Beautiful Belinda and Lyla

I (Daniel) felt like we needed some more pictures of Belinda one Saturday morning, so on our way out of the house I grabbed the camera and started snapping pictures.  I love this sequence, I started taking pictures really fast and pretended to be a photographer in a photoshoot.  Belinda thought it was funny and started laughing.  I can't get enough of that smile!

This one I love so much.  Lyla, we can't wait for you to be here!  Less than 5 weeks to go!

How to: Pit BBQ

Daniel here.  Just wanted to post a "how to do pit BBQ" post.  We had such a good time at the family reunion and the pit BBQ has been a tradition for as long as I can remember.  It was in Cle Elum, Washington, which is in the cascade mountains. More pictures to come from the reunion later.

 My parents with my nephew Parker setting up their giang GP-Medium tent.  My sister Katie-Beth in the background.

  Step 1: Dig a hole, 3 ft deep-ish.

Me in the hole.

Me not in the hole.

Step 2: Line the hole with big rocks and build a fire in the hole.

Uncle Mike, Nathan, Aunt Maurine, Briane, Megan

Watch it burn.

Belinda, watching it burn.  Isn't she sooo cutely pregnant!

Step 3: Wrap up an enormous amount of potatoes and meat in tinfoil.  Season it well.

Step 4: Wrap the meat and potatoes in wet burlap sacks.

Step 5:  Take out the burnt wood, leaving behind only the rocks (they should be very, very hot).

Step 6: Place the meat and potatoes in the pit, on top of the rocks, they will sizzle nicely.Then place extra wet burlap bags over everything.

Step 7:  Dump 15 gallons of water over everything (creating the steam that cooks the meat).  Have everyone possible next to it throw all the dirt on top as fast as possible to trap the steam.

Step 8: Make sure there are is no steam coming out, if there is cover it with more dirt.

Step 9: Let it cook for about 5-6 hours.  Take out the food and enjoy!

My dad enjoying a piece of the BBQ pork.

Also, ripsticks are cool.

Mid-South Baby Expo

On Saturday, Daniel and I went to the Mid-South Baby Expo. There were a ton of booths set up, all giving information about babies like dental care, bottle vs nursing, SIDS awearness, tummy time, car safety, furniture for the nursery...etc. We were there for about an hour, but the best part was all the free stuff we walked away with. I can't help but get excited!

Visit to the Dr

Yesterday we went to the Dr for an ultrasound. We had a 'trainee' doing the ultrasound so it took a really long time. She really wasn't very experienced. But the nice thing was that I got to lie there and stare at our lil baby for 45 mins. Our baby is a major wiggler and made things very difficult for her.

But in the end we found out that we are having a GIRL, and we are absolutely thrilled. It makes it so much more real now. I still wake up and think to myself 'I can't believe we are actually having a baby'.

Sarah, Rebekah, Rachel and I

October 2007, Daniel and I had the privileged of attending the Saturday morning session of General Conference. There was one talk, that I still remember by Elder Spenser J. Condie.

He spoke about faith and the blessings of the Lord. He told a story about Sarah, Rebekah and Rachel that touched me so deeply, that I have never forgotten.

Sarah had prayed faithfully for a child. After 25 years, Sarah and Abraham were blessed with Isaac. Isaac grew up and married Rebekah, who too struggled with having children. 20 years later, and through their faith, they were blessed with Esau and Jacob. Jacob grew up to marry Leah and Rachel, the daughters of Laban. Leah bore 10 children, while Rachel's heart was broken, as she was barren and cried unto the Lord. “And God remembered Rachel” (Genesis 30:22). And she was blessed with the birth of Joseph and later the birth of Benjamin.

He finished his talk with:

'When heaven’s promises sometimes seem afar off, I pray that each of us will embrace these exceeding great and precious promises and never let go. And just as God remembered Rachel, God will remember you.'

I have thought about that last line a lot over the years. When Daniel and I first got married almost 7 years ago, we knew we wanted a family right away, and we wanted a big one. The more we struggled, the more my heart broke. This talk brought me comfort during those times, knowing that the Lord knew me. And just as He remembered Rachel, I prayed that He would one day remember me too.

And He has!!

4 Month Catch Up

I know that it has been a while since last posting, but I have noticed that I am not the only one who does 'catch up' posts, so I don't really feel too bad. 2011 was a really good year, and ended way too quick. But we welcome 2012 and the new surprises it'll bring.

This is how 2011 ended.

December

We celebrated our last Christmas in Memphis, and are so excited to be with family for future holidays. It's not easy celebrating with only 2 people.

