Utah Time

I've had a secret for a couple months. And there were times it was ALMOST given away (dad...), but luckily, it never was. After suffering slightly from SpringBreaklessness (it's a thing), I decided to use some miles and head home to Utah for Mother's Day. That day was also my sister's birthday this year, so it was a good weekend to be home. I only told my dad and my sister-in-law, and they worked out the weekend.

I flew in late Thursday night and surprised my mom the next morning. It was hilarious - she was totally confused. I was supposed to surprise Ali that morning too, but she ended up driving up to Lehi late Thursday night and found me sleeping in her bed. So I gave her a half-asleep really-disoriented "surprise" and she was completely confused as well. But, still, a good time all around.

First things first when back in Utah, right? Los Hermanos, people. I miss that place like crazy. I don't know why cheese enchiladas are my favorite food, but they are. Melted cheese wrapped up in a corn tortilla - it's the best thing you can get. My birthday meal every year. And that salsa, mmm. We haven't found a mexican place worth going to twice yet in Indiana...still on the look out. Gotta be here somewhere. 

Whenever people ask me if I miss Utah, I tell them I miss family and mountains. We are having so much fun in Indiana, but I have been surprised by how much I crave looking at, driving up, or hiking around mountains. So while I was in Utah, we all hiked to Battle Creek Falls. It was perfect weather, and it felt so good to be surrounded by people I love, and mountains I love, too. Perfect combo. 

Little Lewis is growing up quick! Already teething. And smiling lots. And trying hard to sit up for long-ish periods of time. It's fun to watch Jaren and Lydia interact with their cute baby brother. 

We all caught Iron Man 3 one night, I was glad Logan could get off work in time! He missed a lot of the week's festivities, so that was sad. I'm sad I didn't see you more that weekend, Logan! If he ever decides to read his sister's blog, he'd know that. Brothers. Up there ^^^ is a little movie theater photo op. I miss being a student.

On Mother's Day I took a mini-road trip with Ali and my parents to Deseret, UT. My grandma (and plenty of aunts and uncles and cousins) live there, and I love that place. Plus, I'm always up for a road trip! We stopped in Provo and looked at the new temple being built in place of the Provo Tabernacle. It looks awesome right now - up on stilts and going through a complete renovation. It will be beautiful.

Mountains, you guys. I need them in my life.

We had so much fun seeing family in Deseret that day. We wished my grandma a happy Mother's Day, and it was so good to see her. I have countless memories of running around her house, watching her make homemade rolls, playing in her dress up clothes, making scones with her, and just listening to her hum while she cleans and writes and reads. I love that woman.

We went back up to Lehi so we could have a combined birthday celebration that night for miss Lydia and Ali. Lydia was in heaven with all things girly - bracelets, a fluffy dress, pink summer shorts...that girl is a girl, through and through. Ali opened a bike pump and a fun Thai dish to serve rice. And Reese's ice cream cake all around. Good, good day.

It was a pretty quick trip, but I loved every minute! I left on Monday afternoon to head back to Indiana land. But not without a Cafe Rio fix in the airport first. And to avoid my typical airplane headache I took Excedrin and Diet Coke before each flight. Genius move, people, and it meant that I finished this book, almost finished this one, and walked a good 2.5 miles on my layover. It's safe to say that caffeine gets to me. Thanks for the great weekend, family! I love and miss you!

Life Lately

Last Friday we went to a ward family dance. We had so much fun laughing with our friends, dancing around, and being entertained by cute little kids. Michael even danced with me. TWICE. He loves me. There were a few love triangles in the Sunbeam class that were pretty entertaining to watch. 

vine.co/v/bQIUXDLplux

— Maddie Daetwyler (@MaddieMDae) May 4, 2013

Afterwards we went out with some friends to get ice cream at Mrs. Curl. It was such a cute place - all the tables and chairs outside around a little ice cream joint, with hanging lights all around. So summer. I thought hard about what to get before ordering a chocolate malt. I don't know why I always think hard about it. I will always order a chocolate malt if it's on the menu. But at least I kind of sort of give the other options a little consideration. (You can see that Gabby's little baby Mia already knows what she's missing out on. Kristin is so unsuspecting.)

On Saturday morning we went to cheer on our friends in the Indianapolis Mini Marathon. Adriana was in town to run, so we were so excited to see her and cheer on all the runners. There were 38,000 people running those 13.1 miles together that day. The girls that ran said the crowds never spread out - practically the entire race was crowded. I loved the happy energy there that day, and wondered how anyone could ever want to hurt people. I love love Boston.

