Yoga-Have you tried it?

So Yoga's been around a long time-I know. Recently I have developed a great appreciation for it. T and I have a Saturday date for a Hot Yoga at our gym. We both love it. I have recently added in one more class on Wednesday night. You know I've into fitness for a long time-walking, running, spinning, lifting weights, etc. Yoga does not take away from any of those exercises but adds to them. It is hard core resistance training, not just breathing and humming. I love the heat because it makes you sweat and warms your muscles so you can stretch further. I am so much more lose now that I've been doing Yoga. The first class is a little scary but go back and try again. Focus on your breathing and center yourself in the moment-it's good for you I promise.
By the way, I have recently removed names in my blog for privacy. Thanks Tonya-good advice!
Signing out from your Yogi friend, J

America's Best Brownies

Seriously, I love new recipes. Brownies and Chocolate Chip cookies are my favorites. America's test kitchen is probably one of my favorite websites right now. They test and figure out what is best. Today I made their chewy brownie recipe and they are GOOD. They tried to figure out how to make a great homemade brownie with a texture like box brownies. So, take my word and try this recipe. It is so good and really not much more work than box. Oh, and I used Bakers unsweetened chocolate and Ghiradelli bittersweet chips. A yummy Sunday afternoon treat!

Chewy Brownies

Makes twenty-four 2-inch brownies

For the chewiest texture, it is important to let the brownies cool thoroughly before cutting. If your baking dish is glass, cool the brownies 10 minutes, then remove them promptly from the pan (otherwise, the superior heat retention of glass can lead to overbaking). While any high-quality chocolate can be used in this recipe, our preferred brands of bittersweet chocolate are Callebaut Intense Dark Chocolate L-60-40NV and Ghirardelli Bittersweet Chocolate Baking Bar. Our preferred brand of unsweetened chocolate is Scharffen Berger. Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days.

Ingredients

• 1/3 cup Dutch-processed cocoa
• 1 1/2 teaspoons instant espresso (optional)
• 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons boiling water
• 2 ounces unsweetened chocolate , finely chopped (see note)
• 4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter , melted
• 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 2 large eggs
• 2 large egg yolks
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 2 1/2 cups (17 1/2 ounces) sugar
• 1 3/4 cups (8 3/4 ounces) unbleached all-purpose flour
• 3/4 teaspoon table salt
• 6 ounces bittersweet chocolate , cut into 1/2-inch pieces (see note)

Instructions

• 1. Adjust oven rack to lowest position and heat oven to 350 degrees. Referring to directions in Making a Foil Sling (related), make sling using the following steps: Cut 18-inch length foil and fold lengthwise to 8-inch width. Fit foil into length of 13 by 9-inch baking pan, pushing it into corners and up sides of pan; allow excess to overhang pan edges. Cut 14-inch length foil and fit into width of pan in the same manner, perpendicular to the first sheet (if using extra-wide foil, fold second sheet lengthwise to 12-inch width). Spray with nonstick cooking spray.

• 2. Whisk cocoa, espresso powder (if using), and boiling water together in large bowl until smooth. Add unsweetened chocolate and whisk until chocolate is melted. Whisk in melted butter and oil. (Mixture may look curdled.) Add eggs, yolks, and vanilla and continue to whisk until smooth and homogeneous. Whisk in sugar until fully incorporated. Add flour and salt and mix with rubber spatula until combined. Fold in bittersweet chocolate pieces.

• 3. Scrape batter into prepared pan and bake until toothpick inserted halfway between edge and center comes out with just a few moist crumbs attached, 30 to 35 minutes. Transfer pan to wire rack and cool 1½ hours.

• 4. Using foil overhang, lift brownies from pan. Return brownies to wire rack and let cool completely, about 1 hour. Cut into 2-inch squares and serve.

First day of School

This year all four Nelson kids are in school all day. Hooray!
Regan is 5 and starting Kindergarten. I signed her up for all day because there are no younger siblings at home and she is super smart. Being at home would not be beneficial for either of us!
Brenna starts 5th grade, her last year in elementary school. All of her best friends are in her class so it's going to be a great year!
Luke is 3rd grade and his best friend is in his class. He feels pretty grown up and excited to get letter grades this year.
Notice no picture of Garret. He goes to school so early that I completely forgot to take his picture. He looked really handsome though! He is in 8th grade so his last year of middle school.
Me, I cried a little when dropping Regan off, then I went to the gym and did a class, put on my swimsuit and spent a couple hours reading a book at the pool AHHH, I could get use to this!

