Erickson

This Old Guitar

2012-01-19T18:09:00.000-08:00

I found it stashed in some dark crevice in our closet next to equally forgotten hobbies that were once my latest obsession.(scrapbooking with paper really?) I drug it out and as I clicked the dusty, brown case open, I finally awoke it from its long hibernation. It was in a sad condition from years of neglect. The strings were worn down and the pitch was off. I couldn't believe this had happened. It used to be another appendage of myself that I would strap on as I stumbled through life.

It took me all morning, but I lovingly put on new shiny strings as the baby's fingers curiously banged, smudged, and plucked every part of this new toy. Finally with a lot of tightening and adjustments I got the sound just right and listened as the new strings vibrated wondering how I was ever satisfied with the awful sound of the old ones?

When it was finally nap time, I dug out my notebook full of songs I wrote in college. Some made me smile, others made me sad, and some were full of memories that I forgot were even there of falling in love, then back out, and in love again.

My soft fingertips burned as I pressed down on the strings. My hand ached as I contorted it into many uncomfortable positions and my head hurt as I tried to remember the different chord configurations that I use to know by heart, but even as I struggled through each song, I was so glad to have resurrected it from the dead. After all it was there for some of my most intimate moments of love, loss, and sadness and probably the best friend and therapist I ever had.

I took this guitar to college in hopes of learning to play and somehow in between classes and homework I found enough discipline to teach myself chords and basic music theory to write songs of my own.

This is when the therapy sessions began. It listened carefully without passing judgment and took notes on my uncomfortable situation called life with all its insecurities, heart break, and failed expectations. After we were through discussing everything, It wrote me out a script in a sweet melody and words that reassured me somehow everything would work itself out, but if it didn't at least I had a great song to share.

Somehow it crossed the line between therapist and friend with ease and it continued on many of my favorite college adventures. Together we stood in front of a row of judges and somehow found the courage to audition for the campus guitar concert. To my surprise we made it and with the rush of excitement played in front of hundreds on several occasions.

It also had impeccable "wing man" skills that helped me get the guys. While at parties it just sat in the corner waiting for me and when the moment was right I placed it on my lap, strummed its strings, and this is where the magic began because men couldn't resist a beautiful girl singing her heart out. Then my good friend waited on the side lines again while I pulled out my charm to secure a date for Saturday night.

And all though I have changed my therapist who's notes sometimes leak onto my blog (oops) and I no longer need a "wing man" (thank goodness! I secured a hot Stanford man ) hopefully I will get my callous fingertips back by recording my memories with my new music software and pounding out songs like "Old McDonald's Farm" and "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" Oh, old friend how I missed you.

I am thankful for today

2011-12-06T22:00:00.000-08:00

I wish I went to bed kicking and screaming each night like my toddler. Okay not literally kicking and screaming, but I wish I clung to each day with the same voracity. Instead I find myself sinking into bed with an udder exhaustion from the day's work. Sadly when a day is over I feel relieved instead of grateful, and more often than not I find myself stuck in between time and never in the moment.

Sometimes I get stuck in the past. I remember the contentment I felt as a child in the home that my parents created. I wish that I could go back for just a moment to curl up into my dad's lap for a story or enjoy a fierce chess competition. I miss the way my mom hugged me when I was sad and her calming reassurance that everything would be okay. I want to relive the moment I fell in love with all its excitement and for just a moment hold my newborn baby one more time. I sit and remember these times with a sense of longing, but forget the sweetness that this current moment offers. I forget about the great appreciation and admiration I feel for my mom and dad that I only discovered after I had a child of my own. I forget the peaceful, calm, immovable feeling of actually being in love that my husband and I built with memories, sweet reassuring kisses, words of kindness, and the birth of a child. I forget the joy I feel when Aspen utters "Mama"

Sometimes I get stuck on tomorrow and I can't wait. I can't wait for Aspen to grow a little older. I can't wait until my husband finally finishes school. I can't wait to get back to work. When I long for the future I forget to be grateful for right now and all my blessings: my wonderful family, a cozy home, food on the table, and the world's most adorable baby. So maybe tonight as I crawl into bed, I will just be thankful for today.

2011-12-05T13:15:00.001-08:00

Our Year in Review

How well do you know the Ericksons?

This year has been filled with many adventures. We are truly blessed. Merry Christmas!

Disneyland Video

2011-08-15T13:08:00.000-07:00

Disneyland

2011-08-13T23:16:00.001-07:00

For Aspen's first birthday we decided to go to Disneyland. I think that Aspen would have been content to stay home, but David and I had blast. We met up with my brother Jonathan and his family which made the trip even better.

San Francisco Zoo

2011-08-13T22:47:00.000-07:00

All the Brentwood babies met for a day at the San Fransisco zoo. During my last year of teaching me and two other teachers were all pregnant. We try to get together every so often. It is crazy to think that our babies are all ready one.

Beach Trip

2011-08-13T22:32:00.000-07:00

I only live an hour from the ocean and yet I find that I don't go often enough. My friend, Carla, and me decided to take a trip to the beach. We had fun watching the babies eat sand, feeling the ocean breeze, and gazing at the mesmerizing waves of the ocean.

What you have missed

2011-07-17T13:50:00.000-07:00

Our T.V. is run by a computer and Aspen discovered the fun of the keyboard. She loved to push the buttons and see what came up on the screen. Of course this we cute at first, but soon became a problem. We had to replace the keyboard with a wireless version. Sad for baby, good for Mommy and Daddy.

Aspen loves her dad. She likes to follow him around the house and she sometimes clings to him and refuses to come to me. She knows him by name and often looks at him and says dada.

Aspen loves to splash in the water. She also likes to dip her hand in the water and then suck on her fingers. Silly baby. Of course there is nothing cuter than a baby in a ducky towel.

Help Baby Aspen Fall Asleep

2011-07-11T23:07:00.000-07:00

Click on the play button to begin. If only getting Aspen to sleep was this easy.

Family Keeper

2011-06-09T22:33:00.000-07:00

I am the family historian. There is one in every family and I appointed myself probably at birth. I remember as a child climbing to the top shelf of our closet pulling down old pictures of dead ancestors, gazing at them wondering about their stories. At night I would read their journals and listen to them tell their stories. I sat for hours with my grandmother soaking up all her years of wisdom. At night instead of a bedtime story I begged my dad for a story about his past. It is hard for me to pin point this fascination but it seems to stem from a need to connect with the past, present, and future.

