French Cooking

A lovely girl whose husband is also at Wharton set up an incredible French cooking class for a few women last weekend. Her brother went to le Cordon Bleu in Paris and graduated #1 in his class for pastry! We spent two evenings and then two full days learning how to make the most incredible food. We learned how to make stocks, butcher a duck, make beef bourguignon, duck confit, pot a feu, croissants, puff pastry, creme anglaise, and about a zillion other things. It was AMAZING! We ate like kings! Now that class is over, I've got to get straight to work practicing what I learned. My first serious attempt was the weekend when I made croissants. It was a very long process and I have a lot more practicing to do, but I was totally excited about it!

Mike's Party

The party was wonderful, and Mike really had a great time eating Mexican food and enjoying the beginning of his thirtieth year.

The dessert table, minus two trays.

At one point Mike's good friend and fellow Accounting PhD gave Mike a BYU t-shirt (Mike hates BYU) and then promptly removed his own sweater to reveal a matching shirt- Jimmer's number, of course. Mike said to quickly take the photo because it will be the last time he ever wears the shirt!

Cutting the cake.

Lauren hard at work on the quiz about Mike.

Mom and Dad in the kitchen.

The sibs and Sheri

The food.

Drinks and tropical fruit with chili and lime.

Favors- Macarons!!

The Actual Day

In front of his lovely cake from the local French bakery.

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Blowing out the candles.

Mike trying out the pedophile look with some glasses I picked up for him.

Zoo Trip

We hauled all nine kids and seven adults to the wonderful Philadelphia Zoo for some entertainment.

No trip is complete without goat brushing.

Amelia got dressed up like a bird in the aviary.

Claire modeling the lumpy owl hat I made her for her birthday.

All the kids in front of the lion exhibit.

Busy Month

This has been one crazy month!

Mike's 30th birthday was this month, and he kicked things off with a boys trip to AZ and San Diego with his Dad and brothers. He had an awesome time relaxing, sight seeing, and (of course) eating nonstop. Unfortunately Mike forgot the camera, but highlights included whale watching, Russian Roulette chicken wings, playing pool, and seafood.

Mom arrived for a visit the same day Mike headed out west. I decided to throw Mike a surprise party for his birthday a while back, so she agreed to come help me out while he was out of town. Then Sarah and Ryan decided to drive over from Indiana just for the weekend of the party, later Dad decided to fly in, and eventually Lauren and all her kids managed to scrape together some tickets! After lots of shopping, planning, and Mike finding out about the party, we had a big shindig here the Saturday after Mike's birthday with family and few close friends. Lauren and Mom continued their visit for a week after the party, and it was really nice to spend time with my little nieces.

On Sunday the kids all got dressed up in the matching Easter clothes that we bought for them last year after Easter (we got a good deal). They all learned the song "One in a Million" and sang it in church. Sarah and Ryan were already on their way back home by then, so Max and Evie didn't get to participate, but I do have an excellent video of them all singing together that I'll post soon. Here's a photo of them all after church, and I believe Amelia is giving Jack a wet willie. Great.