Surprise and Spice

I got a surprise yesterday when the doorbell rang at around 5:45pm.

Bruce is gone on Mondays at school until about 9:00pm, so this was clearly either someone for me, or someone who doesn't know Bruce's schedule.

I hurried to the door, and upon opening it, I saw...Bruce!

His last class was cancelled due to a family emergency for the professor, and he came home early to surprise me.  At which he was successful.

It was nice to spend a rare Monday evening with my love, we made a quick stop at our sister-in-law's place, then picked up pizza from Papa Murphy's.  Turns out, we've never gotten PM's together. Ever.  Well, we remedied that.

I got a thin crust Thai Chicken pizza, it had zucchini, sweet chili sauce, chicken, tomatoes...mmm...pure delicious goodness!  I highly recommend if you are adventurous with your pizza.

Stormin'

We had a pretty crazy rainstorm this evening.

We're talking total torrential downpour, thunder, lightning, flooding, wind.  It was nuts.  But totally amazing!

Bruce kept going outside onto the balcony to watch it all come down.  I love how excited he gets about small things like that, it makes me happy.

Date-iversary

Today marks the anniversary of my first date with Bruce.

He asked me out for frozen yogurt at our local OrangeLeaf, and we met up at around 5:00pm.

I was nervous, and didn't know if I would immediately recognize him, but that all faded as soon as I walked in the door and saw him standing there (I had forgotten how tall he was).

We said our hellos, got our yogurt, and settled onto one of the large orange couches that were available.  Conversation was easy and smooth, I knew I liked him right then and there (if only I hadn't been so freaked out the first day we met!  Curses!), and he was bold enough to ask me out for later that very week (later I would find out he canceled a date with another girl so he could go out with me), and I was more than happy to see him again.

To commemorate this one-year milestone, Bruce and I went to OrangeLeaf, got frozen yogurt, and even sat on the same orange couch (which is usually occupied when we go).  We reminisced about that first date, the various things running through our minds, and confessing the moments we first knew we loved each other (yep, sometimes we're sappy).

It is so crazy to me that it has only been a year, because it feels so much longer.  I find myself having a hard time remembering times without him, or mentally inserting him into situations in my life long before he was there, because it truly feels like he has always been here, always a part of my life.

I am so beyond glad that one year ago today, he asked me out, and that I accepted.  We may not be perfect (far from it, in fact), but we are absolutely perfect for each other.

Furseclur...

It was a busy day today.

I borrowed a ton of canning jars from my mother-in-law so that I can do some things with all of the apples that Bruce and I picked last week, so I washed those today, but first I had to do another load of dishes so that all of the jars would fit in the dishwasher.

I also did 3 loads of laundry (I swear I do the laundry every week, but somehow it seems like there is always a ton to be washed), folded them AND put them away (big achievement there, no, really...).

I also made Cream of Chicken Soup while on my lunch break, in preparation for making Creamy Chicken Tortellini Soup once I got off of work to give to a sick friend.  Which resulted in more dishes to wash...

Then I started testing a batch of new truffles (more dishes).

Ran to the store.

Attempted to attend a webinar for school, but there were technical difficulties and the webinar was canceled.

So I was very excited when Bruce came home early from classes tonight.  He always makes me happy after a long day (or a short day...or any day...).  So happy he's my partner in crime.

Day Care

Well, our house is officially baby-free.

After watching SC for 6 months, he is starting daycare as of tomorrow.  So we packed up all his gear; bouncy chair, stroller, diapers, wipes, bottles, etc... and gave them back to his parents and my in-laws.

It is weird to not have any baby stuff lying around, but I think the transition will be good for both of us.  He will get to interact with other kids, and I will have uninterrupted work days once more.

He is a super cute kid, and I'm glad I'll still get to see him on Sundays, but I know he's going to love playing with other kids, and not having to just put up with me all day.

Ooples

Well, Bruce and I went apple picking yesterday.

