Not Enough Hours

So I've realized I have had no time for blogging this month. There has been a lot going on but most of that is school. I can't wait for finals to be done, my teachers went a little wacky with last minute assignments and cramming everything that was left in just a few classes. I do see an end in sight which is motivating. This was by far my hardest quarter ever and if I ever decide it's okay to take 20 units again, someone please hit me.

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving thanks to my wonderful SIL Jen and BIL Jim. My SIL likes to make everything from scratch and I didn't ever have a weak spot for dressing until I tasted hers. Yummy!

One fun thing Mike and I got to do was go to the Pacific Asia Museum (it was for a school project). The pictures below show what happens to adults in the children's area when they have the whole museum to themselves. Too bad this wasn't the only room we were um, silly in, we realized later that there were video cameras in every room. Oops! be careful what you do in a museum when you think no one is watching.

this area has pillows to sit on and stories to read to kids

fun clothing to dress up in, yeah I guess kids can use it too

Wicked Fun!

The Tuesday before Halloween I came home from school and found out my husband had been keeping a deep and dark secret from me (dun dun dun) . . .

tickets to see WICKED! I have been wanting to see it since the beginning, and because it leaves in December, I thought for sure we weren't going to get to see it. For over a month he's been keeping hush hush about it. I found out that lots of my friends were keeping it secret from me too (traders! j/k I love surprises, thanks everyone) It was Mike's parent's anniversary, so they came with us, and a bunch of friends from church . We had so much fun. The singers/performers were awesome. I later listened to the music which has the Broadway original cast, and the singers here at the Pantages blew them away! They were really great, the ones on the CD are good, but WOW these guys were amazing. Just remember it leaves the end of December, Phantom of the Opera is next!

Spooky Things

So I have to post some of the fun things we did at the party so that you can try them too. We had a scary mad scientist lab with some crazy looking things to look at and eat.

I just can’t get enough of ghoulish things on Halloween and here they are:

Water with food coloring was used for most of these things, the picture takes away the eerie effect of the colored water, it looks so much better in person.

Poly Juice Potion – water, milk and coloring
Bat Wings – Beef Jerky
Gnome Brains – Cauliflower in red water
Troll Toe Nails – Shaved Coconut
Swamp Creature Fingers – Pickles
Your Brain – Cabbage cut to brain shape in grayish water
Bunny Tails – Craft Fuzz Balls
Phoenix Feathers – white feathers
Peeled Mummy Skin – long shredded pieces of paper towel in eerie colored water
Chocolate Covered Ants – chocolate sprinkles
Vampire Heart – Fennel in red dyed water
Werewolf Liver – natural sponge in dyed water
Alien Baby – baked salt dough shaped like an alien fetus looking thing with pieces of paper towel coming out like an umbilical cord in dyed greenish-bluish water
Goblin Boogers – green raisins
Human Blood – red dyed water
Swamp Water Juice – Naked Juice Super Food Green Machine, so tasty, so nasty looking must drink in clear cups

Some other ideas
Toasted Lizard Brains – pecan halves
Fried Dried Worms – chinese chicken salad noodles
Dwarf Ears – Dried Apricots

Are you grossed out yet? Have some fun, you probably have some of this stuff already in your fridge and cupboards. There are so many possibilities. We also displayed some red apples, red poisoned apples of course! Obviously not all of this stuff was for tasting, some was just for looking.

Yes that's a brain shaped Birthday Cake!

Mummy Dogs - Hot Dogs wrapped in canned croissant dough, I tear one triangle of dough into three pieces and then I wrap them around like a mummy suit. Bake in oven until golden brown. Mustard dots for the eyes and ketchup dot for the mouth. These are delicious, make sure you make enough for the adults. If your kids eat like birds, cut the hot dogs in half length wise and then wrap them. Enjoy!

Halloween

It's already October (I mean it's practically over), only two months 'til Christmas. Time flies when you're having fun or busy. Not that I'm not having fun, but it just seems like I’m so busy and just going from one thing to the next. I struggle so much when I’m busy, just making the time to take in the little moments instead of rushing right past them when you have lists of things to do. I have to focus hard and find ways to remind myself. Well last night was one of those times. Rushing all day trying to get things done, manipulating time to squeeze the things on my list, I have to pause and enjoy. We had our annual Halloween party last night. Don’t be offended if you didn’t get invited, it’s like Christmas where it is a family thing (That’s right, Tom Gilstrap has been adopted into our family since before Mike and I were married). We have been hosting the Halloween party since we lived in our teeny apartment. Mike and I love Halloween, so it just came naturally. We have been working hard to get things ready, or it just seems like it because we are so busy right now with other things, that so much more effort seems to be what it takes.

