St. Patty's

St. Patrick's day is one of my favorite holidays, actually I think all holidays are:) I really wanted to do something fun for St. Patty's but as the day got closer, and especially the day of, I realized our schedule was going to be too busy to do much. I had to get allergy shots after work and then both of us had to be out the door by 5:30. Dan was going to a school performance for one of the young men at church and I went to an awards ceremony for one of the young women. We both loved getting to go!

Anyways, so I got home a few minutes before 5 and decided the only thing I could think of that was quick enough for dinner was breakfast. Since I still wanted to celebrate I figured it wouldn't take much more time to make it a green breakfast!

We had green waffles, green grapes, green juice, and a four leaf clover on top of our eggs (I didn't think I could handle eating green eggs:). I also pulled out our green Christmas tablecloth from Guatemala.

I am also quite the stickler for following St. Patrick's day rules! Dan remembered to wear green during the day (not hard when your uniform has green on it!) but when he changed into his pj's he no longer had green on. Dan goes to be earlier than I do since he has to get up at 4am. As he was trying to fall asleep I was laying next to him watching tv and kept on pinching him about every 10 seconds (I know...I can be quite annoying sometimes!). He finally got sick of it and went and put on his green military socks. I thought it was funny because he is so hot blooded that he is always in shorts and a short sleeve shirt. He never wears pants and socks unless he has to for work or church. His military socks are extremely thick and go almost to his knees so I knew he had to be burning up! After about 5 minutes of the torture I let him take off his green socks and promised I wouldn't pinch him anymore so he could get to sleep:)




I also made this plaque for St. Patty's! I was quite proud because this is the first craft project I have actually finished before the holiday (only the day before...but still!) since Halloween. I always get these great ideas and start projects and well....yeah...At least I finished my Christmas ones after Christmas!... but my Thanksgiving and January/winter projects are still sitting....:)

Happy Birthday Colt!

Like I said in the previous post, I assisted Jenni in making Colt's birthday cake. Colt loves the movie Cars so we did a Mcqueen cake. We didn't start icing the cake until almost 10pm on friday night so we were tired and ready to get it done! Plus we had to since the party was Saturday morning! Overall, I think it turned out really good! Jenni did almost all of the stars and piping. She did a really good job! She even fixed the bad cross eyes I created on the cake! I think I have gotten her addicted to cake decorating recently:)

Jenni putting on the finishing touches

Our little assistant, Jacob, wanted to help with the cake during every step! He was really excited for his brother's birthday cake.

Colt admiring the finished project. He was quite excited too. He kept on pointing to the cake and saying "My Queen! My Queen!". It was really cute! There were several finger pokes in the cake throughout the decorating process becuase he would get so excited when pointing and would poke it instead.

Birthday boy with messy hair from playing in his inflatable jumping gym that his daddy got him for his birthday.

Colt opening up his gift from Dan and I.



Jacob was just as excited for Colt's birthday, if not more, so Jacob was Colt's "helper" for opening presents.

We got him a giant Cars coloring book and crayons for his birthday.

And last but not least....Colt and Jacob blowing out his birthday candles!

Cake, Cake, Cake, and CAKE!

So far in the month of March I have made 4 cakes. It has been fun but I am a little cake'd out!

The first cake was for a baby shower. My friend, Jenni, was throwing a baby shower for one of her friend's from high school and she asked me to help her make the invites and the cake. It was really fun! I always enjoy hanging out with Jenni and lately crafting is our thing...so this was a fun project. I have to admit, the night wasn't going so smoothly between a few issues with the cake amongst a few other things. So by the time we were finished with the cake we were both so sick of it I didn't even want to look at it. A few things didn't turn out quite how I wanted and I was a little frustrated. So I am glad I was too lazy to blog for awhile because now that I look at the pictures of the cake I don't think the cake is half bad! I learned a lot while working on this cake that will help me in the future. Plus, it was fun to make it with such a great friend!

The finished product.


My extremely chubby puppy dog.

This was what Jenni gave as a shower gift. I cut out the vinyl firetruck for her. I thought her gift turned out so cute!

The second cake I made was quite a simple one but I thought it turned out cute. It was for Jenni's birthday. We all take turns buying cakes for each other's birthdays at work. I went to walmart the day before her birthday thinking I would be able to just find something that would work. They didn't have anything I liked so once again, I decided I may as well just make it myself! I thought I wasn't going to have enough time, that is why I went to walmart, but I am glad I made the time in the end! She deserved it!

The third cake made this month was for Jenni's son, Colt's 2nd birthday. Jenni actually did most of the work on it. I just assisted. I have pictures of the birthday party too so I will post everything on my next post.

