Monday, March 21, 2011

Weekend Projects...

As homeowners it seems as though the projects never seem to end. Two weekends ago, Jake and I headed out to enjoy the beautiful weather and get a little yard work done. Well, one thing led to another, and before we knew it, what started out being "a little" yard work, ended up being A LOT of yard work.


Along with picking weeds and trimming trees, we decided to move around some bushes... which in turn led to some serious sprinkler renovations.


But after about 7 hours of work, and 4 trips to Lowes we finally got the bushes moved and the yard put back together. 


Then, this past weekend we went to the nursery to look at some different plant options for more yard projects, but the weather wasn't cooperating with us, so we decided to tackle another project of refinishing the coffee and end table that we are lucky enough to inherit for the time being.

 I mean, who wouldn't want to spend their day stripping stain off and sanding a table.


Now, although I will admit Jacob does most of the work, I always try to help where needed, even if it is just giving moral support! :)

Stay tuned for the finished projects...

Monday, March 7, 2011

Well Taken Care Of...

My wife knows how to throw a party!  She planned a whole weekend of events to celebrate March 6th.  It began Saturday morning with a meal at The Original Pancake House.  I always love going out to eat for breakfast.  We do it so seldom - so it is always a fun occasion when we make time for it.  


The company was great, but we both agreed that the food was just mediocre.  It is tough for any eatery to meet our standards when our favorite breakfast joint is Ruth's Diner in Emigration Canyon, UT.

Even before we went out to breakfast, Candice gave me my gift.  She told me it was time to go buy a grill!!!  I have longed for a grill ever since I moved out of my parents' house.  Finally, all these years later, I have one!


Candice was very patient with me as I made her visit 5 or 6 different stores to make sure we were getting the right grill.  We even had to stop back at our house so I could do a bit of web-research.  At the end of our search, we ended up with what I believe is the perfect grill.


After taking the grill home and assembling it, we were ready to move on to the next activity of the weekend.  Candice has never loved sushi, but I do.  So to show me how much she loves me, she took us out for sushi!  It was a treat!  


Following dinner, we made our way down to the Luxor to see the Bodies exhibit.  During my schooling I saw all sorts of models, read many books, and studied many diagrams of the human body.  Yet, to look at REAL human bodies, parts, and organs was a moving experience.  It gave us both a greater appreciation for how intricate our bodies really are. 

After the exhibit it was time for dessert.  We drove to the other end of the Las Vegas strip to a burger joint called StripBurger.  We ate there about a year ago and were not overly impressed with their burgers.  However, they make a Chocolate Hot Fudge Shake that I fell in love with.  So to finish off the night, we treated ourselves to one.


After enjoying the shake, we had to take a rest before heading back to our car to drive home.  We took the opportunity to snap a photo as we rested in the Fashion Show Mall.  We had been going all day long - we had a blast!

Sunday night we christened our new grill!  Candice had bought us some rib-eye steaks to enjoy.  We began marinading them on Saturday evening.  I don't know if it was the marinade, the grill, or the chef (or the fact that it was Fast Sunday) but those steaks were amazing.  If you've never tried the Canadian Steak Seasoning from Costco, you are missing out!

My mouth is watering as I look at this picture


We finished the weekend of celebrations with a very health dessert - Magic Bars (I think that is what they are called); a graham crust layered with chocolate and butterscotch chips, coconut, and sweetened condensed milk.  You know you are getting old when you only get one candle on your birthday cake!

Thanks Candice for an awesome weekend.  You're the best.