Deck the Halls

I love Christmas! It is the only holiday for which I really have any decorations. Each year we get a live wreath (thanks, Mom!), which this year I decorated with my wooden gingerbread men instead of a bow. The other wreath, which hangs on the front door, was made for us by Nate's co-worker, Robin, who is very talented. I love nativities and advent calendars (and would love to start collecting more). This advent calendar is my first, and I wanted it specifically to make sure that the kids remember the reason for the season. They love getting to take their turn opening the door (and yes, Ryan chose to put all the camels on top of the manger this year). Usually I also put up a Christmas village, but this year, in the spirit of de-stressing, I decided to not worry about it. I might put it up after Christmas as a winter village, but I don't have time to deal with it right now.

My most favorite part of Christmas is my tree. I love putting it up (especially now that we have one that is pre-lit) and then taking out all the ornaments and talking about our memories of them as we put them on the tree. Nate and I collect at least one on each trip we take and then at least one that represents a significant event of the year.

Last Christmas, Nate's parents gave us the beautiful tree skirt that they made. They actually made one for each of the brothers, and they are personalized for our own families. Some got country Christmas colors or gingerbread men, but mine (I mean, ours) has Christmas songs all around it. They have quilted it by hand, and I love all the detail. I also love that the colors match the angel that is on top of our tree. We bought it our very first Christmas, and I've never seen one that I like more.

Not-so-obvious Blessings

I figured now was a good time to express my gratitude for a few things that I may not have been grateful for earlier but have come to really appreciate.

1. Nate losing his job in Arizona was one of the best things that could have happened because it enabled him to get a job back in Utah that was so much better than any previous job and that lets us live so close to our family.
2. Sofia crying so much for so many months has helped me really appreciate how happy she is now. It also makes it a little easier to wink at some of the messes, etc. that she's always getting into.
3. Not getting any work this year (except for the one manuscript that paid for all the car problems) has given me more time to spend with the kids and to renew friendships. I've gotten to have nearly weekly lunches with Jenny, go scrapbooking with Mom and Keri, spend more time with Mike and Megan, learn all sorts of new things like how to make bread and pie, and learn to budget and coupon.

I'm so grateful for so many things, and I hope you each have a happy Thanksgiving!

My Last Supper

A photographer named Melanie Dunea asked professional chefs from around the world to share what they would eat for their last meal, what they would drink, what the setting would be, who would be there, and who would prepare it. It's had me thinking about it all day. What would I want to eat? The easiest part is who I would want to eat it with--all my friends and family would be invited. Might as well make my last meal on earth into a party, right?

The setting could be anywhere, as long as people are willing to crowd in, but I guess in a perfect world it'd be nice to find some luxury cabin with picture windows and a stunning view of Yellowstone or a huge house right on the beach. I'd like to pitch in on the prep. I love to cook, and I really enjoy cooking with other people, so I think I'd want in the kitchen (or on the grill) anyone who wanted to help in the kitchen. And maybe hire a professional sushi chef for the night. There would be plenty of drinks: sparkling juices, fresh fruit lemonades (especially blueberry), cider, wassail, and hot chocolate.

Now the real question is what this perfect last meal would entail. I really think I'd like a buffet that has all of my favorite foods in it, so everybody else could have a taste and so that I could have a tiny bit of tons of things that I love. Yes, I'd have sushi; Dad's BBQ chicken; Nate's grilled salmon; sweet potatoes; salad with craisins, feta, and walnuts; stroganoff and rice; chili and cornbread; and lots of fresh fruits and vegetables to munch on. For dessert, warm peach and apple pies, key lime pie, and brownies ala mode.

So now I want to know what your last supper would be. Feel free to be as detailed as you want!

"Pushing Daisies" is pushing daisies!

I'm just writing this post to lament the passing of one of my favorite shows. Quirky, original, colorful, the show never ceases to entertain. It has lively banter and fabulous narration by Jim Dale (how could you not love the man's voice?), and it has everything that I love: mystery, comedy, and romance. The actors are all phenomenal, particularly Lee Pace as Ned the pie man and Kristin Chenoweth as Olive Snook.

I'm still in disbelief that ABC has canceled it, especially given the three Emmys it won and the dozen others that it was nominated for. It just needed more time to gain an audience. I keep hoping that some other network will see it for the gem it is and pick it up. In a perfect world, I suppose.

In the meantime, here's to the awesome show that almost was!

Giving Thanks

I love this time of the year so much! It's great to pause and remember all of our blessings, so here are a few of my recent favorite things: A letter from Lauren, one of my Laurels, to tell me how much she loves me, right when I needed a pick-me-up. Sofie finally toddling all over the place and learning to sign "please" and "thank you" because she cries at least 50% less now that she can get around and communicate a little bit. Ryan asking to use the potty two times in a row; it didn't last, but it gives me hope. Running with Warren and Lindsay (2 miles!!). Finding a great deal thanks to the Savvy Shopper! Finding an awesome deal on my own! The Mentalist and Pushing Daisies. Being a pirate for Halloween and finding the whole outfit in my closet. Ryan and Sofie laughing together, even when it means a big mess to clean up later. My coupon organizer. Mom helping me put together 20 tiles! The new Smith's Marketplace across from IMFT. Weekly lunches with Nate (2.3 years and haven't missed a week!). Dishing with Megan. Sanity lunches with Jenny. "It's a New Day!" And the best husband in the entire world!

