Mason's Home!

Husband and I went "home" to Mesa from March 7th-March 14th.  It was so wonderful to be back and spend some quality time with my family.

March 7th- Tax Time

But before we could have any "FUN" we had to get down to business and visit Uncle Ray the CPA to do our taxes.  Hours after our plane touched ground in Arizona we were sitting in his office getting it done.  It's so great to have a CPA in the family.  Last year we got married, bought and sold a house, moved states, did work on our house in Texas that we own and rent out, I made some money (from my millions of different jobs that I'm technically self-employed in), and he of course made some money.  Trying to do it all on Turbo-Tax would have been a living Hell!  Ray got it done in just over an hour.  A week later we got our Federal tax return and our Arizona return should be here anytime.  BAM!  That felt good.

Then the FUN began.

March 8th-Tanny's Bridal Shower
Tannis got engaged on Valentine's day!  And she's getting married April 27th...yeah, THAT soon!  And being her big sister I HAD to throw her an awesome bridal shower.  Since I was already planning on being in AZ for Mason's homecoming this weekend I decided to hurry and throw one together for this trip.  It was a great success!  Yummy food, fun decorations, lots of great people, and she got loads of gifts!

March 9th- Elder Mason Rhett Crandell returns home from his mission in Boston, MA!
The ultimate reason why husband and I even planned this trip was to be there when Mason got home.  I'm so happy we sacrificed the money and time so we could be there.  Husband and I met and got married while Mason was on his mission.  So when Mason got off the plane at Sky Harbor and walked past security it was the first time husband and him met!  I cried a little.  I'm very close to Mason so it was really fun for them to finally meet.  It was pretty much complete chaos with everyone at the airport.  The kids all had balloons attached to them and they loved running around with them :)  Husband and I took our nieces Paige and Emery up and down the "Eskimos" to help keep them entertained.  It was cute how all the kids ran up to Mason to give him a hug.  My favorite was when my nephew Ian ran up to him and the first thing he said was, "Hi, Uncle Mason!  Do you want to come to my house and see my garbage trucks?"  The boy LOVES his garbage trucks.

March 10th- Family Pictures

Objectives:  

1) Wear jeans with red, black, or grey top. 

2) Get everyone in the shot. 

3) Smiling, looking at the camera, and/or holding still...optional.

Photos by

Mallory Willyerd Photo

She did a fantastic job!

By the way, do you notice the flowers on the orange and tangerine trees behind us?  It was the PERFECT time of year to be in Mesa because all the citrus trees were in bloom.  They not only look pretty, but the smell is fantastic.  Husband and I spent lots of time just sitting on my parents' front and back porches just basking in the great weather and the amazing aroma of the blossoms.  I'm convinced there is no greater smell on this earth.

March 11th- Mason speaks in church

He did a great job!  I'm so proud of my little brother and the man that he has become.  I can tell that his mission really has changed him.  If anyone knows of any single ladies...send them his way!  :)

March 12th, 12 am- Midnight run to In-N-Out

Long before husband and I started dating...actually, long before we even met...Mason would go on midnight runs to In-N-Out with his buddies.  {They went at midnight because by then it was technically not the Sabbath anymore.}  When husband and I started dating and it became apparent to me that he was just as much {if not MORE} of an In-N-Out fan as Mason, we started up the tradition again.  There were very few Monday @ Midnight In-N-Out trips that we didn't make while dating.  And when Mason got home we told him we'd take him on his first midnight run since getting back.  

March 12th to March 14th- Eat more In-N-Out and hang with Mason

These were some of the funnest days while in AZ.  It was great to just relax and spend time with Mason and the rest of the family.  

March 14th- Fly back to Houston

April 21st- Fly back to AZ for Tanny's wedding!

The grass is greener on the other side...literally!

Husband and I have now been in Texas for a grand total of 119 days {4-ish months}
It's still crazy to me that we made this move...and that we did it so quickly.

And so far I'm still very happy with our decision to move here!

That doesn't mean though that I don't miss Arizona.  I'm really missing...

