Goat Rocks

Catch up time.  We went on the most beautiful hike last summer.  It was in the Goat Rocks Wilderness.  My brother-in-law Dave, his kids Dallin and Annie came, along with D and I and my sister Alli.  It was an Awesome group and those kids can hike!  It was a 17 mile round trip hike and they were troopers.

We climbed quite a bit but the landscape was so incredible that you hardly noticed.  We started out in the typical forestry but then came to green fields full of run-off brooks and wildflowers, to rocks, to snow, to crags with icy lakes.

We all waded into one of those lakes.  Holy freezing.  Little Dallin even jumped in all the way and got out FAST. 

It was BEAUTIFUL.  If you ever have the chance to do it, make it a priority.  It is worth it.  We hiked in and made it up to a viewpoint that could see Mt. St. Helens, Rainier, and Mt. Hood from one spot.  We decided to camp there and it was comfy, beautiful, and glorious.  We saw about 50 mountain goats up the slope from us. 

Thanks Dave for the incredible hike and for the mountain house dinners.  Channing, thanks for sparing your husband and for the banana bread. 

What a perfect way to spend a summer weekend.  It truly is a marvel what glories our Creator made for us to enjoy. 

I love Seattle

When I first came to learn that D and I would be moving to Seattle I was STOKED!  It is probably one of the most gorgeous places I had ever been and still is.  The water + greenery + surrounded by mountains was breathtaking.  We moved here at the beginning of January and I was confidently gung-ho for this adventure.  Taking me down a notch...the first year here was a bit of a slap in the face what with it not getting sunny until August and lasting only until October, me making no friends, wishing I could just go to the grocery store and buy the preservative packed snack and not have people give me dirty looks.

                                           (me in Uggs, next to a fire, in the middle of May)


And having the hardest time trying to understand what it meant to be a true Seattleite...

Well after 2 1/2 years I have figured it out.  A true Seattleite...

wears Uggs with black leggings with everything
goes on outside adventures regardless rain or shine
gets up at the crack of dawn to stand in line at the REI garage sale
composts pretty much everything...I didn't even know they made compostable plastic
brings a rain coat everywhere, just in case
rides their bicycle like a boss everywhere
plants a garden, even the bums here have tin cans filled with vegetables
considers their dog their child
yells at people who forget to pick up their dog's feces
dislikes outsiders but will talk if you compliment their city or are wearing Chacos.
can't drive to save their life and always blame it on the weather, too sunny, too rainy, other drivers.  Seriously it is comparable to Utah. :)
buys EVERYTHING organic or makes it themselves.
wears socks with sandals

For all its quirks I love this city!  It has a certain culture that I have yet to find anywhere else.  Its artsy, eco-friendly, outdoorsy, and tech-savvy all thrown into one with a dash of resilience and passion that makes this city special. I take a certain pride in saying I live in Seattle, although I do complain about the weather occasionally.  But I do catch myself judging those who don't pick up their pooches poo.  Baby-steps, I will be a Seattleite yet!

Catching up...

I feel as if time is on fast-forward and yet I look around at what I have been doing and it looks like I hit pause.  What with moving four times since May and Dallin's new very busy calling, I feel as if we just started Summer and then I realize that it is almost Thanksgiving and I have a heart/panic attack. 

Whoa.  I am DEAD MEAT.  ( I have to finish my online class by January 10th and I am only on lesson 6 of 20 and I still have to write a few research papers on top of that.  Procrastinate much?  Oops.) 

Now that I am being forced to work hard at my classes I will be taking a few breaks from blogging (not that I post that much anyway), but mostly I will be taking a break from pa-rousing your awesome blogs.  Come January 11th though, it will be an epic day of catching up on blogs!!! :)

Pumpkin Carving with the guys, I was invited and yes I was the only girl.  So what if most of my friends are Dallin's.  I'm not lame or anything.

Here are some pictures to prove that we are alive and are not lame and have been doing stuff other than work, school, and callings.

Dal was a Mad Scientist and he fit the role perfectly

Me with creepy hands as a black cat

the great UW sunglasses Dal designed and got for free from Living Social.  SUHWEET.

Learning to make Chinese Wontons and Pot stickers from our "Nai-Nai" or "Chinese Grandmother"

She drilled the directions into me so hopefully I will be able to make these in the future because they are DELICIOUS

The Chocolate Chip Cookie Conundrum

Chocolate chip cookies, delicious, gooey, comforting, crisp yet soft, and that smell.  Mmmm.  The cookie that is the epitome of cookie and everybody has their own preference.  Some like them soft and a little underbaked, then there are the ones who like them rock hard, perfect for dipping in milk.  Then there is the debate between semi-sweet chips or milk chocolate perhaps even dark chips.  And of course we can't forget the possible addition of oatmeal or nuts.  Then the debate of margarine vs. butter.  Beware rant coming...

Now, there are roughly a million different chocolate chip cookie recipes, (I've counted), and each claims they are the best, each claims they have unlocked the secret to the perfect chocolate chip cookie.  Now my husband is a big fan of cookies and will eat about anything, literally anything, but he has commented on how he has never truly loved any chocolate chip cookie recipe.  I, as a devoted wife and slightly (cough) competitive person, have made it my mission to find THE perfect chocolate chip cookie.  I have gone through about a hundred recipes as of now and there have been some disasters and some decent cookies, but never the ultimate cookie.  It has been slightly frustrating as I have had too flat cookies, too puffy, too buttery, too cakey, etc...