This is Indiana sky, from my car window. I forget every year how absolutely happy the sun makes me. There is something about driving down a freeway with bright sunshine and good music and just feeling good about where you are. The 55-mile speed limits on Indy's freeways do kind of dampen that moment...but,  C'est la vie.

We need curtains in our kitchen. We have them, but our living room is going to steal them. Musical curtains. I thought I was being so nice by bringing home samples and giving Michael a say in the matter. It's his kitchen too, right? But he was just not as into it as I for some reason envisioned in the aisles of JoAnn's. He's a good sport though. I'd ask for your opinion about which one you like best, but I went back to the store after 10 minutes of sample staring and already purchased my 2.5 yards. So...feel free to leave comments about how the left one is the best. Right? Right.

We had a "buns night" for a Relief Society activity this week. First we had some hair lessons from me and two other girls about different ways to do your hair in a bun. (I never knew there were so many ways...I've stuck with my hair habits since about 2nd grade). Then we learned some exercising tips for our other buns. Then of course we ate cinnamon buns (which was not one of the tips we learned). It was a lot of fun, I love the girls out here in Indiana so much.

And I'll leave you with these beauties. You may remember I'm on a quest for my favorite chocolate chip cookies. It's a process. But so far, an adaptation of these are the #1 contenders. The only reason I'm still out looking is because these might just be a little too cakey sometimes. You know? Try them and let me know...for now, I end up falling back to these after trying one or two rounds of new recipes. 

The [so-far] Favorite Chocolate Chip Cookie

• 1 C. butter, softened
• 1 C. white sugar
• 1 C. packed brown sugar
• 2 eggs
• 2 tsp. vanilla
• 3 C. flour (no more! they're already almost too cakey)
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 2 tsp. hot water
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• Lots of chocolate chips :)

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
2. Cream together butter and sugars, beat in eggs and vanilla.
3. Dissolve baking soda in water, and add all of it to the dough with the salt.
4. Stir in the flour and chocolate chips. 
5. Roll into balls and place 12 on an ungreased cookie sheet.
6. Bake for 8 minutes, then leave on the pan for about 2 before moving to a cooling rack.

I'm still holding out for a slightly chewier cookie, but this is hands down the best cookie DOUGH we've tried. We put a major dent in the batch before it even makes it to the oven.

Hello, May.

This was one of those weeks. The crazy kind whose days fill up with all sorts of things almost almost faster than you can keep up with. But just almost, because somehow, we always make it to the weekend alive and (mostly) well. Our apartment, on the other hand...is far from well. It made it to Friday in shambles and piles of laundry and un-vacuumed floors. Survival of the fittest.

In other news. My first crochet project is FINISHED. It definitely has some "character", but I'm still pretty thrilled about it. Luckily it's going to a good home of a very kind, accepting friend :) I learned this pattern with my friend Amber, and she showed me that you can, in fact, be a natural at crocheting. And I am, in fact, not one.

Michael and I braved free night at the Children's Museum with our "little brother" to see their new gecko exhibit. Those little guys are crazy. (I'm just going to let you infer if I'm talking about geckos or little brothers.) They have a fun super hero/comic book exhibit right now that my dad would have soaked up. 

And a room that makes your shoes glow.

We went to bed at almost 1 in the morning every night this week because this or that had to get done, which left me hating myself at 6:30 every morning. I had to ask myself some very serious questions, like: 

"How did I ever survive my typical four-hour nights in high school?" 

"Is it Friday yet?"

"Can I eat breakfast, do my make-up, and put my hair in a bun from the passenger side of our 20-min. commute?"

"Is it Friday yet?"

But Friday did finally come, and life is good. I had some errands to run for work this morning, and I was loving downtown Indy and the weather and today and just life. Probably because those errands involved dark hot chocolate from here, so go there if you haven't. Or come visit and I'll take you. I caught a glimpse of honors being given at the Indiana War Memorial. It was the perfect slow-down moment.

Have a good weekend! We're spending ours cheering at this, eating here, shopping for these...and sleeping. Oh, there will be sleeping.

Reminders

Don't you love the little reminders in life that you married the right person?

Maybe from a cookie, or from a thought.

That's a good, good feeling.