Christmas

All of us by the Salt Lake Temple

It's been a while since either of us posted.  Amy is in Utah helping with my Dad as we all face the last stages of his Brain Cancer.  I just returned from Utah and will most likely be returning at the end of next week.  I had a great time at home & you can read about my visit at my Dad's blog.  But I did some other things too.  On Tuesday night, I had a sleep over with my nephews Lincoln & Sawyer.  We watched Phineas & Ferb, Mythbusters and headed to the movie theater to see The Muppets.  On Thursday night Amy, Abbie & I met up with Rob, Katie, Lincoln and Sawyer to see the lights on Temple Square.  When we crossed the street we ran into our cousin Christie & her husband John.  My favorite part of the visit was when we looked at all the Nativities from around the world.  My favorite was the Maori nativity.  At first we weren't sure which pacific island group the nativity belonged to, but then I spotted the Kiwi bird - that gave it away.

Saywer & I with the Maori Nativity (I'm the one next to the Kiwi Bird)

Hopefully we'll get back to posting here more regularly during this year!

My last two days with the Macs

Monday we got up and headed to Knotts Berry Farm.  I think the last time I was there was 1992? 93?  The day was slightly on the warm side.  We walked around the park and rode lots of rides.  I enjoyed riding the Jaguar with Keanna and the three rides (in a row) on Bigfoot Rapids with Mackenzie.  I also closed my eyes riding the Xcelerator with Roger.  After making a short stop at our hotels so Mackenzie & I could put on dry clothes we went to Chili's for Dinner. 

This morning we went to IHOP for breakfast and talked about family, traditions, and holidays until I had to leave for the airport.  It was not easy to leave.  The Macs are an awesome family!  Roger & Andrea are the most patient parents I've ever seen and turn everything they can into a learning opportunity.  Keanna and Mackenzie are just good kids - even having travelled far from home for three + weeks.  I am going to miss them tremendously.  I'm going to have to fill my New Zealand bank as quickly as possible to make my trip to the other side of the world!

Me & The Macs

Two days into my mini vacation in Southern California & I am having a fantastic time. 

Saturday I took an early flight into John Wayne Airport - Orange County.  I got my car and drove to Mission Viejo to see my grandparents.  I haven't seen them since I moved to Washington.  I made lunch and we sat around and talked.

 Just after I got to my hotel, I got to see the Mac's.  Roger & I worked together at Oak Glen Outdoor School and have kept in touch ever since.  I met his wife Andrea once before they were married.  They have three beautiful girls.  The family has been in the states for about three weeks visiting the U.S. and just got back from Walt Disney World.  We drove out to Yucaipa California to meet up with people we used to work with and for.  It was fun to see them again. 

Sunday we went to breakfast at IHOP and then drove to Hollywood to take pictures with the Hollywood Sign.  Mackenzie really enjoyed putting her hands in all the handprints in front of the Chinese Theater.  We drove back and relaxed around their hotel room.  They brought me a big bag of goodies including a bank to save for my New Zealand trip and some NZ money to get started.  We ended the day with Cheesecake @ Cheesecake Factory.

Tomorrow we are going to Knott's Berry Farm.  I can't remember the last time I went there.  I'm totally excited. 

Tuesday's Dinner

Tried this great recipe tonight - so I thought I would share!

Chicken Tenders
1 lbs chicken tenderloins
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup egg substitute
3/4 cup panko (Japanese breadcrumbs)
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 teaspoon garlic salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 tablespoon canola oil

1.  Preheat oven to 425.
2.  Cut tenderloin in half lengthwise; cut into 20 (2-inch) pieces.
3.  Place flour in a shallow dish.  Place egg substitute in another.  Combine panko, cheese, garlic salt, and pepper in another dish.  Dredge chicken flour; dip in egg substitute, and dredge in breadcrumb mixture.  Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat, swirling to coat.  Add turkey pieces to pan; cook 2 minutes on each side.  Place chicken pieces on a broiler pan.  Bake at 425 for 5 minutes.  Turn pieces over, and bake another 5 minutes or until golden.  Yield: 4 servings (serving size: 5 pieces)

Calories 227 Fat 6.1g  Protein 32.9g  Carb 11g  Fiber 0.5g  Chol 47mg  Iron 2mg  Sodium 237mg  Calc 36mg

So these were really good.  Melody doesn't like chicken and she said they were good.  I didn't have egg substitute so I used 2 eggs and beat them with a fork a little bit.  I didn't have garlic salt either, so I used 1/4 t garlic powder and 1/4 t salt.  They were really good.  Tomorrow I'm going to cut up the left overs and eat them over a salad for a grilled chicken salad.  I will be making them again..... soon.  :)

