Ballet, BBQ, and Birthday

Saturday afternoon was our Spring Performance. The studio I teach at does a big recital every other year, and this was an "off" year. Basically that means that we do things on a much smaller scale, it's a more casual event. The children do learn a dance, but they don't wear a costume. They each had a hair piece and wore their normal class attire (leotard, tights, and ballet shoes). Here are two pictures I managed to snap of a few of my students. I was so proud of their dancing and big smiles!

We then went over to our friends Bryan and Emily's house and dined with their sweet family along with our friends Robert and Bria...this is the third dinner party we've had (our theme being BBQ)! OH it was yummy :) We were in charge of dessert and baked beans (which spilled in Ted's car on the way over, ooops!) We still had plenty left in the dish thank goodness :) Once again, I managed to bring my camera but not snap a single picture :( Emily had a gorgeous picnic table set up on their deck, complete with a red and whited checked table cloth. We ate and laughed and had our usual experience...a MARVELOUS TIME!!!

That leads me to the Birthday portion...my sweet Hubby turned 29 on Sunday :) We had a lovely day celebrating his birth! After church, we went and ate lunch at Panera (his choice!) and then we went and piddled around town, then went and walked 9 holes at UM golf course. Where are the pictures you ask? Well, I managed to slack off (again)and don't have a single memory captured on film. So you'll just have to take my word for it, but it was a beautiful sunny and relaxing day. Happy Birthday Ted Led, I love you!! (Don't worry, you have 364 more days until you're 30!!!!!) ha!

Where there's a will...

there's a way...to somehow get into this pose (GOOD GRACIOUS!). I received a coupon in the mail to try out a free Yoga class.So I went this morning (it was amazing!) You know the feeling of "oh my gosh, my body feels like jello, I might die, but I feel great"? That's me at this moment:) And just so I don't mislead my readers, no, I did NOT make it into the pose featured on this blog...some day though (I HOPE!)

Recipe Share Time

This is sort of a random blog :) But I came across this recipe and thought I'd pass it along, it sounds pretty yummy!

KEY LIME CURD CHEESECAKE BARS

Ingredients for crust:
2 cups + 2 TBSP Sugar Cookie Mix
1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter, cold
1 TBSP key lime peel, grated

Ingredients for Cheesecake Filling:
16 oz cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 tsp pure vanilla
2 eggs at room temperature
1 cup Key Lime Curd

Directions:
1. Grease a 9x13 baking pan, preheat oven to 350 degrees
2. In a medium size bowl, cut the butter into the sugar cookie mix and key lime peel using two knives until small crumbs form.
3. Press crust mixture evenly into the prepared pan. Bake 15-20 minutes until the crust is a light golden color. Let cool 30 minutes.
4. While cooling, prepare filling. Mix softened cream cheese, sugar and vanilla until well blended.
5. Add eggs and mix just until eggs are incorporated.
6. Poor cheesecake filling evenly over the crust.
7. Spoon key lime curd randomly on top of filling and then swirl with a blunt knife to combine.
8. Bake for approximately 35-45 minutes or until center is set. Allow to cool in pan.

Ladies, when the "Spring Cleaning Spirit" moves him...

Step out of the way!

The Great Outdoors

My dear friend Rachel and her husband Jason are moving in just a little over a month...we met them about a month or so after we moved to Ann Arbor. They are such a precious couple and will be greatly missed. That being said, we have tried to have a "Rachel & Anne" date once a month. Poor Jason and Ted haven't really been invited on any of our "girl dates" (1.they're girl dates :) and 2.we talk 90 miles a minute from the moment we're together until we're saying goodbye! I think we'd wear them out, ha!) Usually Rachel and I will grab coffee, but today we opted for a picnic outside because of what a gorgeous day it was! (I was wishing I had worn shorts instead of jeans!) We went to the Matthei Gardens which are part of the University. We walked some of the trails and found a nice spot where we put down a blanket, ate turkey sandwiches and fruit, and chatted up a storm. Here are a few pictures from our lunch. Thanks Rachel for a fun afternoon :)

Men's Glee Club...we are fans!!