I was running around last night and during each activity I made sure to pause and take it in. I had to realize that the next time I see these little ones in their costumes they’ll be a year older, there will most likely be new additions to the family, and more will be
passing me up by height.

They are growing by the minute and I don’t get to see them as often as I would like, not even my own Jonathen. Some family members are so far away that they weren’t even able to make it. I love watching the cousins get older together and love each other. I love talking to my in-laws and having my brothers there too. I had so much fun! I am so grateful for all the work everyone put into to it. Especially my sweet-no-sleepy husband, my friend Krisha , and my brothers Sam and Jorge.

Yummy Food

So I haven't posted in a while, mostly because we are down to one computer and I'm so busy with school. I realized that I needed to post this fabulous recipe I came accross:

Salmon Wrapped in Fig Leaves

I want to make sure and share it while fig leaves can still be found on the trees.

What you need:

Salmon

Olive Oil

Black Pepper

Salt (I used Sea Salt)

Fig Leaves (washed and dried)

Preheat oven to 400˚C. Cut Salmon to approx. 2 1/2 by 3 1/2 inch rectangles. Place one in the middle of a fig leaf. Brush with Olive Oil, sprinkle Salt and Pepper, flip and repeat. Then take the Fig Leaf and wrap it up. Place on a baking sheet and bake for 18 minutes. I always pull one out and check it (I like mine a little juicy just barely cooked, before it turns into a flaky brick) :) The leaves get papery dry on the top.

This turns out so delicious, it just melts in your mouth. It acquires the surprising taste of coconut, with a more earthy flavor and is a great alternative to cooking it on a plank. Just writing about it makes my mouth water. It's perfect to serve with mushroom cous cous or wild rice. If you need fig leaves come over and get some! This is our own version of Lembas Bread.

p.s. I also tried this recipe with chicken breasts and grape leaves. I used marinaded chicken (italian dressing starting the day before if you can), and you have an option to eat the grape leaves, it was also very good.

Family Filled Weekend

Last weekend we had a memorial service for Mike's great uncle, Charles Everett Marshall.

He was so loved by many and will be greatly missed.What I really loved about "Unk" was how lovingly he took care of his sister (Mike's Grandma). After she passed he became more active in participating at family gatherings. He came to the dinners and birthday parties, and family trips. He always came. I grew to love him so much. I am so grateful to have been able to spend some time with him right before he passed away. He served his family, neighbors and country. He gave with his whole heart. Love you Unk!

Good Morning

I just have to tell you how much I really dislike taking vitamins. The ones we currently have, leave pasty stuff on your tongue and a really bad after taste. Mike is always reminding me to take them (handing them to me with a glass of water), but I wasn't up this morning (no school today). I walked into the kitchen for breakfast a few hours ago and this is what I found.


Why does he have to be so cute? The chocolate was the bribe, though he shouldn't have to bribe me to take something that is good for me right? I've had a sore throat for about a week now, and he's been making me take two vitamins, a girl can't be too careful you know (I don't think my body can absorb ALL of those nutrients, but it makes him happy). He also makes me take the motrin for the swelling of my tonsils. Thank you Dr. Michael.

Fun Things Good Things

Saturday Ted & Allison called us and invited us to with them to a Greek Fest, and so we went and met them at Old Navy (more on that in a minute). We arrived and had delicious Greek food and pastries. Yum! I only wish I had I bigger stomach so I could eat more. While there, some friends of Allison and Ted showed up, Tim and Jean. They had one of the cutest babies I have ever seen, baby Weston. I realized that I didn't take any pictures at the Greek Fest so I stole a picture from Jean :) Jean and West will be joining us at Karaoke night, who can get enough of this cutie's smile? not me

I started on a little project a few days ago. A few months back I was at Ross looking through the dresses and while looking at those strappy sun dresses, all I could see were aprons. I then made Krisha come with me and I got physically sick because there were so many cute apron possibilities and limited amount of moola. So I settled on two and they have been hanging up the whole summer. No longer, I finished one late last night. I got home from church and I wanted to wear it all day, but I had to take it off and go to a meeting :( So seriously, if you want to make a cute apron go to Ross, $12.99 for a dress or if you are fortunate like me, you can get a reduced price one for like $6.99! Plus it's an instant boost, of course I would love to be involved in some domestic duties wearing this beauty.

"I'm so sad, please make me into something wearable."