Trip Back to Washington Part 2

After leaving Brigham City, I continued my drive towards Washington through Idaho.  While driving I called my Grandma and asked a question that had been bugging me for a long time - How did her parents meet.  Grandma Walker was from Louisiana and after her family joined the church they moved to Utah.  Her parents ended up in Price.  Grandpa Walker's family joined the church early in church history, and his grandparents came to Utah a few years after the bulk of the Saints came.  They settled in Farmington and branches of the family ended up in Star Valley, Wyoming & Rockland, Idaho along with Utah - so how did they meet. They meet in Jerome, Idaho (which I just happened to be driving past when Grandma told me).  They ended up in Meridian, Idaho (which was very close to where I headed that night). Grandma also told me that her dad, Grandpa Walker, loved the Snake River.

  I continued on to the Boise area to stay for a few days with my friend Holly & her family (and to see my dentist, who happens to be married to Holly).

On one of the days I was at Holly's house we had lunch next to the Snake River:

One of Holly's kids was missing (she was having fun with horses) but the rest did some posing for me.

Eventually I left Idaho and drove home to Washington ending Summer for me.

Trip back to Washington Pt 1.5

After going to the Cemetary I drove into the center of town and stopped at the Brigham City Tabernacle which happens to be opposite the Brigham City Temple Site.  It also is across the street from my Great-Grandmother Merrill's house that she lived in when I visited for Thanksgiving one year.  So of course I took some pictures:

Brigham City Tabernacle

Brigham City Temple

Brigham City Temple

I think this was Grandma Merrill's House

My trip back to Washington Part 1

This is a little late to be writing about my trip back to the land of rain, but I basically went straight back to work when I got back.

I left Sunday late morning and drove to Brigham City.  My mom's side of the family has a tradition of taking flowers to the cemetary on Memorial Day.  It wasn't Memorial Day, but I'd been doing a lot of family history and I wanted to stop and take some flowers and I have a lot of relatives burried there.

End of my visit

This time next week I'll be on my way to Boise (yay Millers!) to visit my fabulous dentist.  It's been a long two months with lots of memories to think about.  Here are some of the things I'll remember in no specific order:

1.  Watching Mike pour cement footings for his house
2.  Not having a single day over 100 degrees
3.  Sleeping on the pull out sofa every night but three
4.  Discovering things about my ancestors at the Church History Library
5.  Taking Lincoln and Sawyer out for lunch!
6.  Watching Danny play all day in the Sandbox.
7.  Hanging out in the Infusion center at the Huntsman Cancer Institute every other week
8.  Climbing in and out of the basement window opening at Mike's new house.
9.  Staying over at Russ and Chris' cabin
10.  eating lunch at the Highline trailhead parking lot and being bit by mosquitos
11.  Eating the first cherry tomato of the season from Mom & Dad's garden
12.  scanning family pictures
13.  Watching Midsomer Murders and eating ice cream just about every night
14.  Fourth of July Extravaganza - especially the frog firework
15.  24 th of July Ice Cream and Cake Pops
16.  Naming the fireworks on the 24th after apostles and prophets (Lincoln had awesome names)
17  Watching fireworks with Crew & Danny
18.  watching all my nephews swim at the JCC
19.  Seeing my relatives at the Smith Family Reunion - especially playing with Darren and Kezlyn's youngest!
20.  Driving by East High School and singing "High School Musical"  everytime I passed by
21.  finishing the last block for the dreaded Butterfly Quilt
22.  Completing lots of other craft projects
23.  Visiting quilt stores with mom
24.  Taking Dad through the McDonald's Drive Thru for breakfast
25.  Salivating over the cheap fuel and food prices in Utah
26.  Shopping at Walmart
27.  The Kitty fiasco
28.  Having glitter toes done at the Miller's house
29.  Going to Andy & Alina's house for the first time. 

I'm hoping to make a few more memories this week. See you soon Washington.

