Sunday, November 30, 2008

Turkey Trot & Bowling Bonanza

Thanksgiving started with a Turkey Trot. A 5K race through The Meadows shopping area. Thank you to Sharon & Mary for inviting me, thank you to Jen for encouraging me, and thank you to myself for not throwing up. The picture is of my number and I was so pleased with myself I wanted to wear it all day long...pinned to the outfit I wore to Thanksgiving dinner....but I didn't. It's being framed and I'm so inspired I want to train for another race.



We went bowling while enjoying our glorious 4 day weekend. Sorry the pictures are a little dark. This is Connor strutting his stuff.


Here is Kennedy - her form isn't bad.

Berkley gets a little help from dad and from the ball ramp.












While waiting for our lane to become free the kids had a friendly little game of air hockey.

Kennedy won Bruce. I've NEVER won Bruce in all our years together. Maybe Kennedy will become the next Jr. National Air Hockey Champion.









Berkley is showing her true NRA colors.












And lastly Paige. Initially she used the 'chuck and run' method of bowling. By the end of the game she was doing much better.


**THE END**

Monday, November 24, 2008

Just in time....

I promised Jen I would share my creme pie recipe. If you want to be the hit of Thanksgiving I offer the recipe to all who are willing to try it. Be sure to read the tips and hints at the end. My only plea is *PLEASE DON'T USE A STORE BOUGHT OR FROZEN PIE CRUST and PLEASE USE REAL WHIPPING CREAM* I implore you to make your own pie crust and no Cool Whip or canned whipping cream allowed. I won't send the pie police if you don't adhere to the instructions, but I encourage full compliance.

Pie Crust:

The recipe I've been using since a child is the same as The Pioneer Woman recipe. See HERE. I wonder how she got it from me?


*Vanilla Creme Pie Filling*
1 C. sugar
1/2 C. flour
1/4 tsp salt
3 C. milk
4 egg yolks
3 TBL margarine
1 1/2 tsp vanilla

3 bananas, sliced and tossed in some lime juice so they don't' turn brown. Put the bananas in the bottom of the pie shell before you pour in the creme. Jen had a great tip - don't put the bananas in the pie, slice the bananas on top of the pie when you serve it so they don't turn brown.


In a medium saucepan combine sugar, flour, & salt. Gradually stir in milk. Cook & stir over medium heat until thickened and bubbly. Reduce heat, cook & stir 2 more minutes.


Remove from heat. In a separate bowl have the egg yolks slightly beaten. Gradually stir 1 C. of the hot mixture into the yolks. Gradually return egg mixture back into saucepan. Bring to a gentle boil & cook for 2 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in margarine and vanilla.


Pour into baked pie shell. Chill, covered in the fridge.

***TIPS***
If you have a heavier cast iron saucepan you will have less chance of the milk scorching.
Be PATIENT. Stir and stir and stir until it's nearly the consistency of pudding. If you don't wait it won't be thick enough and your pie won't set up.
When tempering your egg yolks add the hot mixture very slowly and whisk, whisk, whisk, fast, fast, fast. I usually have someone help me hold the bowl. It's easier. Pour it back into the hot mixture very slowly and whisk, whisk, whisk, fast, fast, fast.
I have only used margarine, not real butter. I don't know if it would make a difference in the taste.
If the milk does scorch just be careful not to scrape the bottom of the pan when you are stirring. It makes little brown specks appear in your filling and it doesn't look very appetizing.
For variations I've put about a 1/2 teaspoon of coconut extract and added about 2/3 C. shredded coconut at the very end. I toast a little coconut to sprinkle on top of the REAL WHIP CREAM. (see picture below)
I've also served it as a plain vanilla creme pie. Yummo!


I will be making crust and pie filling on Wednesday night if anyone wants to come over. It'll be a pie party!


Christmas Q & A

Fine....I'll do it.....