This is a call for help.  If anyone knows of THE perfect chocolate chip cookie* and would like to share the recipe I would be ETERNALLY grateful as would my descendants, (maybe you will get a child named after you- just sayin...) 


*You may not be offended if your recipe does not pass the Chellin test, many have tried and many have failed.  We are a tough crowd.  But we thank you for the effort.

RAGNASTY 2012: Northwest Passage

"Running a relay race through the Seattle area, starting near the border of Canada and winding south, all the way down to Whidbey Island. Ragnar Relay races 12 runners, day and night, through 190 miles of stunning Washington scenery. Starting in the border town of Blaine, the team will head south through farm country and along the coast, ultimately crossing over Deception Pass and onto the coastline of Whidbey Island. The race (and your stamina) will wrap up on the southern tip of Whidbey Island in Langley.  Better put this on your running calendar, this is a race you will be bragging about for life."* 

Speaking of bragging, I have to say I am quite proud of our group of runners.  They are quite the group of classmates, coworkers, ward members, friends, and family.  They are put through the ringer with strenuous runs, little sleep, multiple legs of the race, and on top of that this group ran, slept, and ate in costume.  It was AWESOME!  People (fans + other racers) kept taking pictures of them, cheering them on, and asking for personal pictures with them.  They were the most popular group there. 

Each member of the team was required (by the group), to dress as a villain.  There was Hannibal Lecter, Mystique, Cruella de Vil, Darth Vader, Shredder, and The Phantom of the Opera in Van 1, and in Van 2, Catwoman, Jafar, Nurse Elle, Voldemort, Stay Puft, and Skeletor.  They all worked really hard to make their costumes perfect and they were! They looked amazing and seeing them run in costume was hillarious.  They were in character the whole time and it added a fun and evil :) spirit to the entire race. 

Dallin was the Phantom of the Opera.  He ran 18.5 miles averaging 6.50 min/mile time!  Way to go! My mom and I worked on his costume but never actually got to see him in it!  When I finally did see him on the last day of the race I just about swooned.  I now see why Christine had such a hard time shaking the Phantoms hold on her! He is one fine looking fellow.  Although the smell was a bit of a turn off as I got to ride with 5 very tired and smelly runners, in the smelly van that had housed them, but it was worth it!  Maybe he will sing to me in costume to pay me back! :)

*Ragnar Relay Race Series Official Website

Little Drops of Sunshine

On this rainy Monday I would like to remember a few drops of sunshine in my life...

-Listening to rain on the rooftop, especially when I wake up in the middle of the night.

-Cuddling with my sweetie.

-Working out really hard and being slightly sore the next day. Mmmmm

-People who laugh funny. Random stranger or friend.

-Catching up with old friends.

-Riding in the car with the windows rolled down.

-Reading the scriptures and feeling like you can do anything and nothing will ever put you down, and you will never sin again! (aka totally unrealistic but awesome feeling.)

Random laughing picture on the coast...

Ode to Moms Everywhere

I know Mother's Day was on Sunday, and yes I did call to thank my amazing Mom for all that she is and has done for me.  However today has got me thinking, thinking a lot about moms.  They never have and probably never will get the credit they deserve.  This is one of my many Soapbox topics, I get riled up real fast whenever someone denotes mothers (the whole Ann Romney fiasco...GRrrr) but I will try and stay calm through all of this.  Hopefully.  I hope moms and women in general will get the credit from those who love them, the fathers, the husbands, the brothers, the friends, the daughters, the sons, whose lives they touch. 

WARNING: This could get cheesy fast. But I know no other way to do this justice but with some aged, stinky, oozing, cheese!  Besides we all secretly love it, even if it is DEEP deep down. I know some pretty incredible women who have influenced my life and whether or not they are an actual mother, they have taught me what it means to be a mother.

These women have taught me that to be a mother means to sacrifice for those you love.  They sacrifice time, sleep, social lives, recognition, nice clothes (oh sweet sticky kisses and boogies being wiped on you), sanity, their own wants (I'm pretty sure no mom ever really wants to play Candyland everyday), vacations, I could go on and on.  I have seen a mother work all day at her job, come home to play with her kids tirelessly, put them to bed after reading way too many stories, and then staying up into the wee hours to do more work to pay for their future college educations.

They have taught me to stand up for myself and for lost causes.  They have taught me to never give up and to never lose sight of my dreams.  They have taught me to listen, from the distant cry of a bad dream to venting about getting pooped on by a bird.  (Yes, I had my first experience with this two weeks ago, thank you Seattle and your million Seagulls in residence.)  These women have taught me what it means to have faith, faith in God and faith in their families.  They have taught me patience even when I am pretty sure internally they are screaming, ranting, and ready to do some serious damage but externally they are calm as a pond.  These women have taught me how to cry, laugh, and do them simultaneously, whether over an embarrassing experience, heartache, or a cheesy movie.  They have taught me how to carry on, regardless of what life has thrown at them and when they needed the most help instead looking to help others. 

I could go on and never be finished with what I have learned and continue to learn.  Needless to say these women are incredible and they should be proud of what they have accomplished.  They are doctors, psychologists, sisters, referees, teachers, daughters, students, mentors, friends, law enforcement, saints, chauffeurs, acrobats, lovers, and volunteers, only they can't put these on their resumes.  They have the best credentials possible and I wish I could thank them all and give them the recognition that they deserve.  This cheese ball blog will have to do instead.  I love you all and thank you.