Chef-shimi

Tuesday night Marty and I redeemed my sister Suzy's Christmas gift- a Sushi class! We went to Chef Jaxon with the Park City Cooking School. We went to her home and had an edible educational experience. She taught us many of the Sushi terms, rules to raw fish, how to roll, where to buy all the ingredients (for safety of dollars and digestion), how to make miso soup and to finish off the evening she had made cinnamon-basil gelato. I think I was smiling the whole night!

Chef Jaxon is 71 years old. She lost her husband 12 years ago. They had traveled the world together doing humanitarian dental work. He was the dentist and she was the hygienist. When he passed away she wondered what she would do, so she decided to fulfill her lifelong desire of become a chef, so she went to Culinary school. She is now a certified pastry chef, teaches cooking classes to young and old, and loves every minute of it. I don't know which I liked more, the chef or the sushi!

It wasn't very expensive either. Only $55 dollars a person. You get information, a full belly and three hours with a delightful chef! A good deal in my book!

ps. We made all the rolls! Pretty good huh?

Birdie and Bubble

Graham has two new words.

We can thank Granddad, Brian Patch, for the first one. He is raising a bird-man just like himself.

The second, I think Miss Julie, and her Kindermusic bubble activity. Also to Marty for showing all the boys a good time after dinner on Sunday night!

Graham, Cache & Cole were elated!

Birdie Video
This was taken from the front seat with my phone,
facing forward the entire time.
I'm surprised he is even in the shot!

Numero Dos

It was another successful LOST party! Rich and Randi came down and joined Marty and I for the festivities. We had grilled shishkabobs, salty baked potatoes, fruit and drinks. I also made "Apollo" chocolate bars to help sweeten the mood. There were airplanes crashing into our baked potatoes and palm trees just off shore. We have been saving three episodes of LOST to watch at a time. It helps not get so frustrated when they leave you hanging... as LOST is sure to do. But I must say season 5 is tying things together and I can better see where the show is going for once. Kind of nice, in my opinion!

This is me after our yummy food. I was so happy because I was full with our delicious meal and we were about to start LOST. I thought I would pose!

House of Order

On Wednesday night we had a seriously fun surprise party for the Tayv, Tayv. We had it at our home and gathered for the surprise and dessert. We had Chocolate Cake, Snickerdoodles, and a three layered Carrot Cake. (I slaved all day... running to pick up all the desserts, that is!) Tayva was very surprised and we had fun eating and talking. Marty and I gave her a "mummy" for her Halloween festivities. I went with my friend and 1st counselor in the Primary, Megan, to Ikea for some primary errands. She bought one of these "mummies"/ man lamp, for Halloween because she also loves the spooky spooks, so I decided to get Tayva one as well. It needs a bit of work, but she will make it come to life in only 6 months! Yipee!














Also on Wednesday we walked through the new Draper Temple with the youth in our ward. I was so impressed with the beauty and quality of the Temple. The church is amazing. They always do everything first class. This made me think about my home.









Our homes are suppose to be a kind of Temple, right? A haven from the world. A place where the spirit can reside. Well, as I sit in streamers and balloons I wouldn't consider my home a temple right now. Our temple visit made me think about a "House of Order is a House of God" from the scriptures. I want a house of order and I want a house of God. I'm going to get my house back in order today and when I'm finished I'm sure it will feel great.

Today is a special day! It is Tayva's Birthday! Marty's mother is an amazing woman inside and out! If I am as Christ-like as she is and look 1/2 as good in my fifties I will consider myself a Queen. She has more talents than one person should be allowed. When ever I have a questions about anything I call her and she knows... every time! Tayva and I have become particularly close during the last year. She and I share the same Neurologist- Dr. Watkins! I think she is his favorite patient and I might be a far-behind second. We commiserate together when we feel like crap and when we are sick of taking all of our medications!!!!!!!! She is an example to me of being your best self. She is always reading, studying gospel stories, learning new skills and only knows how to finish a project 110%. I've learned that when we make a craft I shouldn't feel bad that my project looks like a 10 year-old did it and that hers looks like the professional display model!



She and Brian have a wonderful marriage that is an example to all of us. This is their engage-
ment picture. They are hot stuff! Don't ya think?









I truly love her and hope she has a wonderful and

Happy
Birthday!

Flours! Fleurs! Flowers!

I love in the movie Stranger than Fiction when Will Ferrell gives his Maggie Gyllenhaal "Flours" instead of Flowers as a gift. It is clever and personal because she owns a pastry shop. Marty knows the way to my heart is real flowers and this year he got me green tinged roses (my most favorite color). We had a great Valentines day. Marty made me heart-shaped pancakes, let me go to yoga, which was put to all great loves songs, and at the end of the day we watched Breakfast at Tiffany's. (That is a very interesting movie. Anyone else out there have an opinion on it?)























Yesterday was the Sabbath and I received my new calling in church. Counselor in the Primary Presidency!! I'm excited, but a little nervous because I haven't really thought a lot about Primary since I was in Primary. I'm serving with great women and I think I will learn a lot. I might ask for sharing time ideas now and again, so if you have good ones, let me know!

Lastly I finished my crafty valentines. We (patch girls) started making valentines in Vegas last weekend and I've been wanting to finish them all week. I decided to make them for my Parents and my lil sis Suzy. They turned out cute, but trying to do this project at my house made me realize I don't have a lot of supplies. So these reflect ribbons, paper, paint, letters, etc from past projects and gifts. They weren't hard and were great full of candy!! I would definitely do them again!

love

I love a lot of things. Including the look of these cupcakes. They make me want to sink my teeth into them. Similary, I want to sink my teeth into Graham's thighs and cheeks. My mouth is watering and I'm not sure over which one.

