A Classic California Christmas

I love Christmas. I love coming home for Christmas. I love pulling into the driveway (this year we were towed in... but you get the idea) and having my mom and dad come out to greet us. I love the white lights and decorations and nativities everywhere (my mom now has over thirty). I love the smell of carmels and cinnamon jells and cinnamon rolls.

I love going to Naples in Long Beach to walk up and down looking at all the beautifully decorated harbor homes. I love late night movies with Paige. I love sleeping in. I love playing Christmas songs on the piano--and, even more, to sing all the Torgerson and Snowball classics with my mom playing.

I love (LOVE) Christmas Eve. The fancy dinner with candles and martinellies and all the turkey trimmings. I love the program we do every single year--the stories that make Mom cry, the singing, the Sees Candies, the stockings on the chairs, and the Miracle on 34th Street and The Grinch watching that happens upstairs as we fall asleep, waiting for the magic to take it's toll.

I love Paige's inability sleep and her bouncing energy at 6:30 am Christmas morning. I love the parade down the stairs as we go to greet the gifts of Christmas. I love taking our time opening stockings and watching as the Santa presents are opened (Santa doesn't come to married folk, so we patiently waited our turns as Paige and Blake make their way through their piles). I love that my dad sits by the tree and tosses the presents to us one by one. I love capturing Paige's great reactions on presents she especially hoped for or that came completely unexpected. I love the migration to the kitchen for homemade cinnamon rolls and hot chocolate and talk of the gifts.

I love the missionary phonecall as we all fan around the speaker phone and three-way in those who didn't come home this year. The jumble of conversations, the cascade of questions.

I love the lazy morning in pajamas and the slow processions to the showers to get ready to go to the Grandmas' houses. I love walking into Grandma Snowball's house and being greeted by the aunts and the 100+ santa decorations strategically placed throughout the house. I love the candy dishes and the ongoing conversations and the red sweaters in abundance. I love the traffic in the kitchen when dinner is served and the slouching in the chairs and recliners when finished. I love the music--the classic Snowball music--and the feeling of unity and we all sing the familiar carols and blend our voices in the familiar harmonies. An Old Fashioned Christmas. Were You There. Who Would Send a Baby. Silent Night Lullaby. I love it when the sweet soup is brought out and the adults come carrying their cream-filled bowls in their hands to the living room (while us non-sweet-soupers scramble for the creamsicles). I love the sigh of the day as we climb back into pajamas and watch a movie or read a new book, warm with the day's doings.

I love waking up the next morning and wishing Mom a Happy Birthday and then getting to partake of the usual festivities for that day (shopping with Mom, out to lunch, a movie). I love the piles of unwraped presents that fill up the suitcases and floorspace of the rooms because we don't quite want to put them away yet.

I love being home for Christmas. The scramble to be ready, the excitment and calm of the day, the lazy haze of the aftermath. I'm a little sad to be leaving today in just a few hours to go back to my own apartment and another week of vacation. There is nothing quite like being home for the holidays. I wish it never had to end.

Crazy car happenings...

So Saturday afternoon we were making our way down the I-15 after a glorious night and morning with Sara and Stanford (that included a salmon dinner... a full-on breakfast, fun conversation, and a good night's sleep) when something big and white and scary flipped out off the road and hit us in the windshield. We think it was a car bumper (at least that big) that the truck in front of us ran over. I was sleeping and all Jeremy could think to do in the second is duck. It didn't break through (luckily, or I wouldn't be here to write this post), but it did shatter the glass on the far driver's side and break a hole in the lamanent (between the two pieces of glass of the windshield) and force us to pull over. After assessing the damage, getting as much glass out of our clothing as possible, and trying to drive a little further, we realized that we would never make it the 80+ miles home (we were just outside of Victorville). So we did what anyone else would do... we pulled into a cheap hole-in-the-wall Mexican restaurant and called for a tow truck (thank you AAA!) and ate some of the most delicious food this side of Mexico (for future reference, it's called Taco Chon and it's the very first exit coming into Victorville... before it looks like you've reached civilization).

We were hit about 1:00/1:15pm and we got home about 7:00pm, so it made for a full-0ut adventure. I'm just glad we are alive!

Sleigh bells ring... are you listening?

Once upon a time there was a little girl who had a little curl right in the middle of her forehead. And she lived in Cedar City where the snow came down so hard she wished she had a sleigh instead of a tiny, low-to-the-ground hatchback to get around in...

But that doesn't matter any more because now she has left the land of snow and is on her way to California (currently she is in her pjs at her sister's house in Vegas but will soon continuing the journey to HB). She finished all her projects (almost) and Christmas sewing and baking and hours of working... and is ready for a whole glorious week of helping her mother finish all her projects and sewing and baking. She is ready for homemade cinnamon rolls and hours of movie watching and turkey making and present giving.

And she hopes to catch up on all her blog reading and blog writing (since the internet is stable at the parent's home) and sleeping.

And she hopes your Christmas week is looking just as merry and bright!

My new favorite blog

I've decided I need to read the blog of anyone who makes homemade graham crackers (mmm...) and ties them with red ribbons. Don't you agree?

Hooray for Christmas Trees!

Isn't it cute? Don't get me wrong... we are definitely going to be real-christmas-tree folks (bought off a lot, of course...), we just have to move out of Utah to somewhere where they sell them on lots again! Our little 4 1/2 foot beauty came to us curtesy of Roberts (craft store) at half price! Can't beat that. I had all the trimmings from last year's tree extravaganza (aka lots of homemade cinnamon/gingerbread ornaments... they sort of make up for the lack of real tree smell in the apartment). I am still planning on making a fabric garland... and if my internet works and my computer works and my tummy isn't doing backflips when I look at the computer screen... you just might get to see it!

In the meantime...

