WILD RIDE!

We made it home alive! Friday and Saturday in Salt Lake was rainy and cloudy. Sunday we woke to snow. Gregory's farewell was at 12:30p. We stayed for that then packed and got out of town. The roads were nasty all the way to Beaver. Then we had crazy wind all the way to St. George.

The weekend was wild - and with my 4 boys that is an understatement. We toured the new Draper Temple and visited Karamea at work. She works at American Apparel in Trolly Square. The boys thought this was the perfect opportunity to add to their wardrobe. Later in the evening we hung out with Gregory and the rest of the cousins and Hamilton played with the rats. (sick!)

Click here to check out the slide show.

TWENTY MINUTES AGO...

Isaac and Ammon were at the kitchen table eating dinner. Isaac was pretending to throw pieces of his grilled cheese into Ammon's tomato soup. It wasn't long before a mug tipped and soup was everywhere but where it should be.

Asa was playing the piano. Hamilton was playing his violin. I was standing back in complete awe wondering if the noise level was far above any legal range of decibals.

Then they decided to go to the gym. No one knows the sweet sound of silence better than me.

So before I begin packing for a weekend in Salt Lake, I decided to exhale while posting to my blog.

Ra is on a business trip in Chicago til Wednesday so he won't be in Salt Lake. And Rakai is playing rugby this weekend so he won't be in Salt Lake. Yes that means the 4 boys listed in the chaos above are all mine for the weekend...oh what joy is mine!

I'll post again soon and let you know how it all goes.

REMEMBER WHO YOU ARE

I arrived at work and turned on the TV in my office. Major networks are carrying live coverage of the inauguration of Barrack Obama and KCSG will tune in shortly. As I listened to the morning show of Jon and Sherry on KLOVE radio this morning I was finally struck by the fact that no one seems to recognize the complete ethnicity of Barrack Obama; the blood lines that make him who he is. I guess since my children are of mixed race I am offended by the fact that the english and irish genes of his mother and the grandparents who raised him seem to be forgotten.

My children are of mixed race decent. They carry a bloodline of maori, samoan, swiss, chinese, norwegian and french. I would hope that whatever future recognition my children receive they will always remember the culture of all the ancestors who came before them. They would not be the person they are without this history. And as we all know, we must never forget who we are and where we come from.

TERRIFIC TREAT!

After dinner I announced that I would be making Soda Cracker Candy for the Sunday night treat. Cheers came from all directions!  I've been making this treat for years.  Everyone loves it.  Karamea made it for her friends in Florida and Isaac made it for his family in Germany during his rotary exchange.  

I know what you're thinking, "Soda Cracker and Candy do not belong in the same sentence together.  Can you say oxymoron?"  But seriously, if you want to be the hit of the household, the premiere guest at the party - then you should make this terrific treat!

Ingredients:

• 35 to 40 soda crackers
• 1 cup butter or margarine
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 1-1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
• 1-1/2 cups coarsely chopped walnuts

Directions:

Line a 15-in. x 10-in. x 1-in. baking pan with foil and coat with cooking spray. Place crackers in rows on foil. In a saucepan, melt butter; add the brown sugar and bring to a boil. Boil for 3 minutes. Pour over crackers and spread until completely covered. Bake at 350° for 5 minutes (crackers will float). Remove from the oven. Turn oven off. Sprinkle chocolate chips and walnuts over crackers. Return to the oven until chocolate is melted, about 3-5 minutes. Remove from the oven; using a greased spatula, press walnuts into chocolate. Cut into 1 in. squares while warm. Cool completely; remove candy from foil. Yield: about 5 dozen. 

Try it and tell me what you think!

REVITALIZE THE MIND

I was enlightened yesterday as I spent a leisurely afternoon at Barnes and Noble drinking hot chocolate and reading yoga magazines. I learned more about the value of silence and meditation, the healing benefits of ayurveda massage and more uses for essential oils.

Ayurveda Massage and Essential Oils
Thanks to the benefits of EmergenC we are a really healthy family. But recently we have had scratchy throats and sinus congestion. While reading through the yoga magazines I came across a great article about the use of essential oils and how to apply them through ayurveda massage. Tips on uses of essential oils in the winter are on the Yoga Plus website and for a really great explanation of ayurveda click here.

I've treated muscle aches and congestion with lavendar and euculyptus oil for years. Lavendar Oil got me through the raising baby years and continues to work on the muscle aches and pains of my soccer players. A few drops of euculyptus oil in boiling water works wonders to clear congestion in the chest and sinuses.

Silence and Meditation
In search of silence one man heads to a monastery in the tops of the Northern California mountains. He benefits from the connection to his inner core.

Within each of us is something changeless - call it the light of Christ, your Buddha center or your immortal existence - but we all possess a changeless spirit. Life and its ongoing chaos disable the connection to our inner core. It is in silence that we can find it. Daily meditation and silent retreats, as deemed necessary, will take us back to the foundation that makes us who we are.

Kickin' back at the Barnes and Noble Cafe was the rejuvenation I needed. There are so many great things to read. Yesterday I chose the magazines. Short articles with lots of impact. Then my cell phone rang and reality kicked in, the boys needed a ride home from the soccer arena and there was the usual mudane weekend chores to complete. I gathered my things, tossed my cup in the trash, placed the magazines back on the rack and headed to my car.

MUSIC AND ME

I love music! All kinds of genres from classical to country, from New Age to Regae. I think my least favorite music genre is alternative rock, okay maybe that rap stuff too. My family knows my passion for music so for Christmas that got me one of these - the pink one. Okay so I'm a little behind the times. (But I've purchased ipods for my kids just never for myself.) I really like this little gadget!

I uploaded just under 500 songs. I can listen anytime anywhere. When it's on shuffle mode I get to anticipate the next song coming up, sort of like listening to the radio except without the ads and chit chat. I like every song because I put it there and since Christmas - I haven't heard the same song twice.

Van Gough should've had one of these. It would've eclipsed the tinnitus in his ear. Maybe then he wouldn't have cut off his ear.

ABSOLVING THE ACHE

After two back breaking weeks in the holiday kitchen and twelve hours in the first night freezer I was in desperate need of a massage. I have two therapist I like to use. Julie gives my muscles the work out they need and Angie gives me the comfort I deserve. Tonight it was Julie. My muscles are now knot free and tomorrow I will ache. But it will be a good ache. Thursday Angie will sooth the ache and by Friday my body will be running smooth.

Being a member of Massage Envy is a good thing.

MOVIES TO SEE

Going to the movies is an escape from reality, a time to exist in another place. During this holiday season I've been to the cinema...a lot! The list in order of favorite goes like this...

::AUSTRALIA--eye candy and breathtakingly beautiful
::THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON--a magical story
::SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE--do you believe in serendipity?
::BOLT--superdog anyone?
::THE BOY IN THE STRIPPED PAJAMAS--senseless violence
::BEDTIME STORIES--goofy in a charming sort of way

If you enjoy a good movie then all of these are worth seeing at least once.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

This morning I am psyching myself up for twelve hours of cold. The thought is painful! If you know me at all then you know that I am attracted to all things warm and wonderful- hot showers, hot tubs, sunny beaches, electric blankets, St. George in the summer - just to name a few.

My job description requires me to work the St. George New Year celebration we call "First Night." Set up begins at noon. Break down starts at midnight. So while you are all enjoying the celebration I will be wishing to be wrapped in warmth anywhere but where I will be.

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL!