The Pharr Side: The Gates'

Showing posts with label The Gates'. Show all posts

Saturday, August 14, 2010

Easter in August?

August 13, 2010

Friday the 13th!

We planned a game night with Rob and Mechelle, and I volunteered us to bring a dessert/snack. After going through our candy supply and realizing we have TOO many Cadbury Mini-Eggs, I decided to check into a recipe Kevin and Bree had suggested back in June: mini-egg cookies.

I found many recipes--more than I had expected--so the decision was no longer to make a mini-egg cookie, but what kind to make: shortbread, chocolate, sugar, birds' nests. (The latter are made with coconut and chopped nuts; I am sure you have seen some similar ones before.)

The recipe we used is here: http://bakewithus.wordpress.com/2009/04/10/cadburys-mini-egg-cookies-for-good-friday/
It was kind of a cross between a sugar and butter cookie.

I wanted the tops to be pretty, so I reserved some of the cracked eggs, but I don't know if it was worth the trouble. Besides the blue eggs became a lovely green beneath the dough. We had to tweak it a bit more because the oven cooked them four to five minutes, but none got burned...as did none of my appendages, thankyouverymuch. ;)

WOOHOO! Now we can buy some more Haribo!!

Monday, July 19, 2010

Weekend Update: (Board) Games are NOT Boring

July 16-18, 2010

Swimming, the Brau Haus, and board games on Friday...who could ask for anything more?

Ticket to Ride was FUN! We should play it again, ok? Or Puerto Rico. But not Galactic Truckers.

Melissa surprised the Gates' with a visit from TX, and we were happy to see her again.

Also, thanks for the cider! It was most enjoyable in the unemployment pool. ;)

Zach has been hard at work on his new Lego Amsterdam-esque town.
He built this sweet pub, The Lion, on Saturday!
All day I was running between our living room and the bedroom to give him my opinion on its construction.

If we can't move to Europe, we'll move Europe here. :)

Sunday night was game night with the Hendrixes!
Our six-month reunion with Rob and Mechelle: they joined us for a fajita dinner with pico de gallo AND twos kinds of dip: cheese and Mechelle's yummy corn dip.

I also baked up some cookies using our stash of dark chocolate raspberry creme chips--DELISH! They were sooo good! I hope we can find some more of these chips because not many cookies are left for tomorrow. :)

[*lol* Zach and I also realized this is the first sit-down dinner with friends we've had since we got married. Our old apartment was very small. ;]

Erin and Josh joined us for a game of UNO. Geez, I hate losing. But I really do love that game! I have so much playing it, especially with our UNO buddies. I'm so glad you guys got to meet Hobie the Cat. We really should this more often than every six months. Aren't we silly?

[I forgot to take pictures during this game, so this is one of Mechelle attempting Rob to take the cards back out so we can recreate the scene. I finally got him to at least hold up the game. *tehe*]

Monday, May 31, 2010

Happy 2nd Anniversary Erin & Nick and Kevin & Bree!!

Two years ago I was at UCA, watching my cousin marry her best friend.

Even though it was hot and humid, I would do it all over again and again. :) It really was fun, from all us girls helping Nick plan the proposal at the homecoming game and engagement party to planning the wedding with Erin (including finding this location) to throwing her bachelorette party to reaching the big day.

Happy second anniversary, Erin and Nick! May each year increase in happiness for the both of you. :) I love you!!

It's pretty awesome you guys were high school sweethearts!!

Also, a very happy second anniversary to Kevin and Bree! We forgot to tell you, but there's a card in the mail with your names on it! (Zach was in their wedding on the same day. :)