Merry Christmas!

Hot cross buns

Hot cross buns

Hot cross buns

One a penny

Two a penny

Hot cross buns

For those of you who don't yet know...

There's a bun in my oven!

And I'm pretty dang excited about it :)

(But please don't ask me to eat anything like what is pictured at the top of the page or I for sure would lose my cookies... does morning sickness ever end? Really?)

So Sad

Just so you know, I'm not going back on my promise to be a better blogger... I just don't know what to do when my computer freezes everytime I turn it on. Anyone know how to get rid of what seems to be a nasty virus (possibly on Mozilla)??

Sigh. Not I.

In the meantime, I'll cross my fingers I'll see you soon.

Yes on Prop 8

I haven't written anything on my blog about Prop 8, but that's not to say I haven't been following it closely. I remember Prop 22 in 2000--my senior year--with vivid clarity. Mostly my busy senior schedule only allowed me to make phone calls, while members of my ward and community walked streets, knocked doors, posted signs. We donated money and time and prayer. This time I am not in California, and thus not able to donate much more than my means. And a lot of prayer and encouragement and support as my family and home stake rallied around the Prophet's call to donate time and means and resources to defending the doctrinal truth that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God. While it is tempting to simply appease homosexuals in their desires for gay marriage, I cannot shirk the truth embedded deep in my heart that it is terribly wrong, for any of us, in any manner, to justify sin. And I know that marriage between a man and a woman is an integral, even essential, part of God's Plan of Salvation for his children. I know that any other way is not only contrary to His plan, but in fact sin. And while this issue, with Prop 8 in California, goes deeper and affects so many other things, this is the root of why I support it.

So two nights ago (November 4th), when I got home from work, I was not terribly interested in the exit poll results for the new President. I was a whole lot more worried about how Proposition 8 was doing. I hunted and searched and googled until I finally found a website (www.latimes.com) that showed the fluxuating results as more and more precincts reported. I hit refresh over and over and over again, watching the 56% yes (at 12% reporting) get closer and closer to 50%. All night long I woke up with dreams that the yes vote crossed the line into the minority. When the alarm finally sounded, I raced downstairs to hit refresh again.

By the end of yesterday, with 99.7% of precincts reporting, and 52.5% yes, I finally was at ease.

I can't tell you how grateful I am, first of all, that it passed (and it passed in Arizona and Florida). And secondly, for all of the countless hours and prayers and money and work that went in by so, so many Californians (and others) who fought so diligently for the cause. I know their efforts were consecrated. I know the prayers to touch the hearts of the people were answered. And I know that it made a difference. Thank you.

Once upon a time...

For at least the past five years running (minus the mission, of course), I have donned my reddest shoes and the Little Red Riding Hood cape my mom made years ago, and stepped into a fairy tale for Halloween. This year I dressed up for our work Halloween Family Fun Night on Thursday. I loved skipping around with my basket of bread and fruit in tow.

What is it about living in an alternate reality that is so appealing? For as long as I can remember, I have loved fairy tales and fantasy stories. And I have, honestly, tried hard to emulate some of my favorite fiction characters all my life.

As a little girl, I wished with all my heart that I could be as good and kind as Cinderella. I loved the Disney version where she spoke with animals (which scare me in real life) and sang like a lark. I wished I could do the same. I tried so hard to do whatever chores my mother gave me without complaining--just as Cinderella would have.

Of course, I have also long been in love with Miss Anne Shirley. I loved the movies and the books (still do) and wished I could be as feisty and fun and fanciful as she. In the books, she has this magical way of seeing the fairies and of building castles out of wild flowers and sunsets. I wished I could be as imaginative as she never failed to be. I always feared I was as a daft as dear Diana, despite my red hair.

When I read Les Miserables in high school, I was moved beyond measure by Jean Valjean. I wanted to be as noble and humble and worthy of respect.

In college when I first read The Blue Sword by Robin McKinley, I was impressed by Harry's strength, her resolve, her determination. I wondered what it would be like to be stolen in the night and to ride a horse bare-backed. Someday, perhaps.

Even my little Red Riding Hood, whom I imitate each year at Halloween is described as "a little village girl who was a sweet as sugar and as good as bread. Her mother loved her very much, and her grandmother was even fonder of her." Who doesn't want to be as sweet as sugar and as good as bread? I do!


If you could be (or be like) any fictional, fanciful, fairy character, who would YOU be?

Things I've learned in my (almost) two months of marriage

Not listed in any particular order...

• It's easier to go to bed at a decent hour when everyone else is going to bed (aka, the Mr.). I used to stay up way to late when I lived alone... I think I just didn't like having to be the one always pointing the finger at myself and making myself go.
• It's nice to have an immediate audience to tell all about my day. Even the low key or boring stuff.
• I'm not as good of a listener as I maybe thought I was.
  
• Men and women definitely are different.
• I like FHE a whole heck of a lot more with a real family than with a singles group. (Not that there isn't a time and place, but you know)
• Budgeting is dang hard work.
• I really like praying out loud with someone else. I didn't know how much I missed that living alone.
  
• Boys eat a lot.
  
• I love (LOVE) not having to always be the driver. Thank you, Jeremy.
• It's harder to keep the house tidy. Much. How does one more person do that?
• It's fun to always have an immediate person to serve.
• Two heads really are better than one.
• It's easier to cook for two. And much more fun.
• It's great to not have to always clean the bathroom or do the dishes. Someone else sharing the load makes it a whole lot lighter.
• I love having an automatic person to sit by at church (or anywhere else, for that matter!)
• I learn a lot more from the scriptures when I talk about what I studied.
• It's fun to plan (you know, life in general) with someone else.
  

The serial comma, part II

For all you good souls who indicated that you USE and APPRECIATE and ENCOURAGE the serial (or Oxford, or even sometimes referred to as the Harvard) comma...