I need to understand where I came from. Why was I born to my parents, in America, in the state of Utah, in the city of Bountiful. It is definitely not a coincidence. What were the events leading up to this? Many of my ancestors are Mormon pioneers who left their homes and families to join a new church. What made them risk their lives to travel across the plains of the United States only to settle in a desert? These are questions that I have always had a desire to find the answers to. I think if I understand my past maybe I can understand myself just a little more.

Presently, my family stories are my life's compass. My ancestors have taught me gratitude, faith, and compassion. When I complain about our one bedroom apartment with AC, a washer and dryer, and plenty of closet space. I think about my grandparent's first home with walls that creaked as the wind flowed through them all the way to the wallpaper that they watched sway back and forth for hours of entertainment.

When I wonder about God, I think of my grandfather dying at the young age of 39 leaving behind a family with young children and never denying his faith in God and Christ.

I treasure every moment with my child when I think about my great grandmother pulling the lifeless body of her toddler from the creek.

I am grateful for disposable diapers as I picture my own mother living in Africa with her first child and washing his diapers in the bathtub.

I hope to carry on this great legacy to my own children. I hope that they will enjoy our family history as much as I have. Maybe my posterity will marvel at my own struggles like surviving chicken pox and life without the internet and cell phones , so if your family is without a historian then maybe you should appoint yourself. It will enrich your life and also generations to come.

A Women's Company

2011-06-04T22:29:00.000-07:00

As I walked through the door and spotted a foosball table and two arcade games I wondered if maybe I had time warped into a Nicklecade instead of entered into a internet company who's networth just peaked in the billions. I guess games like this make a building look inviting and like a fun place to work at; however, as a woman these toys just wouldn't energize me. It made me wonder what type of amenities would be mandatory in a company run by women.

First the lounge would not be filled with silly games, instead there would probably be a lot of comfy couches where we could sit around and talk. We could talk about our children, the weather, fashion, our husbands, and our feelings. We could complain about problems and talk about all the possible solutions and instead of implementing a plan we could sit on the couches and talk some more.

There would be soothing background music that seemed to not have a beginning or end and flowed like a fountain. It would be uplifting without being indulgent. Most likely Chopin or some other Classical music from the Romantic period.

The candy machines would be filled with a variety of chocolates. From dark chocolate that is so bitter it almost burns your tongue to the sweetest creamiest milk chocolate that melts in your mouth. Of course any chocolate made in America would have to be banned because although we do so many things right chocolate just isn't one of them.

Now these would be some perks I could get used to. If you worked for a Women's company what would you add??

to be continued....

The Greatest Safety Features

2011-05-28T21:09:00.000-07:00

My mother in law desperately wants me to get a new car. One with the latest safety features; however, what is difficult for her to see beyond the pealing paint, tape deck radio, and sun damaged interior is that my car links me to my past. I feel safe in it. It reminds me of home, my mom, and many other fond memories.

I remember the day my mom first pulled it into the drive way. This was her first car. She didn't have to share it, it was not an ugly station wagon, and it was the newest car she had ever owned. For Christmas everyone pitched in and bought her a custom license plate TCwriter. She proudly drove this car for several years and I was lucky enough to borrow it when I went to college.

While in college it reminded me of the kindness of strangers as I was stranded on the road with a blown out tire. This was before I had a cell phone and I was left at the mercy of people that passed by, luckily a nice elderly couple helped me put on a spare tire, which at the time I didn't even know where it was located. I drove to the nearest fix it shop and I was quickly back on the road.

At Utah State University it drove me to my first teaching job in the bitter Logan weather. Every morning I woke up to a car frozen in ice. I scraped the snow off the window in -10 degrees. While inside it took several minutes for the car to warm up. It was so cold my CD player was even frozen. I would hold it up to the heater until it was warm enough to play music and then celebrated by eating my breakfast bar.

This student teaching job soon turned into a real teaching job in Salt Lake City. I remember the note I found placed under my wiper blades by my boyfriend as I left from work one day. This was the first of many kind acts and our friendship soon became an eternal commitment. This same car decorated with oreo cookies, white paint, and the words "Just Married" drove us home as Mr. and Mrs. Erickson. The car became ours as a Wedding gift.

I watched as my car was chained to the back of a moving van headed to California. My husband was headed off to graduate school and I took a teaching job in a low income area. There it continued to accumulate miles to and from work, the grocery store, and now the beach.

Soon the car held my most precious possession a new baby placed carefully into a car seat in the back. Trips now include visits to the doctor, park day, and the zoo.

So, my reply to my mother in law about a new car, "I am just going to have to drive this car until it dies which I'm sure will be a sad day, then maybe we can talk about something new."

Birthday

2011-04-24T20:13:00.000-07:00

I enjoyed celebrating my 29th birthday. Some of the highlights included a trip to visit David at Stanford, Chinese take out, and a rum cake for dessert. My favorite part was a love letter from David. I ask for one every year and so far he has delivered

Going to the Store

2011-04-24T20:09:00.000-07:00

Taking Aspen to the store is one of my favorite parts of the week. She is so happy looking at all the people and riding in the cart. I thought I would snap a picture.

Newborn Video

2011-04-06T08:30:00.000-07:00

I finally started my video editing. I love this video and the funny thing is that Aspen loves it to.

Baby Olympics

2011-03-28T21:50:00.000-07:00

Another solid victory for team Erickson at the first annual Baby Olympic Event on Sunday March 6. The contenders met at the Flore's Field to celebrate the upcoming birth of baby Dalton by participating in a series of baby themed Olympic games.

During the first game, Measuring the Belly, each player took a piece of ribbon and tried to guess the circumference of Darcy's belly. The event was close with a show down between Diahanna and Debbie; however Debbie's string was spot on and Diahanna's was off by a few centimeters. Victory point one for team Erickson.

The guest then enjoyed three rounds of baby charades.Everyone at the event wrote down three words or phrases about a baby and placed their responses in a jar. The players in the room were divided into two teams. Team two Ericksons, Daltons, Katie, Tia, and Terry, and Team One everyone else.

