Spring Break in the Snow

After  4 days of seeing this out of our back window I was beginning to have my doubts that this was SPRING Break and not WINTER Break. (and this was at the beginning, it just kept falling & melting, falling & melting)

So, what do you  do when it's Spring Break, and it's snowing for days? There's a lot of noise , a lot of chasing, and a lot of silliness....  Here's a few samples of what we did

 If you are Kiefer you brave the snow for 3 days and stand outside freezing for 3 hours each time to train to work here  this summer.  He wanted to work in Utah's only amusement park running the rides, and so he will!  He's actually had his first day of work already, but he forbid a picture of him in his uniform, don't worry-I'll sneak one in eventually!   You also rehearse the monologue you are learning to try out for the advanced drama classes until all your sibling can say it with you-inflections, actions, and all.

If you are Quinn you bake goodies like this, and share with the whole family.  You also torment your younger siblings, wish you could start your own training at Lagoon (he'll be working there also, but in catering for private parties),
Give in the play Just Dance on the Wii with your siblings, and play a lot of ping pong

If you are Tate or Thane you hang out waiting for a turn to play ping pong, do shadow puppets, beg to go to the dollar theater in Kaysville to watch Yogi Bear and Narnia, and beg your siblings to play Just Dance on the Wii with you, or anything on the Wii for that matter.  You also read, read, and read....well to be honest all 5 of them did that!





If you are Sage you  rejoice that your new favorite movie is out on DVD and you can now watch it endlessly, you completely dig out and clean your room (not without a lot of resistance though!), and you enjoy playing in the snow & eating it...why I'm not sure!   And, you make a deal with your mom that you can do your own hair on days you aren't going anywhere.  In her defense I must add it looked great when she first did it in the morning, she just played hard & touch ups weren't part of the deal!

Dinner and a Movie

We watched this movie  

 Source Code

Here is the official synopsis: Helicopter pilot Colter Stevens (Jake Gyllenhaal) is part of a top-secret military operation that enables him to experience the last few minutes in the life of Sean Fentress, a man who died in a commuter-train explosion. The purpose of Colter's mission is to learn the identity of the bomber and prevent a similar catastrophe. As Colter lives Sean's final moments, he becomes more certain that he can prevent the first tragedy from occurring -- as long as he doesn't run out of time.


It is rated PG-13 and has repeated violence (the train blows up repeatedly, there are shots fired, and some blood ensues), it has some disturbing images, and there is mild language-relatively mild that is-with only 1 use I can remember of strong language.


And it was fabulous! The best movie I've seen all year.  It made me think-not in a hurt my head kind of thinking, but a really good, life is meaningful kind of way.  At least for me, this movie was about more than the possiblities (or impossibilities) of science and technology in the future.  I've spoken with some people and read some reviews where  they just didn't follow me in this line of thought, but it doesn't really matter in the big picture.  


What matters is this is a good movie, and if you like science fiction-not the alien encounters or the robot zombie kind-but the where is technology taking us kind- you will like this movie.  If you don't agree, I'd love to hear your review.



For me, this was an amazing journey into the possibilities of the mind, and what one person can do.  It's also a really great twist of science fiction and action, I think these may be my favorite genre of movie-if that is a genre!  It keeps my mind engaged trying to figure out the twists and plot lines while entertaining me at the same time.


Take a peek at the trailer if you haven't seen it yet: 


So, what's on your list of must see movies?

Even Better Than Christmas in April!

These Conference pictures are from here www.lds.org

This is one of my most favorite weekends of the entire year, and not just because it's Spring.  You can probably guess it's because it is General Conference Weekend!  I love this weekend.  I soak in all 8 hours like a dry sponge.  I even wish I could soak in the Priesthood session in addition, but I love that in just a few short days it will be posted on www.lds.org and I can read and listen all I want.
Hasn't today already been amazing?  I can't wait to hear them all again.  I love to listen to them on my iPod while I grocery shop, or take a walk, or even clean the bathroom.  I've always loved General Conference, well-truth be told I've only loved it with a fierce intensity since an amazing Seminary teacher opened my eyes my Sophmore year of High School.  Ever since then I've been a true believer in the amazing power of listening to the sessions of Conference with my whole being.


I could go on and on, but really I just wanted to express my joy at taking part in this amazing event, and share a couple of fun things.

  First-what's conference weekend without treats?  Sage brought home a recipe she made at Activity Days that she is really excited to try, so we'll give that a whirl.  We always have licorice, everyone in the family likes black licorice except for me, so I have to endured that hideous smell this weekend-ick!  I think that means I should get all the red "rope" licorice-but they have other opinions.  I used to get these for everyone, but I haven't been able to find them in years.  Anyone have any tips on where to find these beauties?  In the mean time I make due with the Red Vines Variety pack which contains the twists and the ropes (just small ones though).

And the second must have treat for General Conference is Cinnamon Rolls for Sunday morning.  This year I'm going to try a new recipe-Overnight Cinnamon Rolls from http://www.ourbestbites.com/
They look divine, and I'd love to make them the night before, and just have to let them rise & pop them in the oven the morning of.





I came across these great Grown Up General Conference "Activity Packets"  just kidding-they are really just journaling pages for conference.  After all my years of putting together Conference packets for my own children and then for the Primary children I just couldn't resist calling them Activity Packets. Here are a couple of ones I really liked:

Find this at the RedHeadedHostess's Blog here: 

http://theredheadedhostess.com/?p=1549

And this one from http://preparednotscared.blogspot.com/2011/03/mothers-conference-journal.html

She has made front and back binder inserts, as well as a spine insert.  She uses two pages for every speaker, and uses one during conference and one when she goes back and studies with the Ensign.  Brillant!

  

I've always just used a notebook to keep conference notes, but I'm going to play with this idea of a dedicated notebook.  I think that would be especially useful when studying the talks from the Ensign over the next 6 months, but I don't love the idea of keeping a huge binder on my lap during sessions of Conference.  Going to have to think on that one.

And somewhere I came across a blog party where they discuss a different talk from General Conference every week, and now I can't find it anywhere.  I knew I should have marked it right then and there, argh! The curse of having no memory strikes again.  If anyone can point me in the right direction I'd really love it.