Fun with Luke

I wish that I didn't have to work while Katie and Luke are here. I'm always dying for it to be 5:00 so that I can go home and play with Luke. Then Katie and I have had fun playing Boggle together. We've also had fun watching Monk as a family. The funny thing about that is that my dad is really getting in to that show. He normally only gets into old comedies like Andy Griffith. You should hear him snorting up a laugh when we watch Monk. He's so funny. And now he's always talking about it. Anyway, I just love having Katie and Luke here. Luke loves to help with anything you are doing. It kind of slows the process down, but it sure makes it a whole lot more fun. He helped me clean up the kitchen yesterday, and everywhere I went he had to bring his little stool so that he could see above the counter. He was so cute. He is so smiley, it kills me. And he looks so much like Katie that after playing so much with Luke I tell Katie that she reminds me of Luke. So I'm cherishing these days with Katie and Luke.

The Best Recipe: Layered Dulce de Leche Dessert

This is now my favorite dessert ever.
I recommend it to everyone.

The recipe calls for:

40 NILLA Wafers, divided
1-1/4 cups cold milk
2 pkg. (4-serving size each) JELL-O White Chocolate Flavor Instant Pudding and Pie Filling
1 tub (8 oz.) COOL WHIP Whipped Topping, thawed
1/4 cup Caramel Topping

Directions:

CHOP 4 of the wafers; set aside. Line 9by5-inch loaf pan with foil, with ends of foil extending over sides of pan. Arrange 12 of the remaining wafers in single layer on bottom of prepared pan; set aside.

POUR milk into large bowl. Add dry pudding mixes. Beat with wire whisk 2 minutes or until well blended. (Mixture will be thick.) Gently stir in the whipped topping. Spoon one third of the pudding mixture over wafers in pan; top with 12 of the remaining wafers and 2 Tbsp. of the Caramel topping. Repeat layers of pudding mixture, wafers and caramel topping. Cover with the remaining pudding mixture. Sprinkle with chopped wafers; press wafers gently into pudding mixture.

FREEZE 4 hours or until firm. Lift dessert from pan, using foil handles; remove foil. Place dessert on serving plate. Let stand 15 min. to soften slightly before cutting into 12 slices to serve. Store leftover dessert in freezer.

Stella

This is Stella! I met her in China in the summer of 2005 when I went over there to teach English. I had so much fun hanging out with her. She took me everywhere and explained so much to me about her culture. We still keep in touch. You can even see her comments on my blog. I'd love to see her again in China sometime soon, but I pray that I can at least see her when I meet my Lord. She is a sweet friend that I will always cherish. Stella, I miss you.

Back in the Day

Somehow I managed to get a hold of these super old pictures from the beginning days of Northland. The first one is a picture of the first volleyball team Northland ever had. My mom was the coach. The other picture is the basketball team. I'm not sure if my dad was actually a part of the team or what. He is the second one on the right. I was cracking up when I saw this picture of my dad in his little shorts.

Visiting Family

I can't wait till next week and then the week after that. My sister Janelle and her four new children are coming to visit. I can't wait to meet them in person. I've seen so many cute pictures of them; and Janelle has told me so much. I can't wait. And then, after that Katie's coming with little Lukie.

I haven't seen him since he was the little ring bearer in my wedding two months ago. He did such a wonderful job holding the hand of Scott's neice Emma down the aisle.

Best Friends

Jennie has been my best friend since ninth grade. I couldn't ask for a better friend. We have so many good memories from highschool whether it was swimming or watching movies or discussing boy problems. I enjoyed rooming with her my freshmen year of college. Nine months ago she married Johnny Borchardt, and I was privileged to be in her wedding. Two months ago she was in my wedding. And today we enjoy being married couples together. I get a lot of advice from her. She's a godly friend, and I've always been able to go to her for encouragement. Scott and Johnny get along really well, so it works out wonderful. We both work at Northland and we work closely together in our youth group. She lives about 8 miles away, so the only thing I'd change is that she were closer. But this is probably the closest we'll ever be as far as our homes because Scott and I are planning on being here for only this year. So I really cherish this year that we can be newlyweds together.

Us

Here we are at Camp Gitche Gumee with the youth group. This was only the third weekend in our marriage, and we had to be in seperate cabins. But it was still a lot of fun with the teens.

More Apartment Pics

And this is our little bathroom that I painted all by myself. Keep in mind that it appears much brighter than it is. :)

And More of the Apartment

This is my colorful kitchen with colorful fiestaware.

More of Our Apartment

These are pics of our living room with a study. We like it a lot.