I even had left over fabric I can use to make matching hot pads

(Mike was able to capture how ecstatic I was)

see the petticoat underneath

Back to Old Navy, THANK YOU Allison for making us meet you there! See the skirt I wore to church, I found it at Old Navy for 50% off, and it matched my new favorite THRIFTED Sweater (I've been wearing it so much, it's those cute buttons). I love the print on the skirt and the way it feels. It reminds me of an antique scarf.

P.S. Krisha please post some pictues of your apron (it's red bandana print for this cowgirl!)

Birthday Wishes and Love

Yesterday was my nephew Keith's Birthday. Happy Birthday! I was able to sneak up to his house on Tuesday night. I helped Grandma decorate the living room and make little flags for some birthday cupcakes for school. He got a kick out of waking up to a room decorated just for him. This past Sunday we had a family get together and we celebrated his birthday. I got to play with the nieces and nephews; I taught them how to play Sardines and in return they taught me Virus and Ghost in the Graveyard. There was a lot of running involved

(I'm still out of shape).

Birthday Boy and Lou (Juliet)

Ryan and Sophia

The Three Musketeers

Bubie (Spencer)

Binnie (Evelyn)


Bubie, Jim and Jen (I love this picture)
Ricky and Mikki (sillies)

September 17th marks another important date for Mike and me. It is the day we were sealed for TIME & ETERNITY in the Los Angeles Temple. It has been wonderful so far, I can't imagine how much JOY being bound FOREVER will bring. I feel I am in much debt to my Heavenly Father for the blessing that Mike has been in my life, and I'm ever grateful. On Wednesday I went alone to pick up Jonathen from School. On the way home he gave me a little interview. First he asked about dating, which led to him questioning me about how I knew to marry his Daddy. I explained to him that I had never met anyone like his Dad before. I told him that adversity sometimes drives people away from God, but that for his Dad, it had made him closer to God than ever before. I told Jonathen that his Dad had to rely on the Lord for Strength, and that he had been through a lot for being as young as he was. This had caused him to have a great passion for life and the will to be ever grateful and righteous. That's what I fell in love with. I told Jonathen how blessed we both were to have such a wonderful person in our lives. I love you baby!

Summer Adventures

Of course we still Karaoke every week, although summer was a little sporadic. Who can beat $1.99 for a Burger, fries and a drink?!? Burger Continental my friends, come and join us. Mike is the star of the show (I'm not biased or anything, but I'm pretty sure everyone there would agree with me), not to mention our other talented friends and their kids. It's fun, even if you're not that great of a singer (me).

Some of my favorite people: Jonathen and Jorge (yes that's me singing in the background with Jami and Diane)


Something very spontaneous that we did was visit some old friends, the Brazells. We miss you dearly. Jonathen was in heaven playing with his friends. I got to see some of Ranita's art. She is very talented. She wanted me to pick a painting that I wanted, I must say that was a very difficult decision. I'll post a picture as soon as I hang it up. I can't wait to see them again!

their room was clean until we showed up

Then we were on our way to beautiful Yosemite. I hadn't been there since before I got married, so it was fun to go back and see it again. So yeah hiking, I was totally out of shape for this trip. We hiked to all the different water falls, but holy smokes it kicked my heiny. We made it to Nevada Falls, but I seriously thought I was gonna die. I'm not being dramatic. It really felt like my limbs were going to fall off, they were so mad at me for torturing them through that hike! I just kept thinking there's gotta be a helicopter up there because I'm not going to make it back down. They are going to have to carry me or put me in some kind of parachute or hot air balloon. I have never been so tired in my whole life. I thought of the trek that Mike and I went on in Wyoming, that was a total of 45 miles, about fifteen miles everyday, but that was not like this. This was really steep and I hadn't been training or even walking for quite a while. There were these steps that were carved into the rock, I just looked up there and my heart sank. You know what kept me going? Seeing the grandmas and grandpas and all the little kiddos that were going up as if it were nothing. Not to mention the twelve or thirteen year old girls carrying backpacks with gear, WHAT? I just thought to myself, hey if they can do it I can do it. I just tricked myself up the hill. By the end, my legs were cursing and screaming at me and my heart was punching me as it pounded in my chest. For some reason I didn't remember the hike being so torturous a few years back. I must have really blocked that one out or I'm just really out of shape, I'm going to go with the latter one.

This was such a beautiful trip. "I'm glad that I live in this beautiful world, Heavenly Father created for me." Absolutely loved this trip, enjoy the pictures.

driving in

death steps, there were many, many more


many beautiful waterfalls

pause for lunch, Emerald Pool in the background

Can you see a little smoke on top of the mountain?

by the afternoon the whole valley was covered in smoke

we walked to that fire tower from here after driving on an off road trail