We drove up to Rexburg, since they have apple orchards on campus where you can pick your own apples, and you only have to pay 50 cents per pound, on the honor system.  We figured we would get about 20 pounds of apples at the most, so we brought $10 with us to pay.

Apple picking turned out to be a lot of fun.

Many of the trees had been picked over pretty good, some of them weren't ready yet, and a lot had been attacked by birds or bugs, but we were still able to find a lot of good ones.  We commandeered a ladder, and since Bruce is basically a giant, we were able to get some of the apples that others clearly couldn't reach.

We spent maybe a little over an hour walking around, picking apples, and having a good time before we decided our bags were full enough, and we went back to the shed to weigh them and pay.

Turns out that we had exceeded our goal of 20 pounds, and wound up with 40!  Well, thankfully since it was the honor system, we were able to run to the bank and get more cash and come back to pay for the other half of the apples we had picked.

All the way home, Bruce kept saying, "That is a LOT of apples..."

Luckily, I have plans for them all, and they will be delicious!

Here are some more pictures of our silly adventure.

The Apple of My Eye

When we first moved into our apartment (and even until recently), we kept finding a ton of moths flapping merrily away around our windows and light fixtures.

Now, it seems that we are being overrun by large mosquitoes.

I seriously have no idea where these things are coming from!  We don't leave our windows or doors open, they just seem to be popping up all over the place.

On a happier note, Bruce and I are going apple picking tomorrow, and I am super duper excited!  I've never been apple picking before, and I already have a ton of ideas of things to do with them that will go on the other blog once they actually come to fruition (that's a fruit joke...).

GooOOOOooo APPLES!

Just breathe...

I have been tired.

And I have been cranky.

And I have been emotional.

And I have been annoying.

And I don't want to be any of the above.  But mainly, I don't want to talk about it, because it makes me even more tired, and cranky, and emotional, which is...annoying.

I think I need a time-out for a bit.  I may take a day off of work sometime soon, and go for a drive, or just breathe... I need to not be in my house all the blasted time, but such is my life.

Basically I just need to get over it, and over myself.

It's...Friday?

My days have been all sorts of kittywampus as of late.

Last Thursday for example, I thought it was Friday, ALL DAY LONG.  I kept reminding myself it was only Thursday, but that didn't stop me from thinking it was Friday over and over again.

Today, felt like Wednesday.  But my work computer was definitely on line with it being Monday, it did not want to cooperate today.

Here's to hoping I can get my days straight!

Your face, I like it...

Bruce and I have been married for 3 months as of today.

It's kind of weird that it has only been 3 months, because it feels so much longer to both of us (in a good way, of course).

It's actually strange to think about the fact that, though we knew of one another this time last year, we hadn't even been on our first date yet, and a year later, it's hard to imagine my life without him in it.

He is the best part of me, and he constantly amazes me with his love and kindness and patience, even thigh I'm sure I don't always deserve it. He makes me want to be the best version of myself, and I am so incredibly happy that he chooses to be with me and to experience this crazy life together.

I definitely got far better than I deserved when I married that man, and I'm astonished that I only grow to love him more and more each day.

Love your guts, Bruce!

Yep

I was doing so well with the blogging for a bit this year!

And now it seems like I am back in the realm of "NeverBlog".

Things have been busy lately, busy, but not overly exciting... Lot of school work, work work, housework, babysitting, church callings, cooking/baking, sleeping, reading, scout stuff for Bruce...just lots going on, but none of it really exciting to write or read about.

So we are still alive, we're both excited for fall, and hopefully I can be better about this whole blogging thing...

It's a work in progress.

No capes

I swear that some days of the week have fewer hours in them than others.

Days like today, where I seem to be running ragged all day long... I'm uber productive, but at the same time, I feel like I've missed a step because I can't even get around to taking a shower until 5:00pm (TMI?  Oh well...).

