Jeremy's Big News

On Wednesday, Jeremy got an acceptance letter to Utah State University's grad school for the Master's of Rehabilitation Counseling program. He will start this summer as a part time student and we are planning on moving up there for him to finish on campus next year in August or after Christmas. We'll see about the job opportunity up there and make our move then. We are so happy and I am so proud of my wonderful husband. I knew he could do it. He is happy to continue his education working with people who have disabilities and improving their quality of life and community integration. Hooray for Jeremy!

It's Over!

So the lovey doves Kelly and Stephee are finally hitched up and on their honeymoon. Hurrah for them. It was great to see everyone in the temple. The reception was very beautiful. We are sorry we had to leave early since Paul was starting to go crazy...actually I had a headache and Paul was making it worse. Anyway, it is time to focus on a new wedding. Dearest cousin, old roommate, good friend, Jenn Hainsworth is now on deck for a fabulous Mesa Arizona temple wedding on April 26th! I am very glad I can go. Here is a picture of the dress I will wear to the wedding (for all those who will not be attending). Love is in the air, hurrah for springtime.

Our flowers in the front look beautiful, except the freak snowstorm we had the other day. Here is a pic of my flowers in the snow!

April Fool's Day

So, I came home from class on Tuesday, April Fool's Day, to a huge sign staked out in my front yard. It had pink balloons, a stork, a rattle, and some blocks on it. You can only guess that it read, "IT'S A GIRL!" Aaaaahhhh!!!! Someone had pulled a prank on me because to my knowledge, I can't recall having given birth to a little girl recently...or ever. It was quite funny however embarrassing. I knew immediately who had done it. I uprooted that sign, jumped back in the car, and headed straight for my good chum Jeanette Workman's house and planted the sign in her yard. By the end of the evening, that sign had been in three different yards. It was a lot of fun. Did anyone else pull any good pranks or have one pulled on them? We would love to hear it. Lots of love, Laura

Excellent dessert

On Saturday I went to my good friend Carissa's house for dinner. Our old chum Amy Juett was there and she brought the most delicious dessert. It is the Kneader's Raspberry Bread Pudding. Here is the recipe so you all can enjoy it, too. It is seriously good. Now, if anyone has any suggestions for making it lower fat, I encourage them to share. Yum!

Kneader's Raspberry Bread Pudding

Cream Mix
1 1/2 loaves aged, white bread
1 quart heavy cream
3 cups sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla

In large bowl combine cream, sugar, egg and vanilla. Cut bread into 1 1/2"
cubes and add to cream mixture, coating bread well. Let stand 30 minutes
stirring every 5 minutes to allow cream to absorb completely.

Fruit Filling

5 cups frozen raspberries
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup apple juice

Combine raspberries, sugar and apple juice, stirring until sugar is
dissolved.
Layer a 9x13 dark baking dish 3/4 full with bread mixture, pour fruit
filling over bread mixture, spreading evenly, top with remaining bread.
Bake 40 minutes at 375 degrees.
Serve warm. Top with vanilla sauce.

Vanilla Sauce

1 1/3 cup butter (unsalted)
5 tablespoons flour
3 cups heavy cream
2 teaspoons vanilla
1/3 cup sugar

Over medium heat melt butter, and add flour stir 10 minutes until it has a nutty aroma, do not brown. Add salt, cream and sugar and boil till mixture is thick, remove from heat adding vanilla. Serve this wonderful sauce cold.

Happy Easter!

Well, we had a good Easter. We gave Paul a modest basket and had an egg hunt in the backyard. Unfortunately for Paul, we were too cheap to fill the plastic eggs he was hunting for. He found the first egg and was so excited. He broke it open to find it empty. It was so sad. He just stared at the empty egg for what seemed like an eternity. Then he looked at us both with his big eyes and upturned hands like he was saying, "I don't understand. Where's the candy?" Anyway, next year we definitely will not be squelching on easter! It all turned out okay though. He got a really fantastic basket of goodies and cookies from a good friend.
On Saturday we took Paul out and got some new pictures of him. Again, because we were trying to budget, we did not get him any cute new easter outfit. But, I think what we had was just fine. He's cute no matter what he wears. So, here are some pictures we got at BYU at the new Joseph F. Smith Building.

Behavioral Contracts

I had to make a presentation on behavior contracts for one of my classes. All the other groups who have presented had some snazzy video clip to go with their presentation topics. Well, I couldn't think of any interesting movies where a teacher makes a behavior contract with a student, so I made a short little video of my own using my favorite little boy.

Look! A New Post!

So I was severely chastised for not keeping my blog updated as often as some (Kelly) would like it. So, I have made a commitment to update at least once a week instead of just sporadically.

Anyway, it was great to see Kelly and Steph this weekend at Ma and pa Jensen's house and to help get wedding announcements ready. We are soooooo excited! Really, seeing the lovebugs together makes me remember when Jeremy and I were dating and first married and how we always wanted to be close or touching each other somehow (appropriately). I guess the lost doesn't die, but it sure changes when you've been married a few years. We don't have to touch, be close, or even speak. It's nice, but we still are able to communicate love in different ways. I LOVE it when Jeremy rubs my back. But it is also quite fantastic when he does the dishes or puts the laundry away. I married a wonderful guy. I am so happy to be part of his life. I also am very grateful to have super in-laws (brothers, sisters, parents). What a blessing.

Well, that felt good. Thanks again, Kelly for this push in the right direction. I hope I can keep it up more often.