A little touch of Spring

So as I'm sure you have probably noticed, I've been going a little crazy with changing up my blog template. I guess I just get bored fast. I was getting a little sick of the brown, it was too.....brown! So I thought it would be fun to make it a little more Springy.

I...am a superstar!

So Whit and I did our 20 miler on Saturday. I know, WOW! Right?! It actually went pretty well. We started, again, about 4 miles above Vivian in Provo Canyon and stayed on the river trail all the way to my house (by the lake). We didn't go all the way out to the lake, but pretty close. The first 14 miles were easy as pie, but it started to get a little hard around mile 16. But we just kept trucking along. The last mile was brutal, but Whit pushed me to keep going, and we totally finished! I'm sure that is how it's going to be for each of the last 6 miles of the marathon, just forcing my body to keep going. I guess that's what makes it so much of an accomplishment, right?! But I am starting to feel pretty good about the marathon now, like I will actually be able to do it. Pretty cool, huh?! So only 3 weeks to go, and thankfully, our mileage really tapers off. Our long runs are only 12 miles, then 8 miles, then the next week is the marathon. So, we'll let you know how it goes! Here are some pictures after the run. Don't worry that our background is the nursery. It was the only place that didn't have a glare from the windows or a mirror or that wasn't a disaster, and I'm not really sure what is up with our poses...we were tired, and weren't really thinking clearly!

Shabby Apple Trunk Show

On Saturday May 12, my sister Whitney and I will be putting on a Shabby Apple trunk show. The dresses are super cute and modest. It will be from noon to 2:00pm at Whit's house. You can email me at morganpryde@yahoo.com or whit at whitneyshafer@gmail.com if you have any questions or need an address to whit's. Tell anyone and everyone who you think might like to come. Ours is the only show so far in Provo, so you won't have to drive to Salt Lake! So come and enjoy yummy food, good company and adorbale dresses!

Happy Birthday Hailey!

Yesterday, one of my "baby" sisters turned 16. Oh...My...Gosh!!! How crazy is that? Well, despite how crazy it is, I am so stoked for her. She has reached the exciting age of dateability. She already has her first date lined up with a "hot" guy for this week I believe. She is having her sweet 16 "masquerade" (which by the way, they have had planned for like a year!) with her best friend Hilary who will be turning 16 on the 5th of May.

So as I mentioned before, Hailey turned 16, which means she thinks everything she says is hilarious! Well, as much as I would like say on the contrary...I also happen to think she is hilarious. Nate thinks she is hilare too. He has even called my house just to talk to Hailey...we always get a good laugh!! I love hanging out with Hails. It has been so much fun the last couple of years as she is becoming an actual person to me (instead of my bratty little sister). We have spent many hours laughing about nothing and being stupid together. One of my favorite memories of Hailey was when she was about 12. She was starting to go through puberty (she is probably going to hate me for writing this) and so she started wearing a bra (oh man, I am already laughing to myself at the thought of this!) Only when we asked her if she was wearing a bra, she would point blank deny it. We would say, Hailey, we can SEE and FEEL the strap, we know you are wearing one, and she would NEVER admit that she had one on.

Hailey truly is such an awesome person. She is so sweet and genuinely loving and unselfish (unless she is being a brat to her little sister Lexi!). I am always amazed at her integrity and her desire to do good. She has a very solid grasp on the principles of the Gospel and I can tell that she tries really hard to do the right things. I know that she is much stronger than I ever was at that age. She has a big group of LDS friends that go to school with her that I know are a huge support to her. Hailey is also an awesome singer and dancer. She totally doesn't get the recognition she deserves in that area. She loves Galena and the friends that she has there. She is currently training for the Ogden marathon with us and is doing awesome. She also wakes up at 4am to do a paperroute which I know she loves ;). (PS dad~ I think Hailey was telling me she wants you to start talking to her even more on the paperroute! hehe :)She is also an awesome Aunt and loves all of her nephews!


Hailey is also beautiful. If you ask Lori Hansen, she would say that Hailey is the most beautiful of all the Busath girls. Hmmmm!!! I don't know...we'll let you decide for yourself! :) This is me and all of my BEAUTIFUL sisters. Hailey is the one in the white shirt. Happy Birthday Hailey! I love you and hope you have an awesome birthday and an awesome year. And if you turn out to drive anything like Jillian, than I think we all might have something to be worried about!! ;)
(Lexi 13, Ashley 20, Me 24, Whit 27, Hailey 16 and Jillian 19)

PS I've decided after looking at these pictures, that I need to start wearing eyeliner or something when I get professional pictures taken. I look ill!

Me and my sunhat...