Saturday evening was an absolute treat! Ted and I attended the 150th University of Michigan Men's Glee Club Annual Spring Concert at Hill Auditorium. Let me just tell you how incredible this concert was. A little background info, The U of M Men's Glee Club was founded in 1859 and is one of the oldest collegiate choruses in the United States and the oldest continually-run student organization on the Michigan campus. The club performs regularly within the state of MI(we've heard them at a few tailgates on football Saturdays) and tours the country as well as abroad every spring. They are internationally known and have won several awards. They hosted close to 500 alumni from previous choirs, one of whom is Bob McGrath who many of you know as Bob the music teacher on Sesame Street (he just completed his 38th season!) He received the Lifetime Achievement Award during the concert. The singing was just heavenly! The first part of the concert, the Glee Club sang all international songs. The second half was made up of American songs and of course, Songs of Michigan (Yes, we all stood up and sang the entire "Victors" fight song). Ted and I teased that the Men's Glee Club are probably the only ones who actually know the ENTIRE song, ha! Here we are outside of Hill Auditorium and I quickly snapped a picture of the stage before the concert.

Happy Easter!

What a beautiful sunny day it was here in Ann Arbor. We were blessed to be able to be with our church family this morning for worship and then have lunch with some dear friends from church afterward.

"He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay." Matthew 28:6

Praise the Lord, for our Redeemer LIVES!!!

Pistons Game

Wednesday evening, our friends Matt and Jessica invited us to a Pistons game. We bought all of the required "ballgame food" (hot dogs, popcorn, and a $6 souvenir cup for our coke b/c it's only 50 cents more than the next cup size down-and of course we forgot it, ha!). The poor Pistons have had a rough year, and they ended up losing to the Miami Heat... but we still had a great time with the Spiveys. Thanks guys for a fun evening out! (and I'm sorry I somehow didn't get a pic of the four of us).

Basketball and Ballet

I just want to blog about my sweet Ted and how wonderful he is. As you all know, we are still in March Madness and Ted earned triple points with me Saturday evening because instead of staying home to watch Kentucky vs. West Virginia, he went with me to see the Tchaikovsky Ballet perform Sleeping Beauty. (a Three hour/Three Act Ballet mind you). *Note that leg room was not really available...Ted is 6'3". But bless his heart, he went and I think he really enjoyed it. OH, It was absolutely wonderful!!! The dancers, the costumes, the music, everything was so beautiful. I somehow managed not to get a picture of us, but snapped one of the program and tickets. Thank you honey...I promise nothing is scheduled during the Final Four or National Championship Game.

Card Makin' Machines....

That is exactly what we were! Friday evening, I got together with some girlfriends for dinner. We then went over to Emily's house where we set up shop to stamp and make cards. Oh my goodness, what a fabulous time we had! I am very new to the stamping (heck, I didn't make it to scrap booking!) But this is something I really enjoy and like it because you can sit down, start a project(a card) and finish it relatively quickly. So the four of us sat down around 8:30ish or so and for the next 5 hours chatted and made probably close to 50 cards between the four of us. We wrapped up around 1:30am when our eyes were burning and our heads bobbing, ha! (Our husbands actually came too...we sent them down in the basement to watch basketball..they weren't as in to the stamping as we were :) It was so much fun and I am kicking myself for not getting a picture of us girls. But here are just a few of the cards I made.

March Madness...here we go!

Well, it has arrived. Ted's most FAVORITE time of the year...MARCH MADNESS! I almost feel as though I should break the Christmas tree back out, ha! :) It truly is a holiday in the Ledbetter house, and we're loving every second. Ted and I filled out 2 brackets each. One bracket is thinking with our heads...the other with our hearts (in other words, Oklahoma State would be the National Champs if Ted had it his way). I picked Syracuse and Kansas State as my two National Champion picks...we'll see! So I'm sorry if there's anything else going on right now...our television cannot leave ESPN for a few more weeks.

Hope everyone is doing well...the weather has been so fantastic here in AA. We're all remembering what it feels like to be warm, ha! Sorry no pics on this post...promise to have some on the next one. Have a good weekend!

House sitting

Hello Blog Readers...thought I'd drop a quick note to say that Ted and I will be house sitting for our friends the Hoffmans for the next 2 weeks. We will try and blog while we're out there, but just in case we don't, we'll be back soon :) Even though Saline is about 10 minutes from Ann Arbor...we are treating it like a vacation. Well...except for the "we still have to go to work" part, ha! Oh well. Hope everyone has a great week this week. Temperatures are in the 40's up here (hallelujah!!!)

