All thanks to my dad

 Anyone who knows John White doesn't need me to remind them that he is seriously the most amazing man alive. He can make you laugh like crazy especially at the most inappropriate times...like inside the temple. He can golf like a pro. Cries watching almost anything...this video...or this trailor of les miserables (but who doesn't?) Cooks like his mama showed him. Spoils his kids rotten. Has been to every musical. Can sing any song by heart. He is the best person to travel with. He knows how to seize the day and live life to its fullest. Most of all he raised an amazing family that I am so happy to be a part of.

Now that I am married I am lucky enough to have two fathers in my life! Joseph Rue Plater III is the best father in-law I could ask for.

He is super silly, but is also very sweet. He is very smart, athletic, funny, and  a world traveler. My sister in law sara gives a much better shout out to him than I am attempting right now. Joey (my hubby) is basically a spinning image of Joe. It is funny seeing how alike these two are...and sometimes it is down right scary.

Clones? Maybe. It is so good to know though that if Joey keeps being like his dad our babies (in the future) will have the most wonderful father. Love ya Joe!


These pics are from sunday dinner with my fam last week. Thanks dad for making our family and lives so wonderful! Love you!

beckham and taylor

my brother jake

view from my house. it never gets old.

taylor and lucy

she is such a pretty girl!

lucy cracks me up. she is so independent!

my nieces! taylor, lucy, samantha (who carries a backpack just like her big brother wilson) & ali bug

the boys: beckham(wasn't having a good day), wilson with his backpack, and T (talmage)

i love watching my nieces play with my old barbies!

my brother jared and little tay tay!

wilson getting his big teeth!

ali loves my barbies

thanks costco for the cake

this is what i wanted for dessert. best donuts everrr.

me and jason!

naughty!

pre-bday celebrations

just the girls eating their cake

best buds

notice samantha and wilson with their backpacks! they never take them off!

me and nanners

samantha, jojo, and me. she is so gorgeous! awesome yogi too.

best sunsets in bountiful, ut

a toast to a lovely weekend!

goodbye sun

goodbye everyone! can't wait to be back in the 801 again!

It's been a while

Hey folks,
Kinda forgot about blogging after finals finished up. My brain went into summer vacay mode in more things than just school I guess. Finals finished up great and I got great grades too! Super excited about that. Now I just have 3 classes this summer (german history, rhetoric of religion, and scandinavian history) and fall semester and I am after taking way too long GRADUATED!

Summer is kicking off this weekend like anywhere else in America. One thing that is unique to Madison though is the World's Largest Bratfest. It is a pretty big deal around here. They light the capital "mustard yellow" in honor of it...People like their brats out here. Joey and I went the past two years but don't really feel like going this year....I don't like brats. Guess I will never be a true Sconnie lol.

As far as the Platers go I am starting to pack us up. By that I mean I have been posting stuff on craigslist like it is my job. We are selling everything! Except for a couple small things that can fit in Joey's car. It feels awesome getting rid of everything and simplifying our life. I just can't believe how much crap we took with us from Utah all the way to Wisconsin. Maybe since we were still newly weds we felt guilty of getting rid of so many wedding gifts, but it feels so good to de-junk! I wish we had done this sooner. We had so many things that had never even been opened in the 3.5 years we have been married!

Sorry that there isn't much to report here but it is kinda nice to have things be calm for a bit so we can enjoy the last 66 (give or take) days left together.

Have a happy memorial day weekend everyone! Joey and I are probably going to launch a couple rockets Joey built in celebration for it. Pictures to come! Oh and good luck to all the Madison Marathon runners this weekend!

Sunday Funday

Happy Blessed Sabbath brothers and sisters. haha jk. Days like today are my favorite...minus the fact that I need to type two papers and study for a test....ya I need to get on that soon. It is a favorite though because it is a stormy day! I love rainstorms, and in Madison we get really good ones. The kind of storms that stop the speaker in church and all the little kids are like "OOHHHH!" after a ginormous thunder clap. I love the dark gray sky and its contrast to the vivid green flora. It makes the house so cozy to me. To add to the coziness theme I put some vanilla in an oven safe bowl in the oven at 300 (thank you pinterest) to make the house smell delicious...then I got real and made some knock you naked brownies (again thank you pinterest). They are in the oven as I type, and cannot wait to nibble on their chocolatey caramelicious faces.

