Spring Break

Katelyn, Brian and baby Lily came to see us for Easter weekend. Katelyn wanted this...



...but got this instead.



So we made the best of what we had. We went sledding.

Lily looked like this when we first put her down in the snow...



...but she warmed up to it real quick!



She liked to lean forward and stick her face right in the snow, but her favorite part was the sledding. She made super cute excited noises all the way down the hill and then when the ride was over, she said, "More!"

This picture makes me laugh.

And so does this one.

We got waffles in Salt Lake City one morning and then went back later that night for Tony Caputo's.

Nathan and I heared that Nathan's cousin had opened a pizza place in Provo, so of course we had to give it a try.

Waiting for the pizzas...

It was hands down the best pizza I've ever had - thanks Eric, we'll definitely be back (especially because I've been seriously craving the Buffalo Wing Pizza ever since)!

Time for bowling in the Wilkinson Center at BYU.

Strike!

The anticipation of a strike. It was.

Let's not forget Easter.

Thanks for coming guys, and for bringing Lily - that was the best part!

Just Some Pics

I have a picture of me and Nathan on our kitchen wall that I've been wanting to update. The weather was really nice a couple of Sundays ago, so I begged Gillian to take a few shots of us. We didn't get any good enough to put on the wall, but I'll post a couple of them here...in case anyone at home has forgotten what we look like.

Albatross

Elliot's class did their animal reports a couple weeks ago. Elliot was given the Albatross. He made a trifold poster with pictures and facts, which he did entirely on his own. He was also required to make a habitat containing his animal made out of clay. Elliot made his clay albatross without any help from me. It turned out pretty cool. See?

Karate Kid

Henry took a six week karate class at the elementary school. He didn't really like it that much - I think he was expecting to become a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle after the first class. He didn't even earn a belt...but he looked cute doing the moves!

April Fools

Was this you, Emily? Ha ha.

Something - asaurus

- by Henry

14 Years

Today (March 9), Nathan and I have been married 14 years! We celebrated this anniversary in style. Friday night, we checked into a Bed & Breakfast on Capitol Hill in Salt Lake City, just blocks from Temple Square. I love staying in these old grand mansions full of history and charm.





After we checked in, we drove to Holladay to have dinner at Franck's, a fancy four-star restaurant that served French American cuisine. We were very impressed - from the appetizer to dessert. Everything we put in our mouths was absolutely de-lish! Nathan fell in love with the carrot cake nested in a tower of swirled white and milk chocolate. I had the lemon creme brulee with a tiny scoop of house-made lemon ice cream. Oh-my-gosh!

When we got back to our room at the Inn, there were candles lit and music playing. Very romantic. Nathan and I laid on the bed for a while (to let all of that yummy food digest) and our thoughts reflected back to when Nathan proposed way back on December 23, 1995. I asked Nathan, "If 35 year-old Nathan could go back in time and talk to 21 year-old Nathan right before he proposed, what would he tell him?" Nathan thought about that for a second and responded, "He would tell him, 'Go for it, because it's going to be awesome!'"



The next morning, we were served breakfast in bed and then we headed out to enjoy some downtown urban living. We shopped at some vintage stores and found this:



For lunch, we stumbled upon this amazing Italian market/deli called Tony Caputo's. I died over the parmesan cheese that was sprinkled all over my pasta cacciatori, so I bought half a pound of it in the market!





Nathan and I also found and tasted to best chocolates ever. Chris Blue is a genius chocolatier and only sells his handmade and painted chocolates there at Caputo's and in his store in Berkley, CA.




I had the lemon truffle and the passion fruit caramel. Nathan tried pistachio and grapefruit & rosemary. Pistachio was the best.


We also made a quick stop at Les Madeleine's Bakery for a Kouing-aman and went to the Joseph Smith Memorial Building for some Mormon "essentials". As we walked through Temple Square, we saw many new brides having their pictures taken. As we passed one newly-wed couple, the bride looked away from her photographer and caught my eye. I silently told her, "Today is magical, but in 14 years, if you're lucky, you'll be just like me - still in love with the man I married, with four incredible kids at home waiting for us to return (and to give them the treats we bought for them). That's real magic."


So, Nathan. Thank you for the last 14 years - the good, the bad and the fantastic. I love you!




And 34 year-old Allison would definitely urge 20 year-old Allison to say "Yes"!

Snow?

We haven't seen this since December. I was wondering where winter went...







I love waking up to a winter wonderland.

Too bad I have to go out in it - I have lots to do today!

Bobcat

Tonight was Elliot's first Blue and Gold Banquet for Cub Scouts. Elliot was excited because he had earned the rank of Bobcat (after being in Cub Scouts for only two months) and received his first badge. I was so proud.






He also got a pin that he was to pin on his wonderful mom.




The icing on the cake, literally, was the Most Elegant award he got for the cake that he and Nathan made together - absolutely no help from me (that's the rule). It was a hit!






Good job E!



- And yes, Elliot is due for a haircut!