He's BAAAACK

So don't tell my Dr., but Reza and I went to Ohio this weekend to welcome my brother Jacob home! He has spent the last 2 years in NYC serving a mission for our church. He spent most of his time working with the Deaf congregation in New York and sharing our message of the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ in American Sign Language.

Sometimes missionaries who just get home are super awkward and weird. He isn't any weirder now then he was two years ago. It was great to talk to him, hear his experiences and his plans for the future.So I didn't really think I was that huge or my face looked any different, then I just saw a picture of myself from like 2 years ago...now I am depressed. I want my un-puffy face back.

Please notice that 1) I looked drunk/drugged and 2) Rez is standing up extra straight and puffing out his chest probably due to the fact Jacob is a giant and 3) Doesn't Jacob look stylish?

Fire!

So I heard all these sirens last night, but we live pretty close to a fire station so I didn't pay attention. But they kept coming, I went outside and saw flames coming out of the chimney of the restaurant across the street. There were 6 fire trucks and several auxiliary support vehicles. The crazy thing is that people were still in the restaurant, and people were going in the pizza place next door. I stayed on my side of the street just in case.

This was really good

Zuppa Toscana

2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

1 large yellow onion, chopped

2 {32} ounce containers organic chicken broth (or homemade if you have on hand; also, Costco carries a great organic chicken stock at a great price)

4 medium potatoes, peeled and diced into 1-inch cubes

4 cups kale, chopped, stems discarded

1 teaspoon sea salt

1/2 teaspoon fresh ground pepper

pinch of red pepper flakes

3/4 lb. mild Italian sausage links, casings removed (a local grocery store, Harmons, makes the best house-made sweet Italian sausage with hints of fennel, which compliment this soup nicely)

1/2 cup heavy cream

In a large pot, saute onion in olive oil over medium heat until onion becomes translucent–about 10 minutes. Add broth, potatoes, kale, sea salt, pepper, and pepper flakes then bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes. Meanwhile, cook the sausage until browned in a pan over medium heat, breaking up with the back of a wooden spoon. Once cooked thoroughly, add the sausage and cream to the soup. Heat to desired temperature and serve with grated Parmigiano-Reggiano on top. Enjoy!

Find the recipe and a pretty picture here: www.stephmodo.com

Frightful

So today we are under a Blizzard watch. I also learned that Dulles Airport has the second highest reported snow fall of any US city this winter. North Dakota---eat your heart out. Here are some pics from this mornings snow walk. PS I have had all week off school, I'll go back next Tuesday after President's day. Even Reza had a snowday today!

The street behind our house and how the kids at my school get picked up in the afternoon. The lack of plowing on this road is a big part of why there hasn't been school all week.


Reza sleeping in his igloo as of five minutes ago.


The advertisement at the bus station. Trust me---I wish we were in Cancun right now.

If you look close you will see a car under this fallen over tree

730 days

At the Mississippi River while driving to Ohio the Summer of 2007

Moments after getting engaged in December 2007

*Enter Wedding Picture Here-February 9, 2008*

(They are all on our external hard drive and I don't feel like finding them now)

Moments after finding out we are having a baby boy in April 2010

Needless to say it's been an eventful 2 years. In the last 2.5 years we have moved four times, from Utah to Ohio to Washington DC.

I have started and completed grad school, and Reza has started on a new career path. I started a career.

We have been to Mexico and Costa Rica as well as many trips within the US.

We are going to have a kid.

Needless to say we have been greatly blessed. I wouldn't trade the last two years for anything.

I was thinking however of some things have have not been owned/purchased during our 2 year marriage:
a dining room table and chairs
a plunger
a desk
a legitimate couch/sofa
a vacuum cleaner
a dresser with more then 4 drawers
a bed frame/headboard in our master bedroom

Igloo

This is what Reza spent most of yesterday doing:

Today he spent his afternoon digging some guy out of a back road who needed to get back to Jersey, was driving a borrowed car and seemed to be here for the weekend. He was a bit frazzled--we think he came here for a girl and it didn't go so well.

Strangely Enough, Church Hasn't Been Canceled Yet

The end of the world 2010:The front of our apartment, those are the bedroom windows.

A tree bent in half and pushing our our kitchen window. Reza knocked the snow off it and it bounced right back.
Reza knocking snow off trees. It's a very wet heavy snow, a roof even collapsed at a Dulles Airport Hangar.

The tree that fell down right behind our house. This pretty much is the view from our little "sunroom."
Reza by the tire of the 4runner.
To prove I was outside too. The snow is easily past my knees. Oh and that's the 4runner behind me.
To give some perspective on the depth of the snow.


Currently Reza is outside building an igloo.