I know..... It has been forever...

Yes, yes I know it has been forever and a day since I have done one thing with this blog. We really are alive.

May I say... I just have not wanted too? No, not at all... not in the very least little tiny bit. Until today. I do have a few valid excuses. If you want a few here they are ;)

1-Summer- Fall = the busiest time of year for us
2- Our computer has been on the fritz
3- Nothing too exciting to share after Mexico- really there was
4- We have been focusing on other aspects in our life

There...are you happy? Haha ;) If anyone still even reads or checks in on this boring ,old, sad little blog.

I promise... If our computer is all better soon ( in the photo department) I will post more often this winter.

May you and yours have a great Christmas Season! More to come!

South Of The Border!

Life has been crazy busy!I cannot believe we have been home from Mexico for a month! Time sure does fly while your having fun!

Matt and I were able to go to Mexico with Mike & Jen, Scott & Christine. We had a ton of fun! Too bad I got a dang cold while we were there...

Here are a few photo's from our vacation in Play Del Carmen Mexico... Pure Paradise!

Day 1-
Great Flight, Welcome Party, 5th Ave. Shopping, Walk along the Beach, Cabana Romance

Day 2-
Akumaul Beach, Snorkeling, Sea Turtles,Swimming,Fresh Seafood,Guacamole, Pastries, Coconut Ice Cream.

Day 3-
Xcaret!, swimming with the Dolphins, Snorkeling,Underground Lazy River and Tons of fun!Worth every penny!

Day 4-
Punta Allen,Adventure!, Snorkeling in the ocean, Boat ride,Mangroves, Crocodiles, Mangos, Chatting, Laughing! ZZzzzzz

Day 5-
Sea to Cenote, Snorkeling, Cenote, Giggles, Hiking, Myan Brake, Zip Line, Meesh Meesh, Caves, Evening Beach Stroll... Romantic

Day 6-
Spa Day!!! Pedi, Mani, Massage on the beach! Relaxation, Laying out, Reading, Sleeping, Skinny Dip in the Ocean, Hub's Lost my swimsuit.... Sorry in the Sand, Dinner,Lobster, Shopping on 5th Ave!

Day 7-
Chitzen-Ittza, Ruins, HOT, HOT, HOT 114 degrees HOT, Cooled off in a Cenorte...Ahhhh, Coconut Milk, Edar Buying us lunch in town, Mmmm Mmmm! Super Carnes, Shopping on 5th Ave, Stroll on the Beach, Swimming in the moon-lit sky, Gone from 7am - midnight. Great way to end the week!

Day 8-
Farewell Mexico! The day came too soon! Packing, Breakfast, Bike Ride into the city, Street Tacos, Empanadas! YUM! Flight home...Brrr Utah is cold! Home Sweet Home!Loving our own bed and our Sammy Boy!

Master Bath FINALLY Finished...For now :D

It seems we always have some sort of project going on here at the Conrad home. Matt and I wonder if we will ever want to move?
It seems we just keep on doing and going.
Too bad I cannot find the "before" pictures, but here are the long awaited "after" pictures!




*Pardon the poor pictures. I just have a simple point and shoot camera right now.

Banana Nut Cake With Cream Cheese Frosting

It is a cold spring day. And I'm in the mood to bake today.

I had a bunch of ripe banana's that need to be used. And this recipe caught my attention. So I gave it a whirl. Mmmm... Mmmm Tasty!

Ingredients

Cake:
•Butter, for greasing pans
•3 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for pans
•2 cups sugar
•1 teaspoon baking soda
•1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
•1/2 teaspoon salt
•3 eggs, beaten
•3/4 cup vegetable oil
•4 large ripe bananas, mashed
•1 cup chopped pecans
•1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
•
Frosting:
•1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, at room temperature
•1/2 cup butter (1 stick), at room temperature
•1 pound confectioners' sugar, sifted
•1 teaspoon vanilla extract
•1/2 cup chopped pecans
•
•Cook's Note: This recipe is not formulated for a wedding cake, but for a normal size everyone can use. Increase as needed if you are making tiered or extra large cakes.
Directions
Butter and flour 3 (9-inch) round cake pans; set aside. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Cake:
In a mixing bowl, stir together the flour, sugar, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt. Add the eggs and oil and stir just until the dry ingredients are moistened; do not beat. Stir in the banana, pecans, and vanilla. Divide the batter among the prepared pans and bake for 23 to 28 minutes, or until a wooden pick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool the cake layers in the pans for 10 minutes, and then turn them out onto a rack to cool completely. While the cake cools, make the frosting.

