Jacob, I was triumphant. I finished in the number one slot. Yep, I was the only one to not lose one single game. I am proud. I am also a little sad I don't have any pictures to document the feast and other activities.

So, to all that contributed, thanks for a good Re-Easter celebration!