merry christmas from the van blerkoms.

A peak at a Van Blerkom Christmas card photo taken during Thanksgiving.

So tender right? I sure love my in-laws!

P.S. only two more finals! then off to Canada for Christmas!

Lately, I have been feeling like this...

 and this...

2 Pathophysiology exams, 1 bio-organic chem exam, 1 exercise phys exam, 5 homework assignments, and a million review sessions/study groups later. I am finished!

Thank goodness for Thanksgiving! Can't wait to be in CALIFORNIA!

Joyeux Anniversaire and Bonne Fete a moi

Happy Birthday Jennica!

Jordan loves my birthday too!

I don't know what it is, but I LOVE birthdays. Maybe because I was young in my grade and had to wait 6 months longer than anyone else to be 12 and be in YW, or maybe it was just so terribly difficult to wait until I was 16 so I could date and drive. This year was one of my favorite birthdays ever. I skipped my class, painted my nails. And we went out to dinner with our besties The Tremblays and The Osbornes. 

Before dinner though, Brian had me hide in our room while he set up my gift! I was so confused what he could possibly "set up." I thought it must be a bookshelf and I wasn't sure that I wanted a book shelf for my birthday. But Brian, like always, came through with the best birthday gift ever... a keyboard.. apartment size! I don't know how he always knows what to get me. But I was obviously thrilled!

Brian surprised me also with the best birthday/halloween cake I have ever had. It was so cute I didn't even want to eat it! I must have the best husband in the world. He is so darn creative.

Later we had a mini birthday party with close friends. Everyone sang Happy Birthday and I got to even blow out candles on my beautiful cake.

Yay for a successful birthday and being 22!

october!

We went camping with Cass and Ben before it turned winter.

Cassie and Ben turned out to be the Red team. And we turned out to be Blue.

There were so many bugs. These nasty caterpillars were some of the uninvited guests. After a few minor hysteria sessions, we ended up going to Walmart to find bug spray to de-bug our campsite. :)

Then it was Brians birthday! We celebrated at Cheesecake! mmmm best restaurant ever. I can't believe this is our third set of birthdays together. HAPPY BIRTHDAY 24TH BEST FRIEND! I love you!

We have been hanging out with the Osborne's lately. I love having married friends! This is us, cassie and ben, and jordan and britton playing bocce ball. Such a good activity for a Sunday afternoon :)

 Then we went to the Haunted Forest for a nice fall/halloweeny activity. Supposedly it's the top 5 in the nation! It was terribly frightening!

 I love October! Especially today! My birthday!

Arcade Fire I have missed you.

So recently my sister Sheriann reminded me of how much I love Arcade Fire. I hadn't even listened to their new CD yet. I'm hardly a real fan! So this post is a tribute to them.

This song is so happy and amazing and I have listened to it every day on my walk to school this week. Try it!

we.made.macarons.

I love macarons. In Paris, they easily won me over as ... la pâtisserie favorit... j'aime macarons... j'aime france.

Last year, my sweet friend, got me a macaron book with a tutorial on how to make these tasty little gems. Brian and I bought all the ingredients and read up on how to make a perfect macaron. About 327 days later, we decided it was about time to make them!

Macarons have their own terminology and were quite particular to make! Altogether, it took about 5 hours, although that was mostly due to making the icing SIX different times! Who knew microwaving sugar and water was so precarious. I think I gave Brian and I cancer when I microwaved the mixture in a plastic cup for 5 minutes... oops!

 

This is when I found out my macarons have "pieds" I am obviously oozing with happiness here, because if the macarons don't have the little feet on the bottom of the cookie.. well then they just are not allowed to be classified as a macaron.

We did forget to put food coloring in the cookie, so they stayed a boring white, but other than that,  I am delighted at how well they turned out!

Someday, I can hopefully return to Ladurée with Brian to show him just exactly how I feel about macarons :)

vacationing with the van blerkoms

Brian and I ended the summer with a wonderful, relaxing, family vacation! We first went to Danville for a few days which is always amazing and relaxing. We swam about 4 hours a day which was great since I had been major craving swimming all summer.  We attended some weddings which I always love because I love seeing the beautiful couple, and I love to be reminded of my own wedding! , And of course we got to see all of our favorite Danville people! Yay!

Then, on Sunday we drove to Lake Tahoe! It was only a quick drive away and it is incredibly beautiful! The water is this tantalizing blue color and I couldn't get enough of  it! We got to stay at the Orgill's house in Tahoe which was huge and so nice. Brian and I were lucky and even got to stay in the Master Bedroom! Equipped with a jet tub and a bidet Japanese toilet, and even equipped with a remote control. Very entertaining.

Notice the title "Intelliseat." hehe

Monday and Thursday we rented a boat. We all took turns wakeboarding and tubing. Sam was an all star flag person because she couldn't get into the water, because.... dun dun dun.. SAM IS PREGNANT! Wahoo. My first time being an aunt! I am very excited for them and think they will be great parents!

Brian is an amazing jumper. And Dallin and Brian were definitely the most entertaining to watch on the tube. The only thing more fun was adding Dave too!

i was so impressed.

Brian developed an interesting tradition of wiving from the tube.

Exhibit A

Exhibit B. with Courtney

Exhibit C. waving even when others are scared.

I was having just as much fun on the boat as behind the boat!

effects of a  tube ride by dave

sam's little baby pregnant tummy :)

my canadian geese friends

brian always has a dp with him.

brian's hiking stick

our beach day

my first time holding the rope with only one hand. totally scary.

This was my favorite from the whole trip, because if you look closely Dave didn't like to leave room for anyone else on tube, so Brian and Dallin had to fight to stay on!

On the boat!

Our Hike on Mt. Rose.

Although we looked busy, we also managed to fit in much resting, Brothers and Sisters, and of course eating! Yay for a succesful family vacation. Thanks Dave!

Hello long lost friends!

So right now the Van Blerkom family is in Tahoe, but that post will come later.  First I have to post the adorable pictures of the Jordan's visit. A couple weeks ago Sydney and Nick came to visit! We have missed hanging out with them so much and I had never met Evie so that even made me more excited. 

This is Brian practicing his daddy skills. They both look quite content I think.

 Here is another one. I guess they look a bit scared here. Personally, I think Brian is just hiding his extreme excitement for becoming a father in the future.

She is the cutest thing I have ever seen. I am sure of it. Or as Sydney says "She's pretty nice." Haha. I guess that's just he best way to describe her!

 I definitely couldn't get enough of her adorableness. And it was so good to be with Sydney again. So much has changed since we were roommates in Paris!

blending in

on top of the Eiffel tower

what we ate the entire time

doing hw in a cathedral while practicing mary-kate and ashely faces.

la duree! we love macarons!

I love the Jordan's ( you too Nick ) and we are so glad we got to see you for a few hours. Hopefully we get to see you again soon!