Day.Forty.One.

He is Risen...He is Risen Indeed! (Happy Easter to all!)

This morning, John and I tried out a new church that is pretty close to us with our friends Braden and Heather. It was a very small church, but I like it like that! It was so great to be greeted and included. It was like a piece of home had come to Columbus. I love that about my church at home... so inviting, kind, and chatty. The pastor was kind and the company was around our age with small/new families. It was nice to 'fit in' and not be the babies of the church. They showed one of the cutest videos I have ever seen. I don't know if it is because I teach kindergarteners or everyone thinks it is cute. (It just is funny how kids think sometimes...new perspective) Check it out here (and watch the whole thing): http://youtu.be/_NYxTWO3gWk

They even had extra Easter Lilies and we got to take one home! :) I think we will go back next week!

After church, we stopped by the house to gather our goodies, and headed to Pete and Tiff's house to celebrate with some family (John's side). When I say some... I mean a lot. There are a total of 10 adults and 9 children. 19! It is a packed house that is always fun and eventful. After a delicious lunch, we headed outside for an egg hunt. I helped out Sebastian and Remae. They had so much fun! The kids all colored eggs, made crafts, and just hung out like cousins do. The adults were all in food comas, so we sat and watched the Masters. Check out some of the goodies John and I made to share:

 (Rainbow Fruit Skewers)

 (Cheesecake Stuffed Strawberries with Chocolate Drizzle)

 (Deviled Eggs...)

(Close Up and Colorful)

After eating a ton at Easter, we headed to meet up with Kristi and Nate at Pei Wei. KJ and I met when we were younger at Camp Presmont. Church camp was so much fun for the years we attended! Alissa and I always made sure we had the most food for our cabin. KJ and I have kept in touch and it was great to get to see her! We got to catch up and talk about her newest adventure... TWINS! (I am glad my friends are having twins.. it makes my chances smaller.. haha) It is always great to see friends! I can't wait to meet the two little misses or misters! 

Back home to our babes, Adi and Aspen. We have been so busy.. they probably think we hate them. Tonight, they have been running around like crazies! I am glad they are getting their exercise now.. not when I head to bed! 

*I hope you all had a blessed and wonderful Easter. It is a wonderful reminder of how magnificent our God really is and what he did for EACH of us. In church today, the topic was... we should START celebrating now! He is RISEN. He is Risen Indeed!*

-Alexis

Day.Thirty.Seven.

Well.. today was pretty eventful!

1. All Day SACC-Always an adventure. The kids have been GREAT this week. Tomorrow, I get to work the afternoon shift.. so maybe their personalities will change!

2. Lunch and girl talk with Tiffany (and Ellia and Remae). I had to return all of the wonderful tupperware and such to Tiff from the shower, so we decided to meet at Five Guys. Yumm! The girls got a hot dog, and I was jealous. <Iwillgetitnexttime> I get to help Tiff bake later this month! I love to hang out with her. We have so much in common. You would think we were raised next door to each other. haha (we weren't, but God knew what he was doing by choosing us to marry the men we did and make us sisters)

3. Driving home to check on the dogs and catch up on the DVR before John's baseball game (never did get to, had to call the cable company and they have to make a stop over)... I check facebook on my way home... and see the headline "Olentangy High School Evacuated for Bomb Threat". WHAT? So I call John to make sure he is ok, and get the scoop. Everyone is ok and the game was cancelled. I shouldn't be excited about that, but I get to spend the entire night with my husband... unheard of during baseball season!

4. Naptime: Unheard of in baseball season as well, John and I got to take a nap! (I always am jealous of children who still get to nap daily... can we get mandatory naps for adults? I think we would all be more effective.)

5. Dinner: We decided to go get Mexican food (at our favorite Mi Cerrito). It was hard to look at the movie theater across the street, and WAITING to see The Hunger Games. (That is for Saturday...)

6. Dessert: Delaware has a fabulous and delicious custard place... WHITS! It is so amazing! I don't know what it is about that place, but we can just crush some ice cream! I got the special flavor: brownie carmel swirl. YUMM!

7. Relax: Well, we are home and watching the opening game of the season. The new Miami stadium looks pretty night and flashy! Pups are sleeping, John is working on his grad school homework, and I am blogging. All is right in the world.

*I have really been blessed this spring break to take time to relax, visit friends and family, and put aside some aspects of life (cleaning, working out) to focus on those relationships.*

My week has proven this quote. And I am only half way through!

-Alexis-

Day.Thirty.Two.

Let the baking begin!

I have so much respect and love for my sister-in-law Tiffany! She rocks! For the upcoming weekend, I had a lot of baking to do. Immediately after school, I headed to visit Tiff, and she helped me out.

Baking To Do List:
Cupcakes
Cupcake Decor
Cake
Cake Decor
Cake Pops (70)
and, for Pete: Add wood to the cake stand...

I WISH I would have taken a picture of the mess that we made in her kitchen. It was rather comical to see the amount of supplies and 'garbage' as we created and created. We got it all done, and were ready to fondant... then we looked at the container. I bought buttercream, not fondant. Not to be discouraged, we made our own marshmallow fondant (I think it was fabulous...tasted like a circus peanut!)

After six hours of baking and decorating... we are definitely ready for cupcake wars! I had to finish the cake pops on Saturday, but everything looks fabulous!!! Check out some sneak peeks:

(Cake Topper Preview)

I am so glad I have Tiffany in my life. She is so creative and we can definitely get lost in the 'craft'. When do we meet next Tiff?

-Alexis-