It's time to admit it to our friends and families: a conflict has been brewing here in the Crow-Quist household. A conflict of utmost importance (at least when you go to make peanut butter toast) and of the highest priority (at least in the southest corner of our kitchen): it's the battle between the toaster oven and the pop-up toast toaster.

The toaster oven is mine... isn't he red and shiny and beautiful? His name is Tony, and he's very versatile. He can make your toast with melted cheese on it if you like, he can cook you up a little personal pizza, he's multi-talented!

The pop-up toaster was a generous gift to Jake from Andy and Donna, who received a nicer toaster as a wedding gift and didn't need old whitey anymore. Those who side with him like to boast that he makes toast faster than Tony, he's smaller and more compact on the countertop, and they claim that he's brilliant and talented in a humble, understated kind of a way.

So far, Tony and old whitey are comfortably coexisting here on our countertop, both ready to make toast for you if you happen to visit us. But their futures remain to be seen...

Isn't the Crow/Quist household exciting?!

A couple weeks ago, I took a trip to Springfield, Missouri to celebrate my cousin Andy's upcoming marriage to the all-around-awesome Donna.

First, there was Donna's bridal shower at the fancy schmancy country club. This was the first bridal shower I've been to, and it was lovely to have so much family all around.

Aunt Nancy drove from Topeka ( a 5-hour drive each way) *and* dodged a snowstorm just to be there for the afternoon. How cool is that?!
(Hint: very cool.)

After the shower, we "kids" went out for some crazy fun co-ed Bachelor/Bachelorette Party celebrations. Extra fun for me since it was my first Bachelorette Party (or Bachelor Party, for that matter) experience ever.