The 4th cake is basically the same as the 2nd one. Same idea, just with a little twist. We had several birthdays that needed to be celebrated for the young women at church so we had a mini birthday party for them all last night. We were supposed to do a picture scavenger hunt and them come back for cake and ice cream. Right as we were about to leave the church the area was put under a tornado warning, so we couldn't leave the building. The girls all took it with stride though and we enjoyed just visiting, eating cake and ice cream, as well as playing sardines (which is the opposite of hide and seek...one person hides and everyone tries to find that one person and hides with them. The last person to find the hiding spot is "it" for the next round).

Allergic to so much wonder if I am allergic to myself??

A few weeks ago I went in for allergy testing. I have gotten sick too many times to count since about August of last year and have been sick at least one day a week since Christmas. Last year I was getting tonsillitis off and on so they thought my tonsils needed to be removed but when I saw a specialist he didn't agree. At first I was really upset because I was just so sick and tired of being sick that I wanted them removed! Well, in the end it was a blessing because I have not gotten tonsillitis again, so he made the right call.

Instead, I have just gotten lots of colds, the flu, sinus infections, etc, etc. So about a month ago I decided I was sick and tired of it all once again and went back to the ENT to see if they would test me to see what I was allergic to. As a kid I was allergic to dairy, cats, cucumbers, most shampoos, soaps, and lotions....had bad hay fever, etc, etc, etc. As I have gotten older my allergies have been the same except for the dairy. A lot of that allergy seemed to diminish and I actually have been eating it quite regularly since I got married, until now:)

When I got my testing done I didn't cry like a baby but boy I sure felt like it! I am quite a baby when it comes to needles:) I had to be given over 75 individual shots. I have heard that some allergy clinics have devices that do like 5 shots at once...well mine didn't. All the needles were brand new but some of them were so dull it was ridiculous! To say the least...I did make it through but wasn't the happiest camper! The started off with a row of 29 shots. If each shot reacts enough they have to do another test on that actual allergen. All 29 of mine reacted, so I had to do a another full set of 29. Of the second set of 29 only half reacted...so my third row wasn't too bad! The allergy lady said I was one of the most difficult patients she has had to figure out in a long time! Usually after one row plus just a handful on the second row she knows all she needs but I had to do three! She even had to go into their back office to pull out allergens she hasn't had to use on patients in forever!

This is a picture of my arm after the testing. I am weird, I know, but I couldn't help but take a picture because it looked like I had been stabbed to death. I had a really bad rash too but it is hard to see in the picture.

The day after my testing I went back for the results. Out of the 29 things I was tested for....I was allergic to 27!!!!!!!!!! Keep in mind...I was just tested for inhalants. They always test and treat for that first and then if needed they do food allergy testing. I was allergic to a ton of molds, everything you find outside in Louisiana except pine trees, cockroaches, cats, can't remember them all. I wasn't allergic to dogs though! I was happy about that!

The allergy nurse said that once you have lived somewhere about 2 years that is when your allergies to the area become prevalent, which totally makes sense because it was almost 2 years to the day when I started to get sick a lot. Some of the things I am allergic to now I wasn't as a kid. I found it really interesting to learn how your allergies develop and such. The more you are exposed to something the more likely you will become allergic to it. Our apartment has mold in the window seals (mold is everywhere in Louisiana since it is so moist) so that is why I am allergic to mold. Cockroaches are EVERYWHERE here as well...so that explains that one. I am excited I am getting shots now because I am hoping they will help!

The hardest part about it all is I have had to try to figure out a different diet again. Although they didn't do food allergy testing they can still tell some of the things you are allergic to by it. With being diabetic and needing to watch my carbs I have developed a routine of what I always eat. Since milk does bother me to an extent I have been having soy milk for breakfast. It is low in carbs, high in protein. I also have a lot of nuts and peanut butter for snacks, as well as cheese and crackers. The nurse informed me that since I am allergic to so many molds that I need to watch my intake of soy milk, nuts, and cheeses because they all contain molds. She said that my chances of going into anaphylactic shock are minimal but no guarantees. But mostly I need to avoid them to help with my allergies, sinus congestion and infections, etc. It has been hard to once again try to replace certain foods but I know it will be worth it!

Okay, I am done talking about allergies now...I have probably bored everyone to death...but this blog is not only for others to read but basically a family journal for me as well! So sorry!

Mardi Gras'ed Out!!!!!

