So over 2010- new focus for blog

So 2010 came and went, like a really fast thing. Like a puma (see Napoleon Dynamite). I am finding a lack of focus for the blog equals a lack of desire to blog. I am feeling a little "Seriouslysoblessed-ish" and while it is a lovely feeling, it isn't for the massive viva following I have obtained over the years. New blog focus: "A Week Of..." Some weeks, it will be "A week of Crafts for kids". Other weeks, we will have, "A week of healthy meals" or "A week of desserts" or "A week of documentaries". Hopefully through the weeks, you will find some useful info and wicked humor.

This week we celebrate
"A WEEK OF DOCUMENTARIES"- I am borderline crazy when it comes to documentaries. I get obsessed with the messages about corporate fraud, government conspiracy, food, fat, war, credit cards, marathons, and I eat it up. I am the target audience for ANY documentary about ANYTHING. So, my reviews may not be particularly helpful because I find them all entertaining but here goes. Kicking off "A WEEK OF DOCUMENTARIES".

Monday- A favorite of mine: Food, Inc.
You must watch this if you never want to go into a normal grocery store again. It is amazing how much the government has gotten involved in what we eat. It is financially impossible for me at the moment to buy entirely organic but the minute we get a big raise or sell our business for millions or billions, Whole Foods will be my only grocer.

Tuesday- Sicko
I am sure most of you have heard of this. Injustice after injustice committed against folks that can't take the hit. It idealizes France and Canada kind of a lot but when you watch this next Tuesday, let me know what your ideas are for healing the healthcare system.

Wednesday- King Corn
All about our reliance on corn in America and how it is in EVERYTHING and how most of the corn that is planted in America today is corn that is actually not edible. Yikes.

Thursday- Food Matters
This is about how raw foods can heal what ails you. People share their stories about how they have been healed of cancer through the consumption of raw foods. It is pretty remarkable and if I ever get cancer, I will be a surviving raw foodie.

Friday- The Spirit of the Marathon
Alright, this is a good one to watch without anyone else around. I loved this show- it follows people as they train for the Chicago Marathon. I laced up my running shoes and ran in place the entire show and as I did so, tears streamed down my face as the Olympian crossed the finish line after having in injury during her training. It was very powerful and done very well. It will make you want to run a marathon. Atleast for a few days.

Saturday- The Future of Food
I know, there is a theme to my documentary love: food conspiracies. Also a good one.

Finally, for sabbath viewing- Stealing a Nation
About the Chagos Islands in the Indian Ocean. It used to be a peaceful, beautiful group of islands, now housing an American military base. The citizens of these coral islands, were peaceful and benign mostly Creole. They were brutally expelled from their homes so that America could build their base and police the world. Warning: It may provoke a personal desire to move to Switzerland.

Most of these can be found on Hulu, Netflix or Veoh. Happy Viewing!

A few loose ends before closing for the rest of the week...

We had a ladies day out when we were up in Washington for Christmas. Aunt Kate, G-ma, Future Aunt Dea, Great Aunt Ali, and me and my girls went to the Pacific Northwest Ballet performance of, "The Nutcracker". It was very exciting (minus Rebecca's emotional and loud outburst)

Peter found some food in the garbage to eat because apparently he is wasting away!

One more thing...

More Ten!

Ten for today.

1. I am thankful for my Mom everyday but especially today because it is her BIRTHDAY! Happy 6-0! (Don't kill me)
2. bountifulbaskets.org (produce co-op- it's so fun!)
3. Good sandwiches, such as: California Grilled Veggie Sandwich (click on link and be sure to add portabello mushrooms!)
4. Peapod still takes 2 naps
5. Fun crafts
6. Pushups, because they are the one exercise I can do well and I don't mind doing them
7. Arizona winters- enjoying one in a couple of days!
8. wikipedia.org
9. Lame romantic comedies on Netflix- for those nights when Jared is away
10. Dishes that are DONE!

Where we been at.

Going backwards with the photo documentation because it is the order they were downloaded and I don't feel like changing it. Starting with October!Finishing up walking through the corn field. It was supposed to be a maze but it wasn't even close.
FINALLY, they picked their pumpkins. I love the pumpking patch.

