January 10th... the Big Day (hopefully)

On Tuesday, I had my second doctor's appointment! (Can you tell this is my first pregnancy? Everything is so new and exciting.) The appointment was very quick, but Dan came so he got the hear the heartbeat :) The doctor said everything is great, all my tests from last time came back good... and he told me I could schedule my ultrasound in three weeks! I was so excited I didn't even care that they had to draw my blood again. (I was not a baby this time. I just cringed a little when the nurse had to poke around in my arm for a minute trying to find a vein.) Today I scheduled my appointment for January 10th, so (as long as the baby cooperates) we will hopefully know whether we're having a boy or a girl! Yay! I have been waiting for this day ever since I saw the little plus sign on the home pregnancy test, but I can't believe how fast the time has gone by! I remember thinking, wow, January is so far away. But now it's just around the corner!

First Trimester Belly

This was my belly at the end of my first trimester. It has definitely grown since then (let's be honest, during your first trimester it's mostly bloating and expanding parts anyway right? :) Now it's actually baby. But, even when I took this picture, my belly was already looking much different than *normal*.

I couldn't be happier to be done with the first trimester! I don't have a whole lot to write about it, there's nothing entertaining about being sick :) But I was thrilled to wake up one day feeling great, just as suddenly as the yuckiness had hit. And I am SO grateful!

The only eventful thing was my first doctor's appointment when I got to hear the heartbeat! It was such an amazing experience, and kind of weird to hear a heartbeat coming from my belly, knowing it was the baby's not mine. I was so relieved to know that everything was okay. Since I was trying to control the tears, all I could say was, "Wow, there really is a baby in there!" It wasn't just the three month flu or something like that! The doctor was very nice and let me just sit there and listen to it for a minute. That got me through getting my blood drawn for the very first time. I was a baby, of course, but the nurse was so sweet and did a perfect job, even on my veins which are apparently tiny and very hard to find. She used a pediatric needle, and once she was done I looked at it and realized there is no reason to be scared of something so small! The one thing I couldn't believe was how much they had to take. As soon as I saw the four huge vials laying on the desk I understood why it had taken so long! It was weird to look at my blood laying there, knowing it had just been inside my arm! Those are the kinds of things I try not to think about :)

Favorite Apple Pie

Our friends, the Petersons, always come up with the best party themes! This year, for Jon's birthday, they held a cook off, Iron Chef Philadelphia. Each guest was given a secret ingredient to include in any dish they wanted to make, and then brought it to the party to share. Our secret ingredient was Apple. Now that food is yummy again (the thought/smell/taste of it doesn't send me running for the bathroom), I was excited for an excuse to make Apple Pie, which I haven't made in forever. I had two new recipes I had never used before, so I made one of each and had everyone vote on which was their favorite. There was a definite winner, and the recipe is posted below.

The party worked out perfectly, because some people made appetizers, some made main dishes and others made desserts. There were some very impressive creations, but all of our culinary skills were beat out by the EQ President, Greg. His wife is out of town, so he was all on his own. He whipped up one of those instant chocolate pudding pies in an Oreo crust with heath bar pieces and cool whip on top. It was delicious!!! His instant pudding pie even beat out a Martha Stewart Snowman shaped Cheese Ball!

OK, so here is the Apple Pie recipe, it is out of the King Arthur Flour cookbook. It is simple, but delicious.

One 9-inch double piecrust
2 TB unbleached all-purpose flour
3/4 to 1 cup sugar (depending on the tartness of the apples)
1 tsp apple pie spice (You can either buy it, or make your own. I used a combination of cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, allspice and ground cardamom)
1/4 tsp salt

4 to 5 cups (1 1/2 to 2 lbs) cored, peeled and diced apples (Granny Smith, Cortland or other baking varieties. It is recommended that you use more than one kind of apple in your pie.)
1 TB vanilla extract
2/3 cup half-and-half, light cream or heavy cream (I used heavy cream, of course)
2 tsp sugar mixed with 1/8 tsp cinnamon for topping

Remove the pie crust dough from the refrigerator. If it has been chilling longer than 30 minutes, let it rest for 10 to 15 minutes, until it is pliable. Roll once piece out to about 13 inches in diameter and carefully transfer it to a 9-inch pie pan. Using a pair of scissors, trim it to a 1-inch overhang and fold the edges under. Use the trimmed-off pieces to patch any of the rest of the crust, if necessary.

Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.

In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, spices and salt. Add the apples (cut into 1/2-inch dice) and toss to combine thoroughly. Add the vanilla and the cream and stir well. Spoon the filling into the crust. Roll the second crust to a diameter of 10 to 11 inches, lay it on top of the filling and crimp to seal. Brush the top crust with milk then sprinkle with cinnamon sugar.

Place the pie on a foil-lined baking sheet, to catch any spills. Bake the pie for 15 minutes, then reduce the heat to 350 degrees F and bake for an additional 40 to 50 minutes, until the top is medium-brown and the juices are clear and bubbly. If the crust appears to be browning too quickly, cover it with a pie crust shield or strips of aluminum foil.

Note: If you are using a light or shiny pan rather than a dark one, be sure to bake the pie for at least 50 minutes at 350 degrees to ensure the bottom crust is done.

All Done!!!

7 finals down... 0 to go! Dan is done until January!!!

6 finals down....1 to go!!!!

Dan's Countdown to Winter Break

5 Finals down... 2 to go!

Snow and Vampires

So I missed the first snow because it was Sunday morning and I was running off to church. But I caught the second one! It's been flurrying all week, and today it's coming down enough to stick. We had a COLD November! Last year, I don't think we got snow until February. But after a warm October, winter has been in full force already this year. The ski resorts have had their earliest openings ever!

This weather has been absolutely perfect for reading! It makes you want to curl up with a good book, a snuggly blanket and some hot chocolate. Dan and I are exactly the same when it comes to books-- once we start, we can't stop until we've finished! My friend Hollie recommended the Twilight series by Stephenie Meyer (the Vampire books :), and I finally picked them up! (The author graduated from BYU, by the way.) I read all three in a week, they were so good I couldn't stop! Dan laughed when I told him I was reading books about vampires, but you really just have to read them to get it! Thanks, Hollie, for the great recommendation! Now, I am impatiently awaiting the fourth's book release! Next Fall.... :(

Thanksgiving in Boston

This year we got to spend Thanksgiving in Boston with the Evans (Dan's Aunt, Uncle and Cousins). The first time I met them, I was pulling into my parents' driveway in Ohio trying to figure out who all the people standing in my yard were. While watching the people, instead of where I was going, I drove right into the car parked in front of me. Fortunately, no damage was done, I was just very embarrassed :).

It was a lot of fun to see them again! They are always so nice and made us feel comfortable and right at home. We enjoyed a delicious Thanksgiving dinner and I really loved just driving around their neighborhood. They live in a beautiful area that seems to be New England in a nutshell. The trees still had their colorful Fall leaves, and it felt like the perfect place to celebrate Thanksgiving.

We went on a tour of Boston with Dan's cousin Brandon and his girlfriend Anne, and drove up to an incredibly beautiful, quaint fishing town called Gloucester. It is known as America's Oldest Seaport, dating back to the 1600s, and looks just like all the paintings you see with the rocky coastlines and light houses. It is also where the movie "The Perfect Storm" was filmed. We even got to stop by the shopping district, which has the kind of adorable old fashioned little shops you think only exist in the movies.







We are so grateful the Evans let us come up and spend Thanksgiving with their family and appreciate everything they did for us (including babysitting Max while we were sight-seeing!)! It is so nice to have family so close!

