Stress Fracture....grrrrrrrrrrr

One of my "lifetime goals" is to run a marathon after I've had all of my kids.  I've run the Ogden Marathon twice and really enjoyed it so I thought I'd run it again.  I signed up last fall along with a few family members and my best friend/running partner.  It was a great plan.  Marathon scheduled for May 21st.   I'm usually a pretty positive person so please forgive the negative-ness of this post but seriously, this was not meant to be...

Problem #1: Heather moved to Minnesota.  She's still training, but so super cold and we are the social running type, by yourself...not so much.

Problem # 2: Out of four family members that signed up it looks like only one may be able to run it due to many different but legitimate problems. 

Problem #3.....The Kicker:  After my 12-mile run a few weeks ago I could barely walk.  Up until then I was pretty sore, but I thought "of course I'm sore, I'm training for a MARATHON."  So Corey has this wealth of athletic training knowledge and I listened and did exactly what he told me to get better.  I iced, I rested, I rode on his bike trainer for crying out loud!  I tried a short run a week later and I limp-ran around the block.  So I went to see the Dr so I could pay $50 for him to tell me what Corey already did.  Great job babe, you're a genius!  The verdict...stress fracture of my left femur....

Goodbye Marathon

第二個年级中國人節目(Second Grade Chinese Program)

We recently attended Keaton's second grade Chinese program.  I'm always amazed to watch the teachers instruct the children and see how much they're learning.  This was a fun program filled with singing, dancing, folklore and a traditional dragon dance.  Keaton managed to look away almost every time I tried to take a picture of him "in action," but we got a good smile in the end.  Great job Keat!!

Bring on SPRING!!!

It's this time of year that I start to hear Christmas songs in my head....namely "It's the most wonderful time of the year" and "These are a few of my favorite things..."  Spring.  Utah has crazy weather this time of year.  A few weeks ago our temperature got up to sixty degrees, a few days later....snow.  Go figure.  But it's unmistakable when you see this....

At first glance it just looks like a bunch of dead plants I didn't get to trim before the first snowfall last year, but if you peer a little closer.....

you see these!!!                                                    

     My Mom and I always call each other at the first sign of spring.  The bulbs.  Really one of my favorite things in life.  To add to the excitement I planted about six dozen each of tulips and daffodils last fall, it should be beautiful!  To add excitement upon excitement I'll divulge a little secret.  Thanksgiving Point has an amazing tulip festival every year.  They plant about 250000 bulbs every year, if you get the chance...go.  Every year they dig up that years bulbs and sell them.  They're in unmarked bins and you just rummage through and pic what you want, except that you don't really know what your getting, at least until they bloom in your yard.  How fun is that??  So I've got six dozen tulip bulbs in my front flower bed that I have no idea what they are.  I can't wait to find out!!!!

Mountain Man Mac

Last week I had one of those moments when I paid for something I did in elementary school.  To be honest, I really don't remember this at all, but I have heard the story many a time.   One day my mom was coming in to the school to help with a party in one of my classes.  When I found out she was coming I told her she needed to wear a dress, cuz that's what all the other moms wear.  I'm sure she asked a few times to make sure but in the end she wore the dress along side all of the other jean-wearing mothers.  Of course, she was the only one. 

Last week Mac had a mountain man report to do.  It was one he'd worked on at school and we didn't really do much for it.  He came home the day before and asked if I had bought him a costume.  I told him no and asked if he needed one.  He said he did.  Lucky for both of us we have some neighbors who belong to the mountain man and woman association.  Their son had a very cool leather coat and "coon-skin cap."  So he was all set up.  Then he asked me if I could come.  I scanned the weekly e-mail from his teacher to see what time it was and there were no specifics.  I told him I thought it wasn't really for parents.  He said another little boy's mom came and he really wanted me to come.  So the next day I showered and got ready in 15 minutes flat, packed up the twins and went to the school.  We were a little early for McKay's report so the twins and I sat through two other reports of children who had no sort of costume and definitley no mother there to watch either.  Mac did a great job and I was glad I could go, but I did have to call my Mom when I got home so she could have the satisfaction of my "pay-back."

The Fourth Grade Program

Teachers are amazing!  I've always admired them especially because teaching is not something I'd choose to do for a profession and it requires such creativity and PATIENCE! So here are my props to the fourth grade teachers at my kids elementary school!  They did an amazing job putting together the program this year and I thouroughly enjoyed it!  It was entitled "Utah, the music and the memories."  It started with "Brother Brigham" talking about the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, then the Ute Indians and so on and so forth.  They were all dressed up in period clothing, they danced, sang and played the recorder.  The kids loved it and it was truely entertaining.  They even had a little modern-day tribute to David Archeuletta.  Here is a tiny taste of McKay's favorite part.  Great job Mac!  We loved your awesome performance! 

Who ever thought you'd hear Back Street Boys at an elementary school program?!

I love food!!!!!!!!

