Dead trees, bridal magazines and bridesmaids’ dresses

Posted on December 29, 2006 by Laura

So tonight we took out the Christmas tree that Eric and Meggan purchased on November 24th.  Needless to say, it was really, really, really dead.  There were needles EVERYWHERE.  On their hardwood floor, it was pretty fun and easy to sweep them up though.

I now have a total of 3 bridal magazines – one from Kristen, one from Dad, and one from Lora (Graham) Lynch.  So I have lots of ideas to choose from.  Although, the Martha Stewart Weddings is all about fall weddings – as if people are (EDIT) NOT planning for summer weddings right now!

And as for bridesmaids’ dresses, Meggan found this company on line.  They have reasonably priced maternity dresses and all the dresses are made from gorgeous fabric.  They have a crazy amount of color choices.  Here’s one color combination I like a lot.  Kristen and I are going to their showroom in DC on Saturday, January 20th to try some on and see if I/we like them.

And while we’re at it, why not go for hot pink?!

The cool thing about these dresses is that the contrasting double hem and sash are included in the price of the dress and you can get multiple styles at once.  So basically each of my bridesmaids (Lisa, Kristen, Rachel, and Meggan [who will be 8 months pregnant at the time of the wedding]) will be able to choose a style that they like.  I’m trying not to get too excited about them until we go to the place to see them.  But I did a Google search for them and the chat boards are pretty much all around positive.  It will be hard to wait until January 20th!

Posted in family, wedding | 4 Comments

My new shoes

Posted on December 28, 2006 by Laura

Dad gave me a beautiful sweater from REI for Christmas but it wasn’t really the right color.  So today we returned it and although I searched, I was unable to find another clothing item to replace it.  So instead, I got these new trail running/hiking shoes (Dad was nice enough to subsidize half the purchase).  June will bring some fun adventures so I figured I needed some shoes to wear on those adventures!  (And by the way, should you ever need any shoe purchasing advice, the amount of knowledge in Rachel’s head is phenomenal.  So just ask her!!)

They are Montrail Hardrocks.- in 9 1/2!! I have never worn bigger than an 8 /12 shoe but for some reason I had to go up a full size.  Rachel was very kind to bring me out three pairs of shoes before I finally found a pair that fit.

(And I was going to put a picture of them but Xanga isn’t letting me link to the picture.  So click on the Montrail link to see them.)

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Hooray!

Posted on December 27, 2006 by Laura

Mission Accomplished!!

Posted in just for fun | 2 Comments

For Nana (and whoever else is interested)

Posted on December 27, 2006 by Laura

Hi Mom!  Hi Nana! (From Selah and Noah)

Here’s a few pictures to illustrate what we were discussing tonight on the phone.  First, here’s a picture of my really impressive bruise on my left arm that I got from falling on my stairs Thursday morning.  It actually looks pretty good now compared to a couple days ago when it was even turquoise.

(These words are from Noah.)  This picture is showing the front of the Bionicle.  And the first thing that I want to say is that there is a little spiral on the telescoping eye and you’ll see two swords, one going up and one going down.  The feet look like the bad guy feet that Michael and Tyler have.

(These words are from Selah.)  My Barbie can spin.  Her skirt can spin.  And from Selah, for Nana.

And here’s a couple pictures of the beautiful veil that Selah made for me, out of a kitchen trash bag.  What do you think?

WE LOVE YOU NANA!!! 

Posted in family | 1 Comment

So close…

Posted on December 23, 2006 by Laura

I almost made it out of Maryland today but my flight was so badly delayed (3 hours) out of Baltimore that if I’d flown to Phoenix, I would have missed my connection into Anchorage.  And there isn’t another Anchorage flight until tomorrow night.  So rather than spend 24 hours in the Phoenix airport, they just re-booked me onto tomorrow’s flight out of Baltimore and I won’t be getting into Anchorage until late, late Christmas Eve (12:30 am, Christmas Day).  I actually surprised myself by how sad I felt about not being able to get up to AK today, to be with my family on Christmas Eve.  Nik came back to the airport to pick me up and he, being wise to my needs, took me to see Kristen and Tim.  So we ended spending the evening with them.  They are, in Nik’s words, the closest to family that I have in Maryland and Nik told me that he wasn’t driving me to Lisa’s in NY!  So their companionship, along with being with Nik, helped console me a little bit.  On the plus side, this will be the first time that I’ve ever been to Christmas Sunday at Faith so that will be nice.