Went to the canyon to take pictures of los kiddos and every time leaves were thrown up in the air, Peapod made some version of this face.
Tibble Fork Reservoir on an insanely gorgeous October day.
I love this photo of Rebs.
Pedro making, "leaf face".
It's raining leaves!
I know, right?!

First day of school!

Oh my goodness.

While Jared and I were at trek, my sister, my mom and niece and nephew came to babysit our kids. After the ladies all went home to Arizona, my nephew stayed to play for a couple more weeks. I hope we get to do it again with him! Rayz, we love you! Here is us after the hike up to the caves, inside the caves. Rebs peed her pants so she made the journey in a diaper. Memories.

MJ's strawberries and cream birthday cake

Photo day when my mom and sister were in town.

All the grandkids- La'Ray and Brooklyn, we love you so much and can't wait to see you again soon! Like, in a week!!

Here are the ten (since I have missed months of ten, I will attempt to make up for it)
1. The Hunger Games, Book 3
2. I haven't ever really thought about Pumpkin Bread one way or the other. Well, I think about it now, thanks to this recipe.
3. The Dixie Chicks (the older stuff- classic)
4. Actual classical music
5. When husband picks up takeout!
6. Watching 24
7. When my kids dance together in the family room and I get to join in but don't have to feel like an idiot (like I do when I dance by myself).
8. Making Halloween costume for MJ because I can sew! (it was my first time without help)
9. My Nephew, La'Ray

10. Road trippin' to the 480 in a week!

*We are saving the Halloween costumes for next post- my 60 minutes is up.

Overwhelmingly behind, but I don't feel guilty.

I have been meaning to do this for a while now but just can't find the time. I am not sure I can right now but I will get started anyway. Jared and I were asked to go on Trek. Trek is something that our stake (our local congregations for church combine to make a stake) puts on every 4 years for the youth (12-18 year olds). We were asked to be a Ma and Pa for the event. It is a 3 day, 2 night experience where we were organized into families, we pushed a handcart, slept in tents, hiked a bunch and had an extremely enriching experience. Here are some of our photos...

Here is the Allgood family. Looking glam for 5am.
Here with our handcart, just starting out.
Glad I only have one boy in real life- these guys were precious but I am still grateful.
Here we are in our pioneer glory. I'll have you know I made that bonnet!

The fireside- the first evening. Freezing cold and bug infested!
Our kiddos provided some entertainment at the fireside.

Good morning, day 3 with no shower!

I couldn't pass this super photo-op up.
Here is our Utah extended family. We love you Poyfairs!
No Pioneer Trek would be complete without Ma and daughter doing sky jump showing off our killer pioneer clothes.
up a hill.
This is the Sweetwater Crossing memorial. When the Pioneers were crossing the plains, a storm came through at this point. Young men saved the lives of hundreds of elderly, women, and children while giving up their own.
The Women's Pull- this is where (in actual Pioneer times) the men were called away to war and the women had to pull the handcarts on their own. Reenacting this was a very powerful experience.
The men of the family.
Here is the whole group (well all that would fit in my lens)
Ma and Pa singing Ipod karaoke on the bus. Everyone should have this experience.
Well that is it for now. I am going to try and catch up over the next couple of weeks.

Here are my ten-
1. Apple Pear Blueberry Crisp (recipe on post below)
2. The Pioneer Trek
3. Pedro, who is STILL not walking and I love it!
4. MJ who is growing up in a really good way.
5. Dee who is shy but incredibly confident so I don't feel bad saying she is shy.
6. Rebs who has learned her letters and sounds!
7. When chaos somehow gets made peaceful with classical music.
8. A clean bedroom.
9. Neighbors who are really great to me.
10. People you can really get into with over politics and everyone comes away feeling edified and happy.

