Easter 2013

Mia woke up on Easter Sunday and we brought her out to see what the Easter bunny had surprised her with. She was so excited to open up her basket. She got a new outfit, a new pink towel (she has to have a pink towel when she gets out of the bath), Finding Nemo, Cadbury Eggs, and a new book. She also got new shoes and a new Easter dress as well. After opening up her basket we got ready for church.

 

Every year growing up I remember my mom taking pictures of us in our Easter dresses that usually either she or my granny had made for us. Mia looked so adorable in her Easter dress I just had to get a picture of her in it. It just so happened that she was in the mood to pose for my camera!

 Right after church we headed up to Aunt Cathy & Uncle Guy's house for dinner. Mia had so much fun playing with her cousins, jumping on the tramp and finding easter eggs.

 This was the biggest Easter egg hunt I have ever seen, about 200 eggs! Her basket was overflowing and we had to grab another one just to hold all the eggs in them.  She was most excited to open up the eggs and see what was inside. She scored $18 but didn't really care about the money all she wanted was the candy. GO figure!

I love the look on her face in this picture. The pure joy of a child!

Birthday Escoffier Dinner

In February my dad called me up and asked me out on a date for my birthday. Every year he attends the Escoffier dinner and this year it landed on my birthday. He knows how much I love food so he thought it would be a great birthday present and it was. The escoffier dinner is a formal event, something I was a little worried about since my wardrobe is pretty slim pickin being 7 months pregnant and all. Luckily I had bought a dress online from Shade clothing that would do the trick. My dad looked dapper in a tuxedo. The dinner was at Little America and started with a champagne and orderv reception. I met alot of my dad's Chef friends and they all boasted about how amazing my dad is. Yes, yes, I know he is amazing and well respected in the culinary scene but it was so cool to see people recognize him for it too. We were seated at 7pm and they began the courses. The chef and his staff had a live camera so at certain points we could watch them in the kitchen prepping our meals. Very neat! Here are the pics of our evening and most of our courses.  Thanks for taking me dad! I had an amazing time.

Me and my Dad

Beautiful Ice Carvings of the eiffel tower, escoffier and Utah Beehive Chef Logo

First Course - Seared Monkfish and seafood sausage- sauce etouffe

Second Course- Rabbit Pate and pickled melon

3rd Course- Black Currant Granite

 

4th Course was a Duck Consomme- didn't take a picture so we could hurry and eat it before it got cold

 

5th course- Venison a la forestiere

 

6th Course- Salad

7th Course- Dessert

 

Menu:

First course

Pan seared monkfish (Lotte)

Paired with Scallop and Crawfish sausage

Served with sauce Etouffee and fleuron

Second course:

Rabbit Pate

With pickled melon relish, sauce Cumberland and

sesame crisp

Third course:

Duck consommé “Royal”

Intermezzo:

Black current granite

Topped with champagne

Main course:

Roasted Rack of Venison a ’la Forestiere

With Pomme Berny, stuffed savoy cabbage, root

vegetables, asparagus

(Goufrette de Pomme garnish)

Salad course:

Artisan greens

With warm pistachio crusted goat cheese, citrus fruit

Mango papaya dressing

Savory mixed nut lavosh

Dessert course:

Semolina pudding

White chocolate mousse bomb

Dark cherry croquette

With a warm cherry and port reduction and sauce

kumquat

Petit fours and chocolate truffles

Bernhard Gotz

Executive Chef

Soccer

A few weeks ago Camron played in a soccer league for his work. His games were at the indoor field up at the University of Utah. Mia and I tagged along and cheered him on from the sidelines. They won Friday night and played 2 games on Saturday, winning one and losing the other one which eliminated them from the bracket. Mia thought it was pretty cool to watch daddy play soccer and would yell, "Go Daddy".

Monster Truck

Last Saturday Camron's parents got tickets for the Monster truck in the Delta Suite. I was a little hesitant to go at first. I remember going to a monster truck rally back when I was in elementary and all I remember  from it was coming away practically deaf from how loud it was. I decided to go and take Mia anyways. They provided us with ear plugs and surprisingly Mia wore them most of the time. And she LOVED the trucks. She was entertained and watched most of the show, I was impressed! Her favorite part of the Monster Truck was definitely the popcorn though!

 

It ended up being much more fun than I remember. Glad I decided to go!

Snow Day

About two weeks ago we got quite a bit of snow. I sent Camron out to snow blow the driveway and Mia insisted on going outside with Daddy to play in the snow. I dressed her up all warm and sent her out. She followed Daddy around. I was having a good laugh when Camron let Jet out of the backyard too. He had a parade going on! You know how I love parades! I watched from the warmth of the indoors though of course. Too funny. Mia loves playing in the snow

 

Mia's First Dance Performance

Here is the video of Mia's First Dance Recital! Cutest thing EVER!

Missed

I am so far behind. I need to be better at blogging more often.

On January 17, Camron's aunt passed away. It was very sudden and shocking news. She is a young mom to 5 beautiful children. When I first met Tracy she immediately welcomed me and made me feel comfortable. Her personality lit up a room, she was funny, loving, accepting, and Christlike. We flew out to Texas to spend time with family and attend the funeral services.  It is amazing the comfort and love that being together as a family can bring. I love Camron's family as my own, I consider them my own, it is as if I have loved them and they loved me my entire life. I am so blessed to have such great in-laws. The funeral services were peaceful and filled with the spirit. Tracy was an amazing woman with great conviction and above all the most amazing mom. . At the services all the nieces, nephews, and her children sang a musical number of "Families Can Be Together Forever". It was hard to sing the song knowing the tragic loss but also the true words that we were singing. Tracy  will truly be missed but I know she is smiling down at her family.