I APPLAUD you!

You answered right.

Yes, the serial comma is clearer, is more comfortable, is the right thing to do.

The anonymous comment from my last post (who I suspect to be Paige, my little twin in all ways) gave the best reason. If there is no comma before the conjunction, I assume those last two items have a closer relationship than the rest. And I end the sentence wondering just what else is next.

So please, please, reconsider (if you already aren't converted) using the serial comma. As you can see (from all the comments!), it makes the most sense.

And that's all I have to say.

The serial comma

Alright, friends, I just really need to know.

What are your thoughts on the serial comma?

You know, the one that goes right before the conjunction in a series (i.e. The weather was cold, windy, and overcast.).

It is, of course, debatable by "experts" and "scholars" and "them" (the men in the long dark coats with top hats and beards). No one officially knows whether it really belongs there or not. But we do. All of us, deep in our heart of hearts, know whether or not to put it in.

So tell me.

Do you use it?

Heaven on a boat

So here it finally is, friends. The long awaited for post all about our cruise on The Monarch of the Seas (big boat pictured below). I am willing to guarantee that this is by far the longest post with the most pictures I have ever done. So hang on to your hats and glasses, 'cause this here's going to be the wildest ride in the wilderness!

The boat. Seriously, I loved being on this big boat. It was just fun being part of a never-to-be-experienced-again sense of freedom and vacation and the big blue ocean. I loved walking around the deck, sticking my head out of our peek-hole window, and watching the world roll by from any window I could get myself in front of. Jeremy didn't enjoy the view as much--it sort of made him nauseous. I didn't notice any real movement until the last night when, as Jeremy puts it, the boat was about to fall over because the waves were so huge. Seriously, we were doing some tossing and turning that night, but otherwise, it was smoothing sailing :).

Our room. It was small, but just right for the two of us. They courteously pushed our two twin beds together for a comfortable queen. I loved (LOVED) having a window. It was the last thing I looked out of at night, and the first thing in the morning. Let me just say a word here for the room service. Wow. They were fantastic. Our cute little room attendant cleaned and tidied our room twice a day. When we came back from breakfast the bed looked as pictured below and the bathroom as tidied. When we came back from dinner, the sheets were turned down and there were chocolates on our pillows. Oh, and fun towel animals (that I put in way at the end, so you'll just have to read the whole post if you want to see my awesome hanging towel monkey. I promise it's worth it!)

Day 1: San Diego. So Monday we boarded the boat in LA... Tuesday we disembarked in San Diego. Here's the view from the deck. We had planned out our excursions way ahead of time, meaning we had something to do everyday. I highly recommend this. Seriously, we were always on the go. It was nice to be busy during the day because there was always some down time in the evening when we didn't want to be near the bars or casinos and could just walk around and enjoy the ocean. But if we had planned to do that all day everyday, it would have made for a boring cruise.

So Tuesday, our day in San Diego, we went to the Wild Animal Park. Despite growing up so close to San Diego, I had never been. It was way fun.

This here is the last of TWO living of it's kind (some sort of white rhino). Poor fellow.


By FAR the highlight of the zoo happened when we found a little bit of shade to rest in. What should we see on the other side of the pool? None other but a devil bird (technically a shoebill something or other). I wish I had the talent to upload videos, because this bird just about ate the little worker lady alive. As we're sitting there, she (the worker lady) opens the gate and begins to wade across the water with a bucket of fish and mice and other unpleasantries to feed this enormous dragon looking bird and his mate. But rather than a friendly afternoon lunch, the devil bird not only refused to eat, he snapped (his LOUD snapping bill) and fluttered (his BIG flapping wings) and cornered the poor little lunch lady. At one point he grabbed the lip of her bucket in his bill. I seriously wanted to start yelling for her to just get the heck out of there before SHE became the lunch. She kept her cool, however, and it all ended ok, I guess. Finally the mate showed up who did want lunch and the male devil bird went and simmered (literally he looked like he could have killed someone) under the trees. We have the whole thing on video. Alas, I just don't know how to upload it. Sorry.


Jeremy took TONS of artistic photos of the trees and flowers. These are two of my favorites. I love how you can she the sun rays in this first one.


Jeremy's favorite: the gorillas. Again, another long video I can't upload. But they were great fun. They really do look somewhat human.

At 6', Jeremy is the same hight as the average gorilla. And with his ultra long torso and short legs, he had almost the same build! He just needs longer arms and a bigger gut. Kind of crazy.

Can you see the baby getting lunch too?

Honey anyone?

Day 2: Catalina. The second day of our cruise took us to Catalina Island. I grew up squinting across the beach trying to see Catalina. I can't tell you how excited I was to finally get to go! This is the view from the top of the boat (deck 12) right outside from where we eat breakfast (mmm... the food... more on that in a minute). Catalina was bigger and prettier than I thought it would be. Our big plans for this day was snorkling. So fun! Neither of us had ever done it before, and let me tell you, I would gladly do it again. The only bummer was, we were leaving the boat in a hurry after breakfast, and I forgot to put in my contacts. So sad. Since I had to wear a snorkling mask, that meant I couldn't see many details in the water. Because of said blunder we bought an underwater camera and Jeremy took lots of pictures (that someday we will develop). Despite my lack of vision, I loved getting in the water, wearing a wet suit, and playing with the bright orange fish that were all around us.





