valentine's

valentine's day has always been a celebration for my family.

but not because of cupid.
valentine's day means its my daddy's birthday.

and a happy valentine's birthday it was.

we took my mom and dad to dinner at takashi - a popular little sushi place downtown. it was fun to spend time with my parents as married couples. with eight kids in the family, there's not a lot of 'alone time' - there's always someone else around. (not that i mind... branson and i both love spending time with family.) it was just nice to go to dinner as four adults - two married couples - to celebrate a special day.
the food was delicious and the atmosphere was delightful.

after dinner, we mozied back to my parents house for cake and icecream. and pie.
have i mentioned that i love pie?
and after the family festivities concluded,
brans and i went home.


did i mention he bought me roses?branson sent me roses at work on friday.
12 beautiful red roses.
and chocolate.
and a sweet little love note.

i was truly surprised.
did i mention that i love branson?

he gets sweeter to me everyday.

and for our first valentine's morning together,
we made an incredible waffle breakfast.

in case you were wondering,
i've decided breakfast with your spouse
is significantly
under-rated.

we had a lovely day.
appropriately so.

and so, in the spirit of the day of love...

love, shan

february

ah, the month of love...

February means:

... our first married Valentine's Day
... my daddy's birthday
... Brans and I have been married 8 months - tomorrow!
... six more weeks of winter
... my cousin Nick is home from his Swiss mission
... my cousin Alex leaves for his mission to Georgia
... my job gets busier and busier
... two of my closest friends tied the knot
... a sushi date with my three most favorite people
... my glue and paper skills are tested
as I attempt to top last year's Valentines
... several great movies are releasing this month
... which means movies dates with Kendyll
... a trip to have dinner with Dan and Wendy
... a Saturday spent making pan de sal rolls,
lumpia and ponset with the Curtis family
... my birthday is only two months away
... I have a secret V-Day present for Brans

and much more, I'm sure.

the duclos wedding

nick and kadee got married on saturday!

it was so great to be in the temple with them.
and it was just fantastic
to see how perfectly happy they both are!

for the reception i made three sheet cakes...
200 cupcakes...
and with the help of the best florist in the world,
a beautiful wedding cake.
it was lovely.
and i just have to say, it was the best frosting i have made thus far.
it was delish!

the cake
the frosting
all the flowers
the beautiful bride
and handsome groom

everything was just perfect.

23 years

Today is my parents anniversary.

They have been married for 23 years.
What an accomplishment!

And they're so perfect -

I've never ever questioned how much they love each other.

I didn't have to. I just always knew.

And even to this day, I have not seen two people more in love than my parents. They are such great examples to me. I can only imagine Branson and I in 23 years... well, 22 years... from now on our 23rd wedding anniversary! It seems so far away. But I hope we can follow in their footsteps.

I have learned so much
from my parents over the years:

how to love - how to serve - how to laugh - how to pray - how to listen - how to obey - how to sing - how to cook - how to use my talents - how to appreciate the small things - how to be polite - how to work - how to play - how to hug - how to clean - how to do my best - how to be selfless ...

Though the list is not limited to only those things. I owe a lot to my mom and dad, and I am so glad to call them my own. They are the best people I know and I am striving to be more like them everyday. And hopefully, their next 23 years will be even happier and filled with even more love.

.

happy anniversary mom & daddy!

queen frostine

20 pounds of powdered sugar

10 cups of shortening

10 cups of butter

1 cup of vanilla

.

1 hour of bosch mixer energy

.

to make delicious wedding cake icing

.

having the wedding cake taste as good as it looks:

priceless.

best friend's wedding

one of my best friends is getting married this weekend.

we've known each other for a long time, but became really close when i started to fall for her boyfriend's roommate. i have to say, kadee probably has a lot more to do with branson and i getting together than anyone else. and nick, well, nick just makes me laugh. i've had some great memories with these two.

there isn't a better match.

(photo courtesy of elise capener)

i hosted a shower for kadee a few weeks ago, and i get to make the cake for her reception - cupcakes and the traditional wedding cake. and its going to be delicious. second only to my own wedding cake.

(its possible i'm biased, seeing as how it was my wedding
and i made the cake...
but ask anyone in attentance. it was truly delicious.)

tonight i get to go to the temple with these two.
and on saturday, i finally get to see the two love birds married.

helping nick and kadee get things done for their wedding has helped me remember all of the details of my own wedding. the planning. the dress. the cake. the parties. the excitement. and i wish i could relive that day! i wouldn't change a thing - i just want to do it all again. it was so wonderfully perfect.

i hope that they have just as perfect of a day as we did.

everyone deserves a perfect wedding day.


and until saturday...
just call me queen frostine.

groundhog day

February second. Groundhog Day.

Why we have a holiday named after a rodent is beyond me.

January has come and gone in a flash. I'm in mild disbelief. I swear yesterday was Christmas. And the day before that was our wedding day. I know I say this all the time, but time is seriously spinning by me so quickly. I can hardly keep track.