At any rate, I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas and to the Judges in Alaska, I’ll get there eventually!!

Rejoice for Christ our Savior is born!

(And for fun, here’s a picture of some Christmas lights on 34th St. in Hampden – the most ridiculously overboard but awesome display of Christmas lights that I’ve ever seen.)

Posted in Alaska, family, travel | 1 Comment

And here’s a couple more

Posted on December 13, 2006 by Laura

Kristen and I at the party, probably talking about the fabulous job she did stealing the ring out of my house.

And Nik and I admiring the ring that Kristen and Meggan both contributed to making happen!

Posted in engagement | 3 Comments

Because a picture is worth a thousand words

Posted on December 13, 2006 by Laura

(and I’m too tired to write coherently), here’s a few more fun pictures!

At the impromptu engagement party at Nik’s house after he proposed:

Kristen’s husband, Tim (the wonderful photographer at the party), titled this picture “Post-engagement bliss”!  (Yes, Zona, that orange wall is in Nik’s living room!)

Sunday night, Nik’s good friend (and fabulous photographer), Dan Gerding, went with us to Sherwood Gardens for a little photo shoot.  Here are some of the results:

I think in this one, we were telling fun stories about all the great reactions we got in church Sunday morning!

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I said yes!

Posted on December 11, 2006 by Laura




Posted in engagement | 10 Comments

Thanksgiving

Posted on December 6, 2006 by Laura

Here’s a few pictures from our fabulous Thanksgiving trip, thanks to Rachel’s skill with the camera, some of them via Meggan…

Thanksgiving day was spent doing many fun things, including walking with Eric and Meggan and fam (with Rachel taking pictures as always)…


…playing dominoes, and Noah’s personal favorite, video games.  (This allowed for some good Nik/Noah bonding time, appropriate because video games are why Noah decided Nik was cool in the first place.)


And yes, we did eat Thanksgiving dinner.  (Rachel forgot to tell Eric and Meggan that this wasn’t a silly picture – or forgot to tell Nik and I that it was!)

The highlight of the weekend was hanging out with my little niece Addie, who is so cute and sweet – just like her mama and Auntie Rachel!

And thanks to Katie, here’s another adorable picture of Addie (with Mom’s beautiful profile)…

I miss my family!  (And just because I don’t have pictures of Chris, Selah, Zona, Todd, Michael and Tyler, doesn’t mean that I don’t love them very much too! )  That’s right, if you count them all up, that’s 16 people for Thanksgiving!

Posted in family, holidays, travel | 6 Comments

With Apologies to My Mother

Posted on December 4, 2006 by Laura

This recipe is for what may be the best apple crisp I’ve ever made and/or eaten.  (Sorry Mom!)   I made it the Monday before Thanksgiving, with apples from the farmer’s market, intending to take it to Covenant Group the next night.  Instead I didn’t feel well, didn’t go, and ended up having a whole 9×13 pan of apple crisp to eat up!    That’s a lot of apple crisp!  So Nik and I ate some on the plane on our way to Oregon, I gave some away and there’s still a bunch in the freezer waiting for some night when I start craving this.  It’s good fresh but I think it’s better the next day.  The citrus with the apples is really fabulous.  Anyway, make this and ENJOY!!!

Apple Crisp

5 pounds of apples, cored, peeled, and sliced (basically enough to fill a 9×13 pan) – I like to use multiple apple varieties because adds texture and flavor.  I, however, also have the luxury of a farmer’s market and an apple farmer who I can buy at least 10 (probably more) different kinds of apples from. 
Grated zest of 1 orange
Grated zest of 1 lemon
2 T freshly squeezed orange juice
2 T freshly squeezed lemon juice
1/2 C granulated sugar
2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp nutmeg

Mix all together and put in a 9×13 buttered pan.

For the topping:
1 1/2 C flour
3/4 C granulated sugar
3/4 C brown sugar, packed
1/2 tsp kosher salt
1 C oatmeal
1/2 pound (2 sticks) cold unsalted butter, diced
cinnamon and nutmeg (if you want it in the topping too – I like to add it even though the recipe doesn’t call for it.)

Mix until the topping is combined and crumbly.  Spread topping evenly over the apples.

Bake in a 350 oven until the top is brown and the apples are boiling, around an hour.  Let sit for a little bit before serving.

Posted in cooking, recipe | 2 Comments