Boring things I have been doing that I thought you would like to know about

• walking/jogging on the Mississippi riverfront trail
• reading (Shabanu and its sequel Haveli)
• rearranging our bedroom
• jump-roping... or is it rope jumping?
• quilling paper
• marking favorite recipes in old cooking magazines
• registering for next semester (starts Aug. 20)
• watching a whole heck of a lot of TV
• watching way too many movies, which are as listed- (this is a bit embarrassing; try not to laugh) Emma, Virgin Suicides, A Streetcar Named Desire, The Princess Diaries, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Alice Adams, The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie
• watching endless hours of Scrubs (please don't tell my sister, I don't want to give her the pleasure of knowing that I like her favorite show)

And THAT my friends, is what happens when work is ssssssssssssssslllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllooooooooooooooooooooowwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww

Two year olds are pretty darn cute (now with pictures)

I haven't talked much about my Sunday School kids, which is strange because they bring much joy to my sorry little life. I teach the youngest group of kids- the almost 2's and younger 2's with two other ladies, Linda and Brenda. They are quite young to be going to sunday school, obviously, but the nursery was getting overcrowded so we started a new class for their age group. It has been a challenge to get eight two-year olds to sit still long enough to listen to a Bible story, but mostly it has just been plain fun. Especially when you've got kids as sweet and cute as they are. (It always helps when they are cute.) Anyway today was the last day of Sunday School for six weeks. I'll definitely miss the little buggers but a break will be nice. As cute as they are they still wear me out. Because they are so young it is hard to get a response out of them, but since we started the class in January they have all come a really long way. I can't tell you how gratifying it is to hear them start to sing and do the motions to songs and finger plays after doing them over and over for months. Here is our schedule we loosely follow every week.

• Welcome Time (do puzzles and put stickers on attendance chart)


• Sing songs and do finger plays


• Bible Lesson


• Color a picture
  
• "Play" musical instruments and sing


• Rest time


• Blow Bubbles


• Pick up Time

Let me tell you, if you ever want to entertain young children for hours on end, blow bubbles for them. It works miracles. Hmm... maybe that's why that brand of bubbles is called Miracle Bubbles?

Now that you know the script you must meet the cast. First you've got the twins Anna and Andrew. They are the most affectionate and friendly children I have ever met. It doesn't matter if you have known them two years or two minutes, they will come and give you a hug, and if you want, a kiss. They love to sit in your lap and cuddle. They also love to wander around during the Bible story, but you can't blame 'em they are only two. Next we have Annika. A blond haired blue eyed beauty, she may seem quiet and serious, but just give her time and she will open up and bless you with a smile and a laugh. Chloe is a little cutie who is quiet and mellow and loves to sing. George is new to the stage, but he has adjusted well considering he is the youngest. Maia is an independent and active little youngster. Sadie is the most improved; the first few months she was unable to leave her mother's side, but now participates to the fullest and makes us laugh with her cute comments. Last but not least, is Samantha. The second oldest of the group, Samantha sings all of the songs, knows all the finger-plays by heart, and always answers the questions during the Bible story (she answers them correctly too). I think she has an unfair advantage with her age and her older brothers and sisters. She always cracks us up when she does things like put her crayon behind her ear to try and be like her dad. Well that's all of 'em. They are the sweetest and cutest things ever. Nough said.

Camping Photos which you better enjoy because it took my computer forever to upload.

I hope you like scenery pictures because that's all there is (except a scary pic of me to mix things up a bit) I am so totally unphotogenic Jonathan gave up trying to get a decent picture of me.) Keep scrolling to read our camping adventure.