The first round each player tried to get their team member to guess the word on the card by using other words to describe it. The team had one minute to guess as many words as they could from the jar. The jar was passed from team to team until all the cards were guessed. The team with the most slips of paper at the end won. Round 1: Team two, thanks mainly to the Ericksons.

Round 2: The teams had to guess the words on the same slips of papers by only using two words. Surprisingly, team one took this round, but team two was prepared to take the final round. This was their strength acting out the words. After an intense round. Team 2 was victorious. Victory point two for Ericksons.

The final game was the a relay race including blowing up a balloon and putting it under maternity clothes, sucking water out of a bottle, eating a jar of baby food, changing a baby doll's clothes, and swaddling them in a blanket. The race was close between the two teams. The most challenging part was drinking from the bottle and Flores used the squeeze the bottle and suck technique and Espinoza could not get the latching right and threw in the towel.. It was not even close. Team Erickson/Dalton/Flores won.

There was still speculation that team Erickson cheated, but team captain, Debbie, believes , "It is just because everyone else is a sore loser and can't handle the fact that we are winners and have the skills to back up."

Cowboy Poetry

2011-03-16T09:17:00.000-07:00

On the news yesterday, I was sad to hear that the yearly Cowboy Poetry Festival in Elko, Nevada was going to be canceled due to budget cuts. I was so bummed because I will have to wait another year to submit my poem. I tried to feel my cowboy roots when writing this one. I'm half cowboy on my mom's side. The poem sounds especially good with Garth Brooks in the background.

There’s a thousand years of history and a hundred more at least.
All gathered in the stories about taming this wild beast.
And back behind its silly grin and spit that’s oozing out.
Is the ghost of every parent that is trying not to shout.

Every wrap in its small blanket’s been swaddled a million times.
And the mystery of this creature still puzzles ancient minds.
It’s evolution hasn’t changed the way this critter cries.
I’ve lassoed in its spirit now prepare for the reprise

Oh, the milk vein is a bulgin’ every time I hear it yelp
It’s mighty quiet, in this here home there’s no one here to help.
Mommy is the only one who makes the daily grub.
It cries and cries both day and night It’s hard to feel the love.

Star light in the dark of night like a shiny horse’s spur.
Is when this animal’s bedside corral soon begins to stir.
I feel so tuckered out from the endless day of work
But this is the time when the possum’s awake to take its nightly slurp

Jiggle, Jiggle, pat, and burp, jiggle, pat, then burb
Tickle, Tickle, kiss, and squeeze, slobber, poopy, slurp.
But just when I thought I’ve had enough and I’m ready to give in
This puppy cuddles up to me and gives me quite a grin

I found this old picture of my Grandpa. I thought it was fitting for this poem.

Mom

2011-03-14T17:21:00.000-07:00

I keep thinking about writing this blog. I think about my mom all the time.Now that I am a mother. I am so grateful for everything she did for me. Note: In this picture I'm the baby.

I miss my mom everyday,
and not because she's far away
I miss the stories we shared each night
The soft glow of my small night light

I miss the homemade bread
smothered end to end with butter
and opening my sack lunch each day
a sandwich with creamy peanut butter.

I miss building snowmen in the yard.
Sledding down the hill together,
Sipping hot chocolate slowly
after playing in cold weather.

Dancing in the costumes
She sewed on her machine
speghetti, stir fry, chicken
and her famous taco beans.

I miss the music that we played
on our piano side by side
the way our fingers touched
the keys and sometimes would collide

I watch my daughter sleeping
and pray that I will be
half of the mother to her
that my mother was to me.

to be continued.. . .

Valentine's Day

2011-02-26T14:54:00.000-08:00

To the Love of My Life,

Thank your for letting me fall asleep on our date and still liking me.

love,

Debbie

Fast Food Calorie Board

2011-01-17T19:50:00.000-08:00

I ordered a meal under 500 calories and skipped the soda after gazing upon the new calorie board at KFC. California recently ordered restaurants to post their "dirty little secret" in plain sight. I am actually happy with the new information and think it will help me make better decisions. I wonder; however, if fast food will be regulated like alcohol. If so consider a few laws that may be passed

Where to Buy Fast Food

Private restaurants, grocery stores, and convenience stores sell high calorie food. Fatty food is not sold between the hours of 2 a.m. and 6 a.m.I guess no more fourth meal at the 24 hour taco bell.

Legal Age for Eating Fast Food

You must be 21 to eat fast food. You must be 18 or older to work at any restaurant that serves fast food.

F.F.C.C.

The Fast Food Calorie Count must not exceed 2000 calories. Anything above 2000 calories will give you a lethargic feeling.that may inhibit good judgement

Penalties

Offenders will be required to attend gym class, consult a nutritionist, and their license may be confiscated to prohibit them from getting any fatter.

Maybe fast food should be treated like a drug after all obesity is an epidemic that is sweeping the nation.

Miss America Pageant

2011-01-17T08:32:00.000-08:00

To the Miss America Committee Members:

Last nights airing of the Miss America Pageant was delightful. I'm truly grateful there is a scholarship program based on beauty after all everyone knows this is a woman's greatest asset. As the host mentioned," This pageant is teaching the girls life skills. " including how to keep a straight face after being eliminated from the swimsuit competition due to thunder thighs, answering political questions without actually answering anything, and showing grace while wearing a sequin gown from the 1980's. I was brought to tears when Miss Arizona dedicated her performance to that poor congress woman. I thought the pageant was a great place to address such a tragedy and I'm glad she could use it to her advantage. The event was also filled with humor. I laughed at Miss Utah's introduction "Tonight all 52 contestants share a dream not a husband. " I'm glad she brought light to this controversial topic instead of talking about the awesome snow, Olympics, or the beautiful National Parks in Southern Utah. I also chuckled at the silly comments the girls made throughout the night like..." my favorite shoes are my pink cowboy boots and I just like to let my hair down." Thank you again for putting on a fabulous show. I can't wait for next year maybe the winner will be Miss California this time.