Thanks to all veterans

Thank you to those who have bravely served our country, especially to Dad Burt, Uncle Bob, Uncle Dick, Don, Richard, Ben, Grandpa Daynes, and Mr. Glenn.

(Below is excerpted from an essay I wrote in high school)

The path veered to the right, and as I rounded the corner, I saw it. There, engulfed by a reverent silence, was the Wall. The black marble monument, know as the Vietnam Memorial, was set in a hillside, effectively blocking the omnipresent din of Washington traffic.It was so quiet that I thought to myself in whispers, though I was fairly sure no one else was listening.

I walked slowly down the declining trail and tried to take in everything at once: the people lining the walks, the sun gleaming off the polished black stone, the sudden cool air that brushed against my skin. At the base of the wall, I reached out to touch it. The black should have been super-heated after spending the entire day in the sun; instead, it was pleasantly cool. The columns of names were each deeply carved under the year in which they died or were declared missing in action. I traced a name in front of me with my finger. The name felt like fine sandpaper, tugging at my skin.Because I was too young to remember the war, I watched as other people reflected on it.

The crowd thinned a little, and I saw a woman in a pale pink dress approach the wall. Her chestnut hair was graying at the temples and base poorly concealed her wrinkles. She knelt at the gutter that ran the length of the wall to gently place an offering in it. Her breath stuttered as a tear escaped down her cheek, then she kissed her fingers, touched them to a name, and walked briskly away. I crept closer to see a mud-encrusted combat boot, creased and cracking at the toes and holding a crimson rose.

Further up the wall was a man in a hospital-issue wheelchair, stringy hair and beard in need of shampoo. His army fatigues were tucked neatly back under his legs at the knees. Between the stumps sat a bottle of whiskey. I fully expected him to take a few swigs from the bottle, but instead he opened it and poured it into the gutter, his piercing gaze only half in the present. A bitter tang rose into the air, and I shuddered.

A whimper broke the silence. Under the "1970" mark, a young father showed his young son and infant daughter a name, while bouncing her in his arms. "This is your grandfather, my father.""When are we gonna see him, huh?" the boy asked impatiently."We can't, Josh. He died a long time before you were born. But you would have liked him. He liked baseball, just like you, and loved to fish and wrestle." They stood there a long while after that, but it was getting late and I had to get home.

I took one last long look at the names in front of me. To my surprise, I noticed behind the neatly engraved names and numbers my faint reflection. I was on the wall too. The dead silently charged the living there that day to remember.

Happy Birthday, Ryan!

Okay, so it is a little late, but I wanted to tell my little guy how much I love him! I love his enthusiasm, his love for other people (especially his family), and his singing. He is such a good big brother, playing and sharing with his little sister. He loves to learn and asks to ride the school bus to school every other day (not for a couple of years, kiddo!). His smile is infectious, and he can always make me laugh. Thanks, Ryan, for being such a great son!!

Happy Birthday, Sofia!

A year goes by sooo fast! We are so grateful to have our little climber in our lives (she just learned how to climb up on the rocking chair on her own and goes up and down the stairs). She is so happy (is there anything better than a child's laugh?) and a bundle of independence and determination wrapped in a little package (this outfit is 3-6 months!).

To celebrate the good times, we're heading to Thanksgiving Point to play in the Corn Maze. Don't know if she'll like it, but Ryan's still free until his birthday next week, so we thought we'd take advantage of it while we can!

A Breath of Fresh Air

The kids have been sick all week, and I've been going nearly crazy cooped up in the house. Finally, today I couldn't take it any longer. Trying to put Ryan to sleep, I decided to drive up Provo Canyon (Ryan wanted to see the waterfall and the tunnel). I kept going past Sundance and up over the mountain. I was really excited that I didn't have to pay anything, just drive through all the beautiful colors and enjoy the fresh air coming through the windows. It reminded me of all the many things I love about fall: clarity of crisp air, the smell of dying leaves, yellow aspens, orange oaks, red maples . . . I highly recommend making the drive before it snows!

I'm grateful for . . .

[I haven't blogged for a while because we were on vacation and then my computer broke down--but I'll post more about that when I can get my pictures back (I hope!).]

Dad and Nate's marathon efforts to resurrect my computer. Only bouncing on the Pirate Lair dock during the earthquake (instead of being stuck in the swaying 17th floor room in downtown LA). How excited Ryan got at the character breakfast. Ryan getting to unlock and open the doors at the restaurant (and the balloons and autographed pictures to go with it). Business-class tickets to Vienna and family willing to watch the kids so we can go next spring. Finding new things I had never done at Disneyland (watching them retiring the colors, Toy Story Mania, the Zephyr rockets). Seeing Disneyland through the eyes of a child. Learning to drive in LA rush hour traffic without getting ulcers or in an accident. Kids who travel really well. Finally figuring out what I was doing wrong on my cleanup project. Riding the ski lift at Sundance and enjoying the peace and beauty of soaring over the mountains. Playing games with friends and family. Learning how to parent (thanks for all the conversations, Jen). Chocolate covered potato chips (they're a lot better than they sound). Sofia using toys to walk across the living room. Having a chance every two years to celebrate individual achievement and unity with the rest of the world (even if it's only for a few days). Having a husband who could care less that I still can't find the keys.

