"Sometimes nice girls do finish first."

My entire family and many friends got bitten this past year by Stephanie Meyer's Twilight saga. T-shirts, book club parties, homemade bookmarks, dressing up as the characters, and even a book signing concert at UCLA turned the saga into quite an experience.  The morning after the movie was released a group of nearly twenty gathered for a lunch/movie date. Thanks Kelly for getting us involved in reading this harmless vampire love saga and planning all the fun events to go along with it. 

Time Magazine has named the author Stephanie Meyer as one of the People Who Mattered in 2008.  The following is the commentary that was published along with her picture. 

"Maybe Americans aren't ready for a Mormon presidential nominee yet. But they're more than ready to anoint a Mormon as the best-selling novelist of the year. The hero of Meyer's Twilight series — and hit movie — is a vampire named Edward who doesn't kill people and declines to sleep with, or bite, his girlfriend Bella. Meyer's religious upbringing taught her something few writers grasp, that fantasies can be about restraint as well as excess. Sometimes nice girls do finish first."

—Lev Grossman

Post Christmas Visit to San Diego

The day after Christmas we loaded up the Silver Bullet along with my car and headed to San Diego.  The snow that fell overnight left the roads icy so we drove very carefully over Walker Pass.   Our first stop was my Grandma Whittleton's residence at Sommerford Place.  I think just the sight of all of us overwhelmed her but that didn't keep my Dad from teasing her.   We had her giggling and had a decent visit, considering the situation.  

 We met Tawn and Asha for dinner at California Pizza Kitchen.   I was in the mood for Thai food so I ordered the Thai Chicken Pasta and it was delicious.  Tawn just graduated with a degree in Political Science and both he and Asha are working on getting their special education credentials.  Congratulations to both of them for their perseverance!  

Saturday morning we went to visit my Grandmother again but we were a bit smarter.  We went in to see her in pairs of two which seem to work better.  I guess I don't blame anyone who gets overwhelmed when they see us coming.  So when Kelly, my mother and I were done visiting, we left to hit the after Christmas sales at the outlets in Carlsbad.  Now I have adjusted quite well to leaving San Diego but one thing I do miss is the outlets.  And just to make my day, Banana Republic had a 50% off sale.  Yes, everything in the store was 1/2 off!  I don't know how long we spent in BR before we met the rest of the crew for lunch.  Joining us was my mother's sister Diane, her husband Ron, and their twin sons Patrick and Philip.   To finish out the day, we drove to Alpine to visit with my Uncle Mark.  We enjoyed rootbeer floats while visiting in his 100+ year old home.   He is a contractor and he is slowly renovating this old home.  The kitchen is complete and was absolutely gorgeous!

Sunday, we hit the road for home. But a quick,family filled weekend of love was had by all. 

 

Peaceful Christmas Day

Falling snow, waffles topped with raspberries, our favorite cheesy artichoke dip, a round of Texas Hold 'Em, and a delicious dinner served on my Grandma Whittleton's beautiful white and gold china made for another memorable Christmas Day.      

Of course, the gifts I received added to the joy of this special season.   My parents bought me a Bosch mixer which is gift that my mother promised to buy for each of her children when they got married.  I think they have given up on that and decided that it was time I learned how to cook our family's traditional dinner rolls.  I hope this mixer makes all the difference and truly helps my baking skills.

Kelly got my name in the family drawing and got me exactly what I asked for.  It's called a Bedlounger.  I know it sounds like a gift for a lazy person and that I am not.  I just love to do sudoku or read in bed at night.  And no matter how many pillows I use, I still haven't found a comfortable position.  I haven't logged in enough time yet using the Bedlounger to give an accurate evaluation but hopefully in the next few days I will get some serious lounging time. 

 

Hoping you and your loved ones had a peaceful Christmas filled with all that your heart desired.

