How Old?

The year 2009 proves to be a year that will really age me. My oldest daughter turned 12 two weeks ago and started attending Young Women's. Yikes! Samantha received some grown-up items for her birthday, including make-up and a bra (which made Elliot scream). I remember turning 12 and getting make-up and a bra for my birthday(not that I needed a bra - my mom said it was more appropriate and modest for a girl my age to have her chest covered). And so it is for my daughter! She sure is turning into a nice young lady. She's been helping me cook dinner and I've enjoyed her company in the kitchen, having more grown-up conversations. In fact, she got a Rachel Ray cookbook for Christmas and has making entire meals for the family - things like shrimp scampi, pesto pasta and vegetable chili. Yum! Samantha's also very responsible and does all of her homework and school projects on her own. I've been letting her stay up a little later at night. We watch TV shows together that we enjoy, like Jon & Kate Plus 8, while Nathan stays downstairs and watches dumb stuff like tennis and extreme fighting. Sometimes she plays with my hair - you know, girl time. On the flip side, she also is showing signs of becoming a true teenager, being dramatic and argumentative. Oh well - girls aren't perfect!

Also in 2009, Elliot is going to turn 8, be baptized and start the Cub Scout program. He's looking forward to doing the Pinewood Derby. AND, Henry is going to start Kindergarten and leave me all alone!

See? I'm getting old!

Christmas Vacation

I guess I better catch up. Not much to report on Christmas Day. Everyone in the Salt Lake Valley was snowed in, due to a yucky blizzard. It didn't bother us none, because we weren't planning on going anywhere anyway. We slept in until 7 am this year since we didn't have to open our presents at lighting speed and get over to my parents house by 9:00. That was a nice change. Everyone got what they wanted for Christmas, so the day was spent actually playing with toys. We relaxed, made Christmas dinner and packed for our trip home to Arizona the next day.

Our two week vacation in AZ consisted all of the following:

-Driving 14 hours (9 of those hours on icy roads)
-Opening presents
-Handing out presents
-Attending two Christmas parties
-Relaxing
-Thawing out in the 60+ degree days
-Guitar Hero
-A marshmallow gun war (guns provided by Nathan)
-Mexican Food
-Cousins
-A day trip to Miami/Globe, AZ to see Nathan's grandmother (and more Mexican food)
-Taking a ride on The Metro, Phoenix's brand new Light Rail, which opened while we were there.

-The Cheesecake Factory on New Year's Eve
-Ringing in 2009
-More Guitar Hero
-More Relaxing
-The Fiesta Bowl Parade
-Being introduced to my little sister's big belly
-Sending Nathan off on a plane back home to Utah
-A candy craving, resulting in a run to a gourmet candy store
-Macadamia Nut Chicken at The Kona Grill (first time - yum!)
-A dozen bottles of soda at Pop! The Soda Shop
-Discovering that eating a grapefruit w/sugar will take the edge off a migraine headache
-Dinners with the fam
-More Guitar Hero (sheesh, I need to buy it!)
-Watching Jay Leno with my parents (haven't seen him since we got cable 5 years ago - haven't missed much)
-An emergency haircut at the WalMart salon.

-NOT going to Bahama Bucks for shaved ice like I wanted to. Maybe next time.
-Driving home just me and the kids - skies were sunny, kids behaved, roads were dry and total trip time was 11 hours. No problem - except for the migraine. Eating a grapefruit.

Addicted to Technology

Finally! Our 4-year old computer became terminally ill and died right around Christmas. Fortunately we had recently bought a second hard drive and transferred all of the important stuff - so no big deal. Except living without the internet was much harder than I thought it would be! I don't even know how to look up an address or phone number without it (what? what's a phone book?) Nathan went ahead and bought all of the parts and built a new computer himself (I was very impressed). So, 2 days ago, I finally got my internet back - yeah! Now I've got to catch up on my blogging, which won't be too hard because I haven't taken a single picture since we went sledding in December. Bad girl!

Sledding

On Saturday, we took the kids sledding for the first time this season. There was only minimal whining and everyone had a good time - especially Henry, who yelled "Yeah, baby!" every time he reached the bottom of the hill.

