Lately

A couple of our friends decided Iron Chef once a month wasn't quite enough. Thus Ethnic Chef was created. 

 First month: Mediterranean. Complete with hummus, pita, tzatziki, fallafel and lots of other deliciousness.

Second month: Cuban. Which Tyler interpreted quite broadly and pulled out his Nacho Libre stretchy pants, Ecuadorian soccer jersey and American flag speedo...but he does make some killer chifle (fried plantains). I think the fact that he is still wearing his church socks is my favorite part of the get-up. Sure love this man.

 

I also have been baking up a storm ever since I found out I have joined the glutard club (Celiac disease). After a good cry I determined not to let Celiac interfere with one of my favorite past times so I learned how to make my own flour and bake gluten-free bread, waffles, cookies, cakes, crepes, pizza dough, etc. 

I'm grateful that I have such a supportive family to teach me the ropes of gluten-free living and a wonderful mom who sent pounds and pounds of flour and pizza dough mix. I also have been so touched and thankful to our many friends who have gone out of their way to de-glutenize their recipes so I can eat them. We are truly blessed to have such wonderful people in our lives! 

I've always wanted to fly a kite down on the mall. So off we went to Target to buy our Cinderella kite and made my dream come true.  

Every May there's an event called Passport DC where the embassies open their doors and let you have a peak into their lives and culture. I think it is one of the coolest things to do in DC. The first Saturday was "Around the World" and I went to Afghanistan, Barbados, Sri Lanka, Serbia, Azerbaijan and Nepal.

The second Saturday we met up with friends and went to Latvia, Romania, Ireland...

...Spain...

...Lithuania, Croatia and Slovenia. 

We have been loving the warm weather and being able to spend time at the pool and take walks through the forests by our house. I can't get over how green it is here!

Also, Tyler has spent the past 6 weeks studying his brains out and still has 4 more to go.  Poor guy.  It truly is remarkable how hard he has worked to get where he is. He'll be a doctor at age 28.  Crazy! Only two more years to go.  I'm so proud of him. I'm blessed to be married to such a great guy who always finds time to spend with me and help around the house even though he's so busy. I love him to pieces. 

Him studying all the time equals me working all the time. It's great to be busy but we sure can't wait until June 22nd when we get to head out west to spend some quality time with our family and friends in So Cal, Salt Lake and Lake Powell!!! Yippee! 

Iron Chef

Our friends started this fabulous tradition where we get together once a month and have a little food competition called Iron Chef.  Objective: Bring one or more dish featuring the chosen ingredient. Some of the ingredients that have been chosen: avocado, cinnamon, lime, coconut, mango, raspberry, egg, artichoke, honey, ginger, salmon, basil, vinegar. After we feast we vote on which dish was the best and the winner picks the next ingredient and hosts the next get-together. 

I wish I had taken more pictures of the food because there is always an amazing and delicious spread.

The time we hosted we managed to squish 20+ people into our little apartment. 

Although the food is always amazing, the best part is just hanging out with all of our fabulous friends.

Birthday

The week of my birthday was so much fun. The best part about it was that the sun came out and brought springtime and blossoms with it. On Monday Tyler and I did yoga outside at Georgetown. Tuesday we went rock climbing for the first time this season.

Wednesday was my actual birthday. I woke up to my car being decorated by my darling friend Randi. 

After work Tyler and I went to dinner at Chef Geoff's. Followed by seeing the cherry blossoms at the Tidal Basin with the Bushes.

Finally my sweet friend Ali organized a little get together in Georgetown. We ate treats from Baked & Wired and sat on a blanket near the waterfront and enjoyed each other's company. We have the best friends! I love you all and thanks for making my birthday special!

Friday night we went to Cafe Rio, Target and exchanged my birthday present from Tyler for a different size at REI.  He got me a darling water proof, wind proof rain jacket. Saturday the Bushes invited us to go to the Nats game with them! Gabe had extra tickets that he got from his law school and they were kind to invite us along. Thanks so much! We always have the best time with you guys!

Blair & Diana Visit

Two days after Liz & Clark left we got to see Tyler's parents. We were terrible about taking pictures with them but we did lots of fun things. The first day we went to our three favorite Smithsonians: American History, Natural History and Air & Space, followed by the botanical gardens and a delectable meal at Chef Geoff's (new favorite restaurant).

The next day we met up with Tyler's cousins at the temple, did a session and went to lunch afterwards. Next a tour of the monuments followed by dinner at Maggiano's and dessert at Thomas Sweets.

Third day we went to the National Archives, did a tour of the Capitol, walked around Old Town and ate at La Tasca, a delicious Spanish tapas place. There was a man set up near the water front playing music with crystal glasses. It was remarkable!

After a nap Tyler showed his parents around Georgetown's campus and we finished it up with some ice cream at Haagen Dazs.

We had so much fun being able to visit with Blair and Diana and are so grateful they came out to see us!

Lizzie & Clark Visit

We were so excited to have Lizzie & Clark come to town! Lizzie and I have known each other since birth and she started dating Clark when we were 15; so we go way back. 

There was lots of staying up late chatting, watching movies and some intense rounds of Settlers of Catan; eating at delicious restaurants, Old Glory BBQ, Fishers Farmers Bakers, Serendipity & Haagen Dazs; window shopping, bus riding, freezing our butts off, cooking meals.

And of course, sightseeing:

Jefferson Memorial

Awesome view from the top of the old post office building.

Smithsonian Castle 

Utah pride at the WWII museum.

National Cathedral 

Salt Lake Round 2

While my parents took a much needed vacation to this beautiful place...

... I headed back to Salt Lake to hang out with my brothers. We had a blast!

The first night back Jake made these fabulous ribs in my dad's smoker.

Jake is working on getting his pilot's license so he took Matt and I up in this little plane.

It was a bit crazy to see Jake at the controls. 

It was a beautiful day once we got out of the icky inversion. 

Matt and I went skiing at Park City. 

We went to Airborne, a place with trampolines and foam pits, etc. and had so much fun there. How are boys so fearless? My brothers would just try any trick, no questions asked. The most daring I got was a double front flip and a gainer. 

It was so fun to see all of my family and friends and I'm so glad my parents were able to get away.

Salt Lake for Christmas

We love going home to Utah for Christmas. Living away makes Christmas more fun because we are always overjoyed to see our family and friends and we get to sleep at our parents houses and have a two week vacation. We didn't do a very good job of taking pictures this year but here is what we've got.

One of the things I love and miss about Salt Lake is the mountains. They are so majestic and gorgeous. And oh, the skiing, there's nothing quite like it. Tyler and I were lucky enough to go skiing four times in the two weeks we were there. Twice by ourselves, once with my family and once with his.

My parents redid their main floor between Thanksgiving and Christmas and boy were we surprised! The kept it a secret from us and I'm glad they did because it was such a fun surprise. Everything looks gorgeous and it made the house feel so much more warm and inviting.

I absolutely love playing games with my family. We always have so much fun. We played lots of games while we were there but one of my favorites was definitely the Minute to Win It games we played. One of the games you have to get a cookie from your forehead to your mouth. It's quite hysterical.

Christmas Eve was the Haslam Family party. We drank the traditional pineapple slush and Santa came so the kids could sit on his lap. We opened our ornaments from Grandma & Grandpa and had some good laughs looking through old photo albums. Jamie, Whitney and I tried to recreate this gem from 2002.

After the Haslam party we went back to my parents' house to open our Christmas pajamas, have a spiritual Christmas message and then watched old videos of Christmas morning.

Christmas morning we opened our gifts at my parents house, then had our traditional Christmas breakfast on my mom's China. After that we went over to the Kents' for opening gifts and more breakfast. Jen, Missy and I all got Blendtec's from Blair and Diana.



  

That night we went to Grandma & Grandpa Shields' for their Christmas party. 

My dad, brothers and I spent most of one day building this snow fort. I had never built one before and it was quite fun. My parents got their hot tub working again so of course we had to get into the fort in our swimsuits and then run and jump in the hot tub.

We were even able to squish four of us in there for lunch and hot cocoa.

New Years Eve we went to Biaggi's with my family for dinner, then headed over to the Hank's. We played the Game of Things, caught up with old friends, ate delicious treats, played Just Dance on the Kinect and drank Martinelli's and kissed our spouses at midnight. 

Last year Dawson and Missy introduced us to Lowe's Xtreme Sports in Provo. We went down with my family and had a blast. Me, Tyler and my dad and brothers all did double front flips. We were pretty proud of ourselves. 

Tyler has a pretty impressive toe touch.

And what's a trip to Utah without going to Nielson's? 

We had so much fun and already miss all of you wonderful people!