What Fun Is

Last weekend my dad's company had what has turned into their annual Lagoon Day. (My dad assures me that Abbie is a big factor in the decision making process each year as she begins asking in May when we can go to Lagoon.) This year did not disappoint. Abbie is old enough to go on the "older" kid rides, most of which were not around when I was a kid. Savannah is old enough to go on the rides herself, although she definitely loves to go with her sister.

Last year Abbie was a big fan of the Puff the Magic Dragon ride. The ride is a tiny roller coaster that circles over minor hills three times and then is done. Little did we know that this enjoyment was only a precursor of bigger and more exciting interests. Cautious, sensitive Abbie LOVES fast roller coasters. Her favorite ride this year was  the Jumping Dragon ride in which you go very, very, fast around a short oval track and then go in reverse (similar to the Music Express ride.) Unfortunately for her no adult was able to go on the ride more than one time with her without getting slightly ill. Thankfully she had parents, grandparents, aunts, and uncles that were willing to help her out.

Savannah last year was just content to go along for the ride but this year she definitely had an opinion on what she wanted to do. She loved the new Odysea ride in which you circle a giant squid in a flying fish and try to avoid being squirted -- or in Savannah's case try to get squirted. The fast rides were a little much for her, but she loved rides where she got to imitate that she was driving a vehicle so all of the classic kiddie rides were fun. Although like her older sister, driving the cars was one of the big winners.

A surprising hit was the hay bale maze that was set up for little kids as part of Frightmares. About two-thirds of the way through the day both girls wanted to return to the maze's coloring table. When it was time to head to dinner they both completely ignored their grandpa and went right on coloring until they decided they were done. (It doesn't help matters that which it comes to all things granddaughters my dad is wrapped around their fingers.)

All in all it was a great day, despite periodic phases of complete exhaustion. Thanks dad for another wonderful year. We all -- but especially Abbie and Savannah -- are very, very grateful.

Random Thoughts Thursday

I'm turning into a person that turns to food in times of stress. This is not a good thing.

The leaves are changing color up in the mountains. It isn't blasted hot when we go outside and play in the afternoon. We go outside and play in the afternoon. The air is crisp and cool in the mornings! I love fall.

This week was the second week of my class. I have a great group of kids this year and I'm I get jazzed thinking about teaching them. (Yup, I said jazzed, deal with it.) The down side is that my class this year goes until 10:00p.m. - that is cruel and unusual punishment for all involved. I might need to do something about that.....

I am so behind on my blogging about my weekly new recipes that I'm just going to tell you what I've made the last three weeks and if you want the recipe, let me know. Chicken Parmesan - AWESOME! Snickerdoodles (Thanks for that Allison!) - Need a better recipe. I like chewy cookies not crispy. The Ultimate Chocolate Cupcake - the name says it all.

I found this website and I am in heaven. I know you have to join for some of the recipes, but not all....not all.

Rufus Rustis Johnston Brown

Yesterday the plan was to make chicken fajitas. But the best laid plans......

We have a half freezer in our garage that I use to fill with longer term storage items. I will buy frozen chicken in bulk when it is on sale and stock up. The freezer was about half full of frozen chicken.  No more, my friend, no more. When I went out the the garage and reached my hand in the bag, rather then picking up a firm piece of frozen chicken, my hand was encased in soft raw chicken slime.

I looked down. The light to indicate that the freezer was working was off. Upon further investigation I realized that the breaker had been flipped on that outlet (Go switch, flipper go!!!)

I had 30 pounds of raw chicken, that thankfully had not already gone bad, but would if I didn't do something soon.

Option 1 - Boil 30 pounds of chicken. Gag.

Option 2 - Grill 30 pounds of chicken on the good ol' George Foreman. I wonder how late into the night I could handle that!

Option 3 - Race over to my parents' house and spend the afternoon in 90 degree heat grilling the chicken on their grill in the backyard.

Thank heavens my mom was home.

So now I have A LOT of grilled chicken sitting in the freezer. The breaker has been flipped back to its original position and hopefully all is right with the world.

No fajitas were made.

Enlightenment

This morning I woke with a desire for some extra spiritual uplift. After I put the girls in the bath I started to read a General Conference talk that focused on some of the problems we are facing in our family right now. It was perfect. Just as I was about to finish and write down a thought our two, I heard Savannah.