I wanted to make these cupcakes this Valentine's but haven't gotten around to it. I need to make treats for Marty's young men on Sunday, but I think they would rather rice krispies than cupcakes with lovey writing.

Speaking of Marty's young men I have a good story. Last week I was in Las Vegas with the females in Marty's family. We had such an amazing time (I have no pictures so when I get some I will post). While I was gone Marty had to make the treat for his class, which I normally do for him. By doing this, it is one way I feel like I can help him during the week. He is a very capable man that was single for a very, very long time. He is good at everything, including laundry which is my serious domestic downfall. Anyway, he was making boxed brownies. He has done this before, but last Sunday, he ran out of vegetable oil. He did not check in the hall closet (where there is a huge gallon for refill), but decided to use PAM because it sad 100% Canola Oil. As he was telling me this story on the way home from Vegas Sunday night, my smile was huge, but my heart sunk for him. Oh, my! Pam is an aerosol! Oil is a liquid! Well, he ruined the first two batches and during Sunday School raced up to his parent's to borrow real Oil and returned home. He then proceed to use a 1/2 cup oil instead of 1/3 cup oil and as a result ruined the third batch. I know it hurts! He wanted a kiss when I got home to heal his wounds.

Well, in his pain I did discover one thing. My man needs me. Even if it is just making him food and giving him kisses... he needs me!

I am so in love with him. Happy Valentine's Day!

Gone to Bed

Marty is in bed. It has been a busy day full of the things which have prevented me from blogging about our home situation. The beautiful mid-century modern home is on the back burner (well actually I think Marty has dumped it down the kitchen sink!) The home is not a "deal" in this current market and we would still need to do some pricey updated. It also pulls us aways from our friends and lifestyle that we have grown so found of.

The other reason we so easily put it aside was a home we found in the neighborhood we have been looking into. It is a "deal" but needs lots of updating. We have been spending our nights talking over the pros and cons, looking at plans until midnight with Marty's parents, and walking through several times. The fun part about the home is we could make it our own. We can choose all the remodeling we want to do and we aren't ripping into someone's remodeling that we don't care for. If we purchase the home we would likely live in our home now, until we were able to finish some of the large remodeling- kitchen, bathrooms, raising ceilings, cutting a new staircase, etc. Sounds exhausting just typing it!

Which leads me to my "Gone to Bed" title of this post. I am wide awake. Wondering about all the things this home could be for us. I've been looking at my magazines, sketching, searching online... I can't seem to turn my brain off. But, oh no, my dear Marty man can go right to sleep. I'm so envious and a little bit mad! Is your man this way?


The other thing that has my wheels-a-spinning is Brooke Walker, my friend and the host from KSL's Studio 5 called. She was at my home for Nicole's baby shower a few weeks ago and saw my cookbook shelves. She thought they were great and wants to do a small segment about them. She said they would bring a camera down and film a short little clip of me telling about my shelves! I can't talk on TV! I've only agreed to walk or smile on Marty's commercials and I'm so nervous. I told her that I would think about it, but I feel bad saying no. What will I wear? What will I say? Tayva and Jewels... I need some tips! Really, it will probably not be a big deal. I'll just tell about the shelves... they are really cute and I am proud of the idea! What do you think? Should I just do it and quit being camera shy?


(Here is a photo of the shelves last year! There have been a few additional cookbooks added to spice things up and replace the ugly ones!)

M&M's for Breakfast

(Beverly Hills Housewife, 1966, David Hockney)

Well this morning has been a totally bust. I can't get my mind off of the above! Yesterday Marty and I went through a home in Provo that looks just like this painting. I can't believe it is in Provo and I can't believe it is for sale. My problem is I don't want to leave our ward and our surrounding area. We are right by the park, the canyon trail, and the shops! It has been so wonderful and we absolutely love our home, but everyone keeps telling us to look for homes because, "Now is the time to buy!"

This home is truly amazing. It has everything that a mid-century modern home should have.It was even built in 1966 like the painting. It has glass windows out the back, 10 foot ceilings (and taller), a library, Coi ponds (which Marty thinks we should change into a stone jacuzzi), it is mostly one floor living, a huge master bedroom, views of the mountains, bamboo floors, and the original crystal knobs in the master closet. It is so cool and so charming. I want it! But I don't! What should we do? Help?
Should we stay in the place we love or move into a house we love?

We are going through it again this afternoon with Marty's parents. I'll keep you posted and hopefully we won't have to make a decision too soon and will be able to really think about what is best. Wish us luck!

I did let Graham have M&M's for Breakfast because my mind is somewhere else.
(I also had M&M's for Breakfast!)

:)

Lost in the Weekend

Monday mornings are always hard for me to get going. I enjoy the weekends so much because I get to spend so much more time with Marty than during the week. As I'm sitting at my kitchen table writing my "to-do" list for today I keep thinking about our fun weekend. On Friday night we invited Rich and Randy (Marty's brother and his girlfriend) over for a LOST party. Last year when I was so sick and we couldn't leave the house we decided to start watching LOST, the tv series. It very quickly became all-consuming and we fell deep into it! It was so fun and when we watched all that we could watch, we waited. Season 5 just started up again, so hence our party. Rich and Randy have done some serious catch-up over the last few months and become consumed as well. Here are pics of our 'lil party!

We had Darma initiative Brownies

Hawaiian Haystacks

Hawaiian Leis and Umbrella's
(Rich and Randy)


Yum!

Well I better get going on Today!
Graham has taken all the DVDs out of the cupboard and is stacking them into a serious tower!
Have a good Monday!