The 2007 National Dog Show

Our good friends, the Taylors, received free VIP tickets to the 2007 Purina National Dog Show from a family friend and asked us if we wanted to go. I had always wanted to see a dog show in person! We had such a great time! It was awesome to see all the different breeds.

Here is a beautiful Great Dane, he is so big!


This was my favorite dog, the Doberman Pinscher, incredibly well-behaved, and like a giant version of Max :) He won Best in Group, and went on to be a runner up for Best in Show.



It was so fun to get VIP treatment! We got to sit in a special area with drinks, cookies, all kinds of snacks and comfy seats! The judges not judging the current event were sitting all around us and we learned a lot from them! It apparently takes quite a long time to become a judge. You have to takes all kinds of tests and have tons of experience. One lady we talked to had been doing it for 7 years and could only judge 16 breeds (there are over 150)!

Allison and I even had a little brush with fame! As you can see below, we met John O'Hurley (think J. Peterman, Dancing with the Stars) who was hosting the Show. Wow, we look white without the spray on tan!


We also met Trace Worthingon, an aeriel skiing Hall of Famer who has been in the Olympics! He happens to be from Park City!


Once the show was over, we got some great free stuff from NBC! Then, Allison asked them if they needed any help getting some of those beautiful flower arrangements out of there. They said, "sure, go ahead and take one!" Trace told us to tell our husbands some hot guys from Utah had given them to us :)

We also enjoyed a yummy dinner at Hard Rock Cafe. It was such a fun day! Thank you Taylors for sharing such a fun experience with us! And thank you Allison for taking such great pictures! We forgot our camera :(
Here is their cute family at Hard Rock:

I Am Thankful for Dan

What is his name? Daniel Pratt True (usually just Dan, but Daniel when he's in trouble:)

How long have you been married? Almost 3 1/2 years!

Who eats more? These days, it's Dan, but normally I give him a run for his money.

How long did you date? We dated for three months, then were engaged for almost 5.

How old is he? 25

Who said I love you first? Dan... on a ski lift.

Who is taller? Dan, by 8 inches.

Who sings better? Definitely me! I can't sing very well myself, but the first time I heard Dan sing was in Sacrament Meeting and I started laughing out loud! I can at least carry a tune :)

Who is smarter? Hard one... Dan would probably say me, but he's the one in Dental School! He has a great work ethic and lots of determination.

Whose temper is worse? I would have to say Dan, because when he gets mad he really gets mad! But it usually takes quite a bit to set him off (unless he's driving or watching football).

Who does the laundry? Usually me

Who does the dishes? Usually me, but lately Dan has been really good about helping out because everything in the kitchen tends to turn my stomach.

Who sleeps on the right side of the bed? Dan

Who mows the lawn? Dan. If I try he just laughs at me.

Who cooks dinner? Again, usually me, but lately Dan's been helping out a lot.

Who kissed who first? Dan 100% kissed me first.

Who asked who out? Dan says me, because I went over to his apartment first to hang out with his roommates, and then him. But I say him, because he asked me out on our first real date.

Who proposed? Dan, as a really funny (but, at the time, kind of mean) April Fool's joke.

Who has more friends? Well, we are mostly friends with the same people now so there isn't really a difference.

Who is more sensitive? Me, by far.

Who has more siblings? We both have 3, but Dan has 3 sisters and I have 1 sister and 2 brothers.

Who wears the pants? Definitely Dan. I am usually laid back enough to let him have the pants, but every once in awhile I decide I want to wear them for a little bit and let him know.

I got this tag and pass it along to anyone else who wants to join in the fun!

Sunny October

When I think of October, I usually think of falling leaves, carving pumpkins and putting on another layer to keep warm in the cool weather. But this October has surprised us with unseasonably warm temperatures. I was very lucky to get a visit from my sister, Erin, who flew in from L.A. and said it was hotter here than in Southern California! While she was here temps were in the high 80s, now they've cooled to high 70s, low 80s... but that's still very warm for this time of year!