I'm grateful for . . .

Wednesday lunches with Jenny. Long car rides with Megan. Seeing plays again (I always pick more up the second time). Seeing really well from the cheap seats. Nate laughing out loud at Psych. Nate talking me out of being out-of-my-mind stressed. Child leashes that masquerade as little backpacks. Lessons from a milk jug (see Ensign July 2008). Sharing the bounty of my garden, like supersweet and crunchy grape tomatoes. Others sharing with me, like fresh lettuce and zucchini. Colored pencils (that won't melt in the car). Relatives that let us crash with them when we travel! Tortoises eating right out of Ryan's hand. Cruise control. Singing songs from Newsies at the top of my lungs. Waking Ned Devine. Taking vacations with Nate and the kids, even if we don't get to spend the whole time with Daddy.

Tag

My friend Rachel tagged me, so if you want to play too, post your answers on your blog or as a comment to this one.

Two names you go by:
1. Mommy
2. Marie

Two things you're wearing right now:
1. A T-shirt with a pic of Shakespeare composed with the name of his plays
2. A cute new hat from the Shakespeare festival (it looks like the hats the Russian peasants wore in Fiddler on the Roof) with new metal buttons to replace the mother-of-pearl ones that the kids broke

Two things you want very badly at the moment:
1. To get over my cold
2. A nap :D

Two people who will fill this out:
1. Nate
2. Megan

Two things you did last night:
1. Watched Cyrano de Bergerac with Nate, Mike, and Megan in Cedar City
2. Discussed Taming of the Shrew, which we saw as a matinee

Two things you ate yesterday:
1. A pub salad from the Pastry Pub, made of lettuce, avocado, tomatoes, cucumber, muenster and cheddar cheese, carrots, sprouts, turkey, and balsamic vinaigrette
2.Humbug drops (buttermints)

The last two people you talked to:
1. Nate
2. Ryan

Two things you did or are doing today:
1. Went swimming in the hotel pool
2. Picked grape tomatoes from my garden to put in a salad

Two longest car rides:
1. Provo, UT, to Juneau, AK
2. Provo, UT, to Washington, DC

Two favorite beverages:
1. Fresh squeezed lemonade with fruit (I really like it with raspberries or blueberries)
2. Ice cold water with slices of lemon/lime

Color of the Sea

I started reading Color of the Sea by John Hamamura because I found a reading list about Japanese American internment during World War II and decided to read through it to see which were really worth reading. (This is one of my dad's big interests; he even designed a class that teaches around this.)

Anyway, the first book on the list wasn't very good, so I wasn't expecting much out of this one. However, I loved this book. It tells the story of Sam, born in Hawaii, raised in Japan, educated in the U.S., his early samurai training, his falling in love with a beautiful "samurai woman," and how World War II affects both them and those they love.

The story itself is compelling; it wasn't predictable, it was human, and you care about the people. Even better, though, is how the story is written. Hamamura conveys the beauty of the Japanese culture using vivid poetry and imagery. (It is so vivid that I often found myself dreaming in poetry on the nights I read the book.)

Unfortunately, I do not have his command of language to praise him highly enough, but if you are interested in this time period, I highly recommend this book.

Memory Lane

My friend Rachel started this on her blog, and I thought it was a great idea! And it would be really fun if everyone participates! So here are the ground rules:

1. As a comment to this post, write a memory that you and I have together. It doesn't matter how well you know me. It can be a big or little memory, good or bad, just be nice about it.

2. Put a memory lane on your blog for me to comment on. Or if you don't want to post it on your blog or don't have a blog, I'll leave a memory of you in my comments.

I think this will be really fun! So go to it, my friends!

Random Acts of Kindness

A special thanks to the woman (Sharon?) who helped me out yesterday. I biked to Costco to pick up some diapers and a few other things . . . I had loaded the kids and groceries into the trailer when I discovered that the back wheel had completely separated from the frame. I tried to figure out what to do, but Sofia was screaming and I was at a complete loss. Originally, I planned to walk home with the kids to pick up the car and then come back for the groceries, which an employee was going to put in a cooler for me.

Sharon asked what she could do. I asked to borrow her phone to call Nate and tell him that I'd be really late for lunch. After she heard my plan, she offered to drive the kids, the groceries, and me home. We loaded everything up and were home very quickly. I left all my money in her van, so she came back and returned that too. It took so much stress off, especially since Sofia was ready for a nap and had just had it. I only hope that if I am in a similar situation that I can have the presence of mind to help someone else in just the way that they need it.