Winter Dessert

Well, I got sick and lost a couple of pounds and I thought how great it was to be able to start the holiday season off to a decent start. However, I made this Apple Pear Blackberry crisp and well it is perfect for a cold snowy day. I want to make one again right now. You will not be disappointed! fyi: the top crisp layer may not seem like a traditional crisp but it is um, amazing. And it has fruit, so it's healthy. ;-)

• 2 pounds pears (4 pears)
• 2 pounds apples (5 apples)
• 1-1 1/2 c. fresh or frozen blackberries
  
• 3 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 
  

For the topping:

nocoupons

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 3/4 cup light brown sugar, lightly packed
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 cup old-fashioned oatmeal
• 1/2 pound (2 sticks) cold unsalted butter, diced

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Peel, core, and cut the pears and apples into large chunks. Place the fruit in a large bowl and add the zests, juices, sugar, flour, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Pour into a 9 by 12 by 2-inch oval baking dish

For the topping:

Combine the flour, sugars, salt, oatmeal, and butter in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Mix on low speed for 1 minute, until the mixture is in large crumbles. Sprinkle evenly over the fruit, covering the fruit completely.

Place the baking dish on a sheet pan and bake for 50 minutes to 1 hour, until the top is brown and the fruit is bubbly. Serve warm.

Hooray for the 33 miners in Chile!

Stories like this make me realize how great it is to be alive today. Had I been born 200 years ago, those men under ground would be dead. The 29th miner has just been rescued as I write this. What an amazing thing. This is a miracle. For those of you who don't believe in them, well this is one. My moderate political heart is pounding with with excitement for these men and their families. Yes there have been tears as I have checked in on Chile throughout the day. It is a miracle people were given the ability to figure this rescue out. This is a miracle because the miners are alive. If you are with God or without Him, whether you believe in the divine and miraculous or believe it is all chance- this is freaking amazing. Bless you Chileans- I hope to visit you someday traveling through Chile on a bicycle.

Richard Villarroel was greeted by his sister and mother.

http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2010/10/13/chile-second-half-rescues/?hpt=T1

Absence makes the heart want a new computer.

Hey folks, this is my 16 1/2 month old. Man, he is cute.

For some reason I can't move my photos so they are going to stay here, out of order but when you get to the part that talks about the most amazing cake ever, scroll back up here. see that little bear hiding back there?

So my computer is having some memory issues. It doesn't have enough memory to run the cleanse it apparently needs. So, sorry there haven't been photos for a while. When I have a million dollars, I will get a new computer but til then, we will have to go photo-minimalist on the blog. Good thing I am so clever and I write such important things! Here goes:

I have an 8 year old. WHAT? I have an 8 year old?! I am so old. I don't feel it but I know that I am. All of a sudden the newlyweds in the ward don't look at us the same way. 2 years ago, they were practically our peers. We had blissful and wonderful marriages in common with them. Now, we are the married couple that has an 8 year old. Dee is the best 8 year old on the planet so I won't complain about my age or hers because every year spent with her is a year I learn something new about myself, about the world, about family and about compassion.

Speaking of compassion, can't we all just get a long? Jon Stewart has an event coming up on October 30, 201o. It will be in Washington D.C. on the National Mall. I can't afford flights out there but if someone wants to caravan with me, let me know ;-). The event is titled, "The Rally to Restore Sanity". It is right up my alley. On The Daily Show, Jon Stewart held up signs that people would be carrying at the rally. One was along these lines, "I may not agree with you Obama, I don't think you are a Muslim terrorist". Somewhere along the way, everyone has seemed to lose their common sense. If I could, I would attend the Rally to Restore Sanity. If you agree with me that it isn't okay to put illegal immigrants trying to make a better home and future for their families in tent cities, can I get an AMEN! If you think tent cities are a good idea, it would be better that you stay anonymous. I love you but you should not make yourself known to me.

Life is good. We are happy. Kids are back in school and while I miss them fiercely we are getting into the groove of school life and I am somehow managing without them. I have made some pretty delicious recipes the last couple months. I watched a documentary called, "Food Matters" and I have decided an all organic raw food diet is best. And while I have no intention of actually doing that, I will be implementing some more raw foods into our family meals. Stay tuned for some raw foodie recipes.

Hmmm...what else? Dee gets baptized October 9th @ 2:30 and anyone who wants to come is welcome. Just let me know. We will be having sandwiches and treats back at our place after.

The one picture I am posting today I had to email to myself and then download it onto Jared's computer to post it- It is of Dee's camping themed birthday cake. 9 hours of dedicated motherhood. 9 hours of ignoring the needs of my children. 9 hours of indulgence on my part. Cake Boss, what's up?

Dee I love you.

I love all you common sense individuals out there.

I love you, I love you, I love you.