Storytelling Festival

I didn't know our town did a storytelling festival! When I saw the brochures at the checkout line in the grocery store I knew we *HAD* to go!

Of course E sat like this when she actually was sitting down...for like 5 seconds.

G man like the dragon ventriloquist guy.

He also drank most of this can of pop and didn't sleep very good that night....oops! But we taught him a valuable lesson: too much sugar makes your body feel sick! And actually since then, he now asks about how much sugar is in things and will only eat a little bit because he doesn't want his body to feel bad!!! Seriously we got ice-cream the other day and he ate maybe 3 spoonfuls and gave me the rest so he wouldn't get sick! I told him I was proud of him listening to his body as I shoved the rest of it down my throat!!! ha ha!

This was only their second year doing the festival- I hope more people come next year and it grows because it was so FUN!

 And because we got a "family pass" we had extra tickets so the next day while Jay was working with went with my good friend Jennae and her son! This lady is the coolest.

Taken by her son....the only picture he got with our faces in it! ha!

What a fun couple days of storytelling and playing at the park! I hope we get to go again next year. Oh and I was soooooo bummed my camera's batteries died before I could get a picture of G with the dragon guy- he was so cool. Find his story here: http://www.mormon.org/me/3j34

Baby Lambs

My friend has a farm and got 30 baby lambs and invited her friends to come help feed them. Who do you think enjoyed it more? The kids or me?

Esther was SCARED. The lambs were fine from a distance but when they got close- AH!

Grant loved them...until he started feeding them. 

Did you know baby lambs *HIT* their mom to get the milk flowing? The just bump right up into the udder and pretty forcefully too. So they did the same thing with the bottles. Totally freaked Grant out.

So super cute. 

So while everyone pretty much enjoyed the experience, in the end the person who enjoyed it the most was ME.

I didn't know feeding baby lambs could seriously fill you with so much joy and laughter to just bubble out, even when the day had been long and rough. Totally consider feeding baby lambs if you need to feel better about life.

As a side note, I really, really want my friend's farm to succeed. They take care of their animals and feed them well and make sure they are keeping them healthy and happy so the people who consume the animals will be healthy. I support these guys and everything they are trying to accomplish. If you want to check out their website it's: http://hensonheritagefarm.com/

Samosas- More Nepali Cooking- Updated with Pictures!

Update: I made these again and made a huge batch so I could freeze some wraps and filling for another day. And I took some pictures! I still don't know exact measurements because I was doing this by myself- just looking at how much seasoning to put in. 

Yummy.

Now I know why my belly is bigger! I can't believe I just figured it out. Hello! It's because of all the good food I am being introduced to. I am serious. You eat and you never know when you are full because your taste buds keep begging for more.

Well Sushila and I were in the kitchen cooking again- this is becoming a little bit of a tradition once a week we get together and just cook. It's usually because she lets me sample something she makes and then I have to make it and I start but then have no idea how to actually put it all together so I call her and explain what I am trying to do, ask if she is busy, then she comes over to help me. I lovvvve learning how to make her food.
It's funny how a meal can take 3 hours to prepare and she just brushes it off saying, "It's fun! So simple! And delicious!" This lady really likes to cook. I am starting to really like it too- three hours is still a little much for me but it's a good thing meals like this take so long or else I have a feeling you would get really fat really fast.
So we started at 4ish and ended were eating around 7. It's fun though if you are cooking with someone so maybe a good date night dinner to make together or with a friend- or a special occasion.

I have no idea what the measurements are but I'm just going to scribble some notes down so I can have this to refer to in the future.


Samosas

Filling:

5-7 cooked potatoes
10 oz thawed frozen peas
1 onion
6 cloves of minced garlic
1-2 tsp cumin/coriander mixed spices
1.5 tsp salt
1 tsp turmeric
cilantro





Fry onion and garlic- then add peas and spices with turmeric.
Add potatoes cut up small or mashed with hands (how Sushila does it) then add cilantro to mix

For the dough:

• 2 tsp or Tbsp gi (cooked unsalted butter- um have you ever tried this? It has the BEST flavor- it's like candy- you just cook butter until it browns and smells like caramel and pour out the top stuff to eat because you will end up with par of it looking burned but it sinks to the bottom and you just throw that out)
• flour (2ish cups?)

Keep covered so dough doesn't dry out

• water (enough to make dough soft and pliable- but not sticky...maybe around 1/2 cup? 1 cup? I have no idea).
• Salt to taste...maybe 1 tsp.

Mix gi and flour really well with salt- then add flour slowly mixing with hands and kneading after each addition in bowl.