"Camping"

"Camping" was fun and miserable at the same time. First the fun. We went to Eminence, Missouri which is a little town in the Ozarks about three and a half hours drive from St. Louis. The drive was long but absolutely gorgeous.The Ozarks are the closest thing we got to mountains, which isn't close at all, but they are still pretty. You will see what I mean in a moment. We camped at a nice campground with running water and a more than decent bathroom. Jonathan was dissappointed because it was also popular, but I don't know what he expected- he found it in the atlas and it was listed on a website- but somehow he still got it in his head it would be more secluded. The campground was also about 25 steps from a really nice river, which was the best part. It wasn't too hot or too cold, and was just deep enough to get a good swim. Here is our camp site, and some views of the river and from the river.

It was also next to a couple trails. We hiked one the first day and it took us to Blue Springs which claims to have some of the bluest water of all the natural springs in the world. It really was the bluest water I have seen though and beautiful. Swimming was not allowed which was too bad because I was dripping in sweat and totally miserable. It was hot and humid. And I had hiked almost two miles in jeans. Anyway here is the spring. Our camera doesn't do it much justice.

Anyway we got back and went straight for the river to cool off. We ate dinner (chili from a can, not exciting, I know) Then we took our chairs out by the river and read for a long time. Then we built a little fire and made s'mores. It ain't camping without s'mores. Then we decided to hit the hay, I mean the tent, at about ten o' clock. After getting up at 5:30 and driving and hiking and swimming all day we were tired. Meanwhile it was getting dark and the bugs were starting to come out. I don't think I have ever seen so many bugs flying around in my life. Anyway we got in the tent and it was unbearably hot and of course unbearably humid. We were hot and sticky and we were not cooling off. So we laid down and wondered how we could ever possibly fall asleep in such conditions. But Jonathan has this thing, this *special* talent. Once he lies down and shuts his eyes- he's out like a light, and there is no coming back. So I have to face the awful night alone. It's so stuffy in the tent I feel like I can't even breathe. Oh yeah and the chorus of creatures outside was a bit LOUD. The cicadas were just chirping away along with a dozen other kinds of noisy bugs. It was nuts I felt like I was in a jungle. And what is with bugs and light anyway? We had our flashlight on in the tent and we heard some type of LARGE bug literally trying to burrow his way into our tent as fast as he could to try to get to the light. It freaked us out so we just turned the light off. Anyways... several hours later it finally cooled off enough for me to cuddle up under a blanket and go to sleep (I can't sleep without a blanket on me, but how could I have a blanket on when it was so hot?)

In the morning Jonathan convinced me to take a hike on the other trail. We hiked up to this view which was lovely, but once again I was hot and sticky and miserable.

I found this little turtle on the trail. I am sure you are sick of seeing turtles but too bad. He is too cute and he reminds me of the other little turtle friend I made.

After the hike we cleaned up and drove home. It was a nice drive but I was too tired to stay awake so I missed most of the scenery. Unfortunately we got a flat tire, but it happened just as we pulled into a gas station. Anyway we finally made it home and I have never been gladder to take a shower.

So here is the moral of the story: If you live in a dry climate with mountains (ahem, Idaho) and like to go camping... THANK THE LORD that you can go on a hike without dying of heat and getting eaten alive by bugs, and can sleep cozily without suffocating from humidityheat or having to listen to this and this and this all night. I don't know... I may just be sticking to day trips from now on...

And we're off!

Well, it finally happened. Jonathan and I both got two days off in a row. So we are taking this rare opportunity to explore the Missouri outdoors. I am a bit nervous about going camping here- I mean how do you go camping without mountains? Anywhoo... gotta get on the road. Look forward to lots of pictures since Jonathan is buying another memory stick for the camera just for a two day trip.

The Big 5-0

Yes this post will be my fiftieth thank-you very much. Half-way there to the 100th post contest you have to look forward to!

Anyway, on to the real thing I was going to write about... I just thought I would let all of you Idahodians know that I went to Wal-Mart today and there was an advertisement for the new college football video-game featuring our very own Boise State. I am not a big BSU fan but I am glad they are at least putting us on the map a bit. Maybe a few years from now when I tell people where I am from they won't say "oh Iowa, huh? That's nice."