It was so wonderful to see Erin again! Living on opposite sides of the country, it doesn't happen very often. Born 18 months apart, we've always been very close. Growing up, we always shared a room, so it was a big shock when I left Ohio to go to BYU and suddenly we were so far apart! Ever since then, it seems like we've somehow always ended up in opposite parts of the country. So, lots of phone calls are a must, and this visit was a huge treat! We stayed up talking the first night until 2am, and then slept in until almost noon the next day! We did lots of shopping and had a great time! Unfortunately, half way through the visit I got sick and she had to spend lots of time taking care of me. I can now say from experience, that she will make an awesome nurse! I don't know what I would have done without her. Thanks for coming out here, Erin! I love you! And miss you already!

Erin and her husband Ben last Christmas

Boston

Over Labor Day, we took a trip to Boston with a bunch of friends. I completely fell in love with the city and couldn't believe how beautiful it was (to think, what Philadelphia could have been... :). We had a great time and really appreciate Nick putting the trip together, thanks Nick!


After spending much of the trip with the Peterson's beautiful, well behaved little girl Jocelyn, Dan decided having kids some day might not be such a bad idea after all.





Old Ironsides





What a cutie!

The Molcajeta

Dan's birthday/anniversary/Christmas presents are usually pretty boring. He generally wants something that falls into one of two categories a) something for his XBOX or b) something for his paintball gun. It is always pretty easy for him to guess what I've gotten him. So, he was very confused this year when I came home with a 13 pound gift for him from Williams and Sonoma (the outlet store of course! :)

I had been shopping at the outlet malls in Ohio with my mom when something stopped me dead in my tracks, I couldn't believe it, a molcajeta! I was ecstatic and quickly explained to her that Dan is obsessed with eating salsa and guacamole. Every time we eat at El Vez, his favorite Mexican restaurant in Philly, he points out the molcajeta that they serve the guacamole in. (Which is how I knew to call it a "molcajeta" and not a "grindy thing".) This was no cheap molcajeta either, it was 13 pounds of hand carved Mexican lava rock (gotta love outlet stores!).

I had finally accomplished my goal: Dan was 100% stumped, he had no idea what I had gotten him. Well, once he opened it he was very excited and had to agree that it was pretty much the coolest gift ever. I just had no clue it was going to cause me so much pain! I always let Dan pick out the peppers we use, since he has had lots of experience with them, so I didn't think twice when he chose those beautiful orange peppers you see in the picture, to the left of the molcajeta. He told me they were habaneros, and that sounded just find to me. What he didn't tell me is that they are one of the most intensely spicy peppers you can get, the kind they eat on Fear Factor.

I did question him when he insisted on using multiple peppers and inlcuding ALL the seeds, but I figured this was his present so I'd let him do what he wanted with it. After we finish making the guacamole he took a bite and said, "yummm, not too spicy..." So I figured it was safe. However, as soon as I took a bite, Dan suddenly realized it was much hotter than he first thought. My mouth, throat, stomach and lips immediately started to burn. My face turned red, I started to sweat, my eyes began to tear and my nose started to run. I felt like I was on fire! Unfortunately, this feeling lasted a good 15 minutes, and I continued to feel sick for the rest of the day.

In the end, Dan admitted it was extremely hot. This is really saying something since he is immune to most peppers and chilis after spending two years in Mexico. Later that night, while taking a warm shower, I couldn't figure out why my fingers were burning. By the time I got out I had actual burns on them, as if I had touched the curling iron with each finger. Despite washing my hands immediately after cutting up the peppers, the pepper oils had not come out. Once the oils were combined with the warm water I ended up with burns. Now, I have no idea why anyone would want to eat something that has such side effects, but Dan loved it and ate the entire bowl of guacamole; although, he did pay for it later...

Maximus

Max will do just about anything for "people food".

Niagara Falls

After visiting Palmyra, we drove over to beautiful Niagara Falls. The power of all that water is just incredible.