I first met my sunhat at the baby gap at the University Mall. Mom said it was so cute and ON SALE, so we HAD to get it. Dad said it was too girly. Although I haven't completely established my fashion style yet, I'm not sure this is going to fit in with my "look". Despite my mild dislike of my sunhat, we have been creating some fantastic memories together...

Me and my sunhat like to go outside.









Me and my sunhat like to ride in the stroller.












Me and my sunhat like to sit and play with mommy.
















Sometimes my sunhat bugs me cuz I can't see out from under it.









Me and my sunhat LOVE to go on the swing!












Me and my sunhat went on the slide for the first time today and LOVED it!

















Me and my sunhat love to sit on the grass and feel it, and pull it out, and watch it blow in the breeze.








Even though I don't always like my sunhat, I am glad that I have it, because I don't like it when the sun get's in my eyes!
So thanks mom!! :)




Side note: I know that "me and my sunhat" is not proper grammar, but would an 8 month old really use proper grammar...I don't think so!

Hallelujah!!

Sunjaya is finally gone. I'm sure he's a nice kid and all, but I am sorry, he reminds me of Michael Jackson (and not because he is an awesome singer/song writer and has killer dance moves) but more in the child molester, weird, femme arena. So sad! But all the same, I am glad we can just focus on the good people now.

Durango Bluegrass Meltdown

This weekend Asher and I went with Nate and his band Cold Creek, to Durango CO for a bluegrass festival that they were playing in. It was actually very fun. The drive was so nice and beautiful, and the little town there is so cute. We got there on Friday afternoon, just in time for the band to go on stage at the local High School. I was lucky enough to have my own private daycare in the drama room behind the stage. Andrea had her kids too, and her husband didn't get there until late Friday night, so I watched them during the show. It actually wasn't bad at all. Asher just watched and laughed as Luke and Jace ran around him, stopping every once in awhile to steal his toy! The high schoolers loved them. Nate thought he was so hilarious because the high schoolers laughed at his jokes! :) Anyone who knows my husband's sense of humor, I'm sure you can just imagine him being his obnoxious self! Just kidding babe! He actually is really good on stage, and all of their crowds thought he was hilarious.

After we checked into the hotel, we went to dinner at the bar (yes, bar) that the band was going to be playing at later that evening. We got 50% off, and the food was quite good. I had to leave early to put Asher to bed. The poor little guy had been up practically all day. So I spent the rest of the evening reading and relaxing in our hotel room (with a moniter for Andrea's sleeping kids) while they played for 4 hours at the bar.

The next morning, they had a really good show (that I missed...Asher had a 3 hour long morning nap!) I met up with them just in time for a quick bite to eat, and then their next show. I got some videos of their shows and thought that I would include a couple fun songs. This is one of my favorites. "Ride on a Train" by Judith Edleman. Andrea sings it and she has the most awesome bluegrass voice, I love it! (If you listen closely, you can hear Asher squealing from the floor)



Asher was Mr Charmer the whole weekend. He LOVED all the attention that he got from everyone (all the old ladies especially). Everyone just thought he was so cute. This one lady just could not help herself. She had to hold him. She kept saying how "beautiful" he was. This is Asher with her. He loved her cowboy hat. I must say that he looks pretty darn cute in it.




On Sunday, we slept in, relaxed, and walked around town and went into all the fun little shops. Asher was so good all weekend. He even slept pretty well which was wonderful. I think he started to get really sick of his stroller as well as sitting there during the concerts. Although, most of the time, he loved the concerts. When the crowd would clap, he would get so excited and squeal, and bounce up and down, waving his arms all over the place...so cute! One older man came up to me and said that they have a 16 year old that they used to bring to stuff like this when she was a baby, and she turned out to have the best rythm. So that will be pretty sweet if Asher turns out that way. Nate and I were saying how much fun it would be to bring him when he is older and understands and appreciates the music more. Well, we assume he will appreciate bluegrass, it might backfire on us, and he might totally hate it due to over-exposure!

Here is a video clip of the encore song that they did for their last concert. I can't remember what it's called, white house blues or something like that. But it is such a fun song.



After their last concert, we went back to the hotel, packed up and hit the road. We decided it would be much easier to travel with Asher sleeping... and it was! Nate LOVED Durango, and I think he would love to go back just for a fun vacation. The Animas River is so gorgeous, and it looks like it would be so fun to do a river rafting trip and hikes. I totally recomend it for a quick weekend getaway. By the way, Asher looks like he is laughing in this picture, but he is totally crying. Just thought you would like to know! :)

Easter Sunday

On Sunday we all went over to Ben and Whit's for a "Bring your own meat" BBQ. (By "all" I mean, me and Nate, Ben and Whit, Jillian, Ashley, Doug and Jackie (Ben's bro and his wife), and Mackay (Nate's bro) and his girlfriend Ariel, who by the way is so cute, and very fun!) We had yummy pasta salad, spinach salad, and our choice of meat. Then I made a delicious dessert. White Chocolate Strawberry Mousse Cake (Recipe to follow).