Summer in a Nutshell

Our Summer, as usual, has flown by. I will try to recap with a couple pictures and dialogue. I did not use my good camera all summer so most of these pics are off my phone and are not good. I have decided to take out my good camera and use it more often.

We did all the basic summer stuff. Boys did scout camp. Brenna went to a camp in the mountains for a week by herself. Swim lessons, swimming, jumping on trampoline, playdates, and almost daily baking were included. Some of the special things that happened, my sister Laura and her family came for a couple days-fun cousin play, Todd's sister Amy and her family came for a week, I cooked and baked a lot for them and we had so much fun together. Following this visit, Garret got to drive home with them and visit Arizona for the first time by himself. He even flew home alone. It was a good week for everyone!! My best friend Donna dropped in overnight and she and I had a wonderful time the next day shopping in a little town nearby. My birthmom, Joyce came by for 3 days on her way to the midwest to see family. We had a delightful time together. Todd had two seperate weeks off this summer so we took a trip to Canon City and another to Steamboat Springs. A few pictures follow.

This picture is in Steamboat. We lovesd it there, it's really a cowtown so Regan wanted a cowgirl hat. We went to a rodeo, hiked, and played in the river.
This is the kids on a rock, they love to climb rocks. We had so much fine hiking to waterfalls and down big mountains.
Steamboat has an Alpine Slide which we did even though I think it's too expensive. The kids had a fun time and got faster on the second time.
In June we decided to take a short trip to Canon City, it's about an our southeast of the springs and has the Royal Gorge Bridge there. We road the train through the royal and it was beautiful!
In Canon City we found a cute movie theatre that was quite old and had the best popcorn. Our second day we went rafting on the Arkansas River. The kids thought they were in heaven. We had to wear wetsuits and rainjackets because the water was still 47 degrees. Pretty cold but the kids had so much fun!
All in all we had a great summer! We are always amazed at how much fun we had over the summer. Garret thinks he's going to make his trip to Arizona next summer as well. That's good because I will NEVER go to AZ in the summer.

Moms

Today is the day before Mother's Day. I'm thinking about my moms and wanted to blog about them. Yep, I have three moms and they're all great. I'll tell you about them.
My mom is Sandra. She brought me home from the hospital and fed me, bathed me, changed my poopy diapers. She taught me to be the person I am today. She is an amazing musician and taught me to sing and perform. Anyone coming to our house growing up would get a concert by the Bleak girls. Anyway, I love that my mom is a doer. She can do anything. If she says she'll do it, she will. Her testimony has been strong throughout her whole life. What an example she is of a disciple of Christ. I love her with all my heart and always wish the best for her!
My next mom is my birth Mother, Joyce. I met Joyce in 1997, on mother's day weekend. When she was 21 she found herself pregnant with me but unmarried. She knew she needed to give me a family so she went to my dad and he delivered me and then took me home. What a blessing she is in my life. She gave me such a wonderful life. After having my own children I'm not sure how she gave me up but it was selfless and kind. She is an amazing grandmother to my children. She is a go getter and I love that I look a little like her. She is an amazing mother to all of her children and I'm so grateful to have her in my life.
My last mother is my mother in law, Launa. I hestitate to call her mother in law because I love her like she is my own mother. I think Todd married me because I look like her. When she visits lots of people think she is my mother. Launa gave my husband life. She raised 5 children to adulthood and is now selflessly raising two grandchildren. She is one of the most giving people I know. She has aged beautifully and I'm glad my kids have her genes. Unfortunately Todd has her genes too so he'll always look younger that me.
These three women have influenced my life in ways beyond what I can say in a post. All I know is I love them for they're gifts and talents and endless love towards me and my family!
Happy Mother's Day

The Nelsons have arrived!!

Front of House-Four car garage. How did we ever fit all our stuff into a two car?
Front room-Awesome open floor plan-room I'm standing to hold a grand piano one day!
Dream Kitchen-Double wolf oven and Wolf range with giant griddle that I can cook 1 lb of bacon at one time on. DREAMY!

On March 30th we made a change. Found a house with views of the mountains that we knew we could grow into as the kids get bigger. We finally have our swing set up as of today. Things are getting in there place and as you can see it is not EVER picture perfect but it's perfect for us. So stop in anytime. We'd love visitors !