The following weekend after Valentines we went down to Lafayette to visit Dan's parents. Dan's brother, Micheal, had flown in for the weekend as well so they could spend time with their dad. Paul volunteered for a deployment position to Iraq for 14 months. He joined a program that re-enlists retirees. It was a really fun weekend but a little bitter as well for the boys to say "see ya later" to their dad. Paul just left two days ago on March 1st for the beginning of his training before he deploys in the near future. We will miss him but we are proud of him for being so willing to serve our country.



We spent a majority of our weekend in Lafayette going to Mardi Gras parades. This weekend was the official Mardi Gras weekend before the actual Mardi Gras Holiday on Fat Tuesday. I think it is kinda fun that Mardi Gras is celebrate so many times before the actual day, kind of like Christmas I guess!

Dan and Mike before the parade.

Dan's parents dog, "Miss Princess Pandibella", is spoiled enough that she was part of the family for the parade. I have to admit, she has stolen my heart as well as her mommy's and daddy's.

Donna and I right before the parade. I couldn't help but get into the spirit by buying a Mardi Gras Boa:)

Everyone trying to catch Mardi Gras beads. Donna and the boys would stand on the fence and lean over as far as they could in hope to get the best beads.

Us during the parade!

Posing for the camera. The little girl in front is Olivia. She is Donna's Sister's Grandchild (not sure what the correct term is for how she is related to us???). It was really fun to have her at the parade. She would get so excited to see a single necklace come her way that you couldn't help but smile.

I had an obsession with counting how many beads we got after each parade. As I counted I would put then onto Dan's neck. I think this picture could definitely qualify as blackmail if it ever needed to be! Lol...just kidding Dan! We caught 105 beads at this parade plus 70 more that Mike gave us.

We got to the parade location right before the parade started, so this time we did everything in reverse! We ate and visited afterwards. Mike ate so much meat he could barely walk afterwards! He said he hadn't had as good of meat since his mission in Argentina.

Dan playing with the kids while everyone else visited. It's fun to watch him play!

Us after the parade.

This picture looks a little funny but it reminded me of Twilight for any of you fans out there. It almost looks like Dan is trying to bite me instead of kiss me. Lol...I don't remember why I was moving away from his kiss?? I think it was because he had just eaten venison or something??? Can't really remember.

Mike showing off some of the beads he caught for "His Ladies" back in Utah!

We decided to come back for another parade that same night. It had been pouring for like an hour before it started but we just waited it out in the car. We figured if it continued to rain once the parade was to us we would just go back home. Luckily, it stopped just in time. I think Donna was sure glad we stayed! Paul caught her the best necklace we saw between all the 3 parades we went to this year! Micheal was very jealous that he gave it to Donna instead of him!

We got a TON of beads at this parade. I think they had planned on the crowd being a lot bigger but since it had rained there weren't as many people. At some points during the parade they were throwing the beads by the handful! There were so many on the ground too that no one wanted becuase there were just too many!! We got almost 300 beads...Crazy!

This is a picture of all our "loot" from the parades. I was hoping it would all fit in this box...but I guess we went a little overboard on bead catching! I can't remember the exact number now (but I did have an exact number that day!!!) but we caught over 500 beads between the two parades in Lafayette and the one in Shreveport the weekend before . Crazy I know!

Our favorites by far was my froggy necklace, Dan's New Orleans Jazz, the big gold one, and the HUGE white pearl necklace as well. I was so excited when I caught that one. It has pearls the size of gumballs and went all the way down to my knees!

Valentine Mardi Gras Parade

(Okay, I started this post right after my last one but obviously never finished it. If anyone needs a refresher...we had just gone to Dallas for Valentines weekend and came home just in time for a Mardi Gras Parade.)

We left Dallas early Saturday morning in order to make it back to Shreveport for our first Mardi Gras Parade!! Now why we have never gone to one before...I don't know??? I really wish we had because we were missing out! Dan and I both LOVED it! Shreveport has an area designated just for families which is really nice. That way you don't have to take part in the crazy partying part of the parade if don't wish to do so. I am used to 4th of July Parades where you park farther away and just walk to where you want to be at during the parade. For Shreveport's Mardi Gras they actually do it along a parkway along the red river. So there is plenty of space for everyone to spread out. You park your car at the same place you will be standing/hanging out for the day. We got there about 3 hours before the parade started. Everyone brought their own meat to grill and we mostly just ate and hung out. Dan and a few others played a little football as well.

This picture is of Heather (one of the Young Women in our ward) with her little sister Ava. Their mom is one of the YW leaders with me as well.

Dan busy stuffing his face.

The parade started at 4:30pm and got to us about an hour later. We took this picture right before the parade started.

