I have a fantastic recipe for hot chocolate. This is not Swiss Miss or Hershey's but real hot chocolate. I posted the recipe in Thyme in the Kitchen. I can vouch for the tastiness and the richness. Give it a try when you have a chocolate craving.
Thursday, December 28, 2006
Tuesday, December 26, 2006
Reunion
We had a great day out at Hidden Springs. Natalie and Weston had the community barn reserved for a big group and we had a long day of eating and playing. Starting with brunch then dinner and then snacks. It was great to see and visit with everyone. We didn't get group pictures which would have been nice but I did take a few pictures. Some we hadn't seen in 6 years and some probably longer. Frank and Delores we haven't seen since Crystal's wedding I suppose. There were nearly 20 kids mostly under 8. There were also 2 dogs. The amazing thing is that with china place settings only one dessert plate was broken.
I took my recipe for hot chocolate which is very rich and you really only need a small glass full but it kind of turned from rich hot chocolate to ganache to pudding. I had put it in crock pot so we could sample it throughout the day and it steamed off little by little and got thicker and thicker. I will post the recipe as it is very good for chocolate lovers. I kind of overdosed and it may take a while to post the recipe as I don't even care to think about it at this time as it makes my stomach turn just thinking about it as I overdosed on it.
I took my recipe for hot chocolate which is very rich and you really only need a small glass full but it kind of turned from rich hot chocolate to ganache to pudding. I had put it in crock pot so we could sample it throughout the day and it steamed off little by little and got thicker and thicker. I will post the recipe as it is very good for chocolate lovers. I kind of overdosed and it may take a while to post the recipe as I don't even care to think about it at this time as it makes my stomach turn just thinking about it as I overdosed on it.
Sunday, December 24, 2006
Xmas Eve Fondue
We thought we would start a tradition of fondue on Xmas eve. We over cooked meaning we made twice what we needed so we ate 1.5 times what we should have. I am surprised I don't feel worse right now given the sludge in the bottom of my stomach. fondue poured on top of cookies, candies, other treats.
After the fondue there were a few presents from the grandparents and then one present for the family. It should be great fun especially when the weather improves.
Tomorrow is our big shindig with the Lehman's and friends. I don't think I have seen Norm since they hosted our going away party in Reno 6.5 yrs ago. I don't think I have seen Crystal since her wedding. So it should be lots of fun with a repeat of the whole overeating all over again.
More pictures tomorrow
Saturday, December 23, 2006
Needed - An experienced tracker
This morning I came out and saw tracks on the back porch and in the back yard. My oldest daughter took a look and thought initially Bear but then after another look and further consideration she decided more likely it was Kangaroo. I will admit I am not too sure. the pictures could be better but I will ask our readers what they think. I was guessing deer or raccoons but ????
This is a closeup. It looks like little hands.
The interesting part is that these tracks are spaced 4-5 feet apart.
This is a closeup. It looks like little hands.
The interesting part is that these tracks are spaced 4-5 feet apart.
Still getting things put away
We found a place to shelve two kids. If only they would stay on their shelves.
Bowling at BSU
BSU has a little bowling alley in the student union. We met mommy after work as well as one of her colleagues and his family for some bowling. The sad thing was Remy almost did better then I did and my wife actually beat me.
Saturday, December 16, 2006
Big Father Daughter Day out to the Nutcracker
We joined some friends of ours for a Saturday matinee performance of the Nutcraker. I haven't seen it in years (probably almost 20) and of course this was the first time for our sugar plum fairy. You would not have believed all of the young girls her age dressed in very similar costumes. It seemed to hold her interest fairly well. There sure was lots of dancing. There were some slow parts for me I will admit but I did enjoy the music and overall it was worth the price of admission and a special day out with an enthusiastic 4 yr old. She did admit she was, "A little bit of scared with all of the mousies". There were some pyrotechnics and explosions that startled her but nothing that really scared her. BSU has a nice theatre and it will be fun to have return visits. Another picture here with our local Ent (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ent) of which we have two. One in the front and one in the back. They are a little funny but we like them and will keep them around.
Nerd Alert
These two have become quite the computer nerds. In the last month my daughter wants to be using the computer to play games, look at pictures, etc. She has been hooked on sesamestreet.com and some other website my wife found. She will sit for an hour plus engrossed in playing the games. I am amazed at how well she has picked up trackpad use and how to navigate browsers on her own with minimally taining. Her brother will crawl up next to her and watch but his attention span does not last nearly as long. I don't know where they get it?