Sincerely,
Debbie Erickson
Anytown, CA

Cheating Allegations During Rice Cereal Event

2011-01-01T21:11:00.000-08:00

Aspen Kate Erickson's victory at the first annual Rice Cereal Competition on New Year's Day is currently under investigation. Late in the afternoon somewhere between nap time and the early evening feeding
the three contenders, Layla Casumbal, Natalie Polk, and Aspen Erickson, met at Carla's house for the
event. All the babies were eager to try the cereal for the first time. The contestants donned their bibs and sat in their mom's lap while the cereal was heated, prepared, and placed in small plastic bowls by the officiator Brad Polk.On the count of three all babies began eating the cereal with assistance from their mommy coaches who placed the spoons carefully in their mouths. Aspen ate like a hungry caterpillar hardly spitting any of the cereal out and crying because her mom was not going fast enough.She finished the whole bowl in a matter of minutes. Layla used the try and cry technique. She would try a little bit and then cry. She tuckered out after about five bites. Finally, Natalie tried, cried, and ultimately gave up by clenching her mouth shut. After the competition was over new evidence surfaced indicating that Aspen practiced with a spoon and water prior to the event. The investigator John Dalton believed this put her at an unfair advantage, "she should be disqualified" he spoke out at the press hearing after the contest. It is still unclear if Aspen actually tried rice cereal before the New Year's event. Her mommy coach insist that the package was never opened; however there is also speculation that Aspen was starving before the contest which made it easier for her to down the entire bowl. Aspen's first place ribbon is currently being held until this matter is sorted out.

Year in Review

2010-12-15T21:56:00.000-08:00

Twas the night before Chirstmas, when all through the house
Not a computer was stirring not even its mouse
The stockings were hung on the bookshelf with care,
In hopes that the UPS man soon would be there.

The baby was nestled all snug in her bed
While visions of breast milk danced in her head
And baby in her jammies, and I in my G's ,
Had just settled our brains for a long winter's zzz's

When out in the living room there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
David had just slung some complex computer code
Enabling the internet to reach his computer nodes

The problem had only taken a week
but that feels like forever when you're a computer geek
All the professors at Stanford will be so impressed
Maybe tonight he will finally get some rest.

And I tossed and I turned stressing over my class
of 20 first graders that all had to pass
but soon I remembered I was on a year leave
Its no longer my problem I feel so relieved.

Baby Aspen has been such a fun new addition
That three in our family was an easy transition
Her early arrival was quite unexpected.
I guess she decided it was about time she ejected.

This year has been fun for team Erickson
I'm thankful last Christmas we hit a homerun.
So, I exclaim to my friend on a private blogger site.
"Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!"

Halloween

2010-12-11T15:57:00.000-08:00

We enjoyed a Halloween party for David's work and also at our apartment complex. I enjoyed carving pumpkins and roasting and eating the seeds. I also made some awesome pumpkin Chili. I love the fall and winter because there are so many delicious soups that taste so good when it is cold and dark outside.

Thanksgiving Dinner

2010-12-11T15:19:00.000-08:00

We celebrated Thanksgiving with some friends. Great food and even better company. Aspen slept through most of it. She is starting to smile especially when I sing to her. She loves my Thanksgiving song to the tune of are you sleeping. "Mashed Potatoes, Mashed Potatoes, Pumpkin Pie, Pumpkin Pie, turkey and stuffing. Thanksgiving is coming, Yum, Yum, Yum. Yum, Yum, Yum"

Basil

2010-11-10T12:24:00.000-08:00

This week was basil. It goes well with anything that has tomatoes in it. I used it to make a tomato basil sandwich yummy! I also used it on pizza. I tried to make a pesto sauce. I don't think it turned out very good. I think it taste better cooked than raw.

Cilantro

2010-11-04T21:43:00.000-07:00

After experimenting with mint, I moved onto Cilantro. It is the perfect herb to add to any Mexican dish. Here are some of my favorite recipes with cilantro.

Cilantro and Lime Rice (This is just like the rice at Chipolte. It adds a little flavor to a boring food. It even taste good with brown rice, so you can get that fiber. )

Tomato Salsa (I skip the pepper and add beans and corn)

Mint

2010-11-04T21:27:00.000-07:00

I am clueless when it comes to cooking with spices, herbs, and other seasonings. I have always wanted to be a chef that just knew what flavors to add to make the meal taste just right, so I am going to be experimenting with every single herb and spice until I understand each flavor. I thought that I would start with an interesting herb that I have never cooked with .. . Mint. It is fresh and fun. It always taste good in gum, but will it taste good in food. I went to allrecipes.com. You can sort the recipes by ingredients. I typed in mint and I am going to try all the recipes that I think sound appetizing.Here is what I have tried so far.

Fresh Mint and Cilantro Salad This was really good! The melon soaked up the mint and lime flavors. It had a really fresh taste and the mint was not too overwhelming.

Computer Baby

2010-11-03T14:13:00.000-07:00

David is busy working on his PhD at Stanford in Computer Science. He has also taken on a part time job to help cover the cost of me not working. He works once a week and makes as much as I would make teaching if I had to pay for child care.

Utah visit

2010-11-03T14:08:00.000-07:00

Four Generations, Me, Grandma, Aspen, and Mom

We braved a sixteen hour car ride with a baby to make a visit to Utah. Luckily she slept in the car most of the way; however, there was an emergency pull over in the middle of Nevada at 10:00 p.m. She just wanted to be held. If you have ever driven through Nevada, you know there is a whole lot of nothing. The exit we took went no where and we parked on some gravel until she calmed down. I won't recommend a car ride this long with a baby, but sadly David's grandmother passed away. I really wanted to go to the funeral because she has always been so nice to me. She even called me while I was in the hospital just to see if I was okay. We enjoyed seeing all of David's family and hanging out with mine too.

Baby blessing

2010-11-03T13:32:00.000-07:00

I was lucky to have family in town for Aspen's baby blessing. She cried most of the time,but David was able to pull through and give her a wonderful blessing. I made the dress myself before she was born, but I had to do some serious altering because she is so tiny.

Baby Aspen Kate

2010-08-24T11:13:00.000-07:00

The baby counter is way off. Baby Aspen decided to come five weeks early on August 9 instead of September 14. At week 34 I started to leak amniotic fluid. I was admitted into the hospital and given antibiotics. I stayed in the hospital for one week and then they induced me at 35 weeks. Aspen was born at 5 lbs 15 oz. She is perfectly normal, but she is really tiny. She stayed in the NICU for three days just to be monitored. I had to leave the hospital without her which was a strange feeling, but now David and I are enjoying her at home.