Achar (dipping sauce):
3-5 tomatoes chopped roughly into 8ths or something somewhat smaller chunks
5ish cloves of garlic cut roughly small
salt (1 tsp?- I don't know the one I made last night needed more salt (says Sushila) and I think I only did 1/2 tsp)
 and cumin/coriander mix- 2 tsp? (again mine didn't have enough spices in it and I thought I put a good amount in....)
1/2 onion chopped roughly

Cook onion and garlic- then add tomatoes and fry for about 10 minutes. Add spices and salt.
Put mixture in blender and blend until smooth.

Put it all together:
Roll dough out into small circles. About the size of your fist.

1)

I add water to my fingers to make dough pliable

2)

Smash in hand and swipe flour on front and back while flattening

4)

Cut down the center with sharp knife

3)

Roll out to about 8 inches diameter

Wet finger with water and put on straight edge.

Fold dough over and press together to make a cone.

Hold cone upright

Put about a tablespoon or a little more leaving space at the top to close shell.

Wet finger and go along top edge. Take middle of front of cone and pinch and press onto the back where the seam is. Then press dough together on the top making sure it is sealed tightly for cooking process.

Cook:
Submerge in hot oil and cook maybe 3 minutes on each side.

Dip into achar and mwah!!! So yummy!!!!

Facebook.Thoughts and Feelings on DELETING.

I am sitting here at my computer deleting fb friends one by one.
Why?
We'll get to that in a minute.

I am a little shocked how hard it is deleting each and every person.
As I get to most faces, I am sad and wonder, "Why am I doing this? What was my purpose again? Why can't I see their cute family pictures and see their funny posts/ inspiring posts?"
Then as I get to others, I am relieved to delete.
Then, as I keep going, I "unfriend" some and think, "Wow- this is like deleting my life- my memories with them. There they go. That was a happy time"
Continuing on I reflect that most of these people probably don't know or really care what's going on in my life.
Still going, some people I really don't want lose contact with. I am happy that I've sent an email to them and that those wanting to stay in contact with me have emailed me back with their info! I am happy that those people cared.
What? Still 295 to go? This is going to take forever.
"Unfriend-ing" is so harsh. It's almost like it's real or something.
Then I'm worried, "What if someone's feelings get hurt that I didn't realize does want to be in my life and we've just lost contact over time and I delete them?"
Will anyone even know I'm gone?
Is facebook one of those things that people only know you are there when you are posting things in their faces?
Some faces it's easy to love them still, yet know that our lives are in different places now.
Others still it's hard to let go even when I know they are not in my life. Why? There is some forgiveness and letting go that needs to happen with these ones.
And yet there are still others, I delete easily, wishing them the happiest life and knowing that our time is over and has been for some time.
And I'm not going to lie- Jay's old girlfriends I am happy to delete. Not because I don't think we couldn't be friends but because it feels so weird seeing their pictures, knowing they can see ours.  And if I had deleted them before they would have perhaps thought I was rude and maybe someday down the road we would have met in person and they would have thought I was just the selfish rude wife of their ex that wouldn't be friends with them on fb. Now, if I meet them down the road, well awesome! I would love to meet them. Just not trade photos and never speak a word. So weird.
Grandpa- can you delete your Grandpa? That felt kind of wrong. If your grandparents use fb, they just don't deserve to be deleted...right?
And some people- I had to do one last "check" on their profile- what drew me to that? They usually weren't the best of friends with me but I think what drew me to do that last check is they had some quality I wish I possessed.
Now we can stop pretending we were friends- you are a nice person, I'm a nice person but that doesn't mean we have to pretend we really were or are in each other's lives. Sincerely wishing you the best.
Will I ever hear from this person again? Will it matter?
You know when you look at the same word over and over again it starts looking wrong....is that really how you spell Friend? F--R-I-E-N-D?
Looks like a lot of these people are really happy. I'm so glad. I really am.
I'll admit it: there were people I really questioned if I even knew them...who are they again?
0 friends...oh my goodness. I did it. Gone.
Now my profile added something that says, "find friends" and there are suggestions across the top.
It feels clean.

Okay, so why this madness?

1. I spend too much time on Facebook
2. It felt impersonal to me at times
3. I felt many times jealous of others...something that I know I can work on but I would see something about someone and feel jealous- not happy for them. I think that's what happens when you are only connected with someone through a way that only shows the things they want the world to see- you know in real life you get to hear more of a balance- like "oh they are human too and not everything's perfect".
4. The main reason was I was spending so much ENERGY into things on fb. Not only time, but my actual energy was being spent- yes, that was my choice, but sometimes I just felt compelled to read everything or research everything and it just was overwhelming.
5. I really don't need facebook. It really came down to that. I just think there are other ways for me to share- like the blog for example- or calling people. What ever happened to that? I'm just trying other ways to build relationships and share.
6. Jay was starting to say that's all I did- was fb and he felt left out.
7. Like some of my comments and feelings as I deleted people- I just was out of someone's life and they were out of mine really, yet here we were, swapping pictures and such- it just felt weird.
8. I felt a lot of the time like I had to defend my feelings or thoughts on things, when really it wasn't necessary and I think people don't really care what you think unless they know you care about them and it was easier to just say what I thought first then let people know I really did care about them first and foremost.

