We'll Be Back Soon!!

We are headed to visit Eddie's family for the holidays. Check back with us after the New Year to hear all about our visit. Hope you have an enjoyable Christmas...Don't forgot to leave Santa some cookies!!!

Work gifts and fancy oreos

Every year at work each department does a gift exchange. Some do a secret Santa or get something small for everyone...like my department, we get something for everyone. Last year I just gave them ornaments for their Christmas tree. This year I made fancy oreos...they don't have a real name and gave them an ornament again.

I lucked out this year!! I got some cute shelf sitters, which are at Gma and Gpa's...since I don't have a mantle and they do. Cookies, chocolates, candied nuts, chocolate covered macadamian nuts straight from Maui, a loaf of bread from Kneader's and a $50 gift card to Olive Garden...so excited!! I love their seafood Alfredo....yummm....o.k. sorry...besides the point.

Here is the recipe to make the fancy oreos:

pack of MINT double stuffed oreos
2 bags of white chocolate chips
red and green sprinkles...or whatever kind your heart desires

Melt 2 bags of white chocolate chips in microwave...read directions on back. Dip oreo in white chocolate, cover completely. I used a toothpick at first to dip, then I used my hands because the oreos kept separating. Place dipped oreo in wax paper and then top with sprinkles. Cool in refrigerator until chocolate is hardened.

These were so easy to make. They would be good neighbor gifts...maybe next year!! I actually don't like the mint oreo...reminds me of toothpaste for some reason. Might be from a certain experience I had about 10 years ago....April fools day, my little punk sister gave me an oreo. I took a big ol' bite into it...or I might have just stuffed it all in, I don't remember. Because all I remember was the oreo started to foam. Little punk scrapped off the filling and put toothpaste in between the oreo cookies. I can say it was actually a good April fools joke, not at the time of course!!

Here are a few pics of my favorite brother in-law eating the mint oreos pre-fancied, and his reaction.

Love you Russell!! You always make me laugh!~

Old people are funny...

I went over Gma and Gpa's house after work yesterday and Gpa asks me if I want a mint.

(sorry this is a blurry pic)

Gma askd where he got the mints from , instead of answering her he went to "his" room and came out with a container full of mints. He said that while he was waiting for her at the podiatrists (she was getting her toenails clipped) he noticed there were some mints and it said 'to take one'. HE TOOK THE WHOLE CONTAINER!! Gma was so embarrassed and she explained that he was just suppose to take one of the mints, not the whole container. It even says it on the lid..."sample, try one. Had to get a pic. By the way...they were nasty!!

Fun times....

* Update*
The flood restoration people came and lifted the carpet since it was salvageable and tore out the soaked foam underneath. They have two dehumidifiers and six fans going to dry out the carpet. They also sprinkled some anti-mold stuff on the wood under the foam and on the carpet. Once the carpet is dry they will replace the foam with some new foam and we will be good as new.

Yesterday Eddie and I get a call from the girl's that live in Eddie's parents apartment. We are the local contact, landlord, maintenance people....whatever you want to call us. They called us yesterday to let us know they are having an issue with the toilet. Since we are so lucky to be a one car family, Eddie told them we would be over after work, around 6pm...since I work until 5. About 2:15 the girls call us again to let us know that the carpet is wet, like pretty bad. So, I leave work early and we go over to the apartment to find this. The pictures do not even do it justice. It was bad!!

This is the living room when you walk in, the bathroom with the issue is to the left past that mini-vac.

This is a bedroom right next to the bathroom.

The hallway going away from the bathroom, pretty much 2/3's of the way down the hall.

The girl's tried to soak up some of the water with all their towels before we got there with the carpet sucker and some fans. I feel so bad too, because it is finals week.

Can you tell how excited Eddie is to be sucking water out of carpet instead of studying for a final?

There's me all hunched over working out my upper body muscles.... I am so sore, and I think I used muscles I didn't know I had. Can you see how wet my jeans are?

Here is my favorite brother in law, oh wait, I only have one brother in law...but he is still my favorite. It is a blessing he is down here visiting. It was hard work.

When we first arrived on the scene we decided we would just call a carpet guy and he said..."Sorry Charlie...the carpets have to be dry." We sucked and sucked water up from the carpet for hours. Filled the carpet sucker 3 times. Rented 2 carpet fans from Home Depot and had those going. I asked the girl what happen and she explained it clogged in the morning and she went back to bed...who does that? So anyways, she got back up like 3 hours later and the carpet was all wet. I'm assuming they tried to fix/clean up as much as they could before they called us, hence the tub full of soaked towels and a mini-vac.