And a special thanks to Warren for then fixing my bike. I told him my adventure and without hesitation, he offered to go over to Costco with me, assessed the situation, and quickly fixed it. I don't know what I'd do without you!! (And Nate, I know you would have fixed it when you got home, but this way it was completely fixed before you got home, so I could make dinner and the family could eat before Webelos. :D)

I'm grateful for . . .

Cuddling with the kids in the morning. Grandad playing with Ryan. Naps (either for them or me). Warren coming to Cedar City. Attending the Utah Shakespearean Festival for 16 years. A husband who loves to watch plays with me. Child care! My first project all year. Opportunities to travel. Living in such a beautiful and varied place. The opportunity to get such a great education and to pursue the career I want to. The many freedoms I enjoy and those who have served the country in numerous ways to ensure that they remain. Water fights. An active imagination. Ryan loving to read. Spending time at Thanksgiving Point as a family. A husband who is positive and optimistic and tries to do the right thing.

The Utah Shakespearean Festival!

One of the highlights of my year has come and gone again, and I must say I had a wonderful time. Six plays in three days and both kids in child care. :D I love the women there; they still remembered Ryan 9 months after the last time we were there. He woke up every morning really excited to go back. Sofia, on the other hand, did not deal with it well; we haven't moved past the separation anxiety phase yet, but to the child care center's credit, they made it very easy to leave her. (But then, so did getting to see the plays!)

Megan, I know you've been waiting for the reviews. Here they are in the order of my preference from least liked to best.

The School for Wives: The basic story is a man, Arnolphe, who has had numerous affairs decides that for his own wife he needs an absolute innocent so she can never be false to him. The girl he had raised in a convent, Agnes, is released to get ready for the wedding day, but while he's away, Agnes is seduced by young Horace and they fall in love. Horace confides his plans in Arnolphe because he is a friend of Horace's father, so Arnolphe thinks he is keeping one step ahead of the couple. The festival does plays so well, and this one has excellent actors, costumes, and direction. The problem is that they weren't given much to work with. Moliere, the French Shakespeare, wrote it, and it is funny in places. However, most of the laughs came from dumb shows in between scenes and the notary's amusing costume.

Cyrano de Bergerac: The classic love story about the triangle amidst the man who thinks himself ugly but who has a tremendous soul, the beautiful Christian who is not so bright, and the radiant Roxane. Cyrano, the great poet, is madly in love with Roxane who is madly in love with Christian. Cyrano writes love letters for Christian and eventually wins Roxane's heart, but Christian is killed before he can tell Roxane the truth. He keeps the secret for 15 more years until minutes before his death. It should tell you how much I liked the other plays that this is ranked 5 of 6. This was the play I was most looking forward to because Cyrano and Roxane are performed by a husband and wife team who actually met on the Cedar City stage and it was directed by another favorite actor. However, there were slow moments, and I found the play itself frustrating. Megan, you'd love this play, but I found the unrequited love depressing! However, the poetry of Romanticized love and the main performances themselves were beautiful.

Two Gentlemen of Verona: Two friends, Proteus and Valentine, graduate from high school and go out into the world to seek their fortunes. Valentine falls in love with the duke's daughter, Sylvia. Proteus, leaving his love Julia at home, goes to court and falls in love with Sylvia himself. He gets Valentine banished and then sets about wooing Sylvia himself, while Julia dresses as a boy and becomes Proteus' page. As with all the comedies, everything ends well though abruptly. This was by far Austen's favorite play because they have a live dog in it! This is not one of Shakespeare's most popular plays, but this was by far the most memorable performance I've seen of it, full of great bits and a couple of beautiful comic pieces by Brian Vaughn.

Fiddler on the Roof: This is the classic musical about a Jewish family in Anatevka, a Russian village. Tevye, the milkman, sees three of his daughters married, grows closer to his wife, and then has to leave his home along with all the other Jews. Of course, this synopsis doesn't give any indication how funny and moving this production was in turn. The songs are beautiful, the performances fabulous, and the dances were incredible, especially at the wedding (bottle dance anyone?). Of course, I hardly stopped crying the whole second half, but I was in good company; I heard sniffles all around me. It was life-affirming and gave me a lot to think about, including how communities interact with each other, how parents deal with and are affected by the choices of their children, and about how the Mormon community was also driven about in our earlier history. I would love to see it again this season!

Othello: Desdemona marries Othello, a great black general, while his assistant Iago decides to ruin Othello's life because he heard a rumor that Othello had slept with his wife, Emilia. He proceeds to convince Othello that Desdemona has been having an affair with his lieutenant, Cassio, to the point that Othello kills Desdemona and then himself. That is the basic synopsis, but it hardly gives an idea of how brilliant this play is and how interesting it is to watch Iago work. This may be a definitive production for me. I've seen numerous versions, but this was hands down the best Iago I have ever seen. You could see the wheels turning in his mind as he devises his plot, and he was very ratlike. Desdemona was played assertively, which is completely supported by the text, though I have never seen her played that way. Othello was quite good too, though maybe not definitive (I don't think I have found him yet). The set suggests a chessboard, appropriate to Iago moving about people like pawns. I was blown away by the performance, but I'm not sure I could go back and see it again quickly, if only because it is emotionally draining.