Kent Family Christmas Eve

Every Christmas Eve, we gather with our extended family to celebrate the Savior's birth. Howard and Marcia usually host a dinner for about 20-25 people and this year was no different. My Aunt Marcia has a wonderful tradition of starting the meal with shrimp cocktail. She marinates it for many days in her family's secret recipe and it is delicious!! I look forward to it every year. This year the highlight of the gathering was baby Glenn. Kami and her husband David are in town for two weeks and we finally met their adorable six month old son. Visiting with the Kent cousins is always a treat and seeing their children growing older by the minute is amazing and disturbing at the same time. Here are a few pictures from Christmas Eve.

Can you guess who Santa was?

An early Christmas with the Tuckers

Unfortunately for the Kent's, the Tucker family will be spending Christmas this year with Dylan's family in Colorado.  We will definitely miss having them around for ten days but are excited for them.  Along with 7 inches of snow today, Santa came early to the Tucker household.  We celebrated tonight together with a delicious rib dinner at my parent's home.  Elle was extremely eager to open her presents and quietly got into a few while we were still eating.  The best gift of the night was from Joe, Nicole, and Kelly to Elle.   It was a pink ballerina outfit.  She LOVED it!   The child-proof digital camera that I got her paled in   comparison.  Kent was most interested in a spiderman plate that my Mom purchased from the dollar store.  He is such a happy baby.  We didn't spoil him as much as we did on Elle's 1st Christmas. I am so grateful that the Tucker's live close by and we can share in the holidays with them.

FARA 3rd Annual 5K/10K for FA

The date has been changed for the FA walk/run to Saturday, March 21st.  Mark your calendars and I will post more details as they become available. 

Moon Jellyfish

Swimming with a turtle

Dive....Dive...Monkeys....DIVE

The first dive today was to a site called The Old Road.  It proved to be another beautiful spot.  We dropped down rather quickly to 125 feet and saw a large sting ray in the sand.  Don't tell PADI but even Zac made it down there to see it.    Unfortunately, that ate up a good deal of air and dive time.  We saw much of the same things:  lobster, barracuda, colorful fish, jellyfish, and just just incredible coral formations.   The second dive included venturing near a volcanic vent.  It is amazing how the water viscosity changes along with the temperature.  I think my favorite day was watching the jellyfish swim in the water.  When I get home I will post a video of it.  Its absolutely a beautiful sight.   Austin a lobster and we all enjoyed posing with it.  Unfortunately he threw it back into the ocean.

After a long morning of diving, we made out last trip to the grocery store for a few items to finish out the last few days.  Food is extremely expensive here so we avoid eating out.  We have enjoyed almost all meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner) in our villa.  Breakfast this morning included pancakes, eggs, bacon, hashbrowns, and orange juice.  Dinner last night was fettucini alfredo with chicken and a green salad.  Following the trip to the grocery store, we headed to Turtle Bay in hopes of seeing some monkey's in the trees along the road and the famous pig "Wilbur."   We definitely got to see the huge pig but didn't spot any monkey's along the road.   Luckily, a woman that has a six month old monkey as a pet was there at Turtle Bay.  Elle refused to cooperate for any pictures let alone get anywhere near it. 

Then tonight we ventured underwater by the light of a full moon.  Well......we all carried flashlights also.  This particular night dive was rather disappointing.  Austin opted to take us to a spot that he has never done at night.  Compared to what we saw on our first trip here, we hardly saw anything.  No turtles, only a few lobster, and not as much life as we usually see.  But I try to remind myself, every dive can't be the BEST. 

I missed out

Each of us takes a turn to stay behind with Elle and Kent. Of course the day I get stuck in the villa they see this. And not just one nurse shark but three of them. Oh well, life goes on and on.

