.::still blinking::.

Tony Stark

Wolverine

James Bond

Seriously.

I am still frantically preparing for Christmas. What they heck was I thinking making so many presents? I hate giving things I put no heart into, but my heart is no longer feeling it, I am completely out of steam and yet I head back into the mess to continue upward and onward. Hopefully.

The presents are really cute in my head, but I am a clumsy seamstress and it shows. I am trying though. Seriously trying.

Mr. Dino has made it into a lot of photos lately. The last photo he was not “eating” Baby Jesus. I was informed that this is just Jesus’ new mode of transportation. Like Dino Taxi, with out the joy of being screamed at in the middle of a busy street in New York in the rain about getting OUT of my taxi. Taxi drivers in Denver are a lot nicer, doling out advice about having more children and spreading the love.

Cookin’ the books with JJ makes me want to perform my own frontal lobotomy. Except that I have been begging for 6 years for his help with this. The one year that is missing from this equation, I was on a postpartum fueled release time.

Anyway, it is probably that I have reached bedtime and I just cannot comprehend all this number talk and why do I have to do the majority of this and we are still 2 years behind. Because as you read in a previous post we JUST got our tax returns and economic stimulus check, thanks GW. And now begins the rush to tax season, because I swear to you, I am not filling again in September.

Also, I got cold recently and decided I give up on cute I am going for old granny warmth. I am now wearing JJ’s down parka that hangs down to my knees and I went and bought thermal underwear that are totally feminine with 2 inches of elastic lace at the bottom. It is totally hot. There is also a lot of beanie wearing, which helps with not wanting to do my hair.

There you have it. The formula for avoiding doing the deed.

Long Underwear (to my ankles)
+ Talk of Quicken and Reconcilling
——————————–
= A Long night of hot, hot sleep.

Does this happen to Baby Jesus at your house?

Gentry went Christmas shopping for me with JJ on Saturday. I guess JJ was looking at the pajamas and Gentry brought this over to him and said, “These are for boobs. This is cute.”

Have I mentioned Gentry’s current obsession with boobs. I have them and he doesn’t. Same with JJ, I guess. We have been talking a lot about privacy and how he doesn’t see me when I am naked. But he and I got all cuddly on the couch the other day to read Christmas stories and he announced, “My head is on your boob!” Well, lets change positions than.

I guess this is just the beginning. Boys are so not like girls.

What you cannot see in this picture is that he had a hicky on his cheek. I thought that would be a hilarious thing to have in all our wedding pictures. I still find it rather hilarious and he still groans when I bring it up.

Love you babe.

He likes to be Tarzan at night and run around like a wild man in his underwear. We let him. This night he was a star-wrangling Tarzan!

This year we have been doing an Advent Calendar. We read of slip of paper with an activity on it and Gentry gets a small candy. The activities vary, but on Wednesday we went to Temple Square, in downtown Salt Lake to look at the Christmas lights.



I have not been to see this in several years, but I really thought the nativity scene set in the reflecting pool was so pretty.

As we were leaving we asked Gentry if he liked going to see the lights. He said that he didn’t like the lights, but that he did like looking at the big statue of Cheesus. He is referring to the large statue they have of Jesus in one of the visitor centers. He cracks us up.

I was tagged. And now you are too. If I didn’t tag you and you want to participate. I tag you as well.

5 Things I was doing 10 years ago…
1.) Dating my first boyfriend.
2.) Camp outs in the living room of Davis 302. I love you girls.
3.) Very little studying.
4.) Hanging in the library a lot, but not studying.
5.) Learning to be independent.

5 Things on my “To-Do” list today…
1.) Vacuum
2.) Deposit my economic stimulus check. Yes, I JUST got my tax return.
3.) Sew a tree skirt.
4.) Fold the mountain of laundry in the hall.
5.) Shave.

5 Snacks I enjoy…
1.) Almonds
2.) Tea with small amounts of milk
3.) Sushi
4.) Fruit
5.) Celery

5 Things I’d do if I were a Millionaire…
1.) Pay off debt + mortgage.
2.) Buy a house for my mom or have her be my nanny and travel with me.
3.) Spend months of the year living else where. Italy. Japan. South Central Panguitch. Ely.
4.) Buy a highlander.
5.) Get more education.

5 Places I’ve Lived…
1.) Logan.
2.) South Jordan.
3.) Bryce Canyon.
4.) Herriman.
5.) JJ’s grandparents house.

5 Jobs I’ve Had
1.) Caterer.
2.) Grocery Checker.
3.) Graphic Artist/Marketer.
4.) Cow Girl. I swear. I should put some pictures up here.
5.) Personal Escort. I have only ever had one client.

5 People I tag
1.) Mary, she likes her privacy
2.) Boogie the dog
3.) Aubrey Jeppson, mother of Macie
4.) Katrina
5.) Annie
6.) Tiffany

Here is a recipe I get asked about quite a bit. It is for caramels that I make once and year and usually share with others at Christmas time. They take three hours to make that that is not including cooling, cutting and wrapping. So you really have to be serious about this. Also, this is a Martha Stewart recipe, she never does things the easy way.

If you received some of these last year I substituted light corn syrup for some kind of brown rice syrup, it is an earthy product and made them much less sweet, but a lot more rich. I think I was going to try half corn syrup this year and half rice syrup. Also, heavy cream is not terribly expensive at Costco and I think you have a little left over to drink. You know JJ is standing here with his face on the spout of the cream waiting for me to get finished.

Golden Caramels
4 cup heavy cream
1 cup sweetened condensed milk
4 cup light corn syrup
4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 pound (2 sticks) unsalted butter, cut into 16 peices
1 Tablespoon + 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1- Spray a cookie sheet with cooking spry. In a 2-quart saucepan, combine cream and sweetened condensed milk; set aside.
2- In a large saucepan (really large), combine corn syrup, 1 cup of water, sugar and salt. Clip on a candy thermometer. Over high heat, cook until sugar is dissolved, stirring with a wooden spoon, 8-12 minutes. Brush down sides of pan with a pastry brush dipped in water to remove sugar crystals
3- Stop stirring, reduce heat to medium, and bring to a boil. Cook without stirring until temperature reaches 250 degrees (45-60 minutes). Meanwhile, cook cream mixture over low heat until it is just warm. Do not boil. When sugar reaches 250 degrees, slowly stir in butter and warmed cream mixture, keeping mixture boiling at all times. Stirring constantly, cook over medium heat until thermometer reaches 244 degrees, 55-75 minutes. Stir in vanilla. Immediately pour into prepared pan without scraping pot. Let stand uncovered at room temperature for 24 hours without moving.
4- To cut, spray large cutting board with vegetable oil. Unmold caramels and cut. Wrap in cellophane or waxed paper.

Yum. If you want me to send you a few of these I totally will. Comment and leave your address and I will send you a couple. You will think you have died. If you live by me and are my friend in real life, not fake internet life, you will probably get some anyway. If you are my friend in internet standard time, comment and I will send you some.

Love,
Makayla