We also went on the Whirlpool Jet Boat Tour which takes you through the rapids of Devil's Hole. It was like extreme white water rafting through class 5 rapids in a giant jet boat. It was a little intimidating when the boat was using all of its 1500 horsepower to get up a huge wave and was barely making it, but we had a blast! Whenever we went over a rapid, the water would hang in the air 10 feet above our heads before coming crashing down on us. It was an amazing experience!

New York

While I was at camp, Dan's sister, Vanessa; her husband, Ryan; and their daughter, Aubrey; flew out from Utah. Once I got back, we all took a trip in the Cavie (my car, Dan usually refuses to drive it, but she got us there and back without a single problem, trusty chevy :) to New York. Instead of visiting NYC, we went to the western side of the state: Palmyra and Niagara Falls. The last time I had been was as a kid, so it was fun to go back and see how much everything has changed!

Here we are at the Smith Farm:



I thought this view of the Temple from the Farm was beautiful:



I really loved this picture. On the top of the dresser is a box that Joseph used as a hiding place for the Gold Plates. In front, on the floor, is a beautiful painted rug. Lucy Mack Smith painted rugs similar to this one to decorate the house. Behind the dresser are the walls original to the house. Lucy Mack Smith white washed them herself. To the left of the dresser you can see where the white wash stops. No use in painting an area that will just be covered by a dresser, right? Especially when you are as busy as she must have been. After the Sister guiding us through the home pointed out that spot, one of the other men on the tour with us said, "that unpainted spot right there could be a talk." What a lesson in priorities! Some things in life matter, and some things just don't!

August 13th, 2007 THREE YEARS!!!

August 13th was our three year anniversary! I'm sure many of you are thinking "three years... you guys are still newly weds!" But, to us, three years seems like quite a long time (in a good way, when you are used to being married only 2 years, 3 seems much longer). At the same time, it is starting to feel like we've always been married (those single college days seem like another lifetime) and I think, "it's only been three years?" Our friend Mark Schneider had offered to take us to a Baltimore Ravens pre-season game that night, and we couldn't think of a better way to spend our anniversary than in an NFL stadium (romantic, I know, but we LOVE football!). And guess who they were playing... the Eagles! So, we went and had a great time!

Cedar Point!

One of our favorite places is Cedar Point, the "Roller Coaster Capital of the World". Our first trip there was while we were still engaged. I had moved back to Ohio for the summer, and Dan flew out to meet my family for the first time. Dan fell in love with the park, and so, three years later, we just had to go back. Right before Camp, we took off for a quick trip to Ohio to see my family and spend a day at this incredible amusement park. It is positioned right on Lake Erie, so you have a gorgeous view to distract you from the terrifying heights.

We had a great time riding the coasters with my brothers, thanks Mom and Dad for taking us! We also got to spend time with my Aunt Mindy, cousins, and Grandma and Grandpa Ralph. Not bad for a 3 day visit!

More Camp Pics!

It's A Jungle Out There

One of the challenges the girls competed in with Bishop:


Giselle on Crazy Hair Night:


Uriel and Michelle:




The theme at camp this year was "It's A Jungle Out There", which is so appropriate because this world just keeps getting crazier and crazier. Even since I was a teenager (and that was what, all of 4 years ago?) it has become so much harder to find your way out there. But being at camp really touched me, because I was able to see first hand that just as the world gets crazier, our girls are getting stronger.

I was very proud to be from Pennypack, our girls really set an awesome example for me and the rest of camp. They showed up with positive attitudes and were ready to participate in everything. Every time I turned around, they were doing little acts of service for each other, and even us, the leaders! (We had girls cleaning without being asked!) They were really able to develop a strong sense of ward unity, friendship and sisterhood. It touched my heart and strengthened my testimony to be there with them. By the end of the week I didn't want to leave! Our girls are just amazing, they face incredible challenges yet remain so strong.

