Mandy and Jace

Last weekend we went with our church youth group to Lone Tree Bible Ranch in Capitan, New Mexico. This camp was one of the highlights of our teen years and we were so excited to get to go back as sponsors and create new memories with these teenagers. This is the one place that I can go to and not want to come home because of its absolutely stunning beauty. It has an amazing view of Sierra Blanca and the smell of the pine trees takes your breath away.

One of my favorite things to do when we go is to get up early the first morning that we are there, and sit on the porch with a cup of hot chocolate. Then, I get to watch everyone’s faces as they come out of their rooms and see the beautiful view. I don’t know why but I always feel closer to God up there. He really outdid Himself when He made this place.

We both climbed the alpine tower this year. I was very proud of myself because this is the first time I have ever climbed. I actually made it to the top on my first try and didn’t have a panic attack! I threatened to give up several times but my pride got the best of me and forced me to press on even though everything inside me was screaming to stop. I really didn’t want to be the panicked girl half way up wanting to get down. I was even more proud of Jace who climbed to the top of the one side while we were trying to talk a terrified girl, who was squealing very loudly and would not go up or down, into coming down.

It’s amazing how easy it is there to go from the adrenaline rush of the high ropes to sitting around on comfy couches playing music and games. We had an amazing time and I already want to go back.

You can see all of my photos here.

11 years ago today my wonderful husband asked me to be his girlfriend. Yes, we still count our dating anniversary because we feel it is a HUGE accomplishment.  I can’t believe it’s been eleven years. I also can’t believe I am old enough to be married and have responsibilities, but that’s another post.  I think we have one of the most interesting stories around. People always ask if we know everything about each other since we have been together for so long, but honestly we continue to learn new things about each other every day.

Wow, that’s been a long time! Since it is our anniversary, but not our marriage anniversary, we aren’t really doing a big celebration. I did however, what to do something small so I decided to make his favorite banana bread.

I never liked banana bread until I made it one day to surprise Jace. From then on I really like it. But the weird thing is we don’t like it with nuts. Nope, only the bread with maybe some chocolate chips in it. As crazy as that sounds it’s really good. The great thing that I love about making breads is you can make two and wrap one up and give it to a friend or family member. So not only will your spouse love you but so will everyone else. Score all the way around! Also you can make this into killer muffins.

Anniversary Banana Bread
adapted from Fresh From The Oven

2 ripe bananas, peeled and mashed
1/2 cup sour cream
2 large eggs
lemon zest of one lemon
1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
2 cups cake flour
10 tablespoons sugar
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
10 tablespoons unsalted butter

Various possible toppings:
chopped nuts
chocolate chips

Heat the oven to 350 degrees and grease your loaf pan or muffin tin.

Mash the bananas with a fork. Combine mashed bananas and the sour cream in a bowl and stir together. Add in the eggs, lemon zest and vanilla extract.

Next, in a mixing bowl combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt on low speed (unless you want a mess) until it mixes together. Add in the butter and half of the banana mixture and mix together. When everything comes together increase the speed of the mixer to medium and mix for about 2 minutes. Add the remaining banana and beat well.

Pour the batter into your greased pan and bake for 40-45 minutes in a loaf pan or 20-30 minutes in muffin tins. It is ready when a toothpick comes out clean.

Happy Valentine’s day to my love. I have always loved you and I always will!

Last month we decided we needed a vacation before we strangle each other or some other poor unsuspecting citizen. So, on Friday we loaded up the Cadi and headed to Dallas since the Bahamas was out of the question. Bummer, I know! We can never figure out why, but there is just something about Dallas that makes us really happy so, that is where we always head when we need a vacation.

As we pulled into town we stopped by Papasitos, one of my favorite places to eat in Dallas. I could live a very happy and large life on their white wine butter sauce alone. To our surprise and glee our wonderful waitress packed us up some extra food to take to our hotel and munch on.

Saturday we shopped until we dropped. We went to the mall first then Jace talked me to going to Fry’s Electronic Store. My first thought as we walked in was “what did I get myself into? We may never leave here”. This is like the mothership! Jace’s eyes immediately glazed over and we were off. I have to say though, it wasn’t that bad and we didn’t spend too terribly much.

Sunday we managed to find ourselves downtown. We found this AMAZING BBQ place called Sonny Bryans Smokehouse. That was the best meal we had all weekend. The BBQ sauce is so good!
We then had time to kill and the weather was beautiful so we walked around the west end area. We saw where JFK was shot, the old courthouse and I got tons of great photos. We then went and saw Avatar at the 3D IMAX. We arrived, got our tickets that we pre-bought, and stood in line. After being in line for about thirty minutes I realized I bought the tickets for 12:00 and it was 3:30. Crap. I went and begged the little girl behind the counter to please let us in and she thankfully squeezed us in. Literally. Every seat was taken. I really liked the movie but I HATED the stupid glasses you have to wear to see the movie. They don’t fit my little face, so I had to kind of set them on my head. Hour one, they hurt. Hour two, they hurt worse and I was getting agitated. Hour three, I was done, done. The guy beside me was sitting in his seat as well as mine and my head hurt. GET. ME. OUT.! Whoever invents the 3D movie that you don’t have to wear glasses to will be my hero.

All in all we had an amazing weekend. Here are some of my photos and you can see more here.

I’m sitting here on this first day of 2010 trying to process the fact that 2009 is in the history books. Most people would ask me, “Are you thinking about politics?” or “What about 2009’s economy?” but I’m thinking about the greatness of my little family and how much I am in love with what we’ve made for ourselves. 2008 was packed full of newness and our first year of marriage. Yes, 2008 was wonderful but 2009 was so much better. We have fallen into our routines and now we just sit and enjoy each other’s company. We will easily tell you that we would rather have movie night on the couch with just the two of us than a house full of people and lots of commotion. I love our evenings together where we make dinner, eat on the couch and snuggle while watching “House” or “Big Bang Theory”. I love waking up in the mornings and making fun of my very spoiled cat who thinks she rules the house. Or sleeping in on Saturdays and then spending the day with the sounds of Jace’s xbox and the smell of something cooking in the kitchen. I get asked daily when we are going to have kids and right now I couldn’t imagine changing this greatness we have going on. It is all I have ever dreamed of and so much more. Jace, thank you for being truly my other half. Thank you for loving me and rooting me on even if my idea seems like the most stupid thing you have ever heard. Thank you for holding my hand when I fly off the deep end and decide to do something crazy like get a tatoo or when I run outside to sit in the mud and watch the fireworks that I’ve seen a million times before. I love you more than life and I always will.

(soundtrack is “Heart Skipped A Beat” by XX)