Taming of the Shrew: This is my very favorite play this season. Bianca the beautiful cannot get married until Kate the shrew gets married, so Bianca's suitors arrange for Petruchio to marry Kate and get her out of the way. The suitors try to outwit each other for Bianca's hand, while Petruchio attempts to tame Kate. This production was set in Italy just after WWII. Petruchio is a swaggering American GI, but one who is not abusive to Kate, merely trying to mirror her behavior, though he regrets some of what he feels he has to do. There are so many comic bits that I laughed pretty much all the way through the play. This is a problematic play, to be sure, but I've rarely seen it done better. Hopefully, we'll be going back next month to see it again.

Colonial Days

This morning, Jenny, Camilla, and I met Warren and took our kids to Colonial Days outside of the Crandall Historical Printing Press (200 East Center Street). If you are in Provo July 3, 4, or 5, I highly recommend it. They had colonial games (like this one where you try to roll a marble through the arches--it's a lot harder than it looks):
They had a partial model of the Mayflower:
They had colonial craftspeople, like a blacksmith, a gunsmith, a candle maker, lace weavers, and a basket weaver.
Ryan tried on this basket backpack from the Adirondacks:
The blacksmith had interesting things, including a toaster, waffle iron, and trivet:
Ryan enjoyed playing the hoop and stick game:
I enjoyed spending time talking to Revolutionary reenacters. They have a number of historical documents, colonial dancing, and plenty of other things to see as well. Enjoy!

Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me!

Thanksgiving Point has Family Night activities every Monday night. This week the Gardens did a Pirate night, and given Ryan's current obsession, we thought it was a great idea to go. They're allowing picnics for their FHE activities, so I packed a dinner of curried chicken salad sandwiches, Sun Chips, watermelon, cantaloupe, and lemonade. It was so refreshing, and we ate in the shade in a little bend of the stream.

Immediately after, Ryan wanted to get started. You can see the pirate boats they constructed. You could throw soaked sponges at the other ship or try to attack other pirates with water pistols. With the amazing heat, it felt really good, and it was Ryan's favorite part by far. By the look on my face, I apparently got into it a little too much!
They had storytelling, mapmaking (complete with a little gold coin), and a range of birds. We got to pet one, and then we just admired the blue macaw, the peregrine falcon, and the golden eagle below.

Afterward, they gave us popsicles! Arrh, what a fun evening!

First harvest

Well, here are the first fruits (or vegetables) of my labor. Now, those of you who garden already know there is a problem with this story. I should have pulled my radishes three weeks ago (or more), and you could tell. As my dad put it, there was a lot of texture to them . . . And I should have left a lot more room between the seedlings because a lot of them were way too skinny to be any good.

However, I'm still pleased. They looked and smelled like radishes. :D And next year, I know what to do to make them actually edible.

I'm grateful for . . .

S'mores made with Nutella (yum!). Sofia's dandelion-leaf goatee. Warming up around hot coals under the stars. Ryan telling me that I'm his best friend! Ryan and Sofia loving and playing with their cousins. Hiking, no matter how brief the trip. Flavored honey from the Trappist monastery. Having a good backbone, breastbone, and funny bone. Nate the Great. Reading books with the kids. Sofia happy that she can finally crawl. Corn on the cob. Anything Nate barbecues. Friends who let me be myself without having to worry about causing permanent damage if I screw up. Ryan singing the pirate song (Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me!). The Utah Shakespeare Festival (we're going in less than a week :D). Getting to see where Nate works (and seeing stuff he's never seen). Ryan's IMFT badge. Snow cones on superhot days. Finding one raspberry alive! Satchmo. Having Mike and Megan over for dinner and entertaining discussion. Being able to keep to a budget. Being the Laurel advisor. Preparing lessons that help me at least as much as they help the girls. Bike rides that are starting to get easier.

Happy Father's Day!

I just wanted to give Nate a public shoutout for being such a great dad! Here are some of the reasons that you are so wonderful:

• You're willing to get up at 3 a.m. to get Ryan some ice.
• You sing Bulgarian lullabies to the kids when they're sad.
• You can always make Ryan laugh, even when he's crying.
• You cleaned Ryan up the night he threw up all over the place.
• You are the king of the BBQ and breakfast grill.
• You do the dishes!
• You're patient with me, even when I'm being difficult.
• You're willing to help me, my family, and your family, even when you're feeling miserable.
• You are able to find the best in a situation, no matter how bad.
• You love us!!

Thanks for being my best friend . . . Our children are so lucky to have you as a dad!

Lemon-Lovers' Ricotta Pancakes

I found this recipe in the Herald before Mother's Day. We have made it a couple of times since then. They have great lemon flavor and are light and tender. However, I have found that we had to turn the heat up a little bit and cook them slightly longer on our oven. Experiment with it a little bit.

1 cup all-purpose flour
2 Tbsp. sugar
2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
1 cup part-skim ricotta cheese
1 large egg
2 large egg whites
1/2 cup lemon juice
2 tsp. (or more) grated lemon zest
1 Tbsp. plus 1 tsp. canola oil (divided)

Preheat the oven to 200 F.

