DATING PICS: VOLUME 1

Dave is in Las Vegas for the weekend. I think the worst part is having to sleep in this house by myself. I can never get to sleep when he is gone and plus it is just a little scary. I do have Avery to protect me though. So I thought I would start sharing some of our million pictures we have from when we were dating since I am here by my lonesome with nothing to do... except some homework but who wants to do homework?? That's right... I can procrastinate like no one's business! Anyway, they will be in installments so here are some of our first pictures together.

So this is our first ever picture together. We had been dating for a week and I invited him to go camping with my family. Apparently I was twitterpated and not thinking clearly. Who invites someone they have been dating for one week to spend an entire weekend in a cramped trailer with their whole family? I do, apparently. Obviously he was twitterpated too because he accepted so the next weekend, we went camping with my family. And of course it rained the entire time so we spent probably a good 85-90% of our time inside my parents' trailer. When it finally stopped raining at the end of the weekend, we were all a little stir crazy and my family and I started playing this ridiculous game that we made up with a tennis ball and those velcro sticky-catcher contraptions. We were out of control. When Dave made it through that and had actually enjoyed himself, there was no denying that it was meant to be.

These picture were when we had been together for one month, I think. Our "one-month-a-versary" if you will. :) And Dave was actually playing his guitar and not paying attention when I took the picture on the top so that is why he looks all deep in thought or something... he wasn't actually posing for the picture... he just looks that good naturally. :)

This picture I actually just took before this Christmas while Dave was growing out his beard for the Christmas Eve mustache contest. I just really like it and wanted to post it while he isn't here to say no. :)

Who is this domesticated person and where did she come from??

So this is my attempt at the Doubletree cookies. I can't remember how they compare to the real thing but they are probably the best cookies I have made. The pictures don't really do them justice but they look yummy in real life! And to quote Dave..."they are freakin' good!!" :) I don't usually take pictures of my cookies but I am kinda proud of these ones so I thought I would share! I am determined to become a master cookie maker!!

I made a chicken pot pie today, too. It is one of Dave's favorite things that I make. It takes a while but it is worth it. Well, it takes me a while anyway. Anyway, here is the recipe.

Chicken (or Turkey) Potpies

Makes 2 pies

2 medium potatoes, peeled and cut into 1 inch pieces

3 medium carrots, cut into 1 inch slices

1 medium onion, chopped

1 celery rib, diced

2 tablespoons butter

1 tablespoon olive oil

6 tablespoons all-purpose flour

3 cups chicken broth

4 cups cubed cooked chicken (or turkey)

2/3 cup frozen peas

1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon heavy whipping cream, divided

1 tablespoon minced fresh parsley (or 1 teaspoon dried parsley)

1 teaspoon garlic salt

1/4 teaspoon pepper

1 package (15 oz) refrigerated pie pastry

1 egg

Saute the potatoes, carrots, onion, and celery in butter and oil until tender. Stir in flour until blended, gradually add broth. Bring to boil, cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Stir in turkey, peas, 1/2 cup cream, parsley, garlic salt and pepper.

Spoon into two ungreased 9-inch pie plates. Roll out pastry to fit top of each pie, place over filling. Trim, seal, and flute edges. Cut out a decorative center or cut slits in pastry. In a small bowl, whisk egg and remaining cream, brush over dough.
Cover and freeze one potpie for up to 3 months. Bake the remaining potpie at 375 degrees for 40-45 minutes or until golden brown. Let stand 10 minutes before cutting.

To use frozen potpie: Remove from freezer 30 minutes before baking. Cover edges of crust loosely with foil, place on baking sheet. Bake at 425 degrees for 30 minutes. Reduce heat to 350 degrees, remove foil. Bake 55-60 minutes longer or until golden brown.

I only saute the potatoes and stuff for a few minutes because I figure they are going to be in the oven for 45 minutes so they will cook and it has always turned out for me and it is all fully cooked. I get a pie pastry thing for the top and the bottom because I like it better that way. Also, I don't brush the top with the egg and cream because I am too lazy and it usually takes me forever to even get to the point when I am putting it in the oven so I just want to put it in and forget about it.

Who knows when I became this person that shares recipes and is obsessed with baking!? WEeeird...

Wedding pics!!

So, I was in the process of spiffing up our blog and I thought I would share some wedding and reception pictures. I got a little carried away so there are a lot of them... but not as many as I could have shared... anyway... enjoy.

Me and my lovely "non-bridesmaids"...

Me and my beautiful best friends/sisters...

Me and my handsome older brothers...

Me and my marvelous, kind, beautiful, fun, loving mother...

Dave and my wonderfully amazing mom-and-pop-in-law...

Dave and his siblings...

Me and my loving, patient, hilarious, handsome father...

My whole family (brothers, sisters, sig. others, parents, grandparents)

Reception place...

My bouquet and cake in the background...

This is the poster that Dave took to my dad when he asked for his blessing to marry me. It has "five reasons why you should let me marry your daughter". There was also a place where my dad had to sign an agreement.

Dana's son... isn't he adorable!!

Another view of the reception place...

Me and Dave and our parents at the temple..

He should be on the cover of GQ magazine :)

I don't really like this picture... I think I look like a doofus but Dave likes it. I can't do serious looks.

Not gonna lie... this one with everyone watching us kiss was pretty awkward. There is another one like it where she had everyone cheer... even more awkward... for everyone.

SEATTLE: ferries, food, and fun

We went to Seattle last weekend for a conference thing for Dave's job. It was a quick trip but fun. Most of the pictures are from our ferry boat ride. We took the ferry to Bainbridge Island which was a really cool place. It was like it's own little world. We could have taken some pretty sweet pictures there but we had a limited amount of time before we had to catch the ferry back to Seattle so the only picture we took was out the window of the car of the seagull on top of that piece of wood thing sticking out of the water. I'm sure there is a name for that piece of wood thing but I don't know it. We ate at Duke's Chowderhouse and it was SOO good!! We got some cajun chicken corn chowder and we would definitely give it two thumbs up. I also got a mahi taco and it was very good too. We also ate at a place called Pegasus Pizza which had some feta bread (like garlic bread only with mozzarella and feta cheese and sunflower seeds) that was excellent. And I don't know if any of you have ever had the cookies that they give you when you check-in at a Doubletree hotel but they are amazing! It is one of my life goals to be able to make a cookie that good. I don't know the secrets yet but I will find them believe me! We didn't have a whole lot of time to do much more than eat and ride the ferry but it was still fun to get out of town and next time we go back to Seattle (maybe to do the Seattle half marathon?) we will know what else we want to do and where we want to go.