Brielle Rose is here!

Katelyn and Dalton had their little girl Monday a little after 5pm in the evening. She weighed 6 lbs and 5 ounces. She is a little cutie! When I saw Kate for the first time after giving birth she said labor was hell. Haha. She is a champ, did it without an epidural. She was doing much better the 2nd day. Baby B (as my 3 year old niece Maddie calls her) seems very serious so far and always has a grumpy look on her face. She sleeps through everything and slept for 4 hours straight on her first night.

Here are a few pictures:

Proud papa

Kate and Baby B!

Look at that face... so cute

The happy family

A Wonderful Saturday

I have had a pretty rough month- emotionally, physically, and mentally. I feel like I am on the up-swing and that life has a way of working itself out. I decided to go to the temple this morning for a much needed visit. I woke up just before 6am to get there early so I wouldn’t have a 2+ hour wait. The Provo Temple is probably the busiest I have ever been to and Saturdays are the busiest.

I was greeted outside with my favorite weather… cool and damp with gray skies. It may have even been raining a little bit. That is definitely one thing I miss about England, the weather! I told Simon I wanted to live somewhere with cool and damp weather… Washington was the only place I could really think of… maybe OR too, but I am not sure.   He is kind of sad about it because he wants to end up in Vegas… too hot! I guess we will just have to see where life takes us.

I took some picture because I thought it was so beautiful this morning:

Right outside our apartment door

As you walk out the doors of the temple

Moroni

One of my favorite places and where Simon and I got married

Tomorrow is one of my best friend’s birthdays so some friends and I took her out to lunch. Nikki and I met in Abnormal Psychology at BYU (Ha, she is CrAzY) the semester right after my mission. I was good friends with her brother (I think he was on his mission at the time) and we recognized each other’s last names in the class (and she recognized me from photos she had seen). We became instant friends. I love when that happens in life. It hasn’t happened very often for me, but with Nik it was an easy and instant connection. We have been friends ever since.

Nik and I were roommates when I got back from Honduras and then again after she returned from her mission.  I used to keep her up till like 3am talking about life and my mission. I would always yell at her “Nikki are you awake?????” I would also give her weird nicknames because I am nice like that (I think her favorite is Toad). I am sure she loved all of this. I think of her as a sister and I am grateful to have her in my life. A few of us, former roomies- two ladies that I also love, took her out to lunch today. She picked Texas Roadhouse, which I will not complain about. I love that place. Here are a few pictures from the outing. Happy Birthday Nikki Rooskie!

Jessica and Anjilee

Me and Nik

After lunch I went over to Kira's so we could go to Costco. She let Jeffrey bring his sword, so he and I had a grand old time fighting bad guys and sampling all the delicious food. He even named my purse Batman. Ha. Here are some picts with this cutie:

Sampling the carnation instant breakfast

Chips and salsa... Jeffrey wanted to know what made the salsa hot

Jeffrey and his mama

Lastly, I was able to see my good friends Piper and Suzy! Piper, Suzy and I were on the same dorm floor (shout out to U Hall at DT!) our freshman year at BYU. We became really good friends and hung out all the time. We keep in touch via email, but haven’t seen each other in years! Piper was living in Boston, but then moved to Gilbert, AZ with her husband and 2 girls. Suzy and her husband live in Orem. We definitely plan to hang out. Piper and her family were driving through Provo on their way to Washington. I love seeing old friends. It definitely made my night and the time went by too quickly! Here is a picture from dinner:

Suzy, Me, and Piper

It was an awesome Saturday and just what I needed. The only thing missing was Simon. Two more weeks!

Not My Month

May has not been my month. Do you ever have a month during the year that at the end of the year when you are reflecting you just skip over it because you don't care to remember it? Well, that is May for me. May and I have not really been friends. I am hoping by the end of the month we can reconcile and become friends again.

This month I had my fake heart attack scare, which turned out to be acid reflux (but still hurt like the dickens!), I started my first day of work with a double ear infection, Simon left for England for a month, I got the stomach flu during my second week of work and had to miss 3 days (so in two weeks I have only worked 5 days, I am sure they are rethinking their decision to hire me), and I had to move the 2nd day I had the stomach flu after Simon had already left. Phew. It makes me tired just thinking about it.