In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the ricotta, eggs, lemon juice, lemon zest, and 1 tablespoon oil. Using a rubber spatula or wooden sppon, fold this mixture into the dry ingredients to make a thick batter.

Brush a nonstick skillet with 1/2-teaspoon oil, then heat over medium-low. With a 1/4-cup measure, droop the batter onto the skillet, spreading it slightly. Multiple pancakes may be cooked at once. Cook the pancakes until browned on the underside and beginning to set, about 2 minutes. Flip and cook until browned on the second side and cooked at the center, about 2 minutes longer.

Transfer the cooked pancakes to a baking sheet and place in the oven to keep warm. Brush the skillet with the remaining oil and repeat with the remaining batter.

Melancholy is incompatible with bicycling. --James E. Starrs

I love biking. Especially when I was in junior high and high school, I rode my bike everywhere. I started up again when we moved back to Utah a couple of years ago, buying a bike trailer to carry Ryan around in. I rode quite a lot last year until pregnancy really slowed me down in July. However, I've started biking again this year, and I'm in heaven!

I've decided to ride my bike as much as possible as long as I'm running errands, etc., around Provo and Orem. Between the health benefits, saving a lot on gas, and helping out the environment, I'm one happy camper. (Now that Sofia is getting used to the trailer--and a helmet twice as big as her head--the kids are enjoying it too!)

I don't mind that things take a little longer because it means that I have to plan when and where I go and I enjoy the chance to think. However, I am finding that, especially with an extra passenger in the trailer, I'm running out of cargo room. Plus I can't put too much weight in it for fear of having the bottom drop out (although you'd be surprised how much the little thing can carry).

Anyway, to make my bicycle truly capable of carrying everything that I need it to, I am going to extend it with an xtracycle attachment (see the picture above). The basic unit comes with a board that can support up to 200 pounds (which means carrying not just children, but adults as well) and bags that attach to it. Eventually, I will also get platforms to support wider loads (like multiple Costco boxes). And when Ryan is too tall for the trailer (at the rate he's growing, that will be next year), he can sit on the platform behind me.

I'm still saving up, but I'm getting really excited! I can't wait have my own Sport Utility Bicycle (as they say).

The ideal pet?

Nate finally went to go see an allergist a week ago, and he found out that he's allergic to everything (well, except cedar). He's not as allergic to cats as he is to dogs, and he's nowhere near as allergic to dogs as he is to horses (sorry, kids, no pony!). So when the cats shuffle off this mortal coil, we won't be getting any more furries.

That's got me thinking about what we might get later. I love the idea of the kids having a pet because it teaches them to treat animals well and to take an interest in something outside of themselves. (As they get older, they might even learn a bit of responsibility.)

My aunt and uncle have 3 desert tortoises in their back yard. Every time we go visit them, Ryan gets really excited about feeding them. They're low maintenance; they eat the grass in the back yard (and sometimes a little zucchini or lettuce that Ted and Arlene leave out), they hibernate for six months of the year, they don't need to be cleaned, etc. However, they live in Las Vegas. It might be a little more complicated here because you have to prepare a place for them to hibernate (like a box in the basement). . . .

Hopefully, we'll have plenty of time to figure out our next pet, but I'd love to hear if anyone has a great non-furry pet idea. :D

Microlending

When I was at BYU, I remember hearing about microlending revolutionizing the way we help people. The basic principle is giving small loans to individuals or small groups to help them establish or further their businesses by buying essential equipment (e.g., sewing machine or fridge) or inventory. Warren introduced me to Kiva.org, which accepts $25 donations. When the loans are paid back, donors can choose to either withdraw their money or reloan it to someone else. I like that they provide profiles of the people and their businesses, so you can choose a specific person to support.


Another organization that I really like is Heifer International (heifer.org), which allows you to purchase an animal or a share of an animal to give to a family in a developing country to help feed them and provide them a way to support their income (selling eggs, milk, etc.). The recipients also agree to share young with those in need to pay it forward.

I like that these organizations fill a real need while empowering those who are being helped to in turn help others. :D

Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants.

This is Michael Pollan's whole argument from In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto condensed into 8 words. This is one of those books that has made me think a lot. In the book, he shows how the way humans eat has dramatically shifted in the last 150 years, but especially in the last 30+, although it has not made us healthier. Those who eat a Western diet, high in shelf-stable, processed, and convenience food, are getting sicker and sicker; we have seen a sharp increase in obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and cancer, called Western diseases because they are rarely present in cultures that follow traditional diets.

He establishes what we know about our current diet: we have moved from whole grains to highly refined ones (which we're now finding out is detrimental to our health), from a complex diet and a complex way of caring for the soil to a diet mostly based on corn and soy and treating soils with fix-all fertilizers, from producing quality food to producing lower quality in great abundance, and from eating based on culture to eating based on science (in which scientists spend their time trying to isolate the benefits of individual compounds when foods are generally greater than the sum of their parts).