Dan and I decided to compete to see who could get the most beads. I was TOTALLY winning until Dan got the smart idea to put a kid on his shoulders. Reagan (The YW President's daughter) is extremely outgoing and seems to get a lot of attention with her cute chubby cheeks. She was getting stuff thrown to her left and right! I think she got more stuff than anyone else in our group including a feather boa and at least 10 stuffed animals. To say the least...Dan's ploy helped him slaughter me in the competition.

These guys (see pic below as well) were at the very beginning of the parade. I just had to take a picture because I couldn't help but laugh. It was just funny to see these grown men dressed like they were dancing with their umbrellas down the street! Mardi Gras is definitely the day of exceptions for how men can dress! Most men wouldn't be caught dead wearing beaded necklaces except on Mardi Gras!

Ava got a lot of beads too from being on her brother's shoulders. Something about cute little girls sure attracted the bead throwers!

Kassi posing with her princess crown. I taught her as a Sunbeam (3 yr old) at church. It was cute to watch her excitement as she caught a bunch of girly things.

A few of the floats....

At the end of the parade Dan and I caught a total of 99 beads, a t-shirt, and 7 cups! Dan even caught me a frog necklace! I was so excited! My frog necklace now is proudly displayed in my office at work.

Valentines!!!!!

Dan and I celebrated Valentines a few days early this year. We had been invited to a Mardi Gras Parade on the actual day of Valentines so we figured it wouldn't hurt to just move Valentines ahead a day or two. Dan wanted me to take a picture of the cookie cake I made him but I wasn't able to get to it fast enough as you can see!

I was trying to be very creative and decorate Dan's car and leave this cookie cake for him while he was at work. I was even more creative by trying to deliver it on Feb. 11th instead of Feb. 14th. We got engaged on the 11th in 2006 instead of on actual Valentines since Dan had to work. So I thought it would be a fun twist. As I went to go deliver it I called our accountant to ask some questions about our taxes. He told us we would need to come in and only time he could meet us was right then. So as I am delivering the cake I had to call Dan to have him meet me. I covered up all my decor and figured, ok...I can handle this...I will just decorate his car right when we are through after he goes back into work. After we were done he had still about an hour before he had to be back to work so he decided to run some errands. I knew I needed to get into work and couldn't waste my day following him around in order to decorate his car. I finally just gave up and handed it to him as we were both about to head our separate ways. He still seemed to be surprised but my whole ploy definitely fell through!

On Thursday after work we headed down to Dallas to go to the Temple. Dan had been given Friday off of work from having to go out of town for the Air Force the week before. I decided to take the day off as well so we could spend Thursday night and the whole day Friday in Dallas.

After going to the temple we decided to go to the Ripley's Believe it or Not Museum. We LOVED it when we went a couple of years ago. This time it was still fun...but I think we went too soon again because we remembered too many of the displays.

Dan being eaten by a killer shark.


Dan traveling through the earthquake tunnel.

I don't even think he noticed the sign! He went right on through..the tunnel is actually really cool. You feel like you are walking straight but because of the "earthquake" it is hard not to bump into the walls! I would have liked this sign to be located at the Twister Tunnel..that one I don't like so much. It is a little spooky if you ask me!

My favorite part was a room that had all these brain teasers. This picture didn't turn out too great but you can get the idea. You were supposed to say all the colors displayed, not read the words. It is tricky!

Me by the "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" rocking chair. We have a picture of me standing by it last time too...almost like Dejavu to see the two next to each other!

We also went into the Mirror Maze while we were there. I think both of us would agree this is our favorite part. All the walls in the maze are made out of mirrors which can get quite confusing! There were several times I could see Dan in the maze but it was only his reflection. Dan started at the exit and I started at the entrance. We were racing to see who could get to the other end first. Dan won me by far every time! Those mirrors are so confusing!

Picture of the two of us when we actually found each other (and not just our reflections) while in the maze.

Real or Reflection??? Take a stab at it!

After we were through at Ripleys we went to the Galleria. It is a huge mall just down the street from the Temple. It has 5 floors, I think, with an Ice Rink on the Bottom floor. We have been to the mall several times before but this was our first time actually skating there. It was really fun! I think both Dan and I thought we would be pros at it since we had just gone ice skating over Christmas and had really gotten the hang of it. Well we were wrong...once again I started out holding the rails but by the end I was doing fairly well! Dan struggled a little at the first too, but not much. They gave us figure skates whereas last time we had hockey skates. I have heard figure skates are much harder, so we will just blame it on that!

This picture was from the top floor looking down to the Ice Sheet.