My favorite night was when Bishop Hilton came up. The entire camp was in the Pavilion listening to our Stake YW President speak, but our girls kept glancing behind them waiting for Bishop's truck to pull up. As soon as it did, they all jumped out of their seats and ran straight out the back to greet him. I tried to quickly explain what was going on, so no one would panic, before running out myself. The girls just loved having Bishop there, and we have to brag that he was the ONLY Bishop out of the entire Stake who was able to recite the whole YW Theme from memory. He is so committed to the youth, and they can tell that he genuinely cares about each one of them. I appreciate Bishop Hilton more than I could ever say, he is truly the father of our ward.

Back to School!

Today Dan went back to school! This summer has been very busy, very fun and has gone by so fast! I think we've spent more time together this summer than in our entire marriage combined! It has been SO nice, and will get me through these next two semesters when I will have to leave him alone almost all the time so he can study. It is a little intimidating to think that this will be his most challenging year of dental school, especially with boards coming up in the Spring, but he is one of those people who can really accomplish anything he puts his mind to. I am so grateful for all his hard work in school. Hopefully the summer break will help him get through all that studying this fall!

Adventures at Camp

When I was first called as the Ward Camp Director this year, I was a little scared. I had never done it before and didn't quite know what to expect. It kept me busy, but went much more smoothly than I had anticipated. That is, until we got to camp.
You see, I had overestimated the quality of the tents we would be sleeping in. I should have known, seeing as how we were using a BOY Scout camp. What I hadn't realized was that Ward Camp Director is code for Nasty Bug Exterminator.
The most important thing was to convince the girls that the bugs were harmless (otherwise, as one tent did, they will stay up all night with their flashlights on just waiting for the bugs to crawl in). This turned out to be a bit of a challenge for me, since I tend to scream at the sight of anything other than an ant. At Girls' Camp, this would have caused mass panic. So, cringing inside, I put on a brave face for the girls and attempted to appear calm as I removed spiders and other assorted creepy crawlies from their tents.
That night, I hardly slept in my own tent as I choked beneath my sheet on the gallons of bug spray I had applied. Despite the sweltering heat, I made sure not an inch of me was exposed, while my socks remained on my sweating feet to ward off any spiders that might climb beneath my sheets.
Well, I am clearly a baby. However, there was a very brave soul at camp that night, and the next. I figured if she could do it, anyone could. Hardly a week before her due date, our YW President, Kelsey Lawrence, came up to camp with us and made it through the hottest days (and nights) of the week. She slept in the same dirty, bug infested tents as the rest of us and never stopped smiling. Amazing! I also could not have made it without Bonnie and Kendy. Thank you all for coming and being such a help!

Here are Kelsey and our girls all ready for Crazy Hair Night:


Well, that was just the first night. After getting used to the bugs, the dirt, and everything being perpetually damp (including ourselves), we settled in and had a truly incredible experience. There is so much to write, I will have to add another post.

More Summer Fun!

Wow, I can't believe how far behind I'm getting! It is Aug. 21st and I'm still posting about July! Well, anyway, at the end of July we went to the shore for the very first time (Ocean City, NJ) to celebrate Natalie Buchkovich's birthday. We had lots of fun and were very impressed with Nick's birthday party planning skills. I feel like a true East Coaster now that I can say I've been to "the shore". This is a picture of the whole bunch.

Dan with his parents, Garry and Sherri, finishing off some delicious Rita's Ice (perfect for a hot day!).


The Schneiders have a beautiful dog named Fiona. She is an Australian Ridgeback and we all just fell in love with her!

Washington, D.C.

The memorials were such a powerful reminder of the great sacrifice so many have made for our country.

Washington, D.C.

Next, we went down to Washington, D.C. with Dan's parents where we stayed with their good friends the Schneiders. They were very gracious hosts. Their son, Joe, spent all day showing us around D.C. and knew so much about the city, having grown up in the area.