Ok. That was somewhat therapeutic to get off my chest. I realize my problems are very tiny in comparison to the things other people have going on in their lives. I just needed my woe is me moment and now I can move on.

In every gray cloud there are always some sliver linings. Here are some of my silver linings from this month:

• Simon being a huge help to me through the first two health issues and calming me as I started work again (or I guess trying to calm me)
• Katelyn, my sister, who is 9 months pregnant and due next Saturday, making me soup and buying me gatorade while I had the stomach flu
• Katelyn and Dalton allowing Simon and I to stay with them until we could move into our apartment
• The fact I have a good job with amazing health benefits
• An apartment to live in
• AMAZING friends and family who helped me move while I was sick- Nikki, Jessica, Jeff, Brian, Liz, Dalton, and Katelyn (well Katelyn got us pizza)- I could not have done it without them

It has been a rough month, but there have still been some positives. Oh and Memorial Day is in a week, which is another silver lining because I don't have work. 

Anyway, thanks for letting me rant about my month. Here is to a healthier and happier June!

Lasagna and Salad Recipe

I decided I wanted to make lasagna this past Sunday for Simon and in honor of Mother's Day for Kira and Kate. Simon loves lasagna, but I have never made it before. After consulting my mom, Kira, and allrecipes.com I came up with a good recipe.

Lasagna
Ingredients:

• 1 can marinara spaghetti sauce (you can do it completely from scratch, but I used Newman's Own marinara)
• 1/2 cup minced onion
• 2 garlic cloves crushed
• 1 tbsp white sugar
• 1 1/2 tsps dried basil
• 1/2 tsp fennel seeds
• 1 tsp italian seasoning
• 1 tbsp salt
• 1/4 tsp ground black pepper
• 4 tbsp chopped fresh parsley (I just used the dry kind)- 2 tbsp will be for the sauce and 2 tbsp are for the cheese mixture
• 12 lasagna noodles
• 16 ounces of ricotta cheese
• 16 ounces (give or take) of cottage cheese
• 1 egg
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 bag shredded mozzarella cheese
• Grated parmesan cheese (I didn't measure, but probably a cup or so)

Instructions:

1. Put a small amount of olive oil in a sauce pan. Heat the oil and then sauté the onions and garlic. Add in the can of marinara sauce. Stir in sugar, basil, fennel seeds, italian seasoning, salt, pepper, and parsley. 
2. Let the sauce simmer while you cook the noodles and prepare the cheese filling.
3. Bring a pot of water to boil (I like to add a little oil so the noodles don't stick together). Cook lasagna noodles for 8 to 10 minutes. Drain noodles, and rinse with cold water. 
4. While the noodles are cooking combine ricotta cheese, cottage cheese, egg, remaining parsley, and 1/2 tsp salt.
5. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
6. To assemble: Pam spray the bottom of a 9x13 baking dish, then add a thin layer of sauce. Arrange 4 noodles lengthwise over sauce. Spread cheese mixture on top of the sauce. Sprinkle mozzarella cheese on the cheese mixture. Add another layer of sauce, then sprinkle parmesan cheese. Repeat layers ending with the noodles. On the top layer put a thin layer of sauce and sprinkle remaining mozzarella and parmesan. 
7. Cover with foil.
8. Bake in oven for 25 minutes covered in foil. Remove foil, and bake an additional 25 minutes. Let cool for 15 minutes before serving.

Allrecipes adds meat to their sauce and does not use cottage cheese. For their recipe go here.

Salad 

Ingredients:

• 1 head of green leaf lettuce
• Olive oil
• Vinegar
• Sliced Almonds
• Dried Cranberries
• Salt
• Pepper

Instructions:

1. Wash and dry lettuce. 
2. Cut lettuce with kitchen scissors.
3. Add olive oil and vinegar to taste.
4. Sprinkle with a little bit of salt and pepper.
5. Add cranberries and sliced almonds.

I am lazy and don't make home made bread or rolls in this phase of my life, so I use Rhodes rolls. They are so easy and taste home made. You can get them at any grocery store.

