Weather (I'm Ready For Spring)

I saw this on a friend's blog and she saw it in her local paper. Having been born and raised in Idaho, I can testify that it is true. Northern Utah isn't that much different.

65 degrees above zero,
Floridians turn on the heat.
People in Idaho plant gardens.

60 degrees above zero,
Californians shiver uncontrollably.
People in Idaho sunbathe.

50 degrees above zero,
Italian and English cars won't start.
People in Idaho drive with their windows down.

40 degrees above zero,
Georgians don coats, thermal underwear, gloves and wool hats.
People in Idaho throw on a flannel shirt.

35 degrees above zero,
New York landlords finally turn up the heat.
People in Idaho have the last cookout before it turns cold.

20 degrees above zero,
People in Miami die.
Idahoans close the windows.

Zero,
Californians fly away to Mexico.
People in Idaho get out their winter coats.

10 degrees below zero,
Hollywood disintigrates.
The Girls Scouts in Idaho are selling cookies door to door.

20 below zero,
Washington D.C. runs out of hot air (not even possible).
People in Idaho let the dogs sleep indoors.

30 below zero,
Santa Claus abandons the North Pole.
Idahoans get upset because they can't start their snowmobiles.

40 below zero,
All atonomic motion stops.
People in Idaho start saying, "Cold enough for ya?"

50 below zero,
H*## freezes over.
Idaho public schools open 2 hours late.

It is snowing today and that isn't even unusual for this time of year.

Total Foodie Weekend

Last April when I visited Nicki in New York, I ate some of the best food I have ever eaten in my life. Hands down, New York is a melting pot of food for every palate, from every country in the world. I came home determined to try cooking some of the yummy things I'd eaten in New York. So last Friday I took an Indian Cooking class. I learned to make Naan bread (so yummy and easy), Chicken Makhani, Bangalore Chicken Curry and Indian Veggie Patties. All very good, all very easy. Best of all, I learned that with very little know-how, you can cook from a variety of countries around the world.

My next project is gnocchi. I've had it before (not in New York), but I want to learn to make it from scratch. It isn't as easy as it looks. I've watched cooks on the Food Network make it, and of course, it looks so simple and easy. Big lie! I tried Giada's recipe (nothing to it, she promises) and ended up with tiny little pillows of brick in my tummy, not tiny little pillows of pasta. I ran into someone at Friday's cooking class that swears she has a fool-proof recipe, but it involves dehydrated potato buds - not the kind of fresh I was looking for, and probably not what any Italian cook who is worth her weight in pasta sauce would use, but I'll try it. Why don't I just buy it you ask? Well, because I have yet to find it in a grocery store here in quaint little Cache Valley, and I've been looking for about 7 years (no kidding!) only the dried stuff - yuck. If any of you out there have a great recipe (Bonnie) and are willing to share, I'm up for making it multiple times until I get it down. How hard can it be, right???

Add in a big batch of homemade bread, an apple pie ( as per Trevor's request) and a coconut cream pie (as per Kent's request) and I had a cooking/baking filled weekend.

HCG diet, anyone???

My New Favorite American Idol

You had to know, it's James Durbin. I love his rocker style and his sweetness. I love that he looks a tad bit like Kurk Russell (look at those peepers) and sings a bit like Adam Lambert. Most of all, I love that he has overcome challenges in his life to pursue his dream. He has crazy, insane pipes, as they say.

Happy Birthday Nicki

Happy Birthday to you, Nicki!

Today is Nicki's 22nd birthday. I can't believe that 22 years ago I was in a hospital in Connecticutt having our first baby. Kent was in and out of the labor/delivery room watching March Madness, that is until the madness in the delivery room kicked in. Nicki was born with just a skiff of dark hair and we thought she was such a beautiful baby. She was so tiny that when we bundled her up to bring her home, Kent kept checking in the quilt to make sure he had ahold of her. Those first few days were quite the shock to us. I thought I knew all about babies, but I quickly found out my mom knew all about babies and I knew nothing.

Through the years Nicki has been such a blessing to us. She is full of surprises, fun and joy. Maybe add in a bit of stubbornness and a determination that is unmatched by anyone I know! From a very young age, it was apparent to me that Nicki would think for herself and not be swayed by whatever or whomever. I always knew she would choose her own path and make her own decisions. I was always grateful for that strengh in her, even when she was at odds with me. It wasn't always easy, but I knew if we could keep her pointed in the right direction, she wouldn't disappoint.

Nicki is a natural "oldest child". She is a natural leader and has an abundance of confidence. She has been a perfect example to her younger siblings and she has made our job as parents much easier by setting this great example. She is intelligent, smart, a little sassy (which is fun now that she is out of her teenage years) and always up for some fun. She is a spark, that's for sure.

We love you, Nicki and we hope you have the best birthday ever. Here are a few photos that bring a smile to my face and I think they will bring a smile to yours too.

Love you,
Mom

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