The boys all had adorable matching outfits (thank you Grandma Lenie!). We tried to get a picture of them all together, but believe it or not, this was the best we could do!


They were much more cooperative when we just held them.



After dinner, the boys had an easter egg hunt outside. When they all went to bed, we brought out Settlers of Catan and had a VERY rousing game, which Nate and I WON!! Yeah, we totally kicked trash. I would have to say that that was definately the highlight of the night!

Here is the recipe for the cake I made. It is from last April's Martha Stewart Living. I've made it a couple of times, and it is always so delicious! It is basically a glorified strawberry shortcake. Plus it looks so pretty. I think it would be really good for a shower dessert.

White Chocolate Strawberry Mousse Cake:

1 Pound strawberries, hulled and halved, plus 2 cups sliced strawberries
2 Tablespoons fresh lemon juice
8 Ounces white chocolate, finely chopped
1 1/4 Teaspoons unflavored gelatin
2 Cups heavy cream
2 Tablespoons confectioners' sugar
Vegetable oil, cooking spray
1 Cup sifted cake flour, plus more for baking sheet
5 large eggs plus 2 egg yolks
3/4 Cup sugar
Pinch of salt
1 Tablespoon finely grated lemon zest
6 Tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
2/3 Cup heavy cream
12 Ounces white chocolate, finely chopped
Pinch of salt
2 Tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
Whole and halved strawberries, for garnish

DIRECTIONS
Make the mousse: Purée halved strawberries in a food processor. Pass through a very fine sieve into a bowl (you should have about 1 cup purée). Stir in 1 tablespoon lemon juice; set aside.

Melt chocolate in a medium heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water, stirring until smooth; set aside.

Put 1/4 cup cool water into a small bowl. Sprinkle gelatin over top; let stand until softened, about 5 minutes. Stir 1/4 cup cream and the confectioners’ sugar in a small saucepan; bring to a simmer over medium heat. Add gelatin mixture, and stir until gelatin has dissolved. Pour into bowl with the melted chocolate, and stir until smooth. Whisk in 3/4 cup strawberry purée; reserve remaining 1/4 cup purée.

Put remaining 1 3/4 cups cream into the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Beat on medium-high speed until medium peaks form. Whisk one-third of the whipped cream into the chocolate mixture. Fold in the remaining whipped cream using a large rubber spatula. Refrigerate 1 hour. Stir 1 tablespoon lemon juice into the sliced berries. Fold berries into mousse; refrigerate 1 hour.

Preheat oven to 425 degrees;. Make the cake: Coat a 12-by-18-by-1-inch rimmed baking sheet with cooking spray. Line bottom with parchment paper, and spray parchment. Dust with flour, and tap out excess.

Put eggs, egg yolks, and sugar into the heatproof bowl of an electric mixer set over a pan of simmering water. Whisk constantly until the mixture is warm and the sugar has melted, about 2 minutes. Attach bowl to mixer fitted with whisk attachment. Beat on high speed until egg mixture is pale, thickened, and has cooled, about 6 minutes.

Remove bowl from mixer; sift together flour and salt over the top of egg mixture, and sprinkle with lemon zest. Using a large rubber spatula, carefully fold the flour mixture into the egg mixture, cutting through center and lifting gently over sides. When the flour is almost incorporated, pour butter down side of bowl, and gently fold in to incorporate.
Pour batter into prepared baking sheet; smooth top. Bake until center springs back when lightly touched, 7 to 12 minutes. Invert, and unmold cake onto a parchment-lined wire rack; peel parchment from cake, and let cool completely.

Assemble the cake: Cut cake crosswise into 3 rectangles. Set one layer, top side down, on a wire rack set over a rimmed baking sheet. Brush with half of the remaining strawberry purée. Spread a 3/4inch- thick layer of mousse over the top (about 2 cups mousse). Top with second cake layer, top side up. Brush with remaining strawberry purée, and spread with a 3/4-inch-thick layer of mousse. Place third cake layer on top, top side up.
Refrigerate least 2 hours (preferably overnight). Trim sides of cake to be straight.

Make the ganache: Bring cream just to a boil in a small saucepan over medium- high heat. Pour hot cream over the chocolate in a medium bowl; let stand 5 minutes. Stir until smooth. Stir in salt and lemon juice. Let stand until ganache is pourable and has cooled slightly. Pour ganache over top of cake, allowing it to drip down sides. Refrigerate assembled cake 1 hour before serving. Using 2 large spatulas, transfer cake to a serving platter. Garnish with strawberries.

Asher wishes he could crawl