Pizza Recipes

2010-04-05T19:31:00.000-07:00

I love pizza, so every week I am trying a new pizza recipe. Sometimes I make my dough from scratch, but more often I buy it premade at Trader Joes. I especially like the ones that sound really strange and when you are making it you wonder is this going to work out? I have discovered that you can put almost anything on a pizza. Here is a link to some of my favorite recipes.

Greek Pita Pizza (I also make this one on regular pizza crust)
BBQ Chicken Pizza
Hummus Pizza ( I don't use the broccoli and put onions on instead)
Baked Potato Pizza
Salsa Pizza
Brick Oven Pizza ( fresh tomato and basil pizza)
Black Bean and Spinach Pizza
Hawaiian Pizza with alfredo sauce instead of red sauce

Four months and counting.

2010-04-04T18:50:00.000-07:00

David's Seattle Trip

2010-03-07T19:37:00.000-08:00

Last week David traveled up to Seattle. He received a Microsoft Fellowship Award and was invited to a special ceremony for all the recipients. He will also be working for Microsoft during the summer, so it looks like we will be moving to Washington for a few months. I'm really excited.

Valentine's Day

2010-03-07T19:27:00.000-08:00

We had fun celebrating Valentine's Day together. David bought a box of chocolates to share and every year I get to pick a movie to watch. This year was the epic Gone with the Wind. I tried to think of the longest girl movie ever. David was a good sport he watched the whole thing with me.

Urban Garden

2010-02-07T19:31:00.000-08:00

I am attempting to grow a garden on my front porch. It is small, but I really enjoy taking care of my plants and watching everything grow. I especially love my baby palm tree. My plants love California I can even grow flowers in the middle of winter. Can you believe that I took this picture in January? Neither David nor I are animal lovers, but I think we are definately plant people.

Circus, Circus

2010-02-07T19:29:00.000-08:00

For my Christmas present, I asked David to take me on a date in the city. We decided to go to the circus. It was a lot of fun. With the purchase of our ticket we got lunch and a show. There were comedy acts, acrobats, jugglers, and a live band.

Making Your Own Blog Background

2010-01-18T19:45:00.000-08:00

I decided it would be fun to create my own blog backgrounds. So one night I sat down and with the help of my husband I figured out how to design and post your own blog backgrounds. If you are ever interested I have a link to the article I wrote about creating blog backgrounds.
http://ezinearticles.com/?Blog-Backgrounds---How-to-Make-Your-Own-Blog-Background&id=3515752

Happy New Year

2010-01-01T00:12:00.000-08:00

To celebrate the New Year I made some fabulous lasagna. One spinach and artichoke lasanga with alfredo sauce and a traditional lasagna with red sauce. Yummy! I was glad to spend another New Year with my husband. Here are links to the recipes below.

Traditional Lasagna
Spinach Artichoke Lasagna
To make my version of Spinach Artichoke Lasagna. I substituted red sauce for Vegan alfedo sauce. (I'm not vegan, but too much cream and cheese makes my stomach feel really ill. I thought the vegan sauce was really good and I didn't feel sick after. I also substituted all the cheese for vegan cheeses. )

Microsoft Intership

2009-12-28T12:34:00.000-08:00

David was selected to interview for a Microsoft Internship in December. Microsoft flew him to Seattle, provided food and lodging, and a car. He had to interview with about six different people from their research department and we will find out if he makes the fellowship in February. If so we might get to live in Washington for a summer, which would be really fun.

1st graders.

2009-12-28T12:30:00.000-08:00

Every year I apply for a $500 grant for my classroom through a Kid's Foundation. This year I was able to buy books, leapfrogs, and CD's for my students. As a thank you to the organization I always take pictures of my class using the material I purchased with the money. I thought maybe everyone would enjoy seeing the pictures. They are just so darn cute.

Christmas in California

2009-12-28T12:17:00.000-08:00

Our Christmas walk

The game Scott gave David and me

Scott Sleeping

Christmas at the Park in San Jose

All the stockings were hung by the bookshelf with care

David's brother Scott came to visit us for Christmas this year. We enjoyed playing games together, eating good food, and watching movies. It was nice to have company over.

Thanksgiving

2009-12-16T19:19:00.000-08:00

We flew out to Utah for Thanksgiving this year. We decided that we have become to Californian to do Christmas. Utah is too cold. It was fun to see all my family, but the time went by too fast.

Squirrels Attack Again

2009-12-16T19:13:00.000-08:00

In the summer the squirrels ate all my tomatoes and for Halloween they were eating my Monster Pumpkin. Here are some before and after picture.

Halloween 2009

2009-12-16T19:06:00.000-08:00

For Halloween this year, I decided to buy a kit to help me carve pictures on our pumpkins. I have no artistic talent so this was very helpful for me and the pumpkins turned out really cute. We also enjoyed roasting the pumpkin seeds and eating them. At school I dressed up as a clown and David came to visit me. He wanted to see all the kids in their costumes.

Lake Tahoe

2009-12-16T19:03:00.000-08:00

Over Labor Day, David and I went met his mom and Scott in Reno. We then headed to Lake Tahoe where we relaxed by the lake, ate yummy food and enjoyed each other's company. It is very peaceful and beautiful there.

Muir Woods

2009-09-16T19:21:00.000-07:00

Joe and Bianca came to visit this summer. They always take me somewhere new. We were able to visit Muir Woods. It was very beautiful and calm. I could not believe how tall the trees were.

Boggle

2009-09-16T19:11:00.000-07:00

David and I are Boggle fans, but we like to challenge ourselves. Our house rules only accept five letter words. We had to special order a larger boggle grid that is a 5x5. It is no longer available in the US so we ordered it used from the UK. It took about a month to get here, but we love to play.

AMD party

2009-09-15T20:04:00.001-07:00

David and I attend a party sponsored by AMD on the USS Hornet the carrier that picked up Neil Armstrong when he came back from the moon. David was able to see all the latest computer gadgets and we both enjoyed the free food and touring the ship.

Serena's Wedding

2009-09-15T19:06:00.000-07:00

On August 1 I was able to attend a beautiful wedding. One of the first grade teachers from my team married a fourth grade teacher. So cute! Their reception was on the top floor of the tallest building in San Fransisco. It had unforgettable views of the city. Truly breath taking.