Youth Group Retreat

This past weekend was the annual Youth Group Retreat and it ROCKED! This year, we went to Marblehead, OH (and no, you've probably never heard of it!) We stayed in a HUGE house right on Lake Erie (thank you Darryl for loving to camp and "rough it" indoors with toilets and beds!) The weekend was full of bonding, singing, praying, eating, little sleeping, and worshiping the GREAT God that we serve. Our theme was Rock What You Got, and it was so encouraging to witness the students using their talents and gifts for the Lord. This group is such a blessing to us...we LOVE LOVE LOVE them :)

Snow, snow and more snow!

Well, we must admit...Michigan, particularly Ann Arbor, has not had that brutal of a winter thus far. (At least compared to the last 2 winters we've gone through). We haven't had a whole lot of snow and ice and while there have certainly been COLD days-it hasn't been all that bad-until this week! It snowed for most of the day Monday, took a rest Tuesday, and as I'm sitting here typing, the snow is right back to work today. I took this picture from outside our front door. I have to say it is pretty to look at, but Ted and I both have mentally checked out and moved on from winter! Bless his heart, he can hardly wait to swing a golf club and I am longing to paint my toe nails and stick them in a cute pair of sandals :) (sigh) This is always the time of year we find ourselves feeling a little blah...(don't you just feel so sorry for us! ha!j/k!!!) Okay, our pity party is over :) We really are doing just fine and hope our dear readers are too! We've really enjoyed watching the Olympics these past two weeks. The skating of course is my favorite. The one "sport" we can't quite figure out is Curling...any thoughts on that?

Basketball Championship

Last Tuesday evening was the Intramural Basketball Championship (thankfully I was on winter break from the dance studio, so I was able to go and cheer Ted and his team on). They usually play on Monday nights over at the IM building, but because this was the championship game, they got to play at Crisler Arena (which is where the Michigan basketball team plays). Unfortunately they lost...but I snapped a few pictures of Ted shooting a free throw and I took a small video of his amazing defensive skills but I think I accidentally deleted it, ooops! Good try honey, better luck next time!

Happy Valentine's Day

Hope our blog readers have had a Happy V-Day...and know how much WE love YOU all! Today has been a lovely day at the Ledbetter house. What have we done you are wondering??? ABSOLUTELY NOTHING AND WE'VE LOVED EVERY MINUTE OF IT! Well now wait, that's not entirely true...we haven't been complete "bumps on a log". After church this morning we came home and ate lunch. Ted had a basketball game this afternoon (so I decided to go ahead and get a workout in myself) and then we both curled up and took a Valentine's Day nap-the kind where there are no alarm clocks(ahhhh, the best kind!) Mimi sent us a sweet Valentine's Day card with an Olive Garden gift card, so we are doing a little take out action this evening.

Much love and hugs to you all!
Ted and Anne :)

Meatballs and Brownies....

Yep, it's Super Bowl Sunday. Here in just a bit we'll be joining our friends, the Karbos, for our 3rd annual SB Party. Here are our contributions for this year's shindig...

Meatballs:


Brownies(minus the cream cheese frosting that I haven't made just yet):


GO COLTS!!!

Happy Birthday Dad!

Just wanted to wish my dad a VERY Happy Birthday today. We love you and despite the horrible ice storm Oklahoma City is currently in, we hope you enjoy your day! (This picture was actually taken over Christmas Break...but it sounds like the conditions haven't changed much). I think Oklahoma's winter has been worse than Michigan's this year!

Meet Charlie!

Friday afternoon, I went to visit my dear friend Kim. She has been married for almost a year and a half now and while we've certainly met up for lunch and coffee here and there, I had not made it over to see her new home...or meet her sweet "baby". Yes, I'm referring to Charlie, her ENORMOUS, but incredibly gentle 2 year old Great Dane. I've seen pictures of Great Danes, but I've never seen one "in person". Charlie is so well behaved and I cannot stress how sweet and calm he is. Don't you readers think the Ledbetters need a Great Dane??!! :)

R.I.P.

Don't be too alarmed by the title of this blog...some"one" didn't die but some"thing" did, and I'm afraid it's completely my fault. My dear IPOD who keeps me moving from workout to workout is no longer functioning...let's just say washing machines and electronics don't go well together :( *Note to self...always double check pockets!*