A Step Up from Gordon's

I'll have to take a picture when I fry up Eric's piece for dinner, but I made the most delicious meal! We rarely have fish and when we do, it is usually a la Gordon (fish sticks). Not exactly an exquisite cuisine. Eric bought some talapia last week (frozen, yes) and I figured I should use it before I forget about it. As this was only the second time I've prepared fish, I was ecstatic when it turned out so well!!
I turned to Betty Crocker and pulled up the recipe for pan-fried fish. When I saw some variations, I thought, "why not?" and threw in the ingredients for "curry pan-fried fish." I served it (to myself...Em isn't too keen on any kind of fish) with sweet cornbread (none of that bland southern-style cornbread) and our Service foods frozen mixed vegetables (yes, I nuked them as I nearly forgot my veggies!!) Not at all fancy, but definitely delicious! I liked it so much, I even had two servings!!

PS If you haven't heard of Service foods, ask me...it's been great for us! http://servicefoods.com/

A Weekend at the Spa

Relaxed and Energized. Those are the two most appropriate words to describe the way I feel right now. How do I do it? Well, I let Eric work for Verizon and let his company pay the bill for us to be spoiled rotten for a weekend. Eric was a top employee in 2007 and was part of a reward group called "The Winner's Circle". They took 86 top employees (ranging from retail sales to top management) and let them bring a guest to the Ross Bridge Resort and Spa in Birmingham, Alabama. We laughed that we were going to a "resort" in Alabama, but as we drove up, we were amazed. It is such a beautiful resort!!!
www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/bhmhv-renaissance-ross-bridge-golf-resort-and-spa/
We left Emily with her grandparents (Mimi and Grandy...the latter name being her own creation) and took the time as a couple. We enjoyed a luxurious 50 minute Swedish Massage that simultaneously relaxed and invigorated us. The food was delicious and the rooms spacious and comfortable. To top it all off, the weekend was a paid weekend plus they reimburse us for gas...and we took the Honda...so technically, we got paid to go to this event.
Ahhhhh....is all I can say. Oh, and thank you, Verizon Wireless!!

Successful Trip

Last night we went to our favorite local mexican restaurant, Casa Mexico, in Byron, GA. Emily was so cranky and crabby. We attributed it to her escape from a nap. Little did we know that as soon as she figured out that it was the potty that she needed, she was an angel again! We are so proud of her making it through the night without an accident!!

Remember The Lost Images?

I confessed to Eric that I destroyed a bunch of images from our excursion to the cemetery. However, Eric was able to fix the files and make them readable for the computer.
This is just one of them. At the end of our walk (remember, there were tons of hills and we parked on the opposite side from where we wanted to be), Emily was tired and just couldn't get to the car (about 200 feet away). She sat down on this headstone and waited. After Eric snapped a couple pictures of her, I asked if she wanted me to carry her. With an emphatic "yes!" she mustered enough energy to stand and hop into my arms to carry her to the car.

An Odd Sense of Humor

Okay, sometimes I read things and they make me laugh. Not because of what is said, but more of HOW it is said. I have a bad habit of editing...sorry if you don't appreciate that aspect of my personality.
I've just been viewing a friend of a friend's blog (hope this doesn't offend anyone...it just came across to me as funny) and he is a photographer (BTW, he takes some amazing pictures!! So, Sarah, I might need to give you the blog site as a reference...you, too, Rach!) and after a particular shoot and revealing these images, he wrote "I shot the {surname} Family down in Provo." It's okay, you can laugh, too! Is that a dangling modifier or something? Anyway, I know "down" is in reference to Provo, but when you first read the sentence, doesn't it sound like something else?
Another example? Well, there has also been a local church sign that reads "You can pick your friends, just not to pices." No, I didn't misspell something there...that's how it read. What's even funnier is that "pices" was on both sides of the sign!!
And don't you worry...I poke fun at myself, too!! I just posted my own error a few days ago (the previous entry) with the title of "In the Event It Doen't Transfer" and it took 24 hours or so for me to realize that something was wrong with that title and had to go back and edit it to read "doesn't". No, I didn't move to the sticks!! I just suffer from not being completely careful of what I type. So, no one really escapes it. Watch out!! I may have to cite you next! =)

Happy Easter

Emily woke up after coming home from church and was really a happy girl.

In the Event It Doesn't Transfer

On top of all the fun yesterday, we got to spend some time with the Dixons. We went to an old cemetery (and by old, I mean, there is a large section devoted to the fallen Confederate soldiers...so, a bit historic, too). It's really beautiful there with some rolling hills and unique and grandiose tombstones and markers. We took a ton of pictures. As I downloaded them, I guess things didn't quite transfer correctly. Instead of checking all the images in the folder, I saw that the first 10 had processed correctly and didn't go through the entire thing. Bad choice. All of those photos are gone and there was a darling one of Emily. Delete! In one click, I destroyed those images from the camera and have nothing from our excursion. Ironic that we lost only the images taken within confines of the cemetery.