Frosting:
In a bowl, blend together the cream cheese and butter. Gradually add the confectioners' sugar and beat until light and fluffy. Beat in the vanilla. Stir in the pecans, or reserve them to sprinkle over the frosted cake. Fill and frost the cake when it is completely cool.

Prep Time:30 min
Inactive Prep Time:45 min
Cook Time:28
Serves: 18 to 20 servings.

Recipe courtesy Paula Deen

A Special Day...

Happy St Patrick's Day!

Happy Birthday Grandpa Elies!

I love this picture of my Grandpa Elies.
He looks like the Marborlo Man or something.
I always thought he was a very handsome man. I miss him everyday.

Grandpa would have been 80 today if he were still with us. Our family lost him way too soon. He passed away 26 years ago yesterday. I was nine and remember it like it was yesterday. It was a very sad time for our family.

Some of my memories of Grandpa...

Cold Peanut M&M's in the fridge- A staple
Giving him manicures
Him taking Jess and I to State Street Grill for silly sacks
His laughter
Watching the t.v. SO loud! I will forever remember the words "Solid Gold"!(t.v. show)
Him tinkering in the garage, building buggy's, hot rods and who knows what else?
He was so tall some of his shirts were usually too short :D
The way he smelled of aftershave and the garage
His glasses had pits in them from welding things
Him laying on the couch and taking up the Whole length
His nickname was "Stretch" his name Hans Eric Elies
He loved us and loved treats
His German Ancestory
He grew up in Jersey City
His Father died in a tragic accident when he was just a baby

I'm sure there are more. This is all that comes to mind at the moment.

A couple years ago we were able to do Grandpa's & Grandma's Temple work. It was a very special day to be able to seal my Dad to his parents. I miss them both dearly and love them so much! I'm so thankful for Eternal Families. And for our sweet Uncle Alex. He is my Grandpa's brother, he has recently been a part of our lives for about the last 10 years? That is another story in and of itself. It is a pretty cool one I will have to post one day.

Lets go fly a kite!

Matt and I had a great day off together yesterday!
The weather was absolutely beautiful!

Our day consisted of a bike ride around the lake, picnic in our backyard,Costco,applying for our passports, and yes flying a kite!

The evening was filled with fun as well.
5 guys, Friends and Cinemark.The movie Unknown was pretty good. Not the best movie I have ever seen, but good.

And these little pretties are up in the front yard!

I LOVE this weather! Mr. Sun I have missed you oh SO much!

Like A Lamb...

March came in like a lamb....

I could not help myself today. I had to get outside and enjoy that beautiful March weather!

Matt and I did a little yard work and Spring clean up today. It was great to feel the sun on my face today. Yay! Spring is on it's way!

It was one of those March days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold: when it is summer in the light, and winter in the shade. ~Charles Dickens

Slacker.....

The title fits as far as blogging goes.
I simply have not been in the mood to blog. Which happens to be not such a bad thing for me.
I have been cleaning & organizing around the home. I'm on a roll!
My favorite new purchase is...
The shark Vac then Steam!

Having hardwood on our main level and tile in the bathrooms makes for a lot of hard floor surfaces to clean. Can I tell you I'm in love with this little steaming wonder? Now cleaning the floor is a breeze! And it does a fabulous job! Thank you Costco for having a $25.00 off coupon last month!

P.S. Guess what we got ourselves for Christmas this year??

A week in Cancun Mexico!!! We are so excited to go in 12 weeks!