Day 3: Ensenada Mexico. Hip Hip hooray for Mexico! This was my first time (ever) stepping foot in Mexico. Such fun. This is the view from our porthole (the morning was a bit overcast) and then a little later from deck 12 after breakfast. Our big adventure in Mexico included a tour to "La Bufadora" (or the blowhole). Neither of us had ever seen a blowhole before, and it was so rad. I loved even the bus trip out--driving past all the Mexican markets and fields. Ok, ok, so I slept most of the way, but I liked what I saw. There were little shops (totally touristy) on the walk out to la bufadora where we bought a mango with chile (mmmm...) and a big soft coconut. Dang. My mouth is watering right now just thinking about it. My one souvenir from the trip (besides pictures) was a small red pendant we bartered for in one of the shops. It was fun to be able to surprise people by busting out our Spanish. The BEST part about our day in Mexico, however happened when we got back from the tour. We let the bus drop us off a few blocks from the boat and went in search of the most authentic taco shop we could find. After considerable searching and repeatedly asking locals for advice and directions we found The Place. dang. Flies in the cilantro and everything... those were the best tacos I've ever had. Worth every peso.

There are only seven flags in all of Mexico this big (I don't remember the dimensions, but BIG). And one is in Ensenada. So fun.



Ok. Now something must be said about the food. Wow. The day excursions were fun, the room was nice. But dinner? It beat all. Seriously, I looked forward to dinner all night long (and lamented the fact that it was over every night). Dinner was in a big dinning hall with assigned seating (our fellow table mates are pictured below--there were six of us). No jeans or shorts were allowed, so every night I donned a skirt and Jeremy put on his khakis. We had two fantastic Indian waiters (everyone working on the boat was international--it totally added to the exotic ambiance). When we showed up (at 5pm sharp), they would put our napkins in our laps, pour us some water, and give us the nightly menu. On the menu were always starters and entrees. You could have as many of each as you wanted. Things like chilled watermelon soup or es cargo as starters, things like Rosemary Lamb Shank or King Crab Legs as entrees. There were at least 10 of each every night, always different. The first night we were a little penosa and only had one starter and one entree... not for long. It was only a matter of time before everyone at the table had at least two starters and we were sending back from someone else's entree of choice that looked too good to pass up. And then there was desert. Not going to lie, most of them had alcohol, but I was content with my nightly dish of sherbert, so I didn't mind! I just loved that dinner was such an event. It took at least an hour and half. Our table was fun, our waiters were fabulous, and the food was divine. Seriously. And I haven't even told you about the buffets upstairs all day long or the room service (we loved the cheese plate) at night. Dang. You honestly couldn't go out to such a nice restaurant so many nights in a row for the price of the cruise.

I don't remember their names (oops). But these two were fun. They were neighbors who came for some convention. I loved sitting with the "older crowd."
Harmony (not a good picture, sorry), and Gail, her mom. Harmony was a little chatterbox and made any initial awkwardness of sitting with people you don't know disappear.

Here they are! The long awaited for towel animals. Here is our monkey and puppy dog. I, sadly, didn't get a picture of the elephant. But you can just imagine it was very awesome.

And there you have it, folks. More than you ever wanted to know about our cruise. I left out at least a hundred pictures (which I'm betting your grateful about). All I have to say is that it was WORTH IT. Seriously, if you are trying to figure out what to do for your honeymoon... go with a cruise! If you are trying to figure out what to do for an anniversary get away... go with a cruise! I don't know that I would recommend kids--although people had them--it's just that your room is so small. And the big things to do the boat are gambling and drinking... not good family activities. We were content walking around the deck and watching movies on my laptop in our room as an alternative. Anyhow, I hope you've enjoyed the show... until next time :).

Dang

One of my favorite things growing up was the ever unexpected, always anticipated bread making day. My mom makes dang good white bread. But it wasn't something she did all the time. Because it was a five hour process, and because we downed a loaf in no minutes flat, she saved it for special occasions. But I always loved it when she did. The whole house would fill up with that mouth-watering smell of goodness. I would sit at the counter and watch every step of the process. I loved watching her roll them out into perfect loaves. I loved helping her spread butter across the warm tops right after getting out of the oven. I loved getting to eat the heel--slathering it with butter that melted immediately into it's soft, spongy whiteness. Mmmm. I love that bread.

So, you can be rest assured that bread-making is high on my list of things to master. I want my kids to experience it like I did. I am not quite ready to try to my mom's recipe (dang, it seriously did take five hours. I only have two loaf pans anyway, so it will just have to wait). But I did try a 60 minute bread recipe yesterday that turned out fabulous. Here's proof.


I made homemade bread (said with a grin). This stuff seriously can't be good for you. And I made homemade veggie spaghetti sauce. And it was good (and it was easy-peasy). Even you can make it. Here's how:

The Bread (taken from Best of Country Breads, pg 50)
Technically this is called "60-minute mini bread" because they tell you to do it in two mini loaves. I did mine in one big loaf for the same time and it turned out great. You may do as you please.

3 cups all-purpose flour
1 Tbs. sugar
1 tsp. salt
1 pkg quick rise yeast (I used a Tbs)
3/4 cup water
1/4 cup milk
2 Tbs. butter or margarine

1. In a mixing bowl, combine 2 cups flour, sugar, salt, and yeast. In a saucepan, heat the water, milk, and butter to 120-130 degrees (I heated it until the butter melted). Add to dry ingredients; beat until smooth. Stir in enough remaining flour to form a soft dough..
2. Turn onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, about 4 minutes. (Note: I was using beaters with bread hooks, so I just beat it for four minutes, it still turned out great.)
3. Do not let rise (the best part!)
4. Roll out into a 16"x10" rectangle (for one loaf, not two). Roll up, jelly roll style, starting with the short side; pinch to seal. Place, seam side down, in a greased loaf pan. Fill a 9"x13" pan with 1" hot water. Set loaf pan in water. Cover and let rise for 15 minutes.
5. Remove loaf pan from the water bath. Bake at 400 degrees for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from pans to wire racks to cool.
6. Cut while still slightly warm and savor its goodness.