"Oh, yucky!"

You may or may not know immediately what this means. But, very sadly, I did.

Poop in the bathtub.

So much for spiritual uplift.

Lion King

If you haven't been to my house -- or more precisely my car - lately you wouldn't know that we are big Lion King fans. By we, I mean Abbie and Savannah. We (meaning me, Abbie, and Savannah) listen to the sound track almost every time we are in the car. I could sing the entire thing verbatim off the top of my head. But you really wouldn't want that. Trust me. We are on a short diversion to The Magic Treehouse that I can only hope will last until they turn eight and ten respectively.

So when my family invited me to the Broadway show of Lion King I wasn't as excited as I know I should have been. I had seen it before years ago in London. While I loved it, I was worried that it just wouldn't hold the same power after experiencing the above-mentioned over-dose for the last eight months.

Boy was I wrong.

While the plot, some of the music, and much of the script to Lion King the Musical is the same as the movie, the experience is so much better. It would be like comparing a Twinkie to Creme Brulee or Twilight to Pride and Prejudice. One is fits the bill but the other knocks it out of the park.  (Yes, Twi-hards it is true Pride and Prejudice is a classic in every sense of the word.)

I will just mention two features. One, the dancing. I was amazed to see people convincingly be a cheatah, giraffee, hynea, a lion, and a bird. All I could think of is that they must have just watched these animals for hours to immitate their movements and then turn that immitation into a graceful dance. These talents are so far removed from my abilities that I am in complete awe as I watched.

Number two - the costumes. They hit the perfect balance of convincingly portraying the animals, while adding some awesome artistic flare and originality.

Note - I haven't mentioned the music but trust me it really is incredible. 

I will mention something unrelated to the show that was probably my favorite part of the evening. After we had arrived to our seats I looked behind me to see a dad walking up the stairs with his three little girls. The dad was all dress up in his suit and the little girls where in what looked like their best dresses. It was just the four of them. Their dad had taken them all on a date!! It was so touching to see this dad taking his girls out to a show for what was obviously a very big deal for them. I love looking around and seeing such goodness in people.

First Day of Preschool

I am so glad she was excited instead of scared.(Not that you can tell from this picture.)She told me she would get to learn, do projects, and play with toys. I mean really what more could you ask for? Afterward when I asked how it went, she told me she painted, played with toys, ate fruit snacks and learned about the letter F. Sounds like a good first day!

Gray Cousins Weekend

My mom has many wonderful amazing traits. If I had inherited these I would count my blessings every night because I'd be halfway to heaven. Unfortunately, I didn't inherit her patience, charity, or compassion. Instead I inherited her habit of forgetting to bring a camera to fun family functions. Such was the case this weekend -- all of it. Pathetic, I know.

Russ's sister Jen was in town for this week, but things really started rolling Friday afternoon/evening with a trip to the park. The picnic was fun, and the park above average, but things really started rolling when all the cousins gathered for some serious Duck, Duck, Goose action. It seemed like this is the first time everyone was old enough to all interact together ( Myla you did awesome for a one-year-old munchkin!) Duck, Duck, Goose transformed into a mean game of Red Rover, which included all aunts and uncles. Abbie, bless her, held on tight only to have her hand mauled by her 67 lb cousin (I don't think she realized that it would actually hurt until it was too late.) Russ was clothes-lined by his two nephews and knocked his  head hard enough to be heard by the other team.  (Sorry we laughed dear, but it did look hilarious!). All in all a great evening.

The Gray clan reconvened Saturday night -- after our family had gone on an awesome tri-park bike ride along the trail near our house. The evening began with dinner at Zupas - and then off to Sugarhouse Park to do the reason that makes Sugarhouse Park worthwhile --- to roll down an insanely large hill with your cousins. The girls were amazing sports and love running up the hill to roll, somersault, and run down the hill -- over and over and over again.

Sunday was a break from cousin time and a farwell to the Woolf clan. (Miss you guys we had a blast!) We took our family to Temple Square. We haven't been in awhile and Abbie was old enough to understand some of the exhibits so we had a great time talking about what we saw.