I'm not going to make a list of all the good reasons, because there are plenty- I just know that these "negative" reasons for me was enough.

So will I miss it?
Yes, I think so. But at the same time, with everything weighed out, I think it's totally worth it for me personally in my life at this time. And my account isn't really deleted. I mean, I'm still there because there are things I want to follow and read about still that I have found through Facebook has been a good way of doing those things- but I'm not using it to be really connected to anybody as a "friend" and it's okay because I am finding other ways to connect that feel great to me. And I am definitely not telling you this because I think everyone should do it- oh no- I understand everyone is in way different places and I know of plenty of people who don't put the energy and time into fb that I was doing- they know how to balance it out and it blends perfectly into their lives- just for me in my life, it wasn't blending in with what I wanted to be happening.

So, I'm happy to be trying something different and as time goes on, I guess we'll see what the impacts really are- for now I just feel good. I feel happy to be doing something different and making other things in my life a priority where I saw I needed to change something.

Prayers and A New Man!

Here's how it's been going the last month or so:
Everytime we say a prayer, Grant has to pray for Sushila, Ramsey and Srijan (La-la, Si-si and Ra-ra). Sometimes he mentions them multiple times and sometimes we end the prayer and start eating or whatever and he says, "Prayer" and in that prayer, we pray for them again. Here's one I recorded- he's just so sweet:

It's been amazing to see someone learning the wonderful things I have taken for granted my whole life knowing about! To know about Jesus Christ and feel the spirit and know you can have God's power blessing you by keeping the commandments...it's been soooo cool.

So the Saturday after Thanksgiving:

Jay, Grant, Sushila, Ramjee, Srijan, Elder Gilbert, Elder Clark

After getting baptized, we got to see a little more of Ramjee's humor as he went on about how he was a new man:

"I don't know you. Who are you? I am a new man! Why are you talking to me? Where am I?"

What an awesome day!

Friends and Prayers- Sushila and Grandma Marbles

When I moved into our apartment building, I had a vision.
There would be 50 moms exactly like me, same age with same aged kids running around.
I knew we would all meet together in the shared yard area and do finger painting and talk about motherhood.
And my new best friend would live right next door to me. We would knock and drop our kid(s) off to each other on a whim, knowing the other would return the favor when we needed it.

*Sound when a record scratches*

Yah- not my reality at all. There are no children playing outside- only the next door neighbor's kids who I might have to tell you all about here pretty soon. Do people even live in those other apartments? It's like a ghost town most of the time..."where is everyone..." is a thought that frequents through my mind as I look around at the closed blinds and quiet apartments.

What has happened instead is a woman in my new ward put on the relief society announcements that she had extra grapes (did I tell you that Grant is a grape addict? Well, he is..."papes" are his favvvorite) so of course I called her up and went on over. We stayed for hours. She had this cute little marble run that G just couldn't get enough of so we stayed. I chatted with Grandma Marbles- yes this is what she calls herself- and G just played over and over again. Did I mention she is 93 years old?!!! She's got some bounce in her step though and is so cute. She calls me the next week and says she was just so glad we came by and to come and give her a hug at church and come visit again.

Then, one day at an area social Jay and I met a couple from Nepal. The husband Ramsy is doing his doctorates and his wife and son had just moved here to be with him. The little boy Srijan knows English from school but his mom, Sushila is just barely learning. We agreed it would be a great idea for her to come over and practice her new language with me since we both are at home during the day. I actually didn't really think she would come because we couldn't communicate at all- it was all planned through her husband and mine. But
*knock knock*
She came.

We couldn't talk at all...I mean what do I do?
We sat there awkwardly for a minute but I realized very quickly that really, she couldn't speak.
She would smile and laugh shyly because she was embarrassed that we couldn't communicate.
*Idea*

I got out a cookbook and we went through to see what she knew and cooked with- what she is familiar with. That was the best idea ever- pretty soon we were nodding and laughing and smiling about the yummy food in this book and she was learning some English words! It was fun and she said she would come back again.

We've pretty much hung out every other day since that day. We grocery shop and go to the park and Grant lovvvvves her. He calls her "La la" and talks about her frequently when we are not with her and her little boy.

Can I just say that I am blown away by this lady? Yes, she may not know perfect English but she is learning and takes everything so positively and laughs so easily. I am realizing that English is a way we communicate but there is so much more- so much more to communicating than just knowing the words to say. I've learned that through my son but I have also been shown this through this little Nepali woman. She has so much love and good energy and joy for life. She has become my best friend in this short time.