Friday, December 15, 2006
Demotivational posters
Wondering if anyone is familiar with this website. It is one of my favorites.
http://despair.com/lithographs.html
My personal favorites are:
Mistakes Lithograph
"It could be that the purpose of your life is only to serve as a warning to others."
Wishes Lithograph
When you wish upon a falling star, your dreams can come true. Unless it's really a meteorite hurtling to the Earth which will destroy all life. Then you're pretty much hosed no matter what you wish for. Unless it's death by meteor.
Ambition Lithograph
"The journey of a thousand miles sometimes ends very, very badly
It seems the founder has added a book and some obnoxious training videos. I can longer look at those posters hanging in offices yesterday without thinking of a good demotivational saying.
http://despair.com/lithographs.html
My personal favorites are:
Mistakes Lithograph
"It could be that the purpose of your life is only to serve as a warning to others."
Wishes Lithograph
When you wish upon a falling star, your dreams can come true. Unless it's really a meteorite hurtling to the Earth which will destroy all life. Then you're pretty much hosed no matter what you wish for. Unless it's death by meteor.
Ambition Lithograph
"The journey of a thousand miles sometimes ends very, very badly
It seems the founder has added a book and some obnoxious training videos. I can longer look at those posters hanging in offices yesterday without thinking of a good demotivational saying.
Will post blog for critiscism
OK, I am likely to get some flak for this post. If I were smart I would stop right here but....
I didn't. I have noticed with the onset of the Xmas season that there is always an increase in so called homeless people stationed at intersections with their placards requesting money, food, work, beer, etc. Now, I am aware that I am privileged and considered middle class. I don't want for food, shelter, etc. I also realize that some of these people do have legitimate problems but I have also noticed that a fair number of these indigent people are wearing nice name brand clothes that I can't afford. Maybe they are just lucky and someone gifted them a nice North Face jacket and some Timberland boots. Maybe our homeless in Boise are better off then those in Michigan. Every time I sit there at the intersection I just think to myself that there has to be a better way to make a living then standing in 35 degrees at an intersection hoping someone will give me money, work, food, beer, etc. I am sure the reason why many of these people are there instead of at a more conventional job is because they have problems with alcohol and or drugs and or mental illness and they can't hold down a job. I guess once again, I am thankful that I don't have any terrible addictions, significant mental illness (notice I didn't rule it out), or other issues that require me to stand at a corner soliciting passersby for my money, work,food, beer, etc. There was one time that I thought I might get laid off from work. I told my coworkers that if I was laid off I would sit at the intersection by the hospital I worked at with a placard that would read, "Will do Speech Therapy for food." Thankfully it never happened.
I thought I was done but one other thing popped into my head. I always wonder how much these panhandlers make in a day. It has to be worth it. I heard on NPR one story that is only slightly related but I found interesting. I heard that during the holidays that doorman in NYC can make $15,000 in tips during the Xmas season. That seems insane to me but I suppose it may not be the greatest job and you do live in NYC with a high cost of living but but but. I am one that in my 12 years of working has not once received a holiday bonus except for a free ham, turkey, or 20$ gift certificate to a grocery store all of which I was thankful for. Just think if you were the doorman and you happened to get sick in the month of Dec. that would really stink. OK, I am done now.
I didn't. I have noticed with the onset of the Xmas season that there is always an increase in so called homeless people stationed at intersections with their placards requesting money, food, work, beer, etc. Now, I am aware that I am privileged and considered middle class. I don't want for food, shelter, etc. I also realize that some of these people do have legitimate problems but I have also noticed that a fair number of these indigent people are wearing nice name brand clothes that I can't afford. Maybe they are just lucky and someone gifted them a nice North Face jacket and some Timberland boots. Maybe our homeless in Boise are better off then those in Michigan. Every time I sit there at the intersection I just think to myself that there has to be a better way to make a living then standing in 35 degrees at an intersection hoping someone will give me money, work, food, beer, etc. I am sure the reason why many of these people are there instead of at a more conventional job is because they have problems with alcohol and or drugs and or mental illness and they can't hold down a job. I guess once again, I am thankful that I don't have any terrible addictions, significant mental illness (notice I didn't rule it out), or other issues that require me to stand at a corner soliciting passersby for my money, work,food, beer, etc. There was one time that I thought I might get laid off from work. I told my coworkers that if I was laid off I would sit at the intersection by the hospital I worked at with a placard that would read, "Will do Speech Therapy for food." Thankfully it never happened.