Internet Down

2009-07-30T14:40:00.000-07:00

We had an internet catastophe on Tuesday. Every once in a while our internet shuts off. This seems normal to me, but this of course is unacceptable to David. He gets frustrated if the internet is not functioning at the highest speed. I woke up Tuesday morning to the note "Don't touch anything in the closet the internet is down. " David didn't want me to reset the internet because he needed comcast to come see that it was down. He called Comcast and they couldn't come until Wednesday. This was the best news that I have heard all summer it meant David would be all mine and I wouldn't have to compete with the computer. We played games,ate dinner together, talked, and watched T.V. I wish the internet would go down more often; however, all good things must come to an end. The next day I recieved the following text from David. "Tech showed up. We checked the logs and everyone in our area is having the same problem. I'm of course just the only one to follow through and report it. " (I think that this proves David is on the computer way too much. ) The second text he sent said this "Not only that, but the problem was exactly what I thought it was" Wow! a students with a Masters Degree from Stanford in networking diagnosed the problem. David gets a gold star.

Note: David with his two wives.

Party

2009-07-30T14:32:00.000-07:00

I had a super party for my friends John and Darcy who are moving to So Cal. We played games and had a lot of good food. Thank goodness for Facebook so we can keep in touch.

Key emergency

2009-07-30T14:06:00.000-07:00

On Thursday I ran into a small emergency while leaving Bed Bath and Beyond. I put my key into the ignition and it got stuck. I couldn't get it out. I tried to remain calm, but the silly thing just wouldn't budge. I tried to jimmy it out, but then the key broke off. I was left with half a key in my hand at the other half in the ignition. I paniced and closed my eyes for a minute because when I do something really stupid I think that if I close my eyes and open them it might be a dream; however, when I woke up I was still in my car. I sat contemplating the situation I was in. I thought is there anyway to get out of this without calling David; however I soon realized this was impossible to solve by myself, so I sucked it up and called my husband. Anyway long story short. Luckily with the broken key we could still turn on the car so I drove the car to a lock smith in our ward. He got the key out and made us a new one. I definately have the best husband ever. He didn't complain once and he even had to cancel a meeting. I am now that crazy wife that does silly things and makes her husband cancel meetings and come rescue her.

Note: The broken key is next to the big key in the picture.

Volunteering

2009-07-15T15:05:00.001-07:00

This summer I decided to volunteer for a christian organization that offers a summer program to children in East Palo Alto. I'm really having a great time. I work with five students on reading, math and writing four hours a day Monday-Thursday. I also helped plan the curriculum and train other volunteers. I was so bored last summer that I'm excited to have something to break up the day. Plus I just love the good feeling you get for volunteering.

Cold Play Concert

2009-07-15T14:58:00.000-07:00

On Monday David and I went to the Coldplay concert. I think it was the first concert I enjoyed thanks to the great ear plugs David got me.

Uncle Jerry's Party

2009-07-15T14:29:00.000-07:00

Over the Fourth of July, I was able to go to Uncle Jerry's party in Blackfoot, Idaho. I had a blast. I love going to Idaho it reminds me of when I was little and use to go visit my grandma. It is also the only place I can float down the canal, take a bike ride down country roads, watch illegal fireworks, and have donkey races. I can't wait to go next year.

Madelynn's visit

2009-07-15T14:21:00.000-07:00

My niece, Madelynn, came to visit me this summer again. Her visits are one of the best parts of my summer. I love having her company and it gives me an excuse to hang out at the beach, go to San Francisco, and go to the amusement park.

Olympics

2009-06-13T19:59:00.000-07:00

Each year our school has Olympic competitions such as long jump, bean bag toss, and 100 yard dash. My class did awesome. This year we took home lots of medals. (My class is the one with the crowns we were England. )

Field Trip

2009-06-05T21:43:00.000-07:00

This year we took our field trip to the zoo. It was fun for the kids a little stressful for me. One of my students was really naughty, but I'm still laughing about how funny it was. During lunch time he ran away from the group, bought a ticket, and got on the merry go round all by himself. When I found him he knew he was busted.

Star Trek

2009-05-10T20:00:00.000-07:00

Four Burger King meals later David was able to collect all four Star Trek cups. I know it was difficult to eat fast food for four days in a row, but I'm glad he sacrificed his stomach for the both of us. On Saturday morning we also were able to see the movie. I'm not much of a sci-fi fan, but I enjoyed it.

David's illness

2009-05-10T19:46:00.000-07:00

On Monday David called me at school around 9:30 and told me he was running a fever and needed to be taken to the doctor. I made arrangements with my principal to leave work early and rushed home to help him. I took him to Stanford Medical Center where he was tested for strep throat and the swine flu. Due to the outbreak they almost quarantined David in the medical center; however, when then found out we lived off campus we were free to go home. The test results took 24 hours to develop so I told my boss I would be taking Tuesday off too . Both test were negative, but luckily David's symptoms went away on their own. It must have been a nasty virus. I'm glad he is okay and I also got two days off school.

Friday Night Knitting Club

2009-05-01T19:53:00.000-07:00

On Wednesday we had our monthly book club meeting at a coffee shop. We reviewed the book Friday Night Knitting Club. The most ironic thing about our meeting was at the table next to us there was actually a knitting club meeting. I wish I would have had my camera to take their picture.

Swine Flu

2009-05-01T19:47:00.000-07:00

This Thursday we had a staff meeting about the swine flu although there are only 17 cases in the whole state of California. If by chance someone in our school catches swine flu they have to shut down the whole school for a week and we have to call all our students and tell them not to come back the next day. I would normally jump at the chance to have a week vacation except for the fact we would have to make it up and I would have to disinfect my whole classroom.

Puzzle

2009-04-26T19:08:00.000-07:00

I decided it would be fun to start a puzzle. I thought maybe it would be something fun to do while I watched TV at night; however, this puzzle soon became my life. I would think about finishing the puzzle at school, Sometimes I even left school early and rushed home to work on it, and I ended up sitting for hours every night staring at the pieces wondering if I would ever complete it, but finally on Sunday I did. So here are the pictures.