On the upside, I did work a full day, kept a small child alive, did 3 loads of laundry, reorganized part of the closet, did the dishes, mended some trousers, made the bed, picked up the tornado that inevitably ensues from keeping aforementioned small child alive, swept the kitchen, made dinner, took a pre-assessment, made lemon zucchini bread, and even indulged in a mini at-home facial.

All I can say is, I don't know how those "super moms" do it all day, every day...

Pretty sure I'll be the parent running down the street in a bathrobe after my child who has inexplicably escaped the house without a diaper on, and who is squealing with glee that they have escaped my grasp yet again.

Yep.

You can keep the super mom cape...

Pretty sure my bathrobe billows just as well when I run.

Superheroes in Spandex

Yesterday was rife with cooking.

I think 3 new recipes made it to the other blog, and I have another one that I should be doing later today during "baking time", which is typically the time after church and before family dinner.  There was a period of time shortly after our marriage where we would come home from church and Bruce would ask, "What are we baking today?", automatically knowing that that is just something that happens on Sunday afternoons.

Anyway, I digress...

After all the cooking, photographing, blogging, eating, cleaning, and a walk over to Target, Bruce and I decided to finally get around to seeing "The Amazing Spiderman 2".  It wasn't a movie that either one of us was rushing to see (obviously...), and while it wasn't horrible, it wasn't "amazing" either...but that's just my personal opinion.  Not one I'll buy, that's for sure.

A new puddle

More than one person has noted that this blog has started to look like a food blog.

So, to fix that, and get back to the world of normal life in this space Bruce and I like to call ours, I have created an alternate blog strictly for my domestic fumblings.

If you would care to check it out, the link is http://quichethecook.blogspot.com/.

It currently only has recipes that you have already seen there, but I hope to add new ones to it soon.

Thanks to those of you who inspired me to take this jump!

Snickerdoodle Truffles

Ah...Autumn is quickly approaching!

For me, Autumn means pumpkins, crunchy leaves, apple cider, pie, sweatshirts, cranberries, and truffles!

I'm not entirely sure why, but I start making truffles once fall rolls around, and I continue to make them through the holidays.  They are just so fun, cute, and bite-sized bliss.  Not to mention, there are SO many different routes you can take with them!

Last fall/winter, I made a ton of truffles, and I wish I had taken pictures of some of them...but I didn't take a single one...not ONE!

Looks like I'll just have to do it all again this year and properly document them.

So to spring us into truffle-land, I present to you Snickerdoodle Truffles!

If you like snickerdoodle cookies, you'll like these little bites of cinnamon and sugar heaven.

Snickerdoodle Truffles

Ingredients:

4 oz softened cream cheese
1/2 c. unsalted butter (softened)
1/2 c. white sugar
1/4 c. brown sugar
1 1/4 c. flour
1 tsp vanilla
1/4 tsp salt
2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp cream of tarter

Coating/Topping:

16 oz vanilla candy coating
1 tsp cinnamon
a small amount of cinnamon and sugar mixed together

Directions:

Beat cream cheese, butter and sugars until smooth.  Add flour, salt, cinnamon and cream of tarter and mix thoroughly.  Roll mixture into small balls (the size you want is really entirely up to you, I just used my Tablespoon-sized cookie scoop to form mine) and place on a baking sheet lined with a silpat or parchment paper (waxed paper works too).  Freeze at least 2 hours.

Melt the candy coating according to the package directions (I use the double-boiler method).  Once it is completely melted, add the teaspoon of cinnamon and mix it in thoroughly.

Remove the dough from the freezer and using a toothpick, dip each ball into the candy coating, turning it to cover the entire surface.  Remove excess coating by lightly tapping along the side of the bowl and then place it back on the baking sheet to firm up.

Sprinkle a little of the cinnamon/sugar mixture on each truffle before it completely hardens.

You should store these in the refrigerator or freezer.

Enjoy!