We finally went and got a bite to eat (thanks dad!) and then came back to check on the carpet, to see if it was drying and to switch them around. Um, the carpets were re-wet. Like as if we did nothing! 4 hours of hard work for nothing! Well not nothing but you know what I mean. So, we pull up the carpet and see that the foam patting is soaked all the way through. The wood isn't wet underneath but the foam is like a sponge.

Russell drove me to work this morning since we are a one car family and all. He will be meeting the flood damage people at the apartment this morning to see what can be done. Not such a good thing since the apartment is on the 4th floor... Hope it looks worse than it really is.

Work...Eddie style

From my point of view anyways. On Friday night and Saturday morning Eddie had to work. For those that don't know he works for BYU sports and dance camps. He is considered a student planner, he works with t he coaches to plan the camps. The camp this past weekend was a baseball winter academy. This is what I saw as far as "work" goes, on Friday night, checking kids in..."Hi, what's your name?" ...um...jimmy? Then Eddie would say, " Michael...adult large."(For the free t-shirt you receive when attending the camp). And then onto the next kid. (* Funny story, as I was waiting for Eddie on Friday night, this skinny14 year old boy was checking in and had ordered an adult XL. One of the girls Eddie works with asked if he was sure he wanted an XL and the kid said something like this," Look at me, I'm huge!" grabbed the shirt and walked away....)Um, o.k. !

Then on Saturday morning Eddie was asked to go to the camp and take some pictures. We go down to the IPF...indoor practice facility....to take some pictures and what do you know, the battery on the work camera is dead. So, as Eddie calls his boss who then tells him don't worry about it, I snapped some shots.

(Batting cages)

I'm not sure what they were doing, I think pop fly balls or something.

Learning how to swing correctly from the coach.

"We want a pitcher not a belly itcher!!" I had to bite my tongue not to yell that.

So, were driving home and I saw this. HAD to get a pic! Who does that?!? Yes, it was some ghetto Hispanic man with a cowboy hat on, probably with his fiesta music blaring. As I was taking this pic, Eddie was like..."put the camera down, he has a gun!" Silly, Silly Eddie...I don't fall for your tricks anymore.

Happy 20th Birthday!!

She made that corsage

Just wanted to give a shout out to my little punk sister. She turns 20 today. She is one of the smartest and beautiful people I know. She always gets straight A's and does really good in school. She is getting better at the whole reality smart thing. If you read this, which I am not sure you will. Just wanted to wish you a Happy Birthday and tell you that I love you very much!! Hope you had a fun day.

Eddie Has Been Tagged...

I have been tagged by our good friends, The Vigue's. It is funny how these little "get to know you" questionaires keep on getting passed around. It makes me feel like I'm in Jr. High again, when your friends would e-mail you a chain letter with 50 questions and you had to pass it on to some number of people or something would happen to you. Well, have fun reading about me.

4 Jobs I have had in my lifetime:
1. BYU Sports Camps Planner
2. LoveSac
3. Missionary
4. Oregon Golf Club

4 Films I have watched over and over again:
1. The Bourne Trilogy
2. Rudy
3. Remember the Titans
4. Shawshank Redemption

4 Shows I would watch religiously:
1. Lost
2. Heroes
3. Sportscenter
4. Arrested Development

4 Places I have lived:
1. Provo, UT
2. Salt Lake City, UT
3. Laie, HI
4. West Linn, OR

4 Of my favorite foods:
1. Cheesecake
2. Bacon
3. Nachos
4. Ruth Chris Steak

4 Favorite colors:
1. Cougar Blue, This is the only color that matters!

4 Places I'd love to be right now:
1. North Shore of Oahu, HI
2. Golf Course
3. New Zealand
4. Cruise in the Caribbean

4 Names I love but my wife would never let me use on my own kids:
1. Tucker, she thinks kids will be mean with this name
This is the only name I can think of right now.

4 People to tag:
1. Ryan Johnston
2. Shawn Ballard
3. Ryan Williamson
4. Merrick Smith

Gma's Yummy Sugar Cookies

Last Sunday I called Gma in a panic because I was making sugar cookies and the dough was really dry. I had gotten the recipe from her and was calling to see if I was missing an ingredient or something. She couldn't find the recipe and insisted that I make a different sugar cookie recipe she had, that they were the BEST cookie she had ever tasted....which I believe her since she is 84 and has probably had a lot of cookies in her lifetime.

I explained everything was mixed together and I just needed to know what wet ingredient I was missing. She still insisted, so she gave me the recipe but I had to wait to get more butter. I threw away what was already mixed and decided I would go with the BEST cookies ever recipe. So, Monday I went and got more butter since the recipe could probably clog some arteries with as much butter it calls for.