{My family...especially these munchkins!}

That face is seriously so cute!!!!

{Arizona Roads/Freeways}

Seriously people, the roads in Houston STINK!!!!  A lot of them are old with cracks.  They are almost ALWAYS congested with traffic.  None of them actually go North/South or East/West.  Many of them are beautiful with huge trees lining the medians, but they also have stop signs every block.  And one of the main freeways to go downtown is tolled so you have to take surface streets to avoid paying the toll.  Stupid.

{In-N-Out}

Especially this one!

However, there are some In-N-Out's in Dallas.  Husband and I actually took a daycation to Dallas JUST so that we could go to In-N-Out.  We had it 3 times while were were there...all in one day.  Actually when we first got there {just before 10 am, 'cause we left Houston at 6 am} the regional manager was there and heard our story, so that first meal was free!  Holla!

And I miss going to the grocery store, or going out to eat, or even just driving down the street and seeing people that I know.  It's kinda weird for me to live somewhere where I really don't know many people.

*****************************************

BUT...

There are a lot of things that I love about Houston, TX!

{People here say "Yes, ma'am!"} 
or "Thank you, ma'am!" or "Can I help you with that, ma'am?" Which makes me feel kinda old, but I also kinda love it.  It's that southern charm that really makes me love the people here.

{These bumper stickers...}
And yes.  I do actually see these bumper stickers on cars around here.

And my favorite...

{Green grass, trees, and something called RAIN}
Which I've only ever heard about until I moved here.

And now that I'm teaching more dance it's beginning to feel more like HOME.

Oh, and husband's work schedule is MUCH better now!
{No more working on Sundays!!!!!}

PS...Mason comes home from his mission on March 9th.  Husband and I are going to AZ then to see him!  I'm seriously so excited!!!

2012...You've got big shoes to fill!

I don't think there is any way that 2012 could possibly top 2011.

2011 was by far the best year of my life.  Here's why...

Met Nick

(technically that was in 2010, but it was at the end or 2010 so it counts!)

Dated Nick
Went to Vegas with Nick and met his parents

Got engaged to Nick

Married Nick in Mesa, AZ Temple

Went to Rocky Point for Honeymoon with Nick

Gained a whole new family
Ate at In-N-Out a lot

Sold a house

Moved to Texas

Bought our year-supply

Put together our 72-hour kits

Learned to bake good bread

Taught lots of dance to awesome students

Went to Disneyland

Became more informed and opinionated about politics and local, national, and world issues

And while I hesitate to write down any New Year's Resolutions, here are the things that husband and I have already been, and hope to continue, working on...

Decide on a home to buy

(city or country or somewhere in-between)

Become more self-reliant

Continue to add to our year supply

Garden

Stay in shape/get in better shape

(running together is actually one of our faves)

Pray often

Cook new things

Stay informed

Balance Balance Balance
Enjoy life
and
Love each other more and more each day!
(that one shouldn't be hard to do)

{WELCOME 2012!}

Our First Christmas

Well, I guess technically our first Christmas together was last Christmas.

Which was spent with my family.

At our cabin.

With 11 adults.

5 little-ones.

Cramped quarters.

Playing games with my family where my brothers were on their best behavior...NOT!

And it was freezing outside.

Oh, and did I mention that we had only been dating less than a month.

Oh, and that he comes from a MUCH smaller family.

We only stayed one night, but it still amazes me that even through it all he was such a great sport and still wanted to continue dating me.

He must have really liked me.

This Christmas was spent in Houston with husband's family.

My first Christmas away from "home."

Honestly, it was kinda hard 'cause I really missed my fam...especially my nieces and nephews.

But it was fun to be a part of new family traditions.

We spent the majority of Christmas Eve

baking

sitting around the fireplace

discussing politics

eating

arguing about politics

eating

being entertained by Brooke

(the one and only grandchild...she's 4)

eating

playing some games

laughing

being entertained some more by Brooke

arguing some more about who knows what

eating

laughing some more

and then finishing it off with a viewing of JOY TO THE WORLD!