Birthday

2009-04-23T19:14:00.000-07:00

I celebrated my birthday this week. Some of my students brought me flowers and David and I celebrated with some cake from our favorite bakery.

Tesla

2009-04-18T17:43:00.000-07:00

Here are David and me in our brand new car. Well maybe in about 10 years. On Saturday we went to visit the Tesla dealership which sells fully electric cars. They were unveiling their new sedan which will be out in 2011. We had fun seeing the new cars and sitting in them too.

Scrabble

2009-04-06T19:24:00.000-07:00

Scrabble has become our new favorite game. We played it several times while in Utah and even bought our own board when we got home. I've always loved word games. Here is a picture of David's super scoring word. I think it was worth 40+ points.

Scott's Birthday

2009-04-06T19:07:00.000-07:00

While in Utah we were able to celebrate Scott's birthday. We all helped make enchiladas and ate banana cake. Yummy!

Grandma's Funeral

2009-04-06T19:02:00.000-07:00

We took an unexpected visit to Utah this March. David's grandmother passed away. The funeral was on a Tuesday so we flew out on Saturday and came back Tuesday night. Although the trip was mostly sad it was nice to see all the family again.

Valentine's Day

2009-02-21T18:42:00.000-08:00

David and I enjoyed Valentine's Day together. David was in charge of dinner and he made a yummy chicken casserole. He also hand picked some chocolates from Sees. Everything was delicious. Every year I get to pick a movie for us to watch together. This year it was Breakfast at Tiffany's. I love this movie and I think maybe David enjoyed it too.

January in Calfornia

2009-01-25T20:54:00.001-08:00

I hope you are enjoying the snow in Utah, while we enjoyed our hike up Big Basin canyon. I also took a bike ride on Martin Luther King Day. I love California!

Murder Myster y Party

2009-01-25T20:49:00.000-08:00

On New Years we had a murder mystery party at my brother Jon's house. I play the role of an eccentric writer and David was a chef. After the mystery unfolded we soon discovered it was the lawyer (aka Jonathan) we was the murderer.

Christmas Concert

2009-01-25T20:47:00.001-08:00

Here are some pictures of our Chirstmas concert at school. The 1st graders sang Jingle Bells in Spanish and English.

Fire

2009-01-04T16:32:00.000-08:00

On the Friday night before Christmas we were excited to travel to Utah in the morning and looked forward to a good night sleep, however, our dreams were rudely awaken at 5:45 am by an incisive beeping. David got out of bed to check on the noise. It was our neighbor's smoke alarm and David could see smoke coming from his apartment. He quickly called 911 and the fire department arrived shortly after. Luckily there was not a fire, but we spent the rest of the morning airing out our apartment . The most ironic thing about this incidence is this is the second time we have called the fire department due to smoke coming from a neighbor's house

Thanksgiving

2008-12-12T19:37:00.000-08:00

For Thanksgiving this year we had a special visitor, Scott. We all helped make dinner and then enjoyed watching movies and playing games. On Saturday, we ventured up to San Fransisco and got stuck on the trolley. The chain that pulls the trolley came undone and they had to call a truck to come and push us on the track. We enjoyed visiting Union Square. It was decorated for Christmas with a big tree and an outdoor skating rink. I think California is the only place I know that people skate outside during the winter in short sleeves. We also saw China town and the wharf. I can't wait to come home for Christmas, although, I think I will miss the 65 degree weather.

October Book Club

2008-10-31T17:19:00.000-07:00

We enjoyed discussing the book Wicked at a coffee shop. We decided it was easier just to meet at a coffee shop then to host at someone's house, so this will probably be our new meeting place. After book club we walked to the used book store and picked out November's book together.

Halloween Parade

2008-10-31T17:18:00.001-07:00

Halloween Carnival

2008-10-31T16:55:00.001-07:00

Every year our school host a Halloween Carnival to raise money for our expenses. Each grade is in charge of making a booth. I also brought some cookies to sell at the bake sale. I have included a picture of my team and the fish pond our grade made.

Pumpkin Carving

2008-10-31T16:45:00.000-07:00

David and I enjoyed carving our pumpkin this year. He was in charge of carving and I roasted the pumpkin seeds.

Golden Gate Bridge.

2008-10-26T15:23:00.000-07:00

I finally crossed the Golden Gate Bridge! Since I moved to California, I have probably been to the bridge about 10 times; however, I have never actually walked across it. So my friend Katie and I decided to bike from Fisherman's Wharf to the Golden Gate Bridge and cross the bridge into Marin County. San Fransisco is normally freezing, but Saturday it was really perfect. The weather was even warmer then some of my trips to San Fransisco in July. I didn't even have to put on my jacket. Here are some picture of our adventure.

Red Hat Society

2008-10-26T15:16:00.000-07:00

This post is for my mom. She loves the Red Hat Society, and I spotted the lovely ladies in San Fransisco at Peer 39. I thought she might enjoy this picture.

California Weather

2008-10-21T21:07:00.000-07:00

I know I already commented on the California weather, but I had to share this. Everyday my students and I add a picture of the weather to our weather graph. Then we count how many sunny, rainy, windy, and snowy days the month has had and talk about the graph. This is a great activity, but not in California. First of all I had to completely throw out the snow picture because we don't get snow. Secondly, everyday we have been in school for the month of October has been sunny, so now student can't compare weather, and finally I am running out of pictures of the sun and space on the chart for sunny days. It is so difficult to teach math when every day is a sunny, breezy 78 degrees.

Pumpkin Festival

2008-10-19T17:34:00.000-07:00

It was our third annual trip to the Pumpkin Festival at Half Moon Bay( a little city by the coast.) The best part of the festival is always the food here is a list of the pumpkin items we tried this year, pumpkin cheese cake, pumpkin muffin, pumpkin ice cream, pretzel with pumpkin dipping sauce, and a pumpkin roll. Yummy!

Our First Tomato

2008-10-19T17:29:00.001-07:00

We finally got our first tomato to grow to adulthood. We are so excited to eat it.

Stanford Homecoming Game

2008-10-12T16:22:00.000-07:00

Rain

2008-10-04T15:10:00.000-07:00

It rained today for the first time in about 90 days. It was actually a nice change from the breezy 78 degree weather we have for about six months of the year. I love California.