St. Kitts in November

 

We arrived safely on Friday morning after flying through the night into San Juan, Puerto Rico.  Then a short flight to St. Kitts and the adventure began.  Friday was spent getting settled which proved to be a challenge with twelve people(two of which are under age 1), sixteen pieces of checked luggage (plus a bunch of backpacks and carry ons), and three rooms scattered all over the property.  We ate pizza for lunch poolside and a late dinner of KFC.  The first nights rest was rough for everyone.   But that didn't stop, Dylan, Howard, my Dad, and I from diving first thing Saturday morning.   Diving with ProDivers proved to be as good as we remembered.   The boat ride was smooth (no seasickness), the equipment superb, and Austin was an excellent guide.   My favorite part of the dive was seeing an octopus ink us. We also enjoyed seeing eels, sting rays, barracuda, lobsters, and lots of colorful fish.  Howard and Dylan were able to hold a sea cucumber and I touched the outside of a jellyfish for the first time.  The afternoon was spent moving from our hotel rooms into the two villas we rented for the week.   Some swam and played at the beach.   Elle, Krissy, Howard, and I went to the whirlpool after dark and it was impossible to get Elle to get out.  A trip to the grocery store for perishable items that we couldn't bring with us rounded out the evening.  

A perfect fifty out of one hundred

Syndy Rains had this fun get to know you post on her blog.  Red= I've done it.  Green=I haven't done it.  Black= It will never happen! 

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars

3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii

5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland

8. Climbed a mountain

9. Held a praying mantis

10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty (when I was 8 years old before they closed it to tourists)
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight 
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run (in my dreams)
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies (bought and eaten plenty)
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check (I hardly ever write a check anymore) 
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100.Visited Italy

Serging 101....next Sewing 101

Thanks to my calling as the Relief Society Enrichment counselor, I have become involved in our ward's humanitarian efforts.  Marilyn Hyer convinced me that I could make a receiving blanket in ten minutes using a serger and I believed her!  So about two months ago, I went online and ordered a serger.  Marilyn gave me a crash course and I have officially completed serging around the outside of 17 flannel receiving blankets.  The first few I did definitely had "beginner" written all around the edges.  But to my amazement, I am actually getting the hang of it.  Knowing that I still need to sew a square in the middle of the blankets to keep the fabric from shifting, I purchased a sewing machine from a garage sale just up the street from my parents.  The machine was still in the original cardboard box with all the packing and the owner said she had used it only a couple times.  So far, I have figured out how to thread it and wind the bobbin. Who would have ever guessed that I would take up sewing.    

Practically in Our Backyard

After all the airlines miles we have logged in over the past three years, Kelly and I decided it was time to visit a natural wonder that is practically in our backyard.  Yes, I am embarrassed to admit, it was my first time to walk the Trail of 100 Giants.  Wendy Adams joined us for the day.  Politics was the topic of discussion on the hour long drive to and from the trail, so Wendy may be regretting joining us after all.  I am happy to report that the weather was a cool 53.    The trail was almost completely accessible but a little off-roading provided for better photo opportunities.  The grove of Giant Sequoias was an awe-inspiring sight.   On the way back we stopped for lunch as the Kern River Brewing Company in Kernville.  I have to admit the food was pretty lousy, the fresh brewed root beer wasn't palatable, but the company was great!   Thanks Wendy for being such a great friend! 

"Caint Say No!"

Inviting all who want to join in on a fun night at the Bakersfield Music Theater on Saturday, October 11th.  Rodgers and Hammerstein's Oklahoma is on the stage and tickets range from $30-35.  I will be purchasing tickets by October 1st. If interested, leave me a message and I will contact you with additional details.

Verkade Melk volle smaak

  Throughout all our travels, the one thing that we never fail to sample is chocolate.   My love for chocolate is unwavering.  My favorite is a Swiss chocolate called Milka and I haven't found a place in the US to buy it yet.  Which is probably a good thing!!   Anyhow, I thought it appropriate to bring back Dutch Verkade milk chocolate bars to all who gave a guess to how many braids were in Tayah's hair.   The correct answer is 88.  See you soon to claim your volle smaak.