I thought I was done but one other thing popped into my head. I always wonder how much these panhandlers make in a day. It has to be worth it. I heard on NPR one story that is only slightly related but I found interesting. I heard that during the holidays that doorman in NYC can make $15,000 in tips during the Xmas season. That seems insane to me but I suppose it may not be the greatest job and you do live in NYC with a high cost of living but but but. I am one that in my 12 years of working has not once received a holiday bonus except for a free ham, turkey, or 20$ gift certificate to a grocery store all of which I was thankful for. Just think if you were the doorman and you happened to get sick in the month of Dec. that would really stink. OK, I am done now.
Thursday, December 14, 2006
Successful Deer Hunting Trip
We are quite enjoying our new house. The commute is great and we have met a few of our neighbors and they seem great. Most of the neighbors are of the senior variety which I think is not a bad thing. They are home alot and like to watch after the place and know the area well as they have lived here forever. I went out walking today with the kids. I think I have said before how much I enjoy the river. We met a lady out walking today. She was probably in her 70's. She had 2 walking sticks and reported to me that she had had 2 knee replacements. She complained that she wasn't what she was and she could only manage a 3 mile walk instead of 4 miles. She was very spunky and we enjoyed talking and walking with her.
One of the impeti (does that count for plural of impetus) for our walks was to see some wildlife, most specifically deer as my daughter had missed the deer the rest of us had seen the night before. I am glad to report we were not disappointed. We say 3 deer on th eother side of the river down by the water getting a drink. We also saw countless ducks and geese on the river. I think in th eyears to come we will really enjoy the river and the animals. We have also had a couple of raccoons that fight like an old married couple outside our bedroom door. This is not so great but it might be fun for the kids to see one one of these days.
There is nothing much else to report. We have lots going on this weekend with a dad and daughter day out to the nutcracker on Sat afternoon and two xmas parties and maybe a basketball game if we aren't worn out. We haven't made any games this year but might have to venture out and support the local team.
I guess that is it for the night. I will try to get some pictures together for the next post. Of course if I would have taken the camera tonight on our hunt there wouldn't have been any deer.
One of the impeti (does that count for plural of impetus) for our walks was to see some wildlife, most specifically deer as my daughter had missed the deer the rest of us had seen the night before. I am glad to report we were not disappointed. We say 3 deer on th eother side of the river down by the water getting a drink. We also saw countless ducks and geese on the river. I think in th eyears to come we will really enjoy the river and the animals. We have also had a couple of raccoons that fight like an old married couple outside our bedroom door. This is not so great but it might be fun for the kids to see one one of these days.
There is nothing much else to report. We have lots going on this weekend with a dad and daughter day out to the nutcracker on Sat afternoon and two xmas parties and maybe a basketball game if we aren't worn out. We haven't made any games this year but might have to venture out and support the local team.
I guess that is it for the night. I will try to get some pictures together for the next post. Of course if I would have taken the camera tonight on our hunt there wouldn't have been any deer.
Friday, December 08, 2006
Red letter day for our 2 year old big boy
Today we had two major accomplishments:
1) We had the first poop in the potty
2) He went to sleep in the big bed (aka toddler bed)
Now that being said, we realize that this does not mean that he is potty trained and that we can throw away all of our diapers and by a bunch of spiderman or superman underwear but it is a good start and positive progress toward the day that we can do the above mentioned. It will be a joy not to have to spend 30$ worth on diapers every 2 weeks or however often it is. He seems to be more interested in the whole potty thing so we are encouraging it as much as possible with a few successes we will be on our way.
With the bed thing I set up the old toddler bed in the room along side the pack and play that has been his bed since near birth. The rule is he has to stay in the bed or he goes back to his old bed. After 4 nights of losing the privilege of staying in the big bed he managed to stay in the big bed tonight for the first time. Just when I was thinking we should change our strategy to the Bill Cosby method which is to inform the child that there are snakes under the bed and if you get out of bed they will bite you. "Snakes - Don't bite. I am just going to stick out my toe and you give it a little snakey lick"
1) We had the first poop in the potty
2) He went to sleep in the big bed (aka toddler bed)
Now that being said, we realize that this does not mean that he is potty trained and that we can throw away all of our diapers and by a bunch of spiderman or superman underwear but it is a good start and positive progress toward the day that we can do the above mentioned. It will be a joy not to have to spend 30$ worth on diapers every 2 weeks or however often it is. He seems to be more interested in the whole potty thing so we are encouraging it as much as possible with a few successes we will be on our way.
