tasty!

we made dinner at home last sunday for our anniversary. brian took care of the meat; maple salmon. mmmm. it was SO good!



here's the recipe! try it. now.

• 1/4 cup maple syrup
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic salt
• 1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1 pound salmon

1. In a small bowl, mix the maple syrup, soy sauce, garlic, garlic salt, and pepper.
2. Place salmon in a shallow glass baking dish, and coat with the maple syrup mixture. Cover the dish, and marinate salmon in the refrigerator 30 minutes, turning once.
3. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
4. Place the baking dish in the preheated oven, and bake salmon uncovered 20 minutes, or until easily flaked with a fork.

enjoy!

(recipe found on allrecipes.com)

three hundred & sixty five

exactly one year ago, three hundred & sixty five days ago, brian & i were married!
about this time, one year ago, i was getting ready. the house was busy; full of my mom and brothers and sisters and nieces and nephews. my dear friend nena came over to do my hair and i sat grinning while she did.

brian & i were married in the regina, saskatchewan temple. we grew up together in the regina area. we were there when they announced the temple, and watched as it was built. we attended the temple together on youth trips, and then that saturday morning, last august, we walked in together and were sealed for time and all eternity. we were surrounded by family and friends, by those who love us. i remember, so clearly, the feeling of immense love & support as we sat in that peaceful room.



the clouds threatened us with rain, but it never fell. it made for such a pretty sky and soft light.





my sister took our photos and we had such fun. we trudged into a canola field, just long enough for a couple good photos and an inch of mud on my shoes.



then we went and partied with 100 or so of our family and friends at the town hall in pense, the small town brian grew up in. the day was lovely.



i love you, brian. we have been through thick & thin, good times & hard times. our love grows through it all. i am glad you are my best friend, my confidant, my partner, my husband. here's to year one, and to the many adventures in the years to come!

beat it

so, guess who called our place to see if we had any suites for rent?



yup. totally.
brian got to talk to him.

its a pity we're full this month.

sweet.

i took a cake decorating class with my friends! it was really fun. we learned lots and, uh, ate lots of cake. i want to practice what i learned, but am sick of cake. like, really sick of cake.



some of the cute cupcakes i made!



then we took cupcakes to red deer, and brian and the girls had fun decorating them together.



and now, my masterpiece. i had so much fun making this cake!



i think brian really enjoyed the class, too.

baby sam

my second oldest brother and his family just welcomed number four to their family; baby sam. he surprised us all and arrived more than three weeks early. we went to visit them this weekend and i got lots of time to snuggle this sweet little man. i love his blonde hair and i adore his little bum chin, similar to his big brother, evans. these two are gonna break hearts.









we love you, samuel ellis. welcome!

now put your hands up

its been a year! a year since brian asked me to be his!
we took a drive to our homeland, and once we crossed the saskatchewan border, he gave me my delightfully sparkly ring as we watched the sun set in the familiar sky. it was so beautiful. we sat together and talked about our future together. we laughed & cried & hugged & kissed, four things we've continued to do over this past year.
thank you brian, for asking me to share this life and the next with you. you make life an adventure. you help me to learn and grow, and you encourage me to be and do my best.
i'm so glad i said yes.

another month?

what we've been up to...
(photographic evidence of june, the month that rushed by, but not unpleasantly.
it was a wonderful month!)

we moved!

i do miss my pantry.

but i'm in love with our windows!

i'm growing a herb garden. chives, basil, cilantro & parsley.

brian & taylor have been practicing their juggling skills


and we've played like, a ton of bocce ball.




we've celebrated a couple of birthdays.

(all joviah is thinking about is that cake...)







brian had a few days off work due to the rain, so i came home to dinners like this...

are you serious? this was delicious. i'm so spoiled!

i took photos at a wedding for the most delightful couple.



shout out to my dear hubby for holding an umbrella over my head all day. you're the best!

we've babysat & played with lots of our favourite kiddos.


please note brians creepy hand in the bottom corner. ha!








and we did some nature watching out our kitchen window.


i've decided to start up a little bun business! if you're in the area, you can order dinner rolls, cinnamon buns, pizza buns or cinnamon knots!




its been a busy, busy and such a fun month! we're hoping july is just as big of a party.

love,
lauren & brian