26 Things

Pretty soon I will be changing this blog to My 26 Things! I've already started on my list!

#8 Finish the Book of Mormon with Christian

Christian and I had just barely started the Book of Mormon together last year when I decided to make it a goal to finish it together. And we finished it on January 5th (the same night we went to the temple)! I've read the Book of Mormon cover to cover alone a few times before, but I've never read the whole book with another person before. It was really special to be able to do that with Christian. 

And while reading, I realized just how knowledgeable Christian really is about the stories and how the different groups of people fit together in the bigger picture. I've grown up with the Book of Mormon stories and know them, but I've never really understood how they all flow into one big book. I can't quite get who is related to who, and how. It's hard for me to remember where the different groups of people are at any given time, and if they are righteous or wicked again. And when the groups come together I get completely lost. (Am I the only who struggles with this?!) But Christian was able to explain all of it to me! He answered pretty much every question I had while we were reading it together. I've never had that, except for Seminary, but it's hard to pay attention and remember things when you're in a class at 6am. Maybe I should buy a Seminary manual...

I guess the good thing (for me) about the Book of Mormon is that the details are not the most important thing in the book. You can be well-fed spiritually while reading, without knowing the exact point in time we are at or who the guy's father is. And I was.

Thank you Christian for letting me have questions, and being patient with me. I learned so much from reading with you! I'm happy we can read together as a couple, and I'm excited to start the Doctrine and Covenants with you this next year!

#23 Attend a Session at the St. Paul Temple (LDS)

Before going to the temple Christian and I went out for dinner. 

Just the day before I was craving Zupas Cafe (it was one of my favorite places to eat when I lived in Utah and they are ALL OVER in that state), but was bummed that there wasn't one here in Minnesota. I looked up the nearest Zupas to see just how far away it really was from me, and I was wrong! There IS a Zupas here in Minnesota and it happens to be just a 9 minute drive from the temple! They opened in September 2015, so Zupas is still very new to Minnesota. I hope they stay open forever! I'm sure I'll be getting Zupas every time I go up to the temple now.

I got the Ultimate Grilled Cheese with the Tomato Basil with Orzo Pasta, and Christian had the Turkey Bacon Avocado sandwich with the Lobster Bisque. We felt like we were back in Utah for a few minutes.

Then we headed to the temple. Christian hadn't been to the St. Paul Temple and I had only ever done baptisms there with the youth. It was amazing to be back and to attend an endowment session. There weren't very many people in attendance (in Utah the rooms at the temple are always packed full), but the spirit there was just as strong.

It was dark by the time we got there (and of course when we were leaving) so we didn't get a picture in front together, but I took this one of the angel Moroni. I hope I can get here again very soon, and not let so much time go between visits.

Thanks for the lovely birthday date, Christian!

#20 (Had to do with Kindness)

Sorry, no details but this had to do with being kind to others and stepping out of my comfort zone a little. Christian says I need to add this one to my list for next year again so I can be even better at this. :)

#5 Try 25 New Foods (or Drinks)

I didn't get pictures of everything, but here is my list!

1. Spam

2. Horned Fruit

3. Juicy Lucy

4. Bomb Cheese (I don't remember what kind it was, Candelyn?)

5. Something deep fried and on a stick at the Minnesota State Fair (Taterdog-because duh, my nickname)

6. Elk meat

7. Brussels Sprouts

8. Hominy

9. Lingonberry Jam

10. Crab Cakes

11. Marzipan (decorations on the cake)

12. Bacon Soda (LEAST FAVORITE, I almost threw up)

13. Pralines

14. Etouffee (FAVORITE)

15. Chicken and Waffles

16. Southern Biscuits and Gravy

17. Dulce de Leche

18. Pumpkin Cinnamon Waffles

19. Lefse

20. Chocolate Maple Bacon Fudge

21. Guanabana Nectar

22. Crab Legs

24. Sweetango Apples

25. Gelato

#3 Host a Dinner

Now that our pregnancy has been announced on Facebook, and the whole world knows, I can finally blog about this!

I found out I was pregnant on October 31, 2015 (yes, Halloween!). I had taken several tests before that day, being absolutely sure I was pregnant, but they kept coming back negative. I'm not very patient so maybe I was taking them too early... Anyway, finally during the day on Halloween I felt I should try one more time. I got the positive!

That night I baked a cake for Christian. It wasn't my best work because I was too excited (my hand was not steady) and I was trying to work fast in the kitchen so Christian wouldn't walk in on me and ruin the surprise.

Jackson and I brought him the cake and he was very excited when he read it! This good news made up for the sadness due to the lack of trick-or-treaters that night.

NOW, on to the dinner we hosted!

We invited both our parents (and my two brothers who were in Minnesota at the time) over for a special dinner. We told them it was to celebrate being settled into our new house, except we really just wanted to do something special to tell them the good news. Christian and I decided on baby back ribs, baby carrots, baby potatoes, broccoli ("baby trees"...which was kind of a stretch), and squash buns.

No one guessed there was a theme to dinner, so Christian and I put a (squash) bun in the oven during dinner and asked the mothers if they would "check on and pull out all the dessert/cupcakes from the oven." They were confused looking into the oven. --I'll skip some of the details to save them the embarrassment of not figuring it out right away. ;) But...one of them finally got it and said "bun in the oven!" And the secret was out. My mother, of course, had already suspected I was pregnant because I guess she knows me too well. lol

Sorry, I didn't take any reaction pictures...or even pictures of my guests. I don't usually think about that until after it's too late. Oops.

Our dessert was Baby Ruth cupcakes. I baked pieces of Baby Ruth miniatures inside the cupcakes and sprinkled bits on top, and I used a cream cheese frosting because that's the best kind! I had my 6 week ultrasound pictures out too.