Jenna's Gymnastics

I'm embarrassed to admit how long it's taken me to finally sit down and figure out how to upload a video clip to my blog. I decided that tonight I would figure it out no matter how long it took. It took literally less than 30 seconds to figure out. I can't believe it! It's been on my to do list for months now. Anyway, now that I have finally figured it out, I'll probably be posting a bunch of videos I've been saving up to put on this blog.

The first ones will be from Jenna's gymnastic routine tonight. She started practicing gymnastics on her own in second grade. We had her in a community rec class for a few months, but I didn't like how the teachers failed to teach the kids how to fall or be safe. It seemed like she was falling and getting hurt at every practice. I pulled her out after one session. But even after a year or two without classes, she was still interested in gymnastics so we decided to try The Little Gym in January. She'd gone there when she was 4 and I remembered that they focused on safety. She's had a great time and her two friends from our neighborhood signed up with her. Here are her routines:


(Please ignore the screaming 6 year old in the back ground. She was a little nervous about doing her beam routine.)







It may have only taken a few seconds for me to figure out how to post these, but it's taking nearly an hour to upload them to blogger. Any suggestions from those of you out there who have more experience in the blogging world? I just transferred them from my camera to my computer and then clicked the little video link button and selected the video from the "my pictures" folder. Thanks!

Baptism

I know it's been forever since I wrote. I've been struggling with trying to decide whether to make my blog private or not. I decided not to add anything new to my blog until I knew what I wanted to do. I am going to make my blog private, so just send me an e-mail if you want me to add you to the list. I'll be keying in all the addresses from our lists, so if you've emailed me recently, you'll be on the "approved" list. I'm just a little uncomfortable with how much information is so readily available to anyone in the world.

On to happier topics. We have another 8 year old at the Hicken house! Addison turned 8 last month, but with conference, his baptism was scheduled for the second Saturday in April. We had planned a vacation to Durango for spring break, but Bret injured his ankle pretty severely and we decided hiking at Mesa Verde wasn't a great idea when he was having a hard time walking. Once we canceled the trip, we decided to go ahead with the stake baptism day. The stake primary presidency planned and did the entire first half of the baptism and then let us go by wards to the font. There was one other girl from a different ward getting baptized, and then Addison and his friend Sammie from our ward. Here are a few pictures from the baptism and Easter. We had a great weekend.

Addison with our Bishop and his first counselor.

My sister-in-law, Melissa, took some great pictures of Addison. She put a few on her blog if you want to check them out.

I think I'll do Easter pictures in a separate post. It's time to go and get the kids from school.

Canvas Photos

I found out about a great canvas company from a friend. They can do any size you want and the quality seems really good. I've been wanting to get our family photos enlarged and up on the wall, so I decided to try them in canvas. The company I used is Art-tec Prints. Their prices are the best I've found. It did take awhile - I think it was 3 weeks before they shipped my order, but that also could have been because of the large sizes I was ordering. I ordered the two side pictures 20x16 and the middle family picture 20x24. I like how they turned out. (For some reason, my camera isn't taking great pictures right now. They pictures on my wall look much better than this picture makes them look.)

Jury Duty Update

It's been awhile since I posted anything. I ended up not having to go in for jury duty, which is a good thing since I forgot to call in two of the nights. I did call in the next morning, but by that time I would have been really late if I'd had to go.

Bret also got selected for jury duty. It was rather funny that his letter came the day I was complaining about being selected a second time. The strange thing is that his was for Salt Lake City courts. We don't live in the city boundaries so we're not sure how he qualified for that. Regardless, they sent him the letter and then the postcard. On Sunday I was looking for a paper and found his postcard on my desk. His week was to start the next day. Since he was at a meeting I called for him. He was lucky enough to be selected to show up at court the next day. I'm sooo glad I found that postcard - I would hate to find out if they really fine you or put you in jail if you don't show up.

He arrived at 8:30 a.m. and they didn't let him leave until 6:15 p.m. He was one of four selected to stay and be on the jury. The other three were women and decided that he had to be the jury foreman. He hasn't told me much about the case - I don't know if they aren't supposed to or if just doesn't go into the details. It was a drunk driving case and they did find the defendant guilty. He doesn't know what the sentencing will be. I was getting a little nervous since we had tickets to The Forgotten Carols that night and I didn't know when they would let him leave.

Now he's off the hook for 2 years - at least from SL city. I guess the county court can still call him if they want to.

I really didn't sit down to write about jury duty. Oh well, I'll post this one and then do another later with the pictures I wanted to put up on the blog.

Jury Duty - part 2

So a month or two ago, I received a letter telling me I had to fill out a form online to qualify for jury duty (with the threat of penalties or jail time if I didn't comply). I filled out the form and qualified - hooray for me. I received a nice yellow summons postcard for