Shnaziversary

8 years ago I married a very amazing man.

Really handsome too, isn't he?

We were officially engaged December 2002 and married April 30, 2003.

We finished up college together, and excitedly looked forward to the rest of our lives together. You can't tell, but in this picture I wanted to puke. (Pregnant with Logan.)

Being new parents didn't stop us from being our young and silly selves.

We moved a few times trying to find the right place to settle down.

We found a great home in West Jordan, and worked on expanding our family to include Lizzy.

Even with a moody little girl in our lives, we are still happy.

And we still act young and silly together whenever we can.

We took our first grown up vacation this last year and now look forward to baby number 3.

Some have asked us if the "seven year itch" got to us, but we can both give that a resounding no. Our seventh year was the best one yet.  I'm the luckiest girl in the world to be married to James. He's 100% invested in his family, so what's not to love?  Year 8 should be great!

The Joys of Pregnancy

I can think of a few. (Keep in mind, I don't enjoy all of these, so I'll put a star next to the ones that I do enjoy at one point or another during pregnancy.)

*Throwing up
*Stretch Marks
*Swollen Feet
*Swollen hands
*Swollen everything
*Eczema so bad you feel like your bones are itching
*Hemorrhoids
*Constipation
*Lack of sleep because you are SO uncomfortable
Broken ribs
*Husband comments on how you look like a beached whale (he meant this in love, and I was not offended)
*Back aches
*Out of control weight gain
"The Mask" of pregnancy
*Having to pee in a cup every 4 then 2, then 1 weeks, and missing the cup because your belly is SO big you can't see what you're doing
*Taking horse pills every day (aka prenatal supplements), and oh yeah, the iron one too because your baby is sucking all of that away from you
*Cavities because the baby wants your calcium too
*The indignity of maternity pants
*Pubis symphisis dysfunction (you don't know it, but it hurts)
*Walking like a penguin
*Averaging 3 trips to the bathroom in the middle of the night

I've missed some. I know it. Why the list you ask?  Because of the last one on the list. The trips to the bathroom. I was on my second trip (it was only 11:15 and I had turned off the light at 10:45) and I realized how BLESSED I am to have indoor plumbing. Seriously, I can't imagine having to hike out to the outhouse 5 times a night, in a foot of snow, just because this baby loves hanging out on my bladder. The thought was almost enough to get me out of bed a third time to give that porcelain thrown a kiss.

I resisted.

 8 months pregnant with Logan

 8 months pregnant with Lizzy

 6 months pregnant now

 Newborn Logan

Newborn Lizzy

And here's where I am longing to see a newborn picture of Siri. 3 more months.

This post may seem like just a long list of complaints, but I followed it up with the most precious pictures you can imagine. I wouldn't trade the gift of being pregnant with my own children for anything. My heart breaks for the way too many couples who are infertile. Despite the many "hardships" of pregnancy, it really is a wonderful, magical experience. My Heavenly Father has blessed me greatly. 

Conference Monkey bread

I don't know how often my Mom made monkey bread for conference, but obviously it was often enough that I associate monkey bread with conference. Six months ago, I decided that I wanted to make conference day monkey bread a tradition in my own home. I emailed my sister (who I know makes it every conference) to ask her for the recipe. She uses a different bread recipe than my Mom did, but that doesn't matter. All you need is dough. So even though I will include my sister's bread recipe, keep in mind, you can use any bread recipe, or even use frozen dough, like rhodes rolls.


60 Minute Rolls

Combine:
3 1/2 C. flour
1/4 C. sugar
2 Tbsp. yeast

2 Tbsp. dry milk powder
1 tsp. salt


In a glass measuring cup combine:
1 1/2 C. hottest tap water
1/4 C. oil
Gradually pour the liquid into the dry mixture, stirring. Beat (by hand or mixer) for 1 minute.
Gradually add:
1 C. flour
and knead for 4 minutes. Cover and let rise for 15 minutes.

While it is rising, get two bowls.
Bowl 1: 1 stick of melted butter or margarine
Bowl 2: combine 1 1/2 cups of sugar with 2 tablespoons cinnamon.

Spray a bundt pan, and sprinkle some of the cinnamon sugar mixture on the bottom.

After the rolls have risen for 15 minutes, punch the dough down, and pinch off golf ball sized pieces. Drench them in butter and then roll them in the cinnamon sugar. Layer the dough balls in your pan. I like to sprinkle extra cinnamon sugar between the layers of dough balls.  Let rise another 15 minutes.

Cook in the oven at 375 for 20-25 minutes.  Dump them out and enjoy!