Sugar Cookie
1 C. sugar
1 C. powdered sugar
1 C. butter
1 C. margarine ....yes you read that right, butter and margarine...artery cloggers
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. cream of tartar
1tsp. baking soda
4 1/2 C. flour

Mix sugar, powdered sugar, butter and margarine, mix until smooth. Then add the eggs and vanilla. Mix dry ingredients together and add to wet ingredients. Pinch off dough and roll into ball and roll in sugar. Flatten and place on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes.

(O.K....the only thing I don't like is that you have to pinch off the dough. You can't roll it out and use cute cookie cutters.)

Frosting
1/4 pound butter ...had to look on the internet, math isn't my best subject = 2 cubes of butter
1/3 C. half and half
1 tsp. vanilla
1 box powdered sugar...it says a pound on the box, but Gma also said 3 cups works

Mix ingredients together. I put the butter, half and half and vanilla in before the powdered sugar. *Suggestion, don't dump the whole box in at one time....I think I need to invest in an apron.

I had to call Gma to see if I had to use a hand mixer or if I could just use the Kitchenaid. She said, "Kitchenaid?" I said, "um never mind I will just use the hand mixer"...guess Kitchenaids weren't around in her time. I must say these cookies are good. They are really soft, but crunchy...maybe because of all the butter. Enjoy!

Song for the Holidays

Here is one of my favorite versions of Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer by Jack Johnson. Hope everyone has a enjoyable holiday and don't drink too much egg nog!!!

Utah Jazz vs. Portland Trailblazer Game

Last night Eddie and I had the opportunity to go to the Jazz vs. Trailblazer game, thanks to my boss. As most of you know Eddie is from the Portland area so he was super excited to go. Me on the other hand, basketball isn't my favorite sport. Probably because I don't know all the rules and that every time I have ever played it I have gotten yelled at...double dribble...air ball...traveling...brick!! You get the picture.

Here is a picture from our seats! Thanks for the tickets Dana...good seats!!

Eddie and I...and yes that is a forced smile...we tried taking that pic like 5 times...so by the 5th time I was so over taking the pic.

Tip-off

K~ what is that? Does anyone know? Eddie and I were trying to figure it out.

In the 4th quarter, they started passing out these "air sticks" for lack of a better word for them. Eddie thinks BYU should get some. Can't you tell he enjoyed them..silly!!

We had a fun time. After the game we went to the Cheesecake Factory!!

We went in celebration that Eddie got straight A's this semester. Good job Eddie, I'm so proud of you!! I asked what he wanted as a reward, since it was a big accomplishment. He said a big screen t.v.... I laughed and said something in our budget and he said a slice of cheesecake from the Cheesecake Factory. And boy was it yummy!!

Tag...

I was tagged by Eddie's cousin Kara. The rules are to answer the questions and then tag four people.

4 Jobs I have had in my lifetime:
1. AchieveGlobal... receptionist
2. Directv
3. Elysium Day Spa and Salon... loved the free services
4. Yogurt Park... free samples, yum!

4 Films I have watched over and over again:
1. None...I'm not a big movie fan, unless it is in the theater and girly or Disney. Otherwise I don't watch movies over again if I have a choice.

4 Shows I watch religiously...well for me tivo'd:
1. America's Next Top Model
2. Amazing Race
3. Survivor
4. The Hills

4 Places I have lived:
1. Provo, Utah
2. SLC, Utah
3. Laie, Hawaii
4. Elk Grove, California

4 Of my favorite foods:
1. Cheese
2. Ice Cream, anything but chocolate
3. Pizza...combo
4. Shrimp

4 Favorite colors:
1. Bright green
2. Yellow
3. Hot pink
4. Blue

4 Places I'd love to be right now:
1. On the beach with Eddie
2. Any Hawaiian Island
3. Disneyworld
4. In bed

4 Names I love but would never use on my own kids:
1. Bailey... I like it for a girl but I know more boys with the name.
2. Jocelyn
3. Kaipo...if I ever used it, he would be called Kai
4. Benson...I wouldn't want him to be called Ben, that is why I would never use it

4 People to tag:
1. Nicci Woffinden
2. Ali Vigue
3. Vanessa Smith
4. Terrah Anderson
(Sorry, I had to choose 4 people...if you don't want to you don't have to)

This is how I know ...

He leaves just enough bananas from the bundle for my recipe of banana bread.

*Update*

Now I am back from church and should be picking up the house before my visiting teachers come over. But for some reason baking bread is more fun than cleaning to me.

Eddie will have a nice surprise when he gets home from his church meetings.