 Yesterday was Cinco De Mayo! To celebrate I made cilantro lime chicken tacos which were so EASY and TASTY. What could be better right? It was just 3lbs BS (boneless-skinless) chicken breasts, 16oz salsa, two limes, 1 packet taco seasoning, mix all up in the crock pot and cook on low for 6-8hrs. We loved them. Hated the tortillas I bought, but at least the meat was good.

Freddy food plate got a bean fro, rice beard, and taco ears.

I used cilantro and tomatoes from the farmer's market to make some mean pico. mmm.

So I mentioned in my last post that yesterday was also Mifflin. What is Mifflin you ask? One of the biggest parties of the year in Madison like around 20k people big. It isn't a party that necessarily supports our morals, so we didn't go,  but I find it entertainng to see how excited everyone gets for it...and the drunk facebook messaging/status updates that follow from my friends ;)

Mifflin is a block party held every year on the first weekend in May. Originally it was a war protest in the 70s but now is an excuse to let loose and get really drunk. This year there was drama with the Mifflin party because it fell on the same day  as Cinco de Mayo. The party's theme combined the two celebrations, and of course people got offended (someone always does). It ended up being that the Dean of UW sent out a really awkward video telling students not to go to the party. That opened pandora's box. If you go on Youtube you will find a bunch of videos making fun of the deans video with dubstep remixes, memes from movies, etc. I just find it hilarious. This was my favorite meme

The whole situation just makes me laugh, because this stuff is from another planet compared to what student life is like back in Provo at BYU. It is so funny how opposite these two schools are. I'd be lying if I said I didn't want to go to the party just a tinsy bit, but whatcha gonna do. Back to studying!

a not so average easter

Hope everyone had a lovely Easter! This year went a bit differently than it usually goes, but it was still nice. I got up early to study for a big test that I had today (blahhhhhh). Joey got sick this weekend, so I was nice and let him sleep. I went to church, and left early so I could get back to studying. Isn't this an amazing Easter so far? Well after I came home I got some breakfast going for the two of us. I made some resurrection rolls (yummy delish!)

they taste like cinnamon rolls but not as sweet :)

and our favorite Whole Foods black forest bacon. We swear by it. I don't know if it is only in the midwest you can get it or all Whole Foods has them, but it is seriously the best thing you will put in your mouth.

I know you can just hear it sizzle. When you cook it until it is super crunchy it just melts in your mouth!

After Breakfast Joey suprised us with easter baskets! So proud of him I didn't even have to ask for one haha. I got a cake pop kit, some cadberry creme eggs, and pink easter socks (which I gave myself lol). Joey even got a basket for Gertie and Ethel to share! Gertie got some bones and a toy, and Ethel got some Fancy Feast haha...Ethel likes to eat.

I got joey a very maritime outfit, but I failed on his pant size so I have to return it. I will make him model it though when I get the right size. Don't judge that I still don't know my husbands pant size! I also filled his 5gallon plastic storage box  Easter basket with peeps, lil debbie oatmeal cream pies and starburst sour jelly beans. Very successful in our loot from the Easter bunny.

I spent the rest of the afternoon attempting to be studying before I met up with my friend Colleen. She was my first friend that I made in Madison, and was definitely the one I am closest to. Even though she is ten years older than me we totally clicked. She is so fun and we always have a good time together. We met working at Gigi's, and I remember the day she started that I wanted to be friends with her.  She unfortunately is moving to Georgia, and this was our last day to be able to hang out before she flew down south. Her husband is already down there so she was spending Easter all alone. We made plans to have dinner since she had to show her house until the late afternoon. Instead of your typical Easter brunch we had an Easter dinner at the Avenue Bar

....just the two of us since Joey still wasn't feeling well. We both had pot roast with mashed potatoes, stuffing, and a whole lot of gravy! Talk about a wonderful Easter dinner!

blondies

We took our last picture together, and weirdly enough I didn't cry! It still doesn't feel like she is moving away. Maybe I have become numb to separations living away from friends and family, or I am just in denial. Who knows. Well I need to get back to the grind of homework. Slacking over spring break has not done me any favors. Time to read about mucous plugs!