"I never look back darling, it detracts from the Now..."

Nice theme for 2009.  2009!!!  What?! I can and can't believe that 2008 is gone. 2008 marked my 10 year high school reunion  (no I didn't go but I wanted to...) and I'd been home from my mission 5 years ago in 2008.  Now I'm pushing 30- and  it's 2009 already!  Like Edna Mode, I'm not one for looking back, well, not looking back for long at least.  I love making goals and starting new years;  accomplishing new things and becoming a deeper person (hopefully).   But this year it's coming a little slower.  I have my list of goals almost ready to write down in my journal and bind myself to for the next year.  But I'm a little bit hesitant to actually do it... what are some of your goals?  Anything fun or interesting?  I really wanted to do the women's AF triathalon this year, but I got online and it is all sold out! I couldn't believe it, it's not until May! Forget that!  I guess I"ll just sit on my rump all year and get huge...  

I hope everyone had a very nice Christmas, we certainly did.  Adam got me a wheat grinder which I am so excited to try out!!  (I just got back from the grocery store where I bought 25 lbs of Hard Red Winter Wheat!!  To say I'm excited is an understatement... am I a nerd?  Yes.)  I did a little better than last year's Christmas present to Adam (a tie) and got him ski stuff and a pass to his favorite slopes.  Madeline got a baby doll and stroller which she is in LOVE with.  

So... Happy New Year!!  Here's to not looking back!

Kid Fun

Yesterday, some of my friends from my Novell days came over for lunch and to let the kiddos play.  Here is a video of MJ and Cannon riding on the zebra together, and no it's not a two-seater.  ;).   I was waiting for MJ's shirt to come out of the dryer which is why she is a little immodest! 

Lauren, I hope you can save this video- sorry it's sideways!

Long awaited pictures

I know you guys have waited on edge for these pictures... drum roll please... Our halloween costumes!  Dog the Bounty Hunter and his wife Beth.  Am I aware that it's December 1st and everyone else in the world has posted their Halloween pictures?  Yes.  Do I feel bad about posting these late?  No way.  I'm not sure how I feel about Adam's G-less halloween costume, but oh well, the sin be upon his head.  And yes, I have added those Cheetah print capris to my wardrobe... they're HOT!
Mimi (my mom) with our little witch, Madeline.  Ok, her costume was basically just an excuse for me to make a tutu, every mother's dream.
MJ at school with Daddy watching the costume parade.
A smock I made for Madeline.
The back.

Best White Bread Recipe

This is Julia Child's White Bread Recipe, and it is the best I have found so far ( I have made it 4 times, and every time has been a success) and so easy to memorize.  

2 1/2 cups water

1 T yeast

1 T sugar

7 cups flour

1 T salt

1/2 cup butter, softened

1.  Mix 1/2 cup warm water with sugar and yeast until it proofs.

2.  mix the yeast mixture, plus the remaining water and 3 1/2 cups of flour and salt.

3.  Add a couple more cups of flour,

4.  Add butter

5.  Add as much more flour as you can.

6.  Turn out to knead.

7.  Knead for approx. 15 min.

8.  Let rise twice,

9.  Bake at 375 for 35-45 min.  

Eat while hot with butter and fresh jam!  It is soooo good.  The next time I make it I will try it with oil to see how it turns out, but the butter does add this great rich buttery flavor that is great!  For more info: go here.

Gap commercial with Jon Heder

I love Jon's new commercial, totally made me laugh out loud.  Merry Christmas!

Help! Shoes!

Whenever I see something great onsale online, I freak out and can't make decisions (which I don't do well anyway... but that's another posting)  because I think they're going to run out of stock, or I'm going to miss the deadline or something... so I need some help!  First let me say, I've been cleaning up lots of puke for the last week -'nuff said- which is why I"ve been delinquent on my blog- yes, Rachel, I'll post our Halloween pics soon...probably in December.... so, on to more important matters: which shoes do you like for Madeline?  I love the Owls and they're on sale for $20!!  Excellent!  But, they aren't completely closed at the top which is what I wanted for winter... see what I'm saying?  So I love these boots from See Kai Run as well, but they're double the price!  And for someone who just bought her daughter's Christmas present--Spin and Bounce Zebra for less than 1/2 this morning, I'm not inclined to pay double for anything... but with shoes I will pay a little more because I think it's important for little developing feet to have good shoes..  What do you think?

A Good Turn...

I periodically try and ask myself, "What am I doing to better humanity?"  Regular answers excluded like: raising kids, serving in church, etc.  This semester it's been hard to find volunteer efforts that fit my lifestyle: i.e. I can't dedicate a 3 hour block every week to teaching English, for example (not that I have done that before).  But  I did come across one that really fits the bill right now.  Deseret Industries has a humanitarian element to it.  They make humanitarian kits and send them all over the world.  For their newborn kits, they need flannel blankets.  45 inches by 45 inches, with a 10 inch square sewn in the middle.  

  My friend actually went to Humanitarian Square in Salt Lake and watched the video (that I refuse to see until I've at least donated some blankets, because I know I will just bawl my head off seeing all those poor babies) she said that they show video of babies being brought home wrapped in newspaper in some places of the world that are too poor to have blankets to wrap their babies in.  That is inconceivable to me.  So, if you have a spare afternoon and have some extra flannel, and want to do something for the world, dust off that sewing machine, and let's make some blankets!