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping paper. Unless it's huge, then garbage bags with a bow come in handy.
2. Real tree or Artificial? Artificial.
3. When do you put up the tree? Sometime between Thanksgiving and Christmas.
4. When do you take the tree down? Sometime between Christmas and President's Day.
5. Do you like egg nog? Love it, love it, love it! But I am a bit of a picky nog drinker and thin it out with some milk.
6. Favorite gift received as a child? One for sure was a Merlin...do you remember those hand held toys? It was the precursor to the GameBoy or DS. It was so cool. It would do tic tac toe and other nifty games. See this video for more info: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kX_wlcpNMaE
7. Do you have a nativity scene? No (sadly). My mom has a collection. I go to her house to get my nativity fix.
8. Hardest person to buy for? My parents. They have everything they need and they have limited space.
9. Easiest person to buy for? Berkley. She is happy with a piece of paper and pencil.
10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Neither. I have such good intentions and then I never get anything done. I AM doing it this year....for sure!
11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? I love all my gifts....really.
12. Favorite Christmas Movie? Elf, White Christmas and National Lampoons Christmas Vacation.
13. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Probably but I can't recall anything specific.
14. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Food.
15. Clear lights or colored on the tree? Clear, because it's a pre-lit tree. It's the only way to go.
16. Favorite Christmas song? Anything Harry Connick Jr. sings. and Little Drummer Boy.
17. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Both. It's hard when family is in Idaho. There are years we stick around, there are years we go.
18. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? Yes - even Olive the other reindeer.
19. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Morning.
20. Most annoying thing about this time of year? Nagging...er...uh...ENCOURAGING my husband to put up the lights. Then nagging...er...uh...ENCOURAGING him to take them down before Spring.
21. Favorite ornament theme or color? Right now our tree is stars and snowflakes with a few snowmen as an accent. Tai Pan baby!
22. Favorite food for Christmas dinner? Anything warm and covered in gravy.
23. What do you want for Christmas this year? I really want a pasta maker. One of those sit on your counter and you crank the handle to thin the dough and then it cuts it. I'm itching to start making homemade pasta. I also want an official Red Ryder, carbine action, two-hundred shot range model air rifle.

Anyone who hasn't done this yet I triple-dog-dare-ya!

Sunday, November 23, 2008

Deep In Enemy Territory

We were able to go to the U of U and BYU game last night. It was fun but we treaded lightly, making sure not to have direct eye contact with those wearing red. I was wearing my BYU sweatshirt so I knew I was a prime target. Obviously we were dots of blue in a sea of red. Luckily we were in a very small pocket of BYU fans....VERY SMALL. But everyone was civil and there were no fights in our general vicinity. But alas, we all know the outcome of the game was not favorable for those wearing blue.

Here we have both teams on the field at the beginning of the game....before the slaughter began.


There was a lot of standing that went on. Per the picture you can tell I did a lot of sitting.

At half time both marching bands performed together. Both Bruce and I had the same thought come to us (that's why we are such a good match....we think alike). We thought of the pop culture quote from Rodney King, "Can't we all just get along?".

Friday, November 21, 2008

Would you rather...

As I drove past the new Denny's today I realized life will get much more complicated once they open. I'm an IHOP kind of gal, Bruce is a Denny's Grand Slam Man. It made me wonder about my blog readers. What do you prefer? (my answers are in bold).

Denny's or IHOP? (you can't beat the Nutella and banana crepes)

Walmart or Target? (isn't it obvious why?)

Cafe Rio or Bajio? (Mmmmm....Chicken Green Chile Salad or quesadilla)

Lowe's or Home Depot? (I like the color orange)

Ross or Kohls? (more expensive=more organized. Have you ever seen the shoe aisle at Ross?)

Wendy's or McDonalds? (I have my reasons..OK? Don't judge)

Pioneer Party or Partyland? (No good reason, just because)

U of U or BYU? (I actually don't care but I know this will get me brownie points with my old man)

The Porch is Closed

Thanks for shopping.

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

On The Porch

I cleaned out Berkley's room and found a few things that are still in GREAT shape and need a new home. These items are sitting on my porch right now, even if you are reading this at 3am (**wink**wink**Rachel). Click on the picture for a better view.

Post a comment on what you would like (so others don't arrive at The Porch and get disappointed) and please collect by Saturday 10am. After that you will have to go to the D.I. to pick it up.

If someone at work reads this please post a comment and I will bring it to work. If you don't know where I live you shouldn't be reading this blog!

These should be taken by the same person because the balls are interchangable. The train spits the balls out the back, the other contraption blows the balls up the top and then they roll down the loop again. Train batteries are probably ok. Blower needs new batteries - the ones in it are getting low. Both play music.
Only one of the Teletubbies work. They make Teletubbie noises (which are unintelligible to the adult ears) but again, only one works but I don't remember which one. Leopard and Frog Beanie need no explanation and unintelligible sounds not included.

Set of 4 Pooh Bear characters in a bag and a baby blow up thingy with a bell and ball in the middle. I guess a baby is supposed to roll on it - the older kids used it as a weapon.


Shape sorter, 10 finger puppets, and a little car with Big Bird.

2 set of keys that make noises when buttons are pushed, a tinker piano, and the Elmo piano is battery powered and there are a variety of delightful sounds. The Tiger is a flashlight that should 'roar' and the mouth opens up to reveal....drum roll......the flashlight portion of the show. It seems to be having some technical difficulties but it may only need new batteries.

