'Twas the week before finals

'Twas the week before finals when all through the house,
Every student was stirring, even professors
Computers were on and textbooks open
Notebooks, pens, and highlighters out
In hopes that they soon would be done

The professors were assigning, smiling with glee,
While laughing, "More homework, more notes, more last minute lessons!"
And students in the library, begging for mercy,
Before settling down for a long hallway nap.

When all of a sudden, there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from my chair to see what was the matter,
Away to the class I flew like a flash,
Tore open the door and ran to my desk

The professor stood there smirking about,
Giving students hope of extra credit galore,
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But the test itself, and number two pencils.

With a little scantron, so blank and oppressing,
I knew in a moment it must be the end.
More rapid than eagles his students they rose,
And he smiled, and shouted, and called them to order;

"Now, Quiet! Now, Hurry! No more cramming and crying!
The time, it starts now! On, students, on!
To the top of the page! To the end of the test!
Now write away! Write away! Write away all!

They sprang to their test, to the clock they all watched,
And away the test went, right to the very end.
The students all left but heard the professor exclaim,
"HAPPY SUMMER TO ALL, AND TO ALL A GOOD-BYE!"

Easter Sunday

Today was a beautiful spring day. The sun was bright and the sky an amazing blue. 

Ryan, Shay (my younger brother), and I went for a walk to the local park.

It was so much fun. We also realized we are a tad too big for these playgrounds. But alas, we still had fun! We soon abandoned the playground to play Frisbee. 

Seriously, I can't play Frisbee. I'm too afraid to catch it so I end up playing Dodge the Frisbee. I can't toss the Frisbee either. Actually, let me rephrase. I am really good at throwing the Frisbee into houses, across fences, really high into the air, and generally the opposite direction I wanted it to go.

Here is a fabulous picture of what happens when two younger brothers race to catch the Frisbee. Usually, the brother with the longer arms wins (as demonstrated below).

And a picture I took proving spring is finally here! I feel like I should become a photographer...just saying.

Just one more picture, I promise.

Because of Him, not all is lost when I make mistakes. Because of Him, I will be forgiven. Because of Him, I will see loved ones that have passed away again someday. What I know is simple, but I know it, I live it, I love it.

Happy Easter everyone!

Chocolate Magic Cake

It's really magic, I swear. And it's delicious, without a doubt. After you cook it, you have three different layers:  a light fluffy top layer, a custard middle, and a firm bottom layer. Yum.

1st step:

Separate 4 eggs and beat egg whites (plus 1 tsp vinegar) until the egg whites are stiff:

Funny story, Ryan had no idea egg whites did this. He kept saying, "No way! What did you do to it? No way!" 

2nd step:

Don't throw out the egg yolks! We need 'em! Add 1 tbsp of water to the four egg yolks and 3/4 cup sugar. Beat together until light and creamy:

It starts out really yellow but the longer you beat together, the lighter it becomes.

Step 3:

Add 1 stick (or 1/2 cup) melted butter (just throw out all healthy ideas, okay?), vanilla, and a pinch of salt. Beat until fluffy and well mixed. The batter will look similar to the picture above.

Step 4:

Add 6.5 tbsp flour and 6 tbsp cocoa powder to the yellow batter (not the egg whites. We'll get to those later). Mix together thoroughly:

Step 5:

After you've mixed flour and cocoa, add 2 cups of lukewarm milk a bit at a time. I usually microwave a cup of milk for 15 seconds at a time then add to the batter. Don't freak out when you see how runny the batter is. Completely normal, I promise:

Step 6:

Remember those egg whites? I told you we'd get back to those! Fold egg whites into batter a third at a time until well mixed:

Step 7:

Pour the batter into an 8x8 inch baking dish. Bake for roughly 60 minutes at 325 degrees. The cake will jiggle in the middle which is normal. Cool and serve with powdered sugar:

You can't see very well in this picture, but there are three delicious layers of chocolatey goodness. You look like a master chef when the recipe really wasn't that hard. It's fantastic!

Chocolate Magic Cake:

4 eggs (separate whites and yolks) at room temperature

1 Tbsp water

3/4 cup sugar

1 stick (1/2 cup) butter (melted)

6.5 Tbsp flour

6 Tbsp cocoa powder

2 cups milk (warm)

Pinch of salt

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 tsp vinegar

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Grease an 8x8 inch baking dish.

2. Separate eggs. Add vinegar to egg whites and beat until whites are stiff. Set aside

3. Add water to egg yolks and add sugar. Beat at high until light and creamy.

4. Add melted butter, vanilla, and salt to egg yolk mixture. Beat until fully mixed and mixture is light and fluffy.

5. Add flour and cocoa powder to mixture. Beat until well mixed.

6. Once flour and cocoa has been mixed, add milk a bit at a time and mix together.

7. Add egg whites a third at a time to batter until well mixed.

8. Pour batter into greased 8x8 baking dish. Bake for roughly 60 minutes. The cake will jiggle in the middle. After it's cooled, sprinkle the top with powdered sugar

Enjoy!

To move or not to move?

We've lived in our little apartment for a year now and our contract ends next month.

So the question is:

Do we move or stay?

Pros:

• Close to school
• Close to work
• Close to Target (thank goodness!)
• Brand new carpet
• New paint
• New oven/stove
• Tile bathroom floor
• Big bathroom (compared to other apartments)
• New linoleum in kitchen

Cons:

• Raising rent $10 a month if we renew (doesn't sound like a lot but it adds up)
• No dishwasher
• Small air conditioning unit in living room that really doesn't do much
• Original 1970's windows that don't keep in heat or cool air and you can hear everything outside
• People below us blast their music so it sounds like their scream-o is in my kitchen
• Wake up to said people's fights at 3 am

Part of me wants to move badly. I want to try something new and start over fresh in a new place. We really weren't the best at making friends in our current place. 

But the new carpet! It's a comfort to think we are the only family to use the carpets and oven. I can walk barefoot in our apartment and not think about all the dirt from everyone else (even if the carpets are cleaned after the previous renter). 

And it's our first apartment as newlyweds. I have an emotional attachment to this place. Honestly, I might cry when the day comes that we do leave. 

It's changing!

Guys. I'm wearing shorts today.

Ryan and I uncovered our small air conditioning unit that we wish would work better.

We sleep with the window open, a fan sitting at the window to draw in any cool breeze while the ceiling fan spins away (making an annoying sound, might I add).

I might actually have to take off our fluffy blanket on our bed. It's so comfy and soft...and slightly too warm for our liking.

I hear birds in the morning.

The grass is turning green, large pink blossoms blooming all over the place (even our tree is alive...just not very pink).

I keep hearing the ice cream truck, the constant tune "It's a small world after all" or "M-I-C-K-E-Y M-O-U-S-E". Does anyone else feel like ice cream trucks are sketchy? No? Just me? They don't have very good ice cream anyway. But I have fabulous ice cream in my freezer....

Just take a moment to appreciate this next picture. I took it last week right after a snow storm. Yes, snow storm. 

I love this time of year. It's so unpredictable and beautiful. If only we could find an allergy medicine that helped Ryan, then it would be perfect.