November

Our awesome Thanksgiving turkey. Unfortunately we didn't get very many other pictures. As long as the turkey works out, that's usually all that counts. We also had stuffing, sauteed green beans and mushrooms, mashed sweet potatoes, rolls and plenty of pie. Enough food for a week of leftovers.

Walmart treated the 3rd years of Daniel's school to a river boat cruise along the Mississippi River. The point was to encourage students to work at Walmart and Sam's Club Vision Centers upon graduation, and the benefits they bring. The presentation wasn't exciting, but a free cruise, free food and dancing is hard to turn down. It was really cold though.

Daniel surprised me by celebrating my half birthday this year. Usually by birthday isn't really exciting, because it's right around Mother's Day, which has always been a really hard holiday for me (a reminder that another year has passed and I am still not one).

He had called my boss and requested the day off for me. He made me Pumpkin Cinnamon Roll Pancakes for breakfast. First time ever making them, and they were amazing.

After getting dressed, he took me to a day at the spa. Dropped me off for 4 hours, as I got treated to a facial, manicure, pedicure and lunch. It was a total afternoon of relaxation. I was just blown away that he had planned all of this without me knowing.
When I got home, Daniel had made a birthday carrot cake (from scratch) for me. It was seriously one of the best days I have ever had. I'm pretty sure I have the best husband ever!!

Flowers

While Daniel was in Florida, he sent me flowers at work. I love Daisies.

Aren't daisies the friendliest flower?

Palm Trees and Contact Lenses

Vistakon is one of the major players in the contact lens market. They make anything that has the word "Acuvue" in front of it. In an effort to increase their reputation and get new ODs to recommend Acuvue lenses, they invite 3rd and 4th year optometry students to an all expenses paid trip to Jacksonville, Florida, for training and education of fit

ting contact lenses. They pay for the flight, hotel and all the food while you are there.

So, I took them up on their offer, and on October 3 & 4 I headed down. It was a neat experience. We had some good lecturers, one in particular who was a business consultant. He goes to offices all over the country and specializes in ways that an office can do better by how they treat people, the psychology of customer service. It was a fun lecture.

While there, Vistakon gave us each $40 to eat at Outback Steakhouse! Yum. I never thought that 6 people could spend $240 on food at a restaurant, but we managed it. It was a good trip, but I was glad to be back in Memphis with Belinda when it was over.

Here are a few pictures of palm trees (I've never seen sooo many before; they aren't that exciting, but I kept taking pictures of them), and my friends from SCO.

This is Ben, Seth and Rickson. Not sure why they are making funny faces.

There were about 20 students from my class on the trip. Pretty much all of us ended up on the same flight.

Cancer Awareness Month

I have been following a blog of someone who's father was diagnosed with cancer. She posted this video, and I wanted to share it.

What I love about this story, is her understanding and faith in the Lord. If they had caught the cancer in the very beginning, she would never have had her two adorable children. Instead of dwelling on the fact that her cancer has spread and she is at a level 4, she is grateful for the blessings that came out of it. I think it's something we could all learn from.

Lunch Date

We started out by having grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup. We haven't made this in such a long time, but it will always remind me of when we were dating. It was the first time I had ever had it. Daniel used to make it for me when I went over to his apartment to visit. This simple meal holds many memories.

Then it was arts and crafts time. I found this little mug designing set at Hobby Lobby, and thought it sounded fun.
We spent a lot of time tracing out what we wanted on paper first. The markers are totally permanent, so there was no room for mistakes. Thankfully, we found out that pencil would draw on the mugs, so we were able to draw our designs on the mugs in pencil first before making it permanent.

The Front: Daniel's is on the left. It is the logo for Southern College of Optometry. I on the other hand, didn't have very much imagination.

The Back: Daniel will graduate from Optometry school April 2013, and we were married May 2005.

I like that we did something that we can keep forever. It was a fun afternoon.

Pumpkin Roll

About a week ago, I got a craving for pumpkin roll. I don't think I have ever had one before, but we always pass them when we go grocery shopping. The bakery is right by the eggs and cheese. So I decided I wanted to make one. I have never made any kind of roll before, and I didn't think it would be that hard.

I found a recipe online, watched a you tube video about how to roll them (I got nervous after reading the directions), and went to work.

It didn't look the greatest, and I added a little extra powdered sugar over the top to cover up all the cracks, but it tasted so yummy. Definitely a keeper.

At the bottom of the recipe, they gave a little alternate idea instead of the cream cheese frosting for the middle. Vanilla Ice Cream. You spread softened ice cream on the cake, roll it up and stick it in the freezer. We didn't do it this time, but it sounds absolutely amazing!

I love making new recipes that actually work!