First Family Picnic

The weather has been so beautiful that we took the chance on Eric's day off yesterday to have a picnic in our front yard. Emily took charge by helping me make sandwiches. She understood the concept of stacking; just not that of making it fit on the bread.
Oh! If every day could be as gorgeous and relaxing!

Just in Time for Easter

Just thought you should know, even Hannah is springing into spring and trying to convince people that SHE is actually the Easter Bunny.

Potty Mouth

Okay, before any of you start thinking that I'm going to start swearing...this about toilet training. These days, it is about the most exciting thing in my life, so I am constantly talking about the potty.
We introduced the potty chair to Emily quite a few months ago and were hoping that potty training would come soon to follow. Well, we're in the depths of it now, and so incredibly thrilled!! We're on our third day with only one accident. She knows when she has to go and always goes straight to the potty when she is bare-bottomed. Now the transition of knowing you aren't supposed to go in your pants. I'm thrilled that she is learning this skill. Anyone who isn't a parent probably may not appreciate the excitement of your child no longer giving you dirty diapers, but saving those messes for the toilet instead...but it is awesome!
Now, if we could just convince her to be quiet and calm during Sacrament Meeting...now, THAT would be an accomplishment!!

From Another Point of View

If you haven't heard yet, my brother-in-law Adam is getting baptized next month!! We are so excited for him and his family. What an amazing blessing.
As Eric and I were discussing things last night we realized how amazing it is to have someone you have known for so long make the decision to be baptized. Don't get me wrong, those incredible individuals I was blessed to interact with and teach in Las Vegas who chose to be baptized are important and their baptisms are highlights in my life. However, as a close family member, this makes it all the more amazing. Adam has been around the family for seven years (or something like that...I get mixed up sometimes, so correct me if I am wrong!). In that time period, he has been an outstanding guy and a Christian. There's a quote that states, "The gospel will make bad men good and good men better" (quoted by Pres. Monson, Pres. Hinckley, Legrand Richards, and Pres. McKay...take your pick). Well, the latter pertains to Adam...it will make this good man even better!
Congratulations, Adam! May the Spirit continue to prompt and guide you in your life! We love you!

Fun in the Sun

Nothing compares to watching the sunrise together as a family from your bed. It was beautiful!
We spent the last week in Daytona Beach, Florida. It was really fun and wonderful to have some family time together where none of our daily worries could bother us. Away from all responsibility but the best: family. We don't take enough time to spend with those we love the most. Let me encourage you: DO IT!! We've made a promise to take the time at least once a year from here on out to drop everything and focus on our family. I'm so excited for it.

Does a Fish Beg?

It was 9:30pm and Emily was DYING to go swimming again. Eric called the front desk and asked if he could take her out. They said as long as they were quiet, they could stay out all night. Well, taking her to the pool was actually going to keep her quiet, so out they went. It was way too cold for me, but they had fun swimming and floating in the pool at night.
We did go down to the beach, but Em was not a fan of the roar of the waves, so mostly we just walked or dug up the beach with her sand shovel. We're not at the point of understanding building; only tearing down.

(So as not to offend with Emily's nudity, I painted a suit on her in photoshop. If you'd like to order one of these designer swimsuits, please call 1800BoydSwm.)

Em's Updated Room

I keep forgetting, but Mom sent Emily her comforter and curtains. It makes it look so much more like a little girl's room instead of a cell. It's beautiful and we love it!!

Bubbles are Scary

We let Emily play in the tub yesterday with some bubble bath. As we put her in, she started freaking out. She didn't want the bubbles to stick to her. She eventually "fought" them off with her watering can. I had no idea bubbles could cause an adverse reaction in children!!
Also, notice how long Em's hair has gotten?? With it being curly all the time, we forget the length she actually has!

PS

This is a comment you should hear about the previous picture...Em's hair is crazy in the morning. I know, she is quite the fashion statement.

When We're Helping We're Happy

I got up this morning and started cleaning. When I came out of the laundry room, this is what I found. So, cute, huh? Emily really loves to do the things I do. She also helped me vacuum the cushions from the sofa and she loves helping me with the laundry and dishes. If only this would continue through life!!

Swimming, Swimming, In My Swimming Pool

Saturday was Emily's first chance to go swimming. It was so much fun to watch her learn how to float and "swim". She figured out the kicking right off and had fun with Caleb in the pool. I was amazed that she wasn't afraid of the water and just took to it like a fish! We're (hopefully) getting a membership and doing this at least every Saturday (it's the only day they allow kids). Eric loves to swim, too, so it will be a fun family outing when he can come with us.