The Veggie Spegetti Sauce (from the Betty Crocker Sunday Dinner Cookbook, pg 128)
Seriously, even you can make this, Tasha. Who needs meat in their spaghetti anyway? Even Jeremy (the meat-eater) loved it.

2 cups uncooked penne pasta
1 Tbs olive oil or veggie oil (I just sprayed my pan instead)
1 medium onion, chopped (1/2 cup)
1 medium carrot, chopped (1/2 cup)
1 can (14.5 ounces) diced tomatoes with basil, garlic, and oregano, undrained
1 can (8 ounces) tomato sauce
1 small unpeeled zucchini, chopped (1 cup)
1/2 tsp dried basil leaves
1 tsp parsley
Parmesan cheese to taste

1. Cook and drain pasta as directed on package
2. While pasta is still cooking, heat oil in 10" skillet, medium-high heat. Cook onion and carrot in oil 2 to 3 minutes, stirring occasionally, until crisp tender. Stir in tomatoes and tomato sauce. Cook 5 minutes.
3. Stir in zucchini and basil and parsley; reduce heat to medium. Cook about 5 minutes (I think I did 10 or 15), stirring occasionally, until sauce is desired consistency. Serve over pasta. Sprinkle with cheese.
4. Sop up excess sauce with amazingly good homemade bread in left hand, fork in right hand.

What to do with a day filled with nothing but time?

Oh how I love holidays! Today and tomorrow are "UEA" days (gifts from the Utah Educators Association) and Monday is a "Harvest Holiday" (aka go get a deer day). And me? Well, let's just say this all adds up to a little more sleep for Miss Carly Jane. I am looking forward to...

• tidying up my little abode (oh how I love a clean room in which to sit)
• finishing Repunzel's Revenge by Shannon Hale--my birthday gift from Tasha--who doesn't love Shannon Hale? Honestly.
• watching Anne of Green Gables while finishing thank yous
• taking a nap
• having the energy (after taking the said nap) to actually make something for dinner (it's been a rough week in that department)
• starting Chalice by Robin McKinley--my birthday gift from Paige--who couldn't be excited about a new McKinley book?? She's only one of the greatest authors of YA lit. Ever.
• go to bed early (yes, this weekend looks to be including lots of desired sleep and I couldn't be happier about it).
• work on my Redwork quilt (I'm plugging right along still)
• run an errand to two. But only the necessary ones.
• perhaps (just perhaps) start working on Christmas projects (any good sites or ideas out there?!)
• be sure to take another nap.

I hope your weekend is looking just as lovely (even if it is more adventure filled).

First SNOW!

Yes, you read that right. IT IS SNOWING IN CEDAR!! This is me posing right outside our door (next to Jeremy's bike... that he won't be using too much any more, and in front of my cute little hatchback, "Rudy"). What you can't see is that the flakes are coming down like there's no tomorrow. And that smile on my face? Yup, it's real. I am one happy girl! Come winter! Come snow! Come mittens and wool sweaters and scarves! Come hot chocolate and heating bags in my bed! Let the cold weather begin!

Where oh where have I been??

I am sure some of you have begun to wonder just what has happened to Carly Jane. I used to blog at least 2-3 times a week. I was diligent and dedicated and occasionally funny. And then I got engaged and then married and I have become a lost soul on the blogosphere. I post once a week if I'm lucky and I comment once a month if you're lucky! Lame. If that's what you're thinking, well, you're right on the money.

Not that I believe in excuses (in fact, I don't), but let me explain just a little bit of a day in the life of Carly Jane.

5:40 Phone alarm sounds. Hit snooze twice (five minutes each).

5:50 sneak out of bed so as to not wake up Jeremy. Shower, dress etc.

6:20 Head down stairs (yes, my little Cedar City apartment--for just $500 a month!--has stairs) and put away the dishes from last night (or do said dishes), engage in scripture study. At some point I put toast in the toaster and eat the morning meal.

7:15 Family scripture study (folks, this really is the best part of the day)

7:40 head out the door and walk to work (just a short 3/4 mile away--hooray for morning leg stretching!)

8:00 Begin a morning at Iron County's Adult Education. The morning is all Even Start. I plan my parenting class (yup, despite not being a parent), and my ESL class. Teach my cute little class of Mexican mom's who come to learn all I've got to give 'em. Do planning and correlation meetings etc. Try not to eat the fig newtons we always keep in the back cupboard (did you know I LOVE fig newtons? I do.)

1:00 Walk home. Usually I call Tasha on the way or read my book (yes, I know the route so dang well I have only once gotten hit in the face with a branch while reading and walking--and I think that was because it was a windy day). At this point I enjoy my little break in the day. I eat lunch, write thank yous, read (I succumbed... the thank yous aren't done, but the books are being read just the same. Dang.), tidy up, read a blog or two, make dinner, and, if I'm lucky, I take a short nap.

3:40 Head out the door and walk back to work.

4:00 Begin my afternoon Adult Ed duties. Mondays and Wednesdays I teach classes (Basic Literacy and GED prep.), so these days I do prep work and then teach. The other days I head down to the library where I hope (and pray and cross my fingers) that students are in need of my expert (who am I kidding?) help. If there aren't many to help, I make phone calls to those who haven't come in recently, make plans for other lessons to be taught soon, familiarize myself more with the curriculum the students are doing through packets, A+, and Plato. (oh, and talk to Jill, the TA).

8:00 Mr. Christiansen picks me up and we head back home. He finishes homework--sometimes i help quiz him etc as test prep. I eat some of the dinner I left on the counter for him earlier. If I am lucky, I read a little. We spend some quality time together.

9:30/10:00 the bed is screaming my name and I gratefully slip into it. Usually to not fall asleep for half and hour to an hour.

