Too School for Cool

 Yes we are still alive! James and I have both been very busy with school (and work for me). To read about our crazy journey called school visit the Our Life tab or click here. This will explain why I am still in school and the basics of medical school for James. Community College for me: I dance on Verve Dance Company and take many dance classes. Medical school for James: In addition to crazy lectures, study groups, insane exams, and spending time with me, he finds time to be in the Emergency Medicine Club, The Surgery Club, and the Athletics Club just to name a few! Crazy boy. Besides school we've had date nights to Paradise Bakery & Cafe, Chili's, hanging with our buddies The Fairbanks, The Battys, The Edwards, & The Killpacks, shopping for new backpacks and dance clothes, watching movies like The Prestige and The Illusionist, and serving at church in the library! 

 Oh and can I just share my favorite pictures of two cute boys? You're welcome.

 playing at church

 sweetest thing ever

look at that face! 

Thanks Than & Ixchel for letting us babysit Rex at church!

Lastly, Fall is here! Well, for us Arizonans, Fall is around the corner...90 degree days, pumpkins, Halloween, Thanksgiving...oh and then cool weather in December haha. I'm excited about my new Fall 2012 Bucket List!

Happy Fall Ya'll!

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Happy Grandparents Day!

Today is National Grandparents Day! According to Wikipedia (haha), National Grandparents Day in the U.S. is the first Sunday after Labor Day, in September. It falls on September 9, 2012, then September 8, 2013. 

I called Nana & Grandpa Fakkel on the phone today and just loved chatting for a bit to catch up on life! I love them oh so very very much! 

Cita & Grandpa Lewis are serving a mission right now in Peru. They work in the South America Northwest Area Offices. I'm so proud of them! Love you Elder & Hermana Lewis!

We love James' grandparents too~Grandma & Grandpa Keel and Grandma & Grandpa 

Chapman! 

Happy Grandparents Day!

I plan on making these for sure! Taste of Home recipe made healthy of course.

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup whole wheat flour
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 egg, lightly beaten
• 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce OR vegetable oil
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup shredded zucchini
• 1/4 cup miniature semisweet chocolate chips
• 1/4 cup chopped walnuts

Directions

• In a bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking soda, cinnamon and salt. Combine the egg, applesauce OR oil, milk, lemon juice and vanilla; mix well. Stir into dry ingredients just until moistened. Fold in zucchini, chocolate chips and walnuts. Fill greased or paper-lined muffin cups two-thirds full. Bake at 350° for 20-25 minutes or until muffins test done. Yield: about 1 dozen.

For Sunday dinner I made Pizza Quesadillas. We loved this because it was delicious, filling, easy to make, few ingredients, and cheap. I used grilled chicken instead of pepperoni, but you can probably make it with both. I also put some black olives in James' and he liked that.

Pepperoni Pizza Quesadillas  (via Pinterest: www.snixykitchen.com)
Serves 4

• 8 flour tortillas (I used Mission)
• 8 ounces of shredded mozzarella or pizza cheese
• 1/3 lb pepperoni or 1 lb cubed grilled chicken
• 1 16-ounce jar of pizza sauce or tomato sauce
• Optional: 1 6-ounce can of sliced black olives, 1 cup of sliced cremini mushrooms

1. Heat a medium skillet over medium heat and fry the pepperoni until crisp. Transfer on a paper towel to drain.
2. Brush each tortilla with a thin layer of pizza sauce (so thin that if you turned it over, none would drip).
3. Sprinkle cheese on top of the sauce on the bottom tortilla. Top with pepperoni and other toppings, if desired. Sprinkle with another layer of cheese and place the other tortilla on top (sauce side in).
4. Pre-heat a medium cast-iron skilled over medium heat.
5. Lay quesadilla in the pan and cook for 3-5 minutes on each side, until cheese is melted and tortillas are crispy.
6. Slice into quarters and serve with a little bowl of pizza dipping sauce.

I also made this cute headband holder thanks to Pinterest! I used an old Quaker oats can, some scrapbook paper, and some stickers. Here's how mine turned out:

"Grandparents are made more powerful guides & 

rescuers by the bonds of love that are the

very nature of a family."

~President Henry B. Eyring

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Another Dance Residency

I love my job because I get paid holiday time off for Labor Day. What did I do with my amazing paid day off? Dance, Dance DANCE! I had no weekend other than dance my brains out all day Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. Verve Dance Company had the privilege to work with guest artist Joshua Blake Carter from Giordano Dance Company in Chicago. He was awesome & we learned a 7 1/2 minute long jazz dance in just three days for our Fall Concert. Needless to say I am exhausted. Thanks Josh! 

 Brian, Amanda, Mary, Sara, Me, Joshua Carter, Denisse,Urian, Janey, Kayley, Dominique, Celia, Alli, Alainia, Alexus, Alexa, Amy, & Jonny

 Dancing 

 One of the hottest poses we have in our dance haha

Jazz hands!

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