Here are some pictures of the process and finished product:

Simon was my sous chef and helped me out. He did most of the dessert. Washed and cut the strawberries and made fresh creme. The pound cake we just bought from the store. All in all it was delicious.

Kate's Maternity Pictures

A few weeks back I took maternity pictures for Kate. Dalty was out of town, so we were sad he couldn't be in any of them. She seems to have had an awesome pregnancy and is probably the most cheerful pregnant woman I have ever met (no offense Ki and Beck). This post is all pictures, so enjoy!

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day! I am not a mom yet, but I am definitely surrounded by some awesome ones! I am especially grateful for my mother. Here is a list of things I love about my mother:

1. She is one of the most selfless people I know. Growing up I always remember doing service with her. We would often clean other people's houses, take people meals, etc. She would never say no to someone in need.
2. She would give someone the shirt off her back. I remember one time we were at the grocery store and the lady in front of us couldn't pay for her groceries. Without even hesitating my mom paid for this lady's whole cart of groceries. 
3. My mom likes to have fun and taught us the importance of this. I have many memories of my mom letting us have massive sleepovers or going to take my friends and I to toilet paper people's houses. 
4. My mom is super faithful. She never waivers in her beliefs and her testimony of Jesus Christ. She loves going to church and she loves keeping the commandments. She is a great example of Christ.

Here is a lovely picture of my mother doing what she does best... loving on her grand-babies:

I am also grateful for Aleta who joined the Kofford clan in November of 2012. We haven't had a ton of time together, but she has been a great addition to the family and is also expecting a little girl in July. We couldn't be more excited!

I also wanted to mention Simon's mom in this post. Even though I have never met her I am extremely grateful she raised such a great son. Simon speaks highly of his mother and misses her. I know I will be able to meet her someday. Here is a picture of her:

Also, shout out to my sisters who are mom's- Kira and Becky. They are also amazing examples to me of what mother's should be like. They are raising some pretty great kids! 

And last but not least, the soon to be mom in our family, Katelyn. Baby Brielle is expected to arrive at the end of this month! I took maternity pictures for her, more of those coming soon...

Happy Mother's day to everyone! I hope those close to you spoil you!

Saturday Day Date

Today Simon and I went on a much needed date. It has been a while since we went on one. It is kind of weird because we are together all the time, but a date makes things feel different. I think they are needed in every relationship. I planned the date today. There is an awesome exhibit at the Brigham Young University Museum of Art that I went to a previous time I was down in Provo and I really wanted Simon to see it. It is called the "Sacred Gifts" exhibit and it took 12 years to organize. The exhibit hosted religious pictures done by three artists: Heinrich Hofmann, Carl Bloch, and Frans Schwartz.

When you first get there they have you watch a 7 minute video about how the exhibit came about. Most of these paintings have never left their original home and probably never will again after the exhibit is over. It is really quite extraordinary how they BYU got permission to get these art pieces from their respective countries of origin. You can learn more about it and see the full gallery online by going here.

There were so many amazing pieces there, but this one by Frans Schwartz is my favorite, it is called "Agony in the Garden":

I believe the book of Luke is the only book that references an angel being present with Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane. I love this detail of Christ's journey and it serves as a reminder that angels help us as well. I am saving up to buy a canvas print of this picture.

After the exhibit I let Simon choose where he wanted to go for lunch. This is rare because I am pretty picky and usually just want one of two things- Texas Roadhouse or Cafe Rio. We branched out though and tried a new place called "Wild Mustang Grill and Bakery." Of course I didn't really like it, but Simon was satisfied. 

After lunch we decided to stop by and visit my sister Kira and her family. We weren't planning on staying very long, but ended up having a nice afternoon with her, Jeff, and their two kids (Jeffrey and Eve). We even went to Costco with them for dinner. We had a great time. Here are some pictures from the afternoon and dinner:

Jeffrey showing us his turtle moves

Hitting the couch cushion

Sad because he thought his nunchucks broke

Kira pretending to feed Eve pizza

Eve, Kira, Jeff, and Jeffrey