I haven't been blogging much lately because there hasn't been much to blog about. I suppose I could just ramble on about my life right now and bore you all to death. Yes, that sounds like a good idea. Summer is going way too fast, as usual. I can't believe it is already the middle of July. THAT is depressing. I don't know about you, but every summer I always make these big plans and have all these things I want to do, but then it goes by so fast and I never seem to get to do any of the things I planned on doing. Like this summer we wanted to go camping. Or at least get out of the city for more than a day and see what the rest of Missouri looks like. We would really like to see the Ozarks also. Jonathan has been working every weekend and my work schedule hasn't really matched up with his. Now Jonathan has all this studying and preparation to do before school so that's where all his free time is going. And trust me there is no way we will be able to go anywhere during the school year. Jonathan is booked 24/7 from August to May. Yes he will be a busy boy. He is teaching Philosophy 101 this semester so that will add a lot to his work load. I am excited for him though. I think he is excited too, albeit nervous. I am going to try to take his class so I can learn something about this whole philosophy thing Jonathan is so enamored with. I won't be able to attend his lectures of course but I can do the readings and read his lecture notes. We will see though... we will see.
WARNING: LONG BORING STUFF AHEAD; PROCEED AT YOUR OWN DISCRETION

This past year has been an interesting one that is for sure. Actually it has been really hard. I will give you this short history so you understand a bit where I am coming from. When we moved here almost two years ago in August (two years- YIKES! that is for another post) I hadn't applied to any schools or anything so had to find a full time job. The first one I got was at Nadoz cafe. I really hated it at first. Then it sort of grew on me. Then I hated it again. Nadoz cafe is only a part of the larger catering business called STEVEN BECKER FINE DINING. However, Nadoz and SBFD share the same location. So back in the kitchen of nadoz cafe is where all the culinary staff works. Anyway, SBFD has a pastry department. There a dear friend of mine worked, Matt. I miss you Matt wherever you are. Matt was a talented young pastry chef. Everyday I passed by Matt and the other pastry cooks doing their thing. Everyday I looked at them longingly, realizing that I have always enjoyed baking and working back there with Matt would be my dream job. Sometimes I lingered, so Matt would teach me a few tricks of the trade, and started to notice my interest. In my mind there was no way I would be able to work in Pastry unless I had some sort of training. So I did some research and found that Forest Park Community College had a culinary program and also a baking and pastry program. My plan was to enroll in the fall and finish the program quickly and then work in the pastry department. Matt, however, discouraged me. He said it was a crappy college and not to waste my money. Said he knew more than the professors there. All the time Matt encouraged me to just talk to our head chef, Patrick, about my interest. But if you knew Patrick you wouldn't blame me for not wanting to talk to him. He is very intimidating, and was even more intimidating to me back then. Turns out that I didn't have to talk to Patrick anyway. He caught on to my interest after I was helping Matt one day, and asked me if I wanted to work back there. I could hardly contain my excitement. This is getting really long and boring. This was the beginning of last summer. We had a manager named Carl. I talked to Carl and he said he would work out the whole department transfer when I got back from my vacation to Idaho. Well, I got back, and guess what? Carl was long gone, and so was any of my courage to talk to Patrick myself. Patrick never brought it up again, so I was stuck at my hated job at Nadoz. Time goes by, unfortunately Matt leaves, but he tells me not to give up hope. November rolls around, and our old sous chef, Ben shows up. He was going to be involved in the department transfer with Carl but he had also quit so he wanted to know what was up- why wasn't I working in Pastry? I explained the situation, and to my embarrassment (and secret joy) asks Patrick straight up what was going on, and easy as pie, I am working in the pastry department the next week. Oh my dream job finally has come true! Patrick at the time, it being the holidays and all, said he needed me to work full time. I, however, could only work four days a week because I had given up all hope of working in pastry so had returned to school to finish my elem. ed degree. I worked a lot during November and December, but we had already gotten our airline tickets to fly home for Christmas for two weeks. When we got back, SBFD was dead as a doornail. Me being a little old part-timer was not guaranteed any hours, so I didn't get hardly any for all of January. It was a sad month. I thought business would pick up again after January so decided to take only nine credits of school so that I wouldn't be too overwhelmed with school and work. Boy was that a mistake. It NEVER picked up. Not enough for me to work very much anyways. Since then it has been so up and down. Two weeks I'll get thirty hours, the next two I'll get twelve. It is soooo frustrating. I finally have a job I enjoy ( and it has taken me awhile to get the hang of this job and actually enjoy it partly due to the fact I couldn't get along with Brandon, the pastry supervisor. It was definitely rocky the first several months, but I think every job is at first. Brandon has been in a perpetually good mood though so that always helps) but no work! No work no money! So all summer I have been back and forth, back and forth- should I get another job or should I just wait it out? So far I have been waiting it out. But I just don't know if I should "wait it out" any longer. We do have one girl leaving in the fall, so I am thinking I will get her hours. I hated working at Nadoz, yes, but I worked a lot, got paid more, so made a lot more money. I love working in pastry but I work very little and get paid less. Today I was thinking though... when I was working at Nadoz I prayed that God would give me a different job. And He did.. my dream job!.. so shouldn't I just trust Him to work it out at this job and wait on Him instead of constantly worrying about it? I don't know... It would have to involve a lot of trust considering we are running low on money... If you have read this far, congratulations! and I am sorry I whined for so long, but what do you think?