With the bed thing I set up the old toddler bed in the room along side the pack and play that has been his bed since near birth. The rule is he has to stay in the bed or he goes back to his old bed. After 4 nights of losing the privilege of staying in the big bed he managed to stay in the big bed tonight for the first time. Just when I was thinking we should change our strategy to the Bill Cosby method which is to inform the child that there are snakes under the bed and if you get out of bed they will bite you. "Snakes - Don't bite. I am just going to stick out my toe and you give it a little snakey lick"
Not too many blogs but lots of boxes and work.
Well, the postings have been pretty sparse if not nonexistent. We have lots of good excuses. The biggest being that in the last 6 days we have moved, cleaned new house, cleaned old house, and attempted to put away boxes upon boxes of stuff. Thrown in between was work. I had good intentions to get some pictures to corroborate my excuses but alas. You will just have to believe me.
We are very much enjoying our new house in that our commute times are cut in half for me and in 1/6th for everyone else. It is also great to be so close to the greenbelt although because of unpacking and poorly timed naps we have only made it 1 time but it was a glorious evening with a almost full moon with crisp air and lots of honking geese and ducks looking for places to spend the night. The moon was coming up on one side and the sun was going down on the other. I think it takes me back to growing up by a creek and I very much enjoyed spending time there. The main difference is that I had free run of my creek for the most part but this river I have to share with lots of people. The good news is that this river also happens to have steelhead, rainbow trout, and brown trout that could eat the rainbows I had in my creek. We are within walking distance of some good holes that we need to explore. I need to get some new waders as my current ones have some nice holes in the crotch that you can't see but you feel when the 35 degree water leaks in on a 25 degree day. I also need to have some of the locals take me out and show me the ropes.
Speaking of having wet pants. The other day I did a good one. At work we carry around containers of fruit cocktail to test our patients swallow function with soft solid consistencies. I usually carry a couple in my back pocket but frequently take them out of my pocket when I get where I am going to be more comfortable. I then load them back up before I go on to the next pt. So I checked out the pt using one of the containers and I am cleaning up putting things back in my pocket and as you have already guessed I put a seemingly full and sealed container of open fruit cocktail in my rear pocket. I quickly figured it out and got a towel and sopped it up after removing the offending container. The good news is that it doesn't take scrubs long to dry and my behind gave off a nice fruity aroma for the rest of the day. It also made the day of the nurse that had the pt as well as some of my other coworkers that enjoyed my misfortune. This is not a mistake I am likely to make again and if I do I am not likely to admit it.
We are very much enjoying our new house in that our commute times are cut in half for me and in 1/6th for everyone else. It is also great to be so close to the greenbelt although because of unpacking and poorly timed naps we have only made it 1 time but it was a glorious evening with a almost full moon with crisp air and lots of honking geese and ducks looking for places to spend the night. The moon was coming up on one side and the sun was going down on the other. I think it takes me back to growing up by a creek and I very much enjoyed spending time there. The main difference is that I had free run of my creek for the most part but this river I have to share with lots of people. The good news is that this river also happens to have steelhead, rainbow trout, and brown trout that could eat the rainbows I had in my creek. We are within walking distance of some good holes that we need to explore. I need to get some new waders as my current ones have some nice holes in the crotch that you can't see but you feel when the 35 degree water leaks in on a 25 degree day. I also need to have some of the locals take me out and show me the ropes.
Speaking of having wet pants. The other day I did a good one. At work we carry around containers of fruit cocktail to test our patients swallow function with soft solid consistencies. I usually carry a couple in my back pocket but frequently take them out of my pocket when I get where I am going to be more comfortable. I then load them back up before I go on to the next pt. So I checked out the pt using one of the containers and I am cleaning up putting things back in my pocket and as you have already guessed I put a seemingly full and sealed container of open fruit cocktail in my rear pocket. I quickly figured it out and got a towel and sopped it up after removing the offending container. The good news is that it doesn't take scrubs long to dry and my behind gave off a nice fruity aroma for the rest of the day. It also made the day of the nurse that had the pt as well as some of my other coworkers that enjoyed my misfortune. This is not a mistake I am likely to make again and if I do I am not likely to admit it.
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