He also corrective steps that we can take; I'll just include a few, so as not to completely bore you.

• Don't eat anything that your great-grandmother wouldn't recognize as food (no imitations or food products with unfamiliar and unpronounceable ingredients or high-fructose corn syrup).
• Avoid food products that make health claims (if they have to tell you it's good for you, it's probably not; there is no magic bullet for health).
• Shop mostly the peripheries of the supermarket (where you'll find dairy, meat, fresh produce) and stay out of the middle as much as possible (where you'll find highly refined and processed foods). However, the middle does provide beans, rice, spices, etc. So I won't completely avoid it. :D
  
• Get out of the supermarket when possible (farmers markets and individual growers are often more committed to producing high quality foods that are more nutritious and using healthy soils). If you have room, buy a freezer to preserve more from these sources and from those who sell pasture-fed meats (animals fed on a mostly corn/grain diet will not be as nutritious for you as those who have eaten grasses).
• Wild foods are good for you. These animals and plants have had to fend for themselves, so they have more antioxidants and other good compounds in them.
• Eat meals (instead of constant snacks), eat with other people, try to eat at a table, take your time eating. All of these foster us listening to our body, so we stop eating when full or close to full instead of just eating until the package is gone.
• Pay more for your food, and eat less of it (but eat more plants, especially leaves). To eat food from farmers markets, etc., is more expensive, but the food is more nutritious. Those who typically eat a Western diet are overfed but undernourished.
• Spend time in the kitchen and the garden, if possible. Taking more time to prepare food means that more is made using whole ingredients instead of convenience foods. Gardening gives you some control over the quality of your food or at least a greater appreciation for what some foods might be like.

I can't go into all his arguments here--but I highly recommend the book.

Note: After a day of watching what I am eating, I am realizing that this will be a lot harder than I thought. . . . But I figure I can try to do a little here or there and keep working at it: planting a garden, going to farmers markets more often, trying to buy less processed food, and cooking from scratch more.

"Despite the gardener's best intentions, Nature will improvise." --Michael P. Garafalo

So I've been working on the garden for the last month, and I am trying to let my few triumphs outweigh my larger failures. I am terrible with plants and kill things with regularity, and so far the tally is not in my favor. Despite my best efforts, I killed all the raspberries and boysenberries and mint (I'll have to try replanting them next year, but as someone said, every time one of my plants dies, I die a little inside too), but I have managed to keep the tomatoes and pepper plants alive and got radishes, squash, and zucchini to sprout.

I'm having a hard time because there are so many unknown variables, and I really don't know what I am doing. Honestly, the unpredictability is killing me. They say that anticipation is one of the best rewards of a garden. I'm merely hoping that this year I can eat something from the garden that tastes approximately like a vegetable.

As I've read about gardening, some people wax rapturously about the serenity, the glory of it. I keep tiptoeing around trying not to crush what might be a seedling (or possibly a weed--I'm still working on figuring it all out; and yes, next year I'll make visible hills and label them, so I actually can figure out where I've planted things). However, some have also written that gardens bestow humility, that they can be unpredictable. The variables are killing me, but I think it's really valuable for me to learn to let go some, to try something that I don't feel comfortable with and learn as much as I can this year so I can try it again next year.

Some day I hope to feel like Douglas William Jerrold, who said "Earth is here so kind, that just tickle her with a hoe and she laughs with a harvest." Until then, I'm hoping for patience with both the garden and myself and maybe a little unexpected joy when I finally get to eat something out of it!

If it's too loud, you're too old.

I saw this strip on Saturday, and I couldn't stop laughing. I know I'm turning 30 this year, but I didn't think that I'd already crossed the generational divide! Thankfully, I can still blame Sofia for having to get up in the middle of the night, but there are too many times lately where I'll wake up and then can't get back to sleep . . . or can't go to sleep to begin with.

Sad thing is my brother is only four years younger than I am, but he's not on the same side of the divide. (Of course, he'd say that is blatantly obvious from my resistance to new technology too--I have yet to use an iPod, and I don't even have a texting plan!)

Take me out to the ballgame

IMFT softball has started again! This year, Sarah's Slayers have great red and white baseball shirts, and they sure look great. Ryan is having difficulty with not being able to get out on the field and play himself. We got him a cloth ball and velcro glove with a foam bat; he thinks he's a big boy now.

I'm looking forward to picnic dinners, keeping score, and cheering Nate on ("Go, Daddy!"), at least once a week for the next couple of months. Ah, family time with the country's past time!

"Disneyland will never be completed. It will continue to grow as long as there is imagination left in the world." --Walt Disney

We got to spend three days at Disneyland/California Adventure, and we had a wonderful time! It was a total night and day difference for Sofia: instead of screaming and crying, most of the time, she was fascinated by characters and loved the music. I was really glad that I had been to Universal Studios first so that I could truly appreciate how much better Disneyland was for our kids.

Buzz Lightyear was the first character we met, and I was really excited for Ryan to meet him, since he is one of Ryan's current favorites (the only thing better would have been meeting Emperor Zurg!). However, he was still intimidated after the Simpsons experience, so it took all the courage that he could summon to walk up to him, touch his leg briefly, and then run.