I never in a million years imagined a 93 year old woman and a Nepali lady who doesn't know English to be my best friends but they are. And they are rich in life and love and I enjoy them immensely.

I am surprised because when you move to a new place- it's scary! You leave everything and everyone you know to a new town where you don't know a soul so I have offered many prayers that I can make some good friends- that I can be a good friend and figure out how I can serve the people around me. That is a new prayer for me: that I can serve those around me.  I just imagined the answer to my prayer being so different but this is the coolest thing because not only do I have an amazing friend who feeds me and teaches me how to make good, healthy food and loves Grant, but who I am able to serve too: I get to help her learn english! I never thought that would be a way I could help someone but I think it really is helping her and her husband has told me that before she met me, he would try to teach her but she didn't really care too much but now that we've met she's really excited to learn! That made me feel really good. And Grandma Marbles I know just loves having people over and having a cute little kid play her marble game. And she has offered me something too: she made me see that I can make a difference in someone's life. That it makes a difference to her day if I come and give her a hug.

I am so grateful and Heavenly Father answers our prayers....just really it can be in such unexpected ways.

A Beautiful Fall Hike

Fall Break means we get to see dad more! I have had the chance to see our Nepali friends everyday and tell Jay all about them. We always lament he isn't there to enjoy dinner or walks that we go on together. So I was ecstatic we could finally all go out together and he could get to know them a little better. 

I think Jay was excited too!

Isn't he smashing in his fall attire.

Favorite way to walk: holding onto my hand and Sushila's.

So much for a cute family photo.

We got to meet some dogs on our hike. Grant told them to "stay" with much authority.

It was so cold- poor Sushila had only a thin jacket- next time we will be better prepared. We found some beautiful leaves along the way.

The guys- minus Srijan.

Finally Srijan said okay for a "guys" photo but by that time Grant was done and has wandered away.

What a beautiful (kind of coldish) hike! We are looking forward to other hikes up these trails now and more time with this wonderful family.

*Note to self: please change the date on the camera- really? 2008? Come on.

Making MoMo's from Nepal

Have I told you about our Nepali friends? 

Ramsy was here for 2 years doing school and finally got a scholarship so he could afford to bring his wife and son out here while he finishes his doctorates.  They are so excited to see the snow.

Sushila- I finally remember her name because Jay finally said he remembers using "sushi"...oh...so easy now. She is just barely learning English.

Srijan is their little boy and he is 10. He knows English really well because of school.

Sushila has been coming over for the last month and practicing English with me. I am surprised at how well I know her now with so little communication but I feel I really do know her and her heart and she is the most wonderful human being.

So one day she surpises me with this dish called "mo mo's" because I had asked her about her food from Nepal and what it tastes like.

Okay this is the BEST dish in the entire world. 

 I JUST HAD to know how a human being could make something so divine.  

She told me in broken English that she could teach me if I come over to her home. She warned me it takes a long time to make....No problem- it will be worth it of course! I must know.

We started at 2 o'clock 

chopping, 

chopping, 

chopping 

and making the dough and tomato achar (the dipping sauce that's like a soup) from scratch. Mixing and seasoning and then finally cooking (steaming). 

We were finally eating around 6:15 and I took the kid home around 7pm to go to sleep while she kept cooking. 

She makes everything from scratch and the flavor is so....is there even a word? 

So....MWAH! 

Yes, I cannot describe it, it just is incredible and I would eat mo mo's everyday. I think when you eat them your body doesn't tell you when you are full because your taste buds send a message that they will shoot the "full receptors" in the belly if they dare interrupt such perfect dancing in the mouth. It is a party for the taste buds and really I don't know when I am full because they just are so darn good. 

So Sushila doesn't follow a recipe, she just knows how to make them so I took notes and I will write it down once I try it at least once to see if I got it right. 

We had some fun through the hard work and I enjoy these people so much. I will tell you all about them. They are so humble and good and full of love and have nothing yet everything to give. They are so happy.  I wish you could meet them, I know you would be better for it.

Srijan told Grant to say, "Cheese!" Good one huh? Except Jay just said this looks like a missing child photo...I don't know if I like it as much now...

Chopping on the floor. They don't have a table or chairs.

I had to convince her that her smile was great with her braces- so finally! So beautiful! Isn't her smile so full of love? You can just see it.

He calls her "mama" which I think just means he trusts her to take care of him. I know he can't say Sushila so we now call her "La la". 

Srijan is 10 and the happiest, cutest boy. We've adopted him as Grant's big brother.

Grant wouldn't smile for me, even when I said "Say cheese!" nope. nothing.

Last attempt to get a smile. Oh well.