Monday was off again with family. We borrowed our friend's kayaks and Russ's brother borrowed their friend's canoe and it was off for a day at the beach. The boats were perfect as it was a bit chilly and no one had any desire to get in the water. (Except when poor Cooper tried to stand in the kayak, and had what you would expect when one tries to stand in a kayak.) Abbie LOVED the big boat a.k.a the canoe and Savannah loved just getting in the boats and riding around. I was worried that we hadn't brought any toys to entertain the kids on the beach but I severely underestimated the appeal of rock throwing --- for six hours.

All in all it was a great Labor Day weekend and some great time with cousins...Now if only I could remember the camera.

Random Thoughts Thursday

Today is the first morning in four years that both children have slept in, allowing Russ and I to sleep in (to 7:45). Miracles do happen!

Unfortunately said miracle is due to sick children. Why did they wait until the weather is absolutely perfect outside, mid 70s, clear skies, to be so sick they have no energy to do anything outside?

My motivation for cleaning my house has declined significantly over the last few months.

It is so amazing to me how two people can look at the same scenario and see the problem -- and therefore the solution -- so very differently.

I am in love with Abbie's preschool teacher.   I'm just wishing I could go to preschool with her just to be around this woman. She is a bundle of joy and adorable cuddliness, perfect for four-year-olds.

Abbie is currently the only girl in her preschool class (although above mentioned teacher has said she will buy a girl if necessary so Abbie isn't alone.) I'm inclined to think it will be good for her to be surrounded by ten little boys for a few hours three times a week. Discuss.

Savannah has taken to pretending she is different animals. Today at Office Depot she decided that she was a lion and roared around the store.

This week Abbie and Savannah have played together more than ever before. We have a Costco sized empty diaper box that had become the prized toy. But rather than fight over it (most of the time) they want to take turns pushing each other in it. Oh if this could last.

I want to go to the mountains again.

Garlic-Lemon Green Beans with Toasted Bread Crumbs

How many of you have a problem getting your kids to eat green beans?

How many of you have a problem getting a spouse/boyfriend/roommate/ to eat green beans? (If you are trying to get your roommate to eat green beans then you really have control issues which is a post for another day.)

How many of you have a problem getting yourself to eat green beans?

Well this recipe will solve two of the three problems. (My kids hated this dish. Now that isn't saying anything, because they hate everything. Why is this? I have tried everything I've ever heard of to break this but nothing works. The current -- and most longstanding -- rule is that they have to try a bite of everything and unless they eat a "very good job" there is no food after dinner time. I can't tell you the number of nights they go to bed hungry. AAAuuuggghh!!!)

Whoa, tangent, refocus.

Green Beans. They are in season right now and super cheap. I bought some without any real plan on how to cook them so when they were added last minute to tonight's menu of paninis and......green beans, I found this recipe and went to town. (From New Best Recipe...of course. By the way my sister-in-law's friend says this cookbook saved their marriage. I'm just sayin'.)

The author touts this recipe as an 11th-hour quick fix. For the most part I agree. This is a pretty fast easy addition to a meal, that with a few tweaks I had most of the ingredients for in my kitchen. The best part -- all green beans were eaten. I had at least three servings of these veggies and Russ about the same. Of course they are not fat free but really considering the star ingredient I still count them as pretty darn healthy. (Oh, and I halved this recipe because I wasn't going to make something that served 8 for just Russ and I..)

Garlic-Lemon Green Beans with Toasted Bread Crumbs

2 slices of bread
3 tbsp butter, divided
salt and pepper
2 tbsp Parmesan cheese, grated
6 cloves of garlic pressed
2 tsp flour
1/8 tsp red pepper flakes
1 tsp minced fresh thyme (Oh the day when I just have fresh herbs lying around my kitchen. I used dried, probably to the recipe's detriment.)
1 1/2 lbs green beans, ends trimmed
1 cup chicken broth
1 tbsp lemon juice

   Process the bread in a food processor until fine crumbs. On medium-high high  heat 1 tbsp butter, when melted add bread crumbs and cook until golden about 3-5 minutes. Remove from pan, add cheese, and set aside. On medium heat add the rest of the butter, garlic, and salt.When garlic is golden add flour and red pepper, then toss in green beans. Then add the chicken broth, cover and increase to medium high heat. Cook four minutes. Remove lid and cook for another four while the broth thickens. When beans are tender remove from heat and add lemon juice. Put on serving platter and top with bread crumbs.