Sofia loved meeting characters. Here we are meeting Alice. She also loved the Queen of Hearts, grabbing her white gloves and trying to suck her fingers.

Here is Sofia as Minnie!
Sofia also loved Mickey . . . she kept grabbing his nose!

We met Pooh and all his friends. Ryan by this time was completely comfortable with the characters again and gave them all lots of hugs.



The second day, Nate's dad finally joined us, as did his grandparents. Grandpa Ted was in a wheelchair, and Ryan was absolutely insistent that he be the one to push, even though he could see over or around him. :D Ah, my little independent helper!

Some characters we met that morning included Pluto and Cruella de Vil. She was Nate's favorite because she sneered so well and asked if the autograph book was for "it," looking at Ryan. Speaking of the autograph book, I actually made it before we went to California. We had all the characters we met sign it, and then when we got home, I turned it into a mini scrapbook, complete with pictures of each of the characters and other favorite Disneyland picture. It was the first scrapbook I was able to do so quickly.


Captain Jack was at the Pirate's Lair on Tom Sawyer's Island. He was amazing; he had all the mannerisms from the movie, and he was quick on his feet with very clever responses to everything that people said.

At California Adventure, they have King Triton's Carousel. They often pick a girl or boy to be the prince or princess for the ride. Ryan was chosen once to be "Prince Ryan" (even though he kept calling himself "princess"), so he got to say it was time to start the ride and wear a gold paper crown.

We also watched the Pixar Play Parade, which had floats with characters from every Pixar movie. We all enjoyed it, but Ryan was in seventh heaven because those are his favorite movies. Plus he loved that the characters would spray water at the crowds and bubbles blew over us. It was great fun.



Because Nate has a convention in LA at the end of July and we could put our admission tickets toward an annual pass that would cost less than a day's admission, we now have annual passes so that I can take the kids while Nate's at his convention.

Ryan's already started planning our next trip: flying boats of Peter Pan, the Main Street Electrical Parade (so he can see Pete's Dragon, one of his other favorites), Dumbo, the rockets, Buzz, Pirates of the Carribean, Tarzan's Treehouse, the train with the dinosaurs, Autopia, the Playhouse Disney puppet show (he loved dancing with Mickey, Pooh, Handy Manny, and the Little Einsteins), the Monsters Inc. ride.

"The beautiful souls are they that are Universal, open, and ready for all things" --Montaigne

Nate and I went to California around New Year's in 2001, and we had a wonderful time at Universal Studios doing the tour and riding all the rides (I especially liked Jurassic Park). However, we learned very quickly this is not a theme park for young kids. It was very loud and overwhelming for Sofia. She hated the studio tour (we were all disappointed by the many changes toward it being one long commercial for Universal instead of letting you in on the movie magic); she started screaming on the earthquake set and pretty much didn't stop until the end of the tour. Of course, she started up again soon thereafter, but by that time, I was ready to cry too! We ended up leaving after only three and a half hours, but I was so relieved to get away from the noise (both Sofia crying and the auditory bombardment) that I didn't mind.

Despite all this, there were a few highlights for all of us. Ryan is a huge fan of Curious George (note the CG outfit and stuffed George). I didn't realize that Universal Studios had completely overhauled one of its sections (the Nickelodeon Blast Zone) to be the new Adventures of Curious George playground. We got our first sign of CG in the parking lot. I was so excited I had to get a picture!

The elevators also had pictures from the movie, so we thought we'd take a couple more. I particularly like the picture where Ryan put CG on his shoulders to be like the Man in the Yellow Hat.

It was Ryan's idea to meet the Simpsons (they were characters--and who doesn't want to meet a character?). However, they nearly did him in for characters for the rest of the trip. Homer pretended to throttle a guy in the family taking pictures in front of us, which intimidated Ryan. Bart completely did him in by blowing a raspberry at him as we passed. I didn't realize until I looked at the picture later that Bart was trying to pat Ryan on the back to make him feel better; I just knew that Ryan was crying and totally upset. (Of course, Marge smoothed everything over, at least temporarily, by giving him a Simpsons poster.)

Ryan was really scared to meet CG after the above event, but eventually he kissed his cheek. And I was so excited that Ryan was able to meet one of his "friends."


Then it was on to the CG playground. He had such a good time running around and playing on the slides. We even found a cool handcranked trolley that Ryan really enjoyed riding on.
Our favorite place was the ball room. It was filled with foam balls that you could do all sorts of things with. There were air guns that you could use to try and shoot balls through targets (or at people!), vacuums that would suck balls through hoses and deposit them all over the place (including in buckets that people were running around with).

Our favorite project in the ball room was filling a giant hopper that was near the ceiling and that would dump all over when it got full enough. We scrambled all over the room filling up buckets and bringing them back to the tube that was sucking up the balls. Mom broke a sweat, and Ryan kept squealing with excitement. When the balls tipped out, we were well showered (and the picture that Mom got seemed well worth all the effort).


I'm looking forward to going back there when the kids are older. Of course, by that time, it might seem even louder to me!