MythBuster

There is a secret date candy recipe that has been in my family for a few generations. Great Grandma Nana Frederickson invented this treat years ago and it is made only at Christmas. As the legend goes, See's Candy tried to buy the recipe from Nana, but she refused. You must be or marry a descendant of Nana to be allowed to make the candy - even then, you are not allowed a written copy of the recipe until you prove yourself worthy after you've produced a few successful candy batches. The candy must be made in the presence of either my Granny (Nana's daughter-in-law) or someone who has been trained by Granny, such as my mother. The candy can only be cooked in one of two cast aluminum pots, using only fresh dates from a date palm tree (my Granny has a guy in the east Valley, AZ that saves his dates for her every July). The dates must be peeled and ground (twice) in a meat grinder and then placed in the freezer to await their candy destiny later in December. And, the recipe requires twelve cups of pecans (I didn't say that this candy was healthy) that are carefully sliced one by one, not chopped from a bag bought at the store. Well...........this year I was on my own in Utah. I didn't have Granny, my mother, a cast aluminum pot, a meat grinder or a "date guy". But, I must announce to all in my family who have fretted about this Mount Everest of candy-making, that I have dispelled the myth! This year, I bought dates and chopped pecans at the grocery store. I mashed the dates - no grinder. I cooked the candy in a stainless steel stockpot from IKEA. Did the date candy turn out? I answer......oh, I can't answer right now, my mouth is full of delicious, chewy, mouth-watering, perfect date candy! Nobody tell Granny!

D.I. Treasure

By far, my favorite style for architucture and furnishings is mid-century modern design. But.....I have this strange fascination for things made in the 1970's. So, when Nathan and I saw this armchair at D.I. for $10, it found it's way into our car and then into our living room. I've purchased much 1970's dinnerware, cookware and Tupperware from D.I., but none of it has been put on display. I decorate with the famous orange, rust, brown and avacado green colors from the 70's, but never in my house has there been a piece of furniture that was actually made before I was born. Although the chair is in perfect condition (not even fading or sun damage), I'm still on the fence about whether or not this vintage wonder will be allowed to remain in the house. I would appreciate everyone's honest comments.





And if you have found yourself wondering, "What the heck is mid-century modern?", take a look:









Or you could always google names such as George Nelson, Richard Neutra, Albert Frey, Ralph Haver, Joseph Eichler or Ray & Charles Eames.

Winter Hits!

Winter is in full force! We've had back-to-back snow storms with 20 degree temperatures and wind and snow. Nathan got to shovel the steps for the first time Saturday. All of you AZ people should be envious of our magical Christmas tree lighting, but you are also free to laugh at us while we freeze our butts off!












Must.........live...........gasp!........choke

The Christmas Tree

We decorated our tree last Monday for Family Home Evening. It turned out to be the best tree decorating ever. Just when we finished the tree, we looked out the window to see that it had started to snow. Watching the gently falling snow, the fireplace burning, the glow of the Christmas tree, and the Oak Ridge Boys singing Silent Night truly brought the spirit of Christmas into our home. I couldn't have planned the moment any better than that!



Next, the kids hurried and threw their snow clothes on and went outside. Nathan went out as well and pulled them around the yard in a sled for a while. Then they all came in for hot chocolate and Christmas cookies. We have been finding out that a real winter complete with snow gives the holiday season that extra special touch. The songs White Christmas and I'll Be Home for Christmas also have new meaning. Can't wait to see the fam!

Nathan's Christmas Present.....He Wishes!

I saw this Toyota Landcruiser for sale when I was taking pictures of the Summerhays. I snapped a few shots and told Nathan that it was his Christmas present. Yeah, right! He would love another Landcruiser, especially this one. Too bad.

Photo Shoot

I took some pictures of our friends, the Summerhays, last weekend. I've been looking for a spot that is more industrial, so that I can take some "urban" looking pictures for the photography blog that I'm supposed to be making. Greg actually picked this spot and it was just one mile from our house! I was lucky because Greg and Andrea are a great looking couple with adorable kids. The photo session went smoothly and we got some awesome pics as well!