And there you have it. More information than you EVER wanted to know. Sorry. But there is this beautiful little thing call the weekend. And for me, that starts on Friday. Today is my day to run errands, do the laundry, clean house, and breathe. So far today's be accomplishment includes making granola (and writing this post). Next is laundry. I think a nap should fit in there somewhere. And maybe my book (Watership Down). And I blog. So far it's been the only day I blog...

But I make a pledge to do better about blogging. I will not only read your blogs in google reader, but I will comment. I will not only look at the comments on my own blog, I will write more posts! I've missed my little place in the blogging world these past few months.

Chef Carly

When Jeremy and I got engaged, we were living in Blanding. He was living at home and thus was able to enjoy his mom's AMAZING cooking. I was invited over to dinner frequently and immediately began to worry (as if I wasn't already) about my cooking skills. After a delicious Deb dinner I would often remind Jeremy that life in our house just might not be as scrumdillyuptious. After all, the entire year I lived in Blanding I lived off Stove Top, peas, and popcorn. Every now and again I would make a simple casserole or a pan of pizza. That's it.

Since we've moved to Cedar I have made great efforts to up my cooking skills and menus. I believe in eating family dinners together; thus, I am determined to cook. Almost daily. I have found in the process that I LOVE looking in cookbooks (thank you to all you generous gift givers who stocked my cookbook shelf!) and I love trying new things (which isn't hard since I hadn't cooked much before).

Anyhow, today I did my weekly planning and shopping (hooray for not working on Fridays!!) and thought I would share some of my planned meals with you. Tasha used to post her weekly menus, and I used to love reading them. I still go back and find some of her old menus when trying to think up dishes for the week. I am pretty excited about what is coming up (since just about all of them are untried recipes). Perhaps they won't come out exactly in this order, but this is what Mr. Christiansen has to look forward to this week:

Tonight: Beef stir fry and spinach salad (with lemon pound cake for dessert--we have company coming)
Saturday: pulled pork sandwhiches (crockpot style)
Sunday: (more pulled pork? Just maybe.) Chicken noodle soup (I love soups these days!)
Monday: Greek Chicken
Tuesday: Chicken dumplings (I think... the recipe looks good, but I'm not sure what they are)
Wednesday: spaghetti with homemade veggie sauce.
Thursday: pork and swiss sandwiches
Friday: Go to the store? Eat leftovers?

ps. I am pretty sure I should be able to get this pulled pork to last more days--since it is 2.5 pounds of meat! (and postpone some of these dinners into the next week--which is what I really want to do)--any ideas for what to do with leftover shredded pork??

Still to no avail

I have not read a single page in over a week (maybe that's a lie, but it feels true). I think I want to cry. I think I want to scream. I think I want to finish thank you cards soon, or I will never be able to read again.


On a happier note, last night's onion roasted chicken was tasty (even if slightly undercooked) and I am looking forward to today's tomato soup and rolls.

And I do like getting a chance to write little notes to all the people I love and am so grateful to... I just miss my imaginary friends.

I lose

Sorry, folks. If you were wanting cruise pictures and Blanding wedding pictures, I am go ing to sorely disappoint you today. I just don't have them as of right now on this computer (yes, mine still is having internet woes). I will say that I loved every minute of being back in Blanding. I didn't realize just how much I had missed it until we were back into town. All day on Saturday I kept saying "I hope so-and-so comes. I hope so-and-so comes." My list of hopeful attendants was so long I finally gave up thinking about it. But so many did! It was wonderful to see everyone, to get to go to church on Sunday in my old ward, to drive around town with Paige (who soon discovered just why I love that little town so dearly). It was a wonderful weekend. Thank you to all who came. I love you more than I think you'll ever realize. I really do miss you.

Other than that, I thought I would do Jeanine's tag to list for you six insignificant details about my life. Some of these you may already know or gather from my previous postings.

1. I am a bad sleeper. I have been for about the past five years. I wake up all night long and roll over and try to get comfortable--usually to no avail.

2. Because I am a bad sleeper at night, I fall asleep all day long. In college I would be excited if I could make it through a single day without falling asleep in any classes. This was a rare feat. Yesterday I feel asleep in a meeting at work. It is super embarrassing. All of a sudden I will be sitting there and my head will start to nod and droop and before you know it, I'm out. Thank goodness I have good muscle control, however, and am usually still sitting upright (although, shout out to the boy in one of my Spanish classes in college who would always push me upright if I started to hang out into the aisle!)

3. I love to stir things. It is super relaxing to me. I love making carmels at Christmas time because I get to sit at the stove and do nothing but stir for at least 20 minutes. So if I am ever at your house at dinner time and you need a stirer, please pick me.

4. I guess I am somewhat of a neat freak. I don't like to think it's true--that I might fit that label, but I do like my house to be really neat. If there are piles of things (which there often are--even of my own making), I want them to be in neat piles.

5. You probably already know I am a book worm. But more than that, I start to go through withdrawls (perhaps the early signs of anxiety, I don't know) if I haven't finished a book in a while. For example, life has been pretty crazy this month so I haven't finished a book since right before the wedding. THREE WEEKS! I want to pull my hair out when I think about it. I really really really want to read. In fact, I should stop what I am doing right now (writing this blog) and get all my chores done so I CAN read. Today. Lots more than 4-5 pages at a time. Deep breath.

6. I have recently discovered that I am a good recipe follower. I'm not good at making up recipes on my own (maybe someday), but give me a recipe, and I can do it! This makes me very happy as I was seriously concerned about my abilities to cook meals on a consistant basis--something I did not do as a single person. You should see my meal plans for this week--all new recipes, all very fun. I can do it!

Reception #2, coming right up!