Christmas morning we
went to church
(with Elder Scott...his daughter is in our ward)
opened presents
hung out by the fireplace
ate yummy Christmas lunch
hung out some more by the fireplace
drank yummy hot cocoa
discussed/argued lots of things
and did a lot of playing with Brooke and her new toys!

ALSO...
we skyped with my fam!!!
I love Skype.
I got to see all my nieces and nephews and talk to them.
Oh, and my parents and my brothers, sister, and sister-in-laws.
Elliot came up and with his sweet voice told us, "Merry Christmas!"
Landon did his famous stare, obviously in shock over seeing us after so long,
and finished it off with a cute "Merry Christmas" as well.
Emery showed us her ballet dance.
Ian sang "Rudolph the Red-Nose Reindeer" and showed us his "hilarious" cowboy boots like Uncle Nick's.
Paige blew us some kisses and gave some really valiant attempts at saying our names.
And Jamison gave us the cutest little smiles.
We also did our sibling Christmas gift exchange.
The kiddos did the nativity...which was pretty much total chaos but totally cute!
Then mom came out with a huge bucket of presents for the kids to unwrap.
Again...total chaos.
All the while Nick and I are sitting in our quiet house watching this all on the internet.
I love modern technology!

And then a couple of hours later
Elder Mason Rhett Crandell called!!!
Can you believe that he comes home in 10ish weeks????????

{BEST CHRISTMAS EVER!}

Candy Cane Blossoms

Forget rolling out the sugar cookie dough to the perfect thickness,

cutting out the dough with cookie cutters,

and frosting them.

These are SOOOOO much easier

and cuter,

and yummier!

They're my new favorite Christmas cookie/treat!

Recipe from HERSHEY'S

What You Need

1 bag Hershey's Peppermint Kisses

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened

1 cup granulated sugar

1 egg

1 1/2 tsp vanilla

2 cups all-purpose flour

1/4 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

2 Tbsp milk

Red and Green sugar

What To Do

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees, remove wrappers from kisses

2. Beat butter, sugar, egg, and vanilla in large bowl until well blended

3. In separate bowl stir together flour, baking soda, and salt

4. Add flour mix alternately with milk to butter mixture, beating until well blended

5. Shape dough into 1-inch balls. Roll in red or green sugar. Place on ungreased cookie sheet

6. Bake 8-10 min. or until edges are lightly browned and cookie is set

7. Remove from oven; cool 2-3 min. then press kiss into center of each cookie

8. Remove from cookie sheet to wire rack.  Cool completely.

{ENJOY!!!}

I pinned it and then I made it...

This tree skirt.

I LOVE it!

Click HERE for directions.

I made mine a little different from them.
I used cotton material instead of linen 'cause the cotton was on sale for cheap.
I think I like the way mine turned out better.
It doesn't fray as much as the linen.
And I think it's a little more classy this way.
Just my opinion.

Anyway, it was really easy.
A little time consuming, but just throw on some Christmas movies and
get to some cutting and gluing and you'll be done before you know it.

PS...I still gotta finish decorating the tree :)

My newest hobby...

...is baking!

Baking BREAD to be exact.

Last month my new sister-in-law and I took a three-day 

(three hours each day)

course in downtown Houston on how to make artisan breads.

We learned how to bake

Rustic Italian

Focaccia

Ciabatta

French Baguettes

Sourdough

Rosemary Sourdough

Pain a l'Ancienne

Pizza Dough

My faves were definitely the baguettes, focaccia, and ciabatta.

And let me tell ya...these aren't exactly the easiest breads to make.

They aren't exactly super difficult either, but they are time consuming and there are certain techniques that would probably be hard to figure out if you didn't learn from someone.

Hence, why we took the class.
And it was totally worth it 'cause I learned a lot!

So far, since I took this class, I've made baguettes twice and focaccia once.

Ciabatta is next on my list.

I'm sad that I didn't get a picture of my focaccia, but here are some of my baguettes.

They turned out heavenly!  

I'm thinking of becoming a baker.

Not really.

But maybe :)