Crystal is One!

We had a little party on Saturday with Crystal's favorite friends and family members. It wasn't quite warm enough to have it outside, so we had the party inside and it was still a blast! Crystal had so much fun and also loved having extra time with her cousins for a few hours before the party and the previous evening.

I had never thrown a party for anyone before and I was totally stressing out about it all week long. I spent much of the previous day and that morning cooking and baking and I really enjoyed doing it. We made pita bread, bean dip, guacamole, hummus, yellow cake with chocolate frosting, and a banana cake with cream cheese frosting. Steve liked the bean dip, and my dad liked the guacamole. Crystal also loved the guacamole and the cake. My attempt at homemade hummus wasn't that good. I'll try to be more precise with making it next time. Also, the banana cake was awesome!

The right number of people came including 4 of Crystal's baby friends that she loves. The favorite toy was the dinosaur walker and she ended up with two of those, one from each set of grandparents!

Overall, I was satisfied with the outcome and happy that we did it. Even Steve expressed his appreciation to me!

New Year's Resolutions Progress

Well, it is March, and I still haven't dropped any of my goals. I was thinking about adding one to make handmade bread but I'm still wondering whether it's worth it.

1. Daily family scripture study:
Still have been doing it after dinner but only about 4 times/week. Sometimes Steve doesn't return home from work early enough for us to have enough time before bedtime. Many times, though, we are watching a show from netflix until bedtime and totally forget about reading. We just need to remember to either pause it or turn it off in order to read.

2. Get Steve a higher paying job:
Well, I did apply to 4 or so jobs for him through the UMD's career center but only one called back and they said that they only wanted someone with experience with PLC. Though, I just applied Steve for another job that was just posted today in the middle of writing this (only because I was writing this).

3. Find a renter for the upstairs bedroom?
I posted it on ldshousing.net and one person that is moving to the area in June asked about it. I told her to ask again when it's closer. I'm hoping for more inquiries to come before the beginning of the fall semester. I have reservations about posting on Craigslist though I may if/when we're closer to fall and still have no one.

4. Plan a few trips to the temple: babysitter?
I went to the temple by myself 2 Saturdays ago for the 8 am session while Steve had the baby at home. It was wonderful although the baby was sad. Steve should be planning a trip for himself also. We need to try to make it a habit for every month.

5. Learn the names of every person at church.
I had been learning two names each week until my new calling and now I'm only learning one each week. Trying to say each person's name in my head or out loud when I see them so that I don't forget.

6. Either take inventory and organize or get rid of everything in basement/attic
Being working on it every Mon, Wed, and Fri night while we're in the basement pumping iron. Threw out 2 grocery bags of junk. Organizing baby/kid clothes during the day. Started posting furniture on craigslist this week. Three people are interested in the china cabinet and one person interested in the pair of dressers.

7. Vegetable garden
Reading a book from the library. I need to go to Behnke's to buy some seeds this week. Tomatoes need to be started indoors and broccoli can also be started soon.