Dang, if I had known how much I would love my life as Mrs. Christiansen, I just might have eloped! No, I completely take that back. I LOVED getting married, wearing the big white dress, taking pictures, having a beautifully and perfectly arrayed reception, and going on a honeymoon. Good things come to those who wait. Speaking of honeymoons, I recommend them. Highly. It was so so nice to step out of reality for a few days and spend all day every day together. I will be forever grateful we were able to go on a honeymoon, and I would recommend a cruise! I have been trying ALL week long to get internet long enough on my laptop to post all my fabulous pictures (curtesy of Jeremy, the photographer of the family) and tell you about all of our fun adventures... but alas to no avail. In fact, right now I am on Jeremy's computer because mine can't get internet and the pictures are all on mine. Grrr. I don't know what's wrong. Anyhow, pictures and stories and recommendations for your future cruising adventures are forthcoming. In the meantime, I just wanted you to know we are alive and well in our little Cedar City apartment. Life has swung back into action with school and work and laundry to do (and no gourmet chef in the kitchen, just little ole me and a stack of cookbooks...).

We are, however, on our way out of town again today for our reception/open house number two in Blanding. I am SO EXCITED to go home to Blanding for the weekend. I am so excited to see my students and ward members and family and friends that I have missed so much since driving away in a big U-haul a month and a half ago. I know Debbie, Jeremy's mom, has a beautiful open house planned that includes dozens of her unbeatable homemade pies. If you are reading my blog and you live anywhere near Blanding (or better yet are one of my favorite Blandingites lurking in the courners of my blog...) I had better see you there! Tomorrow night (Saturday the 20th) at the arts and events center, from 7-9. I've missed you.




ps. for those wanting to see more wedding pictures, check out my sister's blog post. She goes through the full details with commentary :). Thanks Tasha!

Whoot whoot!

Well, folks. It's a done deal :). I am now Mrs. Christiansen, and I couldn't be happier about it. Today we leave for the cruise and thus won't be sending many updates or posting more photos until I return. In the meantime...

I hope I look as incredibly happy as I felt. It was a perfect day in every way. I couldn't stop smiling ear to ear!

Wedding Week

I don't have much new or ultra exciting to blog about this week. Just that I am getting married in a matter of days. No, I'm not scared or nervous or stressed out. Everything has gone so smoothly so far. My mom is incredible and has taken the lead as wedding planner extraordinaire. I have all confidence that everything will be beautiful and somehow just what I wished for. I am feeling so peaceful about everything. And I know that it is good and it is right and that my life is going to be pretty dang fantastic as Mrs. Christiansen. Only I just can't quite figure out why it isn't here yet. I wish Saturday was tomorrow instead of a handful of days away still! But it will come and go sooner than I think, so I'm doing my best to enjoy the moment. For those of you wanting to know... here's the upcoming agenda of exciting events:

Thursday: leave after I get off work (at 8:00pm) to drive to Vegas. Spend the night at Jeremy's brother's house.
Friday: Get up early and drive to California. Run to and fro getting things ready for the reception, enjoy the general excitement with all in town for the next day's goodness.
Saturday: 6:30/7:00ish Get up early and get ready for the temple (make sure hair is nice and curly, don red outfit, be sure to put marriage license and temple recommend in bag). 10:30 arrive at the temple and get into the big white dress. 11:30 Be sealed for time and all eternity to Jeremy Max Christiansen (big smile). Take pictures. Be happy. 5:00 Wedding reception in the Koller back yard amongst the flowers and trees, vintage tables cloths and daisies, scrumptious cake and wedding goodness, and all the people I love.
Following Monday: get on the "Monarch of the Seas" and cruise our way to San Diego, Catalina, and Ensenada, Mexico. And Live Happily Ever After.

I can't stop smiling ear to ear because I LOVE MY LIFE. I hope to see you there...

10 days...

and counting....

There is a balm in Gilead

Hmmm. I just read about another small airplane crash. That makes three. The first hit me hardest because it was people I know. Three men from my ward in Blanding. Good men. With good wives whom I worked with and loved. Woman left alone with small children. The second was Friday--a team of dermatologists from here in Cedar. They were in Moab and incidentally one of the patients they went to see was Mark, my future father-in-law. Jeremy had just gone into their office on Thursday, the day before it happened, to have a mole removed, and I needed to set up an appointment for sometime next month. Ten people were killed. Again leaving spouses, unborn children, fiances, children, and grandchildren.

It just makes me hurt. So many. So suddenly and unexpectedly. And it also makes me remember and be grateful that I know there is a plan. A bigger plan than just this life. There is more to just getting up in the morning and going to work or school or whatever. There is more than just what we see. I know there is a loving Father in Heaven who has given us this time, these precious years, to learn to be like him. He allows us opportunities to love and to hurt, to rejoice and to sorrow, to look outside our own spheres and to lose ourselves in the lives of other people. I know that He knows us and loves us individually.

When I was a little girl I would think about how much God must love other people. I would think about the man riding his gondola in Vienna. I would think about the family in the remote reaches of China or Mongolia. And I knew instinctively that He loved them. It took me a while to realize that He could love me and know me just as purely. I have always been grateful that I made those discoveries in that order--that I first saw the love God has for those around me, and second the love he has for me. I try hard to keep seeing it that way. And when I find myself being far too selfish, I remember in my mind's eye my childhood image of the man in Vienna or the family in China, or the homeless woman in South America. I know that God has a purpose and a plan for all of us. Not just me.

And I know that no matter what pain or hurt or loss or sorrow we feel, that we are not alone. I know that such hard things are part of the refiner's fire of this life. We cannot receive a fullness of joy someday without experiencing--even for a moment--just the opposite. But I am grateful that in His infinite and eternal wisdom He put us here together. The real test comes in our ability to reach out to others while even in our deepest trouble or pain. It's not about me. It's not about what I want or need or wish for--it is always about seeking to fill the other person's need first. Therein do we find rest from our own hurt and pain.