These are for the younger crowd. Connecting rings, some chewy keys, another baby toy that rattles (looks like an atomic atom), 3 balls with little animals inside.
I have a strict return policy - there is no returning it.

Monday, November 17, 2008

Freedom is Not Free

This is a quote from the Korean War Memorial. Recently I was able to go to Washington D.C. for work but did some sight seeing as well. Here are a few of my pictures:

The inspiration for my Blog title

A crystal at the Museum of Natural History
The Wright Brothers plane at the Air and Space Museum

The Spirit of St. Louis (1st plane to fly from Paris to NYC non-stop)

Washington Memorial at night
Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
Jefferson Memorial
Korean War Memorial
Korean War Memorial again
Vietnam Memorial
Lincoln Memorial
Standing on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial
The Lincoln Memorial
Layng on a bench at the base of the Washington Memorial
View of "The Mall" from the top of the Washington Memorial
Another view from the top of the Washington Memorial
Last view from the top of the Washington Memorial
Have I mentioned the Washington Memorial?
At the WWII Memorial
Jen, Me, Jersey, and Ansel just after we had breakfast with W.
A note to Jen: We didn't come up with nicknames for ourselves. I feel a little left out. How about Dini (because of how quick you changed pants at the airport...Houdini) and Fonda (because of my stretchy work out pants?)

My Favorite Place...by Berkley

I have a few places around the house that I love to be. A few weeks ago I took a nap with my Moshi.

My new favorite place is sitting right here.....



With a big smile on my face.
On a paint can.











Monday, November 10, 2008

Weekend Update (extended version)


We had a busy yet refreshing weekend. On Friday night Bruce and I flew to Phoenix to attend the sealing of Ryan and Sally M (all of you ward readers...member them?). The older kids were tucked safely away with the 'other parent' and Berkley was spending some quality time with Aunt C. We were able to sleep in and lounge at the hotel until our ride came to get us. I don't want to take away from the special feelings and experience of the temple, but boy!!!! it was nice to sleep in, eat breakfast, go sleep some more and basically see how little we could do until 1pm. Note to Jen: I did go and run at the fitness center and THEN went back to sleep.

The temple was so nice and the spirit really touched me. We went through a session with them and then went straight to the sealing. It was sweet to see them get sealed but even sweeter to see the kids be sealed to them...I have never attended a family sealing before.

We ate dinner and retreated back to our hotel heaven. We started to watch Sweeney Todd but promptly fell asleep (and I'm glad we did because it seemed a little gruesome. I'm officially afraid of barbers now). Sunday morning we perfected our lounging, and napping until we had to depart.

We got home about 5:30pm last night to a sweet little girl who had been to the zoo and made cupcakes with her auntie. She gave us the proper amount of hugs and kisses and spontaneously said "I missed you mommy."

My heart melted.

Friday, November 7, 2008

Have you ever....

....seen anything as cute as this? It's going to be a good day.

Thursday, November 6, 2008

HELP

Does anyone have the book Flicka? If so can I borrow? Well.....can Kennedy borrow it? She needs to read a book about an animal (fiction is fine, but not fantasy) and at least 200 pages.

Thank you.

Laverne & Shirley

This is what I used to watch after school every day. I loved it. What did you watch after school?

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

bTunes


I usually listen to Podcasts on my way to work but I've heard them all and need to download some more. I was forced to listen to music (or I could have chosen to listen to the man behind me snore).

My bTunes(bus tunes) were:

Barry Manilow - Could it Be Magic (I skipped it after about 20 seconds)
Bare Naked Ladies - Another Postcard
Wicked - Popular
Soulja Boy - Crank Dat
Bare Naked Ladies - Old Apartment
Harry Connick Jr. - In Love Again
KT Tunstall - Suddenly I See
Wicked - The Wizard and I
Bill Engvall (comedian) - Golf
Men At Work - Down Under

Honestly - I don't know how Barry Manilow got on my iPod. Really, I don't.

Pssst....In case you've been living in a cave for the past 18 months it's election day. Vote!!!

One more thing....I loved "Stepped On a Duck" instead of using the f word. I think we will work on that one being our phrase of choice.

Monday, November 3, 2008

The "F" word!

We were sitting at the dinner table last night and suddenly Berkley announced, "I farted." Of course we laughed and I told her to say "I had gas." I think she learned it at daycare because we typically don't use the "F" word. Then I told her to say "I fluffed." Bruce hates that word-which is why I suggested it :-)

So what phrase is better? Fluffed? Gas? Bubble? Any other suggestions?