Oh and here is the recipe:

2 C. flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
2 eggs
1 C. sugar
4 very ripe bananas (as pictured above)
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 C. vegetable oil
1 tsp. cinnamon

In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. In a large bowl, cream together eggs, and suagr. Stir in mashed bananas, vanilla, oil and cinnamon. Stir in flour mixture, a third at a time, until just combine. Divide batter into two 9X5 loaf pans. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes to 1 hour.

Busy Weekend!!

Once again we had a busy weekend. On Friday night I had my work party, sorry no pics. Eddie and I were so excited to go because they give out the best prizes. Let's see....there was a 32" HD flat screen T.V., a Wii, and PlayStation 2 with Guitar Hero, a 19" plasma flat screen T.V., professional waffle makers, ipods, video recorders, gift cards to spas, and golf courses, one of those vacuum things that roams the ground, air plane tickets and car wash gift certificate...I'm sure I am forgetting a few awesome prizes.

Guess what I won?!? If you guessed the car wash tickets you guessed right! Lamest prize ever, but at least I won something. Eddie and I laughed because if you have seen our car you might know why we thought it was funny. Our accord is "balding" and has been for a few years. So, we never, never ever, did I mention never? wash the car because every time we do it loses a little more paint. Oh well!!

We also went to the BYU basketball game on Saturday, it was against Michigan State. We had some pretty good tickets. On the second row...thanks to Eddie and Brian. Here are some shots from the game.

Tip-off
Eddie and I

Brian and Jessica

Some guy that went a little crazy with the blue body paint.

And here is a video of Cosmo dunking.



Then we went to the PIE with Brian and Jessica and introduced them to the best pizza in UT, yes even better than the all famous Brick Oven. We also walked around Gateway...went to the Apple store and drooled, I mean looked at ipods. Then drove home in the snow. BOoOoOo!!

R.I.P. Kelani...Kalani

Today when Eddie came home from work, this is what he found. Tear for Kelani...Kalani.

Guess he didn't like his new fish bowl. He died because I was selfish. I switched him to a 1 gallon fish bowl from a 5 gallon filtered tank and I didn't feel like changing 5 gallons of water every few weeks for just one fish. Guess I wasn't the only high maintenance person in the family, he only liked filtered water too. I will miss saying hello to him when I get home from work. He was usually so excited to see me....probably only because I fed him.

Snickerdoodle redemption

Don't those look so yummy!?! They were so good. Crunchy but soft and oh so tasty! We had to redeem ourselves and share some non-rock hard cookies with Brian and Jessica. I am glad to report, no broken teeth!!

I think I need to wash that cookie sheet, look'in a little nasty!

Here is the recipe. It comes from Terrah, who has officially saved Christmas!!

FHE with the singles

It's the first Monday of the month and that means we have the singles over. Each group consists of 25 single adults. On Sunday night Eddie got a call from one of the group leaders for directions. Less than 30 minutes later another group leader called for directions. Eddie gets off the phone is like ut-oh...I think 2 groups are coming tomorrow. My first thought is great!?! I have to make dessert for 50 people!?! What the heck am I going to make? Then I thought...not so great, how are we going to fit everyone. So, I thought homemade oreos would be easy, but then I thought...um that is 100 cookies. I asked my friend Loriann from work and she gave a great idea. Cobbler!! The recipe she gave me was so easy and EVERYONE loved it. Thanks Loriann!!

(Pre-oven)

(Post-oven...cherry, obviously)

(Post-oven...apple)

This is how easy it is: In a 9X13 pan pour 2 cans of pie filling (I did two cobblers, cherry and apple). On top of the filling crumble one box of yellow cake mix. Then melt one cube of butter and drizzle over cake mix. Bake in oven 25 minutes at 350 degrees, or until golden brown on top.

The lesson was on how we can be missionaries in our everyday lives and then we played Christmas song charades. We were a tight fit but I think everyone was comfortable. Every seat was taken, there were some on the floor, a few on the stairs, a few on the table and a few standing.

Separated into groups to play Christmas Song charades, one in the living room, one in the dining room and one group in the kitchen. Looked like a lot of fun, if you like charades.

Song of the Week

This week's song is a request from a friend of mine. Shawn here you go...I am not quite sure why you like this song. I am pretty sure Boston is your least favorite sports town, knowing that you are a Yankee's fan and have a "man-crush" on A-Rod.
Augustana "Boston"

Grrr...I mean Brrr..

This is what we woke up to! For those of you that don't live in the same state as us, this is the first big snow fall. We have had a dry winter so far. It usually starts snowing around Halloween. Here is a pic of the front of our house:

This is a pic of our street. The only thing I like about snow is that the trees are really pretty.