let the countdown begin

Sarah and I met the weekend we moved into college. 

I still remember what she was wearing. 

(weird? creepy? still true. it was a blue sweater vest, by the way)  

We soon became the best of friends. 

We even planned our Spring Semester classes around watching the Young and Restless together each day. 

again, weird? pathetic?

who cares. it's true. 

   In the ten years since we met, 

we have walked through life together.

our friendship has always been a constant.

we have celebrated the highs and cried over the lows.

we have traveled together and traveled distances to see each other. 

we've enjoyed many a cup-o-coffee and a glass of wine. 

    

She is an incredible mother. daughter. sister. friend.

and in one year she's going to make one beautiful BRIDE.

(and, yes, ultimately that means she's going to make Ziya one lucky man, by becoming his WIFE!)

I'm so stoked for her.

not only because we have been praying for a long time that God would bring

a man into her life who would partner with her as she raises her

daughter and supports her as she pursues her dreams. 

I am also excited because I think that marriage can be pretty rad.  

read: difficult, frustrating, but oh-so-very worth it. 

This past weekend Sarah's bridal party threw them  a fall themed engagement party. 

I made this banner out of burlap and pom-poms. 

I wish I could say I painted the landscape above the mantel...but no.

         

Their wedding is set for November 3, 2013, 

so the theme of the party was a One Year Countdown.  

-- When Harry Met Sally

- See more at: http://www.romancestuck.com/quotes/movie-quotes.htm#sthash.szNrVHNH.dpuf

When you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible.

-- When Harry Met Sally

- See more at: http://www.romancestuck.com/quotes/movie-quotes.htm#sthash.szNrVHNH.dpuf

Here's the group of women who helped put 

 the party together. I'm excited to get to spend more time with them over the next 12 months. 

the celebrating has only begun. 

 

Sarah and Ziya-

I am so glad we live close to you guys now. We are honored to call you friends and get to witness your journey. We love you and can't wait until NEXT November. 

love, Rob and Erica  

 

"It was a million tiny little things that, when you added them all up, they meant we were supposed to be together." - Tom Hanks, Sleepless in Seattle

side note: I got a new camera (yipee!) but I am still figuring out how to use it, especially with indoor lighting. so be easy on the photo judgment. :) 

pumpking baking

i really enjoy when i have the chance to bake,
especially when the weather starts to cool off.
which it has the last couple of weeks.

fall is definitely in full swing.
which means it is the perfect time to try some new pumpkin recipes!

First, I made Pumpkin Bars

4 eggs
1 C vegetable oil
16 oz can of pumpkin
(I use the 29 oz can to make them super moist)
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 2/3 Cup Sugar
2 Cups Flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt

1.In mixing bowl, beat eggs, sugar, oil & pumpkin.
2.Combine flour, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
3. Gradually add flour mixture to pumpkin mix.
4. Pour into un-greased 15x10x1 inch pan
5. Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes.

while it is baking, whip up a batch of this Cream Cheese Frosting to top it off:

8 oz cream cheese
6 Tablespoons butter
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 Tablespoon milk
2 Cups Powdered Sugar

(no one said it was healthy)

Then Rob started asking for a Pumpkin Pie.
So I made him a deal:
He got the crust from the grocery store: Thanks, Marie Calendar!
and I made the pie filling and whipped cream.
easy compromise.
I have a great pie crust recipe (Grand Champion at the County Fair, baby!)
but I think that I still need to get it from mom.
For now, Marie did just fine :)


And on Sunday morning, we decided we just hadn't had enough pumpkin in one weekend...
we L.O.V.E breakfast around here.
we make breakfast (bacon, eggs, pancakes, waffles, french toast) at least twice each weekend.
Rob does the bacon and eggs.
I'm in charge of the carbs. :)
so I set out to make Pumpkin Pancakes from scratch.

2 Cups Flour
3 Tablespoons brown sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground allspice
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ginger
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 Cup milk
1 egg
1 Cup pumpkin puree
2 Tablespoons vegetable oil
2 Tablespoons vinegar

1. Combine milk, pumpkin, egg, oil & vinegar in bowl.
2. In other bowl, combine the rest.
3. Slowly add flour mixture to pumpkin mixture, mixing well.
4. Heat griddle to medium/high and make some cakes!

This recipe is now at the top of our "favorite list."
with a little powdered sugar and syrup, it was delicious..mmmmm.
scrumptuous.
and I'm sure it will be any time of the year.

so while the pumpkin filling is well-stocked on the store shelves,
go get some.
and try one (or all!) of these recipes.
it's totally worth it.

carving

We have great friends.
Really, really great friends.
It's is honestly one of the things I love most about our life here in Denver.

Starting life as husband and wife can be difficult,
and Rob and I took on this challenge while settling into a new city.
These people invited us to join their small group within the first few weeks of us attending Trailhead.

and they became more than just people we go (went) to church with.
they have become our family away from family.
and being with them feels a bit like "going home."
i've been missing them. a lot.
and this weekend we got a chance to reconnect and celebrate Fall.


we put them up to this. and they were good sports :)
every "family" picture involves coordinated outfits and poses on the staircase, right?

i really love these ladies. they're great in so many ways.
and the children!
in their outfits.
aren't they adorable?

on top of getting to connect with friends,
which I really, really needed,
we spent time enjoying a fall tradition...
pumpkin carving!!

it was Rob's very first time.

look at the concentration
and excitement...


even though the Cats lost earlier in the day to Baylor,
we were still representing!
(and maybe taunting Beave and Ali,
whose loyalties are to the other Kansas team)




Happy Fall, y'all!