It is easy, somehow for me to forget this. And then when something happens where the suffering of someone else is so obvious--as in the cases of these three tragic plane accidents--I am reminded to forget anything I might be worried about or stressing over or struggling with. My troubles are not so bad nor so heart-breaking. And it helps me to remember that I should not just be looking to help someone with the obvious pains and struggles--but with the hidden ones. How many people around me are hurting? How many people do I know who need a hug or a phone call or a friendly comment on their blog? How many of my neighbors need a friend or a listening ear? I cannot grow, I cannot change, I cannot receive a fullness of joy until I seek them out and seek to bring them relief.

Is anyone else...

...as scandalously addicted to these as I am?? I have stopped counting how many I eat in a day. I just don't want to know.

Life in the big city

Cedar City that is.

Two weeks ago we loaded up all our Blanding belongings into a big U-haul and made the trek to the "other side" of the state. We hardly were here a day or two before we headed down to California for some family time and a fantastic shower put on by my ward. Then, last week, we got back to Cedar and got serious about getting things out of boxes and setting up our soon to be new lives in the new apartment. (For now it's just my apartment while Jeremy bums off his sister, Jeanine--shout out to the incredible generocity of Nick and Jeanine--and I live here until we get married September sixth.) 18 days, folks.

Thursday last week my mom and Paige drove into town to help bring shower gifts and a desk from home, to see the new apartment, go to Sound of Music at the Tuacahn theater (it was fantastic), and to make new couch covers for our built in couches. For all you wondering just what a built in couch could be... let me tell you they are pretty great when covered by material bought for just $3.00 a yard and sewed by Mom.

The old...

and VIOLA! the new... Last week was also the start of my new Adult Ed job. I don't quite know what to say about it yet as I am still definitely learning the ropes. I did teach my first ESL class today... and it worked! I get to speak lots and lots of Spanish, which is definitely my favorite part. I also work with some very funny people, so it looks like if all else fails, we will have fun! Hopefully, however, lots of people get their GEDs and high school diplomas (you can do that in Utah without going to high school) and learn lots of English :).

ps. We are still working on getting internet. In the meantime my posts might be a little fewer and farther between... but I promise I have not forgotten you!

Long overdue

When I was little girl I loved having two older sisters. Even though we are only three years apart, I always thought Sara was so old. She was always the first to do everything. The first to go to middle school, the first to go to high school, the first to drive, to go to prom, to have a curfew. I used think I couldn't wait until I was as old as Sara was. Looking back I think it was hard for her to always be the first--to tread on the unchartered water over and over again--but also very fun. She was the leader of the pack. Everything she did, I wanted to do too.

Growing up Sara was always the neat one. Being the oldest, she eventually got her own room. She always knew if we had been in her room because a pen would be moved or a paper out of place. She was so clean, we couldn't get away with anything. I have always loved that about her. She was always older and wiser and I wanted to understand her so I would sneak in her room and look at all her pretty things in their perfect places. I must have been an obnoxious little sister--sorry, Sara!

I remember when Sara and I first started becoming friends after the all the somewhat inevitable older sister/younger sister squabbles of the teenage years. She had borrowed a shirt and left me a note on my bed to tell me. She hadn't borrowed much of my clothes up to that point and so it was new twist in our relationship. She explained that she would get it back to me when she was through and that she was glad of our newly developing friendship. I still have the note. It was the beginning of something great.

It's funny for me to look back and remember that we went through those years when we weren't the kind of friends we are now. I consider Sara one of my best friends. She is the kind of person who would (and does) do anything for me. She is open and trusting, thoughtful and considerate. Ever since I went away to college, she has been good at sending me notes and postcards and homemade cards in the mail to remind me I'm not alone even when I'm far from home. She has a way of picking out the perfect gift for a birthday or Christmas present. She calls and leaves the best messages on my phone. Usually her messages are so long that it's like she's chatting with me. I always find myself talking back to her before I remember it's just a message, and I can't wait to call her back and actually talk to her.

It's no wonder that Sara has always been good with children. When she was in college she started nannying or babysitting for a family. She had a way of standing her ground while still making those kids love her to pieces. It wasn't surprising to me that in college she majored in Child Development, nor that on graduation the hospital she was interning at turned her internship into a job in order to keep her. She is fun and funny--willing to dress up and laugh and do goofy things. But at the same time she is calm and soothing. She is the only one who can get Brayden to sleep after a busy and chaotic family gathering. She is favorite Aunt Sara because she plays and laughs and gets down on her hands and knees to see what Tanner's trucks or are up to. She will be a phenomenal mother.

Not only with kids is Sara fun, but with everyone. She just has a spark of adventure in her. She likes to play games, go on adventures, try new things. She has always been the one to have lots of friends from lots of places with whom she does lots of fun things.

And it works that way--always out with someone on some sort of adventure--because she is a good friend. She is thoughtful. She remembers important things going on in their lives and she asks about them or sends a gift or a card or an email. She is aware of what is going on in their lives and she remembers in their next conversation or in a card. She is so giving--of her things, of her time, of her love.

She and Stanford now live in Las Vegas where they have become the Torgerson Hotel. They are always keeping someone for the night who is on their way to California or heading out to Utah. Staying at their house is not only convenient, but fun! They always are ready to play games or watch a movie. Both she and Stanford are fantastic cooks and their is always something bubbling or brewing on the stove or in the oven to tide us over. They are generous with their couches and pantry and love. I am excited that we now live just 2.5 hours apart and the adventures are about to begin!

I have always felt that anyone who is friends with Sara is a lucky person. I am so grateful that she is mine--that we are sealed to each other forever.

And this week was her Birthday. I am long overdue in remembering it here, but I love you Sara!