Recipe of the Week

Okay- because I love all of you readers out there dearly I wanted to share a dear recipe with you. But you have to promise you will make it. You have to. You will not regret it. It is delicious. And it is a top secret one from my work so promise you won't tell okay? I have made it at work and it was so good I wanted to make it at home. So I converted the recipe to normal measurements and tested it out on fourth of July. It turned out perfectly so here you go-

Peanut Butter Blondies

1/2 cup peanut butter

6 Tb butter (softened)

1/2 tsp. vanilla

1 3/4 cup brown sugar

blend the heck out of all these ingredients together

slowly add

3 eggs

1/4 cup milk

Blend until combined

Add
1 1/4 cup flour

1 bag (12 0z) white chocolate chips

mix until combined

Spread evenly in a greased 15x10x1 inch pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 min or until golden brown. Then eat and share with your family and friends. They will love you.

Here is what the final product will look like after it has been cut and placed in a tupperware. I would have take a picture before all that but I forgot.

Mark Your Calenders

We are going to IDAHOOOOOOOOOOOOO! I am excited. But it is too far off to get too excited. I know you all want to be there to meet us at the airport so here are the details-
Itinerary
Tuesday, 07 August 07 Northwest Flight #1454
Depart: St. Louis, MO (STL) 1:46pm
Arrive: Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN (MSP) 3:20pm
Tuesday, 07 August 07 Northwest Flight #1277
Depart: Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN (MSP) 5:12pm
Arrive: Boise, ID (BOI) 7:13pm
And yes we will be arriving on Jonathan's birthday so have a present in hand.
We leave Boise August 18th EARLY in the morning. So get your appointments in with us now people, before it is too late!

Here is what we look like so you know who to look for.

Japan in a Box

My sister Brooke went to Japan, the lucky duck. In return for me allowing her to go, she had to agree to bring me back the coolest souveniers Japan had to offer.

Here is what I got.

The world's smallest tea set. The tea pot actually does pour tea in case you are wondering. Not. You are so gullible.

Please, sit, have some tea.

Also some funky candy. I had to take a picture of it so that I would remember what it looked like after I ate it all.

And of course the world's smallest breakfast.

You were wondering why Japanese people are so small, well, considering this is their normal portion size, it explains a lot.