I'm watching basketball

Well, not really. I'm blogging, but Chris is watching. So I have some new pictures to put on that I know you've all been waiting on the edge of your seats for, biting your nails. I went to my fondant class yesterday and we all made our very own disney princess/old woman doily cake. It would never be something I would make on my own- not really my style. But it was good to learn all the techniques it involved- making bows, quilting, plunger flowers, roses, ruffles, and just covering the cake in general! I had a ton of fun! There was 6 of us in the class, so we all talked and got to know each other all day. I sat by Irina- who's daughter was there to interperet for her. We thought she only spoke Russian, but then her daughter left and she was talking our ears off! We loved her- plus, she was a rose wizard! She was whipping those things out left and right. They were the hardest part, but definitely the most fun. The completed product:

After my class, I went and watched the Elder's Quorum do a home-run derby. Yes, I was the only wife to go watch, and yes I felt stupid being at all elder's quorum activity, and yes, it was absolutely freezing outside, but it was way fun to watch them! Plus, I got to embarrass Chris by cheering for him when he hit 4 out of the park :)

Derek is in our ward and in Chris' program with him. He graduates this year and he and his wife, Lauryn, just had a new baby! It is really funny to see him holding his tiny newborn, because he's about 6'10". He's a pretty large guy- but definitely one of the nicest people in the world. He looks like a pro with his boston jersey :)

After the derby, the guys all came over with their wives, and we ate tons of good food and played games. We really love our new ward and they've made us feel super welcome. The best thing about a new ward is getting to know all the different personalities. There's 2 couples who have about 4 kids each, that one night after putting all their kids in bed, came and toilet papered us. One of the ladies was laughing when she said, "Our kids have no idea where we go at night." I believe we'll fit in nicely in this ward :)

I FORGOT

I can't believe I forgot Dr. Freuen's cake! He liked his a lot. He was very cute about telling us we couldn't quit working there to open our own cake business. What a sweetheart.

i'll admit it. i'm a horrible updater.

I know. I just noticed it had been a good 6-7 months since I've last blogged. What can I say? I'm flighty. So! Since last time, I'll try to hit the highlights of what has gone on. I don't remember October. November? We had Thanksgiving dinner at Samgie's (Sam and Angie) new house! 5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, swimming pool, it has the works. BUT didn't have a finished basement. Enter: Chris. It started out as concrete:

And he made it into this!

He framed, put up walls and ceilings, knocked down other walls, installed stuff for a future surround sound system, and most importantly: MADE ME A WALK-IN CLOSET. Oh, I guess this is the part where I tell you that he was refinishing the basement so we could rent it from Samgie :) As if you couldn't guess from the pictures. So that's where we are living! I think we have some aversion to the light of day. When we lived in Logan right after we got married, we lived in that little basement apartment, moved to Spokane and his parent's basement, and then we rent Samgie's basement. I hope someday we get to enjoy windows... Anyway, here are some more construction pics for you to enjoy! Ps, I helped a lot. I'm a good helper.

He had a lot of dust in his hair and beard in this one!

I'm a Good painter.

I just thought this one was kinda hot. Power tools: Rawr.

Around the time he started on the basement, Chris also took on another project. He was assistant coach for the JV basketball team for Mead High School, where he graduated from. He had so much fun being Coach Dodd and he came home from practice every night with stories for me. We invited them over one Saturday to watch a basketball game and they ended up staying for over 10 hours. We had so much fun and I kicked all their behinds in Wii sword fighting :)

This is only half of all the boys that were there. I febreezed after ;)

For Christmas, we went to Idaho and spent it with my family! Everyone was there, except Ady J, who spent the holidays with Jen's family in Tejas! We missed him lots, but I'm sure he did have a nice sunshiny holiday. For my birthday, I got fired from my dance teacher job, but got a promotion at the doctor's office, so it worked out! I still miss my girls, but I'm planning on going to the recital to see them perform.

Man, have you ever tried to remember 7 months worth of activities at one time? I'm struggling.

Around February, I decided I wanted to learn how to decorate cakes, so I've been trying my hand at that, and found that I LOVE IT. I am signed up for classes in May and a fondant class this month, but this is what I have done so far:

For Sam's birthday, I wanted to make him a cake with a motorcycle, but I'm a procrastinator, and a weird car with AstroBoy is the only thing I could come up with at the last moment. So I made it look like Astro-Sam was running over a bunny while his bunny girlfriend looked on in horror. Also, I wanted to practice my piped grass. I think it turned out pretty ok.

This is my Shelley friend! We made Janice, a girl we worked with, a cake for her going away party. It had a twinkie underneath the fondant. If you look close, you can see the bump :) I painted on the tiger stripes and a tattoo with Janice's name in it. Rawr.

This was Chris's birthday cake. My very first cake ever. He wanted chocolate and I gave him chocolate boobs instead!

Shelley and I made cakes for Doctor's appreciation day for the physicians we work with. This one was Doctor Hardy's. He is going to be my doctor when I am afflicted by the pregnancy virus.

Fishy face Hardy.

Dr. Havin's cake. He is from St. Louis and loves the cardinals. Coincidently, doctor's day coordinated nicely with the Cardinal's season opener game! Dr. Havin also likes the show Mad Men, so we had to decide between a baseball hat, and a figure of him with a fedora, gin in one hand, and a cigarette in the other. We decided this was more appropriate to share with his young family at home.

The last two cakes are my favorites! The jelly-bean-pooping sheep was for Dr. Mckenna. He has one of those little toys that you push on the body and jelly beans fall out his behind. So we made a cake version. I love his googaly eyes most :) Eat your heart out Michelle!

My other favorite was for Dr. Cathcart. Her favorite color is purple and she is always talking about her purse, therefore, we made her a purple purse. Make sure you look at the zipper! I loooove the zipper!

So those are my latest attempts at a hobby. We all know how flighty I am, but I feel really good that this hobby will stick, because I love it so much and could do it at home when I have little ones of my own.

Best news for last I suppose: WE ARE GOING TO THE TEMPLE TO BE SEALED TOGETHER FOREVER!!! We are so blessed in our daily lives. We have a beautiful place to live, we have more than enough food, great jobs, and haven't had to worry too much about money. But even after all of those blessings, Heavenly Father blesses us more with a miracle. I feel so grateful for families and friends who love and support us and who have said too many prayers to count. They worked. Heavenly Father answered all our prayers. Chris and I have both dreamed of this since we were young and it is finally going to happen! We would love to have everyone who can make it to come with us. We don't know for sure when it will be yet, but you better believe I will keep you posted on this issue :) Thank you thank you thank you everyone who has prayed so hard for us. We love you!