First Grade

2008-09-27T17:42:00.000-07:00

After teaching 3rd grade for four years, I decided it was time for a change. I am now teaching 1st grade and I love it!!! The kids are so fun and they love to learn. I think I have found my calling.

Book Club

2008-09-25T17:14:00.000-07:00

I decided to start a book club and we had the first meeting at my apartment. It was fun to share the book. I can't wait for next month's book

The Squirrel Ate the Tomato

2008-08-18T16:15:00.000-07:00

The case of the missing tomato is solved. . . the squirrels did it.

Blog Background

2008-08-10T18:49:00.000-07:00

I'm just learning how to blog, so I'm really excited about my new background. I've wanted to update it, but didn't know how. So here's a link to a site to help jazz up your blog if you're still using the boring google template. The instructions were easy to follow and there are a lot of backgrounds to choose from. It took me about five minutes to decorate my page. http://www.thecutestblogontheblock.com/

Mom and Michelle's Visit

2008-08-10T18:46:00.001-07:00

The Case of the Missing Tomato

2008-07-29T19:29:00.001-07:00

David and I planted a tomato plant this year. The plant grew like crazy, but only produced one tomato. Although we hoped for more tomatoes, we excitedly watched the tomato grow and anticipated eating it on a sandwich or taco. Finally the tomato was ripe and ready for the picking. I contemplated if I should pick the tomato on Sunday, but I decided to wait one more day to let it become extra ripe. On Monday I went to pick the tomato and it was gone. Someone snatched it from our front porch. David and I were so upset. Not only had we watched the tomato grow for the last 6 weeks, but it was also an expensive tomato because I had to buy a new pot and soil. Disappointed over our tomato we morned its loss over a donut and slurpee.

Note: This picture is not our tomato. We were going to take a picture before we picked it, but then it was gone.

A's Game

2008-07-29T16:40:00.001-07:00

David and I went to our first major league baseball game. The A's lost, but we had a fun time.

Uncle Jerry's Party

2008-07-15T13:24:00.000-07:00

I downed lots of Claritin and left the beach behind.
I was going to Jerry’s Jubilee to have a great time.
I won a pink quilt tied with tiny blue stitches
And left with a leg full of mosquito bite itches

Trisa went on bike rides and made taco dinner
However this year she was not a quilt winner
Saturday Keith and Steve arrived there in style
Just in time for pictures and to joke for a while

Jon water skied. He’s the true iron man
He rode on his bike And he ran and he ran
Larissa was creative with our tee shirts’ design
She calmed crying babies and kids that would whine

Michelle saved the day with ten pizza pies
That soon disappeared right before our eyes.
Danny made a rocket that really did fly
It shot up pop bottle. Everyone wanted a try

Austin jumped and jumped and jumped some more
The trampoline he found was never a bore
Sophie and Aurianna loved the little kiddie pool
One night they had a sleepover because it was cool

Kalli was so sweet in her ladybug suit
She pet all the dogs. She thought they were cute
Madelynn rode horses, jumped, and swam
She also got a stuffed horse from her great gram.

Joe and Biannca are always lots of fun
They skied on the lake and soaked up the sun
There were horses and bikes and fun all around
Who would have thought Blackfoot was a happenin’ town

Mount Timpanogos

2008-07-15T13:18:00.000-07:00

While on my vacation to Utah I was able to go on a hike to Mount Timpanogos with my brother Jon and his family. I haven't been to the cave forever so it was fun.

Tomato Plant

2008-06-29T17:13:00.000-07:00

Our first tomato is growing. It is so exciting.

Fruit Snack Miracle

2008-06-29T16:59:00.000-07:00

I have a funny miracle to share. I think it is especially funny because it happened at church. Anyway I teach 6 year olds in primary and I bought a box of fruit snacks for a treat. The box said that is contained 10 fruit snacks which is normally the perfect amount for my class. I debated at the store if I should buy another box, but I was feeling cheap and decided that there would probably be some students on summer vacation so this box would be sufficient and if I was lucky there would be one left for me. Today; however, there ended up being 11 students because I had a visitor. I told my students that they would each have to give the visitor one fruit snack. I began to pass out the fruit snacks and skipped the visitor, but then I got to the bottom of the box and there was still one left over. It was as if the fruit snack appeared from no where. I gave the extra fruit snack to the visitor and then started to count the students again and again. 11 student and 11 fruit snacks from a 10 fruit snack box. It was a fruit snack miracle. It reminded me of the story of Jesus feeding 5000; however, on a much smaller scale.

X-Files

2008-06-21T13:43:00.000-07:00

Every summer David and I pick a TV series to order through Netflix because summer T.V. is boring. Last summer we watched all three seasons of House. We normally watch a few episodes a night. It is great to get TV series on DVD because you don't have to wait a week to watch the next episode, there are no commercials, and you can watch it when ever you want. This summer we are watching the X-Files. I hope we will be able to make it through all nine seasons.

Book Reviews

2008-06-21T13:03:00.000-07:00

I'm now officially on summer break. So I have been doing some serious reading. I thought I would give you a run down of the books I've been reading just in case you are trying to find a good book for the summer.Pope Joan is an historical fiction about a woman pope in medieval times. I was a little skeptical about this book because it is normally not my type of story, but I have to say that I really got into it. I especially liked how the author wove in historical facts. I learned a lot about the church and life at that time. I highly recommend this book.

Deception Point is a fast paced adventure and mystery. It was a fun read and I flew through it. This would be a great book for a vacation. This book; however, was not very thought provoking and if you're looking for a book to give you new insight on life this is not the one. It is pure entertainment in value.

The Memory Keeper's Daughter is a realistic fiction about a doctor who gives up his baby because she has down syndrome. I really enjoyed this story. It was very touching and definitely thought provoking. It was pretty intense and I wouldn't suggest this book if you are trying to escape. This has probably been my favorite one so far.

The Other Boleyn Girl is a historical fiction about Anne Boleyn's sister. I really enjoyed this book too and I learned a lot about British history. I thought at times the characters were a bit unbelievable and it is hard to tell what is fact and what is fiction. This book is also very long 660 pages. It has taken me a good week to plow through it.

Family history is about family relationships during tragedy. This story was well written and I had a hard time putting it down. It was sad and in the end not much is resolved, but I enjoyed that it was a very honest glimpse of a family.