Another Ending

I'll be finished with classes in just 2 (long? short?) weeks. Exams in 5. Graduation in 6. Today I told Rich that we were going out for lunch. I make plans for us and we almost never follow through- work, rain, work... so today I made a yummy lunch and told Rich again at noon that we were going out. He looked at me, rolled his eyes and siad really? really? as he rolled his head back. I stuck to my guns and we biked to the park a mere 5 minutes away and sat in the fantastically warm sun and ate a delicious lunch. I just wish we (I) had thought to bring our paddle ball set. Instead of playing we sat in the sun and relaxed. We really need to do this more often and not make excuses.

And I got a new bike a few months ago. A really new bike. I have been up-selling my bikes and now I have what I want. An Amsterdam. Biking was always fun, but I just turned it up a notch. Oh- and the compliments I get...

Spring Break

My spring break is over. The kids have theirs in 2 weeks. Lame. The past two years we went to Italy for spring break. The first year we stayed outside of Pisa. Last year we were in Rome. This year? This year we spent 2 nights in Carmel. It was beautiful all right, but not quite the same. I took the kids to the mission and it was beautiful and the day sunny.


The kids made mermaids in the sand at the beach. Along came a dog and it peed on one mermaid's face. Then a few minutes later another dog came and put his mark on her face too. Then we left.

better late than...

My sister and her family came to visit us over New Year's. We had a blast- our house was crazy crowded but super happy. She and her husband took our kids for a morning walk across the bridge and then we met them later. All my kids could be hers- hers could be mine. Emilia and Denny are twins and Leif and Hailey are twins, although Paris is catching up and may be a triplet in a year or two. My sister was laughing when we met because she was getting crazy looks and a few comments regarding her many children.






A few years ago in Provo all of us, except Rich, went out to dinner. Dennis looked like the big cheese- he got looks and even a comment about his nice looking family. Yuck. Sisters, not sister-wives.

an example...

I walked into my last class of the day just a little bit late because I had been chatting with a friend. Tuesdays are my long days. I have class straight through with no (real) break from 9am to 5:40... I sat down in my assigned seat- front and center-because the very first day of that class started off bad (another story). I suddenly realized that my contract that I turned in the other night was up on the big screen. I wanted to walk right back out. He was discussing that assignment. I had given the contract assignment my best effort and then turned it in a few hours early. It was due by/before midnight. I turned it in at 6:30pm- done. Finished. I hopped I passed the assignment and never wanted to look at it again. Now it was being used as an example. Ugh. My worst nightmare. As I sat down the professor said that he had removed the name of the student because in earlier classes people complained that it was too embarrassing. Thanks for making me anonymous. I was still horrified as I tried to nonchalantly stare at the screen looking at red text, blue text and highlighted text. I saw squiggly red lines underlining text. The paper I turned in was all in black. I really wanted to giggle. I kept my calm- though I am sure my face was red. Only the professor could see my face. I tried to cover it partially with my water bottle as I took many drinks. Then he said, "I only use examples that are A's". Still though, the time going over the contract was way too long.

He told me he said no.

Happy Valentine's Day

Paris and I made cupcakes- she and Emilia decorated them.

Do you have a bike?

In Jr. High dumb boys would ask that to anyone on the bus. I had a bike but I knew better than to answer.

I didn't have a bike for a long time. Then I bought a gorgeous traditional british bike in New Castle. It was step through, black, 6 speeds and very elegant and simple. I got Richard to make the drive with me. It was a long day and we saw Hadrian's wall. I hardly rode the bike due to bad weather, but when I did ride it I loved it. I was sad to sell it when we moved. However, I have been riding a bike since September and am LOVING it. When I ride I think, "I'm on a bike"...Think Andy Sanberg singing "I'm on a boat"... Hopefully you get the picture. I love my bike. It is my second- still a Townie Electra, but this one is cream and it has a million speeds. I use 3. The color is better than my last one and almost everyday I get compliments on it. It is like having a baby as an accessory again. When I had my babies I was always complimented on their cuteness. I missed it. Now with my bike they are coming back.

Today during my ride through the park (Golden Gate Park) to school I was thinking of all the funny things I see everyday when I ride- exotic dogs, incredibly indescribable people, other bikes (yesterday a lowrider passed me- the bike was low and trimmed in gold. On the back it had a spare tire also trimmed and spoked in gold- I really wish I had a camera around my neck to take a quick photo) and then I saw a man running backwards. Jogging backwards. I started to laugh. Then I saw another man waiting for a park shuttle. He was wearing a knee length skirt, had a baby carrier/carseat, a mesh shirt and the darkest, hairiest beard for a man wearing a skirt and holding a baby carrier. I smiled. He smiled. He complimented me on my bike. OK no he didn't compliment my bike, but my smile- too many funny thoughts and it was a funny moment. It could only happen riding a bike.

Celebrate

I don't make New Years resolutions. I make weekly, daily, sometimes half daily resolutions... I can always be better. But, I have resolved to celebrate life more. I tried to do this last year and the year before... ok, so that is why I don't make resolutions. I hate failing. This year though, in the right month, just not the right day (6th of Jan), I made a gallette du roi. A kings cake to celebrate epiphany. Leif got the bean. He was king for a minute. The cake is super easy with frozen puff pastry. I have made it three times during the month of January. The kids love it. Think almond filled croisant. delish. There are a ton of recipes out there. This is the one I used and I don't remember where I got it: Gallette du Roi
Ingredients:
1/4 cup sliced raw almonds

1/4 cup almond paste

1/4 cup sugar

3 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened

pinch of salt

2 eggs

1/4 teaspoon vanilla

1/4 teaspoon almond extract

2 tablespoons flour

1 package frozen puff pastry sheets, thawed

glaze (1 part water, 2 parts sugar)
Procedure:
1) Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. 
2) Butter a large baking sheet (not dark metal).
3) In a food processor, puree' the almond paste, almonds, sugar, butter, and pinch of salt until smooth.
4) Add 1 egg, vanilla and almond extract and puree' until incorporated.
5) Add flour and pulse to mix in.
6) On a lightly floured surface, roll out one sheet of the puff pastry into an 11 1/2 inch square.
7) Invert an 11 inch pie plate onto the square and cut out a round shape by tracing the outline of the plate w/ the tip of a paring knife.
8) Brush the flour from both sides of the round and place it on the buttered baking sheet, then put in refrigerator to chill.
9) Repeat the process w/ the second square of puff pastry, but leave it on the floured work surface.
10) Beat the remaining egg and brush some of it on top of the second round. Score decoratively all over the top using the tip of a paring knife and make several small slits all the way through the pastry to create steam vents.
11) Remove the first round from the refrigerator and brush some of the egg in a 1 inch border around the edge. Mound the almond cream in the center, spreading slightly.
12) Place the scored round on top and press edges together.
13) Bake the galette in the lower third of the oven for 13 to 15 minutes, until puffed and golden. Remove from oven and brush w/ egg a second time.
14) Return galette to rack in the upper third of oven and bake for an additional 12 to 15 minutes or until the edge is a deep golden brown. 
15) While galette is still on the oven rack, brush it w/ the glaze mixture, then transfer to a cooling rack.