Seriously, I really really love food.  I turn to food for everything....fun, quiet time, celebrating, stress, oh...and when I'm hungry.  I read somewhere recently that that's why runners run, to eat and I totally agree!  I run to eat.  One of my favorite topics of conversation on a run is in fact food.  I also love to cook which compliments my love of food and eating quite well.  Last week I did hoagies as my "quick and easy" meal but I just had this nagging thought that a hoagie would go beautifully with my friend Alison's butternut squash soup which I just got the recipe for and happened to have all the ingredients for including leeks which I never really have but I did from making clam chowder a few days earlier which was super yummy too.......................phew! So there went my quick and easy meal, but it was BEAUTIFUL and delicious!  I think I'll occasionally post a few favorite recipes because it's one of my favorite things to share.  Here goes. 

I got a request for this sweet potatoe recipe in November from my Brother-in-law Jared but have neglected to actually send it so here ya go Jar, enjoy!


Alison's Sweet Potatoes

3 1/5 lbs. yams
1 tsp salt
1 1/4 cup butter
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 c. sugar
1/4 tsp. cinnamon

Bake yams, peel, and whip.  Melt butter and add the remaining ingredients.  Put into a 2 liter dish and top with pecan mix. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. 

Pecan Mix:

1/4 c. butter, softened
3/4 c. brown sugar
1/4 c. pecans, chuncky chopped
3 Tbls. flour

Butternut Squash Soup

1 medium leek
3 Tbs. butter
2 carrotts, peeled and coarsely chopped
1 medium onion, choppped
1 medium butternut squash (2 1/2 lbs) peeled and cut into 1 inch pieces
2 cups water
2 cups chicken broth
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup heavy cream

Cut off root and trim dark green top from leek; cut leek lengthwise in half.  Cut white and pale green crosswise into 1/4 inch slices, discard dark green and rinse in  a bowl of cold water to remove sand.  Transfer to a colander and drain.
In saucepto melt butter over medium high heat.  Add carrotts, onion, and leek.   Cook stiring occasionally until lightly browned, about 10 minutes.  Add squash, water, broth and salt; heat to boiling.  Reduce heat to low; cover adn simmer until squash is very tender, 15-20 minutes. 
Spoon half of squash mixture into blender. Cover, with center part of cover removed to let steam escape; puree until smooth.  Pour into bowl.  Repeat until done.
Return puree to same pot.  Stir in cream. Heat through but do not boil.  Serve hot!

And my new favorite soup recipe that my aunt Terry introduced me to.....yum!

Poblano Chicken Chowder

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 3 large carrots, cut into 1/2-inch dice
• 2 large onions, cut into 1/2-inch dice
• 5 stalks celery, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
• 1/8 cup minced garlic
• 2 to 3 small poblano peppers, seeded and cut into 1/2-inch dice
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon white pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin, or more to taste
• 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme, or more to taste
• 1 tablespoon chicken bouillon granules
• 3 quarts chicken broth
• 1/2 bunch fresh cilantro leaves, minced
• 3 cups diced (large pieces) grilled chicken
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon hot sauce, or more to taste
• 1 cup heavy cream

Directions

Heat the oil in a large stockpot over medium heat. Add the carrots, onions, celery, garlic, poblano peppers, salt, white pepper, cumin, and thyme. Saute for 7 to 8 minutes, or until the vegetables begin to soften. Stir in the chicken bouillon. Add the chicken broth and cilantro, and cook for 10 to 12 minutes, or until the carrots are tender. Stir in the chicken and cook, stirring frequently, until the chowder is thick and the chicken is heated through. Shortly before the chowder is done, melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the flour and stir to combine. Cook, stirring frequently, for 3 to 4 minutes to cook the flour. Do not allow the mixture to brown! Ladle 1 cup of the hot liquid from the stockpot into the skillet, whisking constantly.

When the first cup of liquid is incorporated, add another 2 cups of liquid, 1 at a time. Pour the mixture in the skillet into the stockpot, whisking to blend. Cook, stirring frequently, for 3 to 5 minutes longer, or until the mixture begins to thicken. Remove the pot from the heat. Stir in the hot sauce, then the cream, and serve.

Chinese Immersion

Keaton is in a Chinese Immersion Program.  What that means is that for half of the day he goes to a class with an English speaking teacher and then the other half he has a Chinese speaking teacher who only speaks Chinese to the kids.  In their Chinese class they learn math, science and Chinese spelling and writing.  Chinese writing is Keatons favorite and it's amazing to watch him do it!  He is in the first year of this program at his elementary school so that's why Mac doesn't do it, but the younger kids definitley will.  I think it's such an amazing opportuniy for them and even if they never use the language, it will expand their brains in a way that nothing else will.  As part of the program we're encouraged to take part in Chinese culteral activities.  This was a Chinese folk dance program that included dancing, singing (opera-like) and the playing of instruments.  We were in the balcony so our pictures aren't super, but hopefully you can get a look at this beautiful and interesting culture!