Mom & Dad

The Miracle of the Kitty

Yesterday Dad & I drove down to Delta Utah to see his dad for Father's Day.  While driving down main street a kitty popped up under my car.  I didn't run it over, but I did drive over it.  When we got to Grandpa's house and got out of the car, we could hear meowing from under the car.  We couldn't see anything, and we hoped that it would climb out while we were inside.  When we came back out, couldn't see anything under the car and there was no noise.  We drove all the way home.  Today I left and ran errands.  When I got home I hear meowing, but it sounded like it was coming from the neighbors that have cats.  When Mom & Dad got home, I told Dad I thought the kitty might be underneath the car still, but I that still couldn't see anything.  Dad got down and looked and again didn't see anything, but then the cat started crying again.  Mom got down and saw the kitty.  We opened the hood and still couldn't get it out or see it.  Mom & Dad figured out where it was and tried to get it out, but it was stuck.  We decided to drive to a tire place to put it up on a lift and see if we could get the kitty out.  We only made it about 15 feet before I heard a bang on the bottom of the car and saw a little kitty scamper out from under the car.  We cornered it under a tree and Mom coaxed it out.  It wasn't hurt, no broken bones, maybe a few bruises.  We gave it some food and liquids and now she's wandering around the house - meowing and finally purring.  Here she is the cat my Dad thinks should be named Fusion after the car it traveled in for 150 miles and lived to tell about it.:

The Ocean

As Melody walked down the hall toward my room this morning at 10:30am she said, "I guess I have to get up and do something today."  Feeling the same was, I asked "What fun and exciting thing would you like to do today?"  Without a moment of hesitation she said "I'd drive to the coast and put my feet in the ocean."  It only took me 5 minutes to talk her into it and we were out the door by 11am. 

The drive was beautiful.  We went down through Tacoma, Olympia, and out to Ocean Shores.  We were very excited to get out to the water! 

Before we even got to the water we were met by a beautiful sky full of kites.  All shapes, sizes, and colors were soaring through the air.  There was not a cloud in the blue sky and so the kites were amazing.

One of the things I wasn't expecting was the fact that you could drive your car right out onto the sand!  The whole beach was full of cars and RV's, tents and umbrellas.  Some drove their cars all the way into the water. 

The other crazy thing was that the beach was littered with crab shells.  Arms, pinchers and in some cases whole shells were all over.  As were broken sand dollars.  Pile after pile of broken sand dollar shells were all over. 

The water was really quite warm.  If I had my swimsuit I would have gone all the way out.  Knowing the pacific current is a cold current (thanks Mel) I expected the water to be very cold.  The current was really strong.  There were a few people in the shallow water, but none very far out.

I loved every minute of it.  I seriously couldn't stop smiling.  Sometimes I forget how much of a water and beach girl I am.  I'm sunbunt and loving every minute of it.  :)

 

The drive home was eventful.  We saw a police car pulled over, protecting a bear who was laying down on the side of the road.  Checked out the massive cooling towers for the nuclear power plant never finished in Elma, WA and enjoyed chocolate dipped ice cream cones.  :) 

We noticed all the Tsunami Evacuation Route signs, both on the drive in and on the way out.  It was interesting though, that some of them pointed towards the ocean?  Not sure that would be the best route.

We ended our trip with a stop at Camping World!  I needed new grilling tools and a cover for my grill!  It was an awesome day!  I still can't stop smiling!  I LOVE the summer in Seattle.  I'm looking forward to many, many more Saturday trips and sunny days!

What's going on

I don't know how much posting we will get to in the near future.

Life has totally changed for us both.

You can see that change at:

Dad and the Deathstar

Phoenix

Most Washington school districts have a charming little tradition called Mid-Winter Break.  Personally, I'd rather get out of school a few days early, but this year I really needed a break from my students.  Amy needed a break from rain and cloudy skies so we went to Phoenix.  The first November we were here we went to Phoenix for a weekend.  This time we went for a week. 

On the first day we took a drive through the South Mountain Park - it's where the mountain with all the antennas on top is located. 

We drove up and up until we got to this view:

Then we drove home and made dinner

Thursday we took a break from resting and went to Barnes & Noble to get Amy a book (who am I kidding - I walked out of there with 2 books) and went to Aunt Chilada's for some great Mexican Food and sun on the Patio.

Friday's activities reveal the real reason we went to Phoenix:

That's right Nascar - A weekend of racing! Friday we went to practice and truck qualifing. And then we got to see the Kyle Busch show during the truck race:


Kyle's truck during a pit stop - right across from our seats!



KB won the race and somewhere in that cloud from the burnout is his truck.

 Saturday we went back to the track to see Nationwide and Cup qualifying and then the Nationwide Race:

Kyle's pit stop

Where we saw the Kyle Busch show again:

Yep - that's his car in the smoke again!

The hope for me was that I'd get to see a KB sweep!

Sunday:

Here's Amy before the race sporting her 20 gear for Joey Logano



There's Kyle Pre Race



Kyle didn't win - he came in second but it was a great race and a great weekend!