CAMERA DEFUNCT

Wednesday was my day to stay back from diving and help out with the wee ones.  Elle and I had fun floating in the lazy river and feeding the igunas lettuce.  We ordered strawberry daquiris by the pool and Elle didn't want to share at all.  Who blames her?   The divers returned with bad news for me.  My camera had decided to stop working.  Too say that I was sad would be an understatement.  I have only had the camera a few months and I have been extremely happy with it.  My wonderful father quickly went online and placed a service order in with canon.    Hopefully it will be covered under warranty but I seriously doubt it.  So needless to say, no more underwater pictures from Aruba.   Who would have guessed that five days into the trip we would have a broken camera and one gone missing.    Everyone split up for dinner .  Steve, Kathy, my Mom, my Dad, and I went to Champions, a sports bar in the Marriott.  We have grown to love their spinach artichoke dip.  Its heavenly!  We took a nice walk down the beach hoping to burn a few calories before we inhaled an Oreo Madness at TGIFs. 

While We Were 100 Feet Underwater

I am not sure who had the most exciting morning...the divers or non-divers.  Lots of eels, a large barracuda, a puffer fish, and a sea horse were among the highlights of the dives.  Back at the Surf Club, my mother was chasing Hispanics out of our room hoping that they didn't get there hands on anything.   Elle and Teyah found themselves lost in the hotel for nearly 20 minutes.  Teary eyed Teyah finally located the lobby where they asked for help.  I don't know who was more shock up the kids or the adults.  After looking around our room, we discovered that my parents camera had been stolen along with a USB attachment that went with the wireless mouse.  My mother filed a report.  Security came and tried to look official by taking pictures and doing a bunch of paperwork. Its no wonder they never found Natalie Holloway!   Dinner was cooked by our personal chef, my Dad.  We enjoyed chicken fettucini alfredo with salad and bread. 

Nightlife in Aruba

Last night we all went out to dinner at Tony Roma's.  This has become a tradition and whether the service is good or bad, we still enjoy ourselves.  Last night was no different.  The 15 of us plus two infants piled into the two vans for a short ride to the restaurant.  We managed to get a table that seated everyone.  We seated the hard of hearing crew at one end and the young fun at the other.  It took nearly two hours for us to get all of our meals.  Needless to say, the kids were getting pretty antsy by the time we finished.  Adding to the equation was the fact that Elle was  sunburnt and exhausted.   Upon returning, Marcie made her famous carmel popcorn.  It was delicious.  Some watched football, others played card games, but I volunteered to take Elle  to my room in hopes of getting her to sleep at a decent hour.  No such luck!  She entertained me for a good hour and a half with incessant talking and singing in the dark.   

Check out Teyah's braids.  It took four hours for the woman to put them in.  Can anyone guess how many it took?  I will bring a surprise home to the person who guesses the closest and leaves me a message.

Day Two Dives

Diving the South Coast of Aruba

Getting up the first morning was pure torture since we hadn't got to bed until well after 2am Friday night.   Krissy, Howard, Kenny, Dad, and I were barely awake as we boarded the van for a ride to Red Sail Sports at the Hyatt.  We obtained our equipment and boarded the boat and set off for the south coast.  The first dive sight, "Fingers"   was a favorite from past trips.  It didn't seem to be as great as we had remembered though.  We saw lots of beautiful fish, a huge moray eel, huge brain corals, and some beautiful coral formations.  

The second dive was a sight called Katilla, a popular destination for the submarine Atlantis because the reef is dotted with lots of colorful fish.  The highlight of the dive was seeing the large barracuda in the deep blue.  

I spent the afternoon napping trying to recover from the long travel day and poor nights rest.  The rest of the group spent much of the day at the pool floating down the lazy river.  We split into two groups for dinner.  The Kents and Tuckers went to one of our favorite's.....Sole Mar.  Krissy and I love their specialty which is spaghetti and lots of parmesan cheese.   They take a bowl made of cheese and they light it on fire melting the cheese.  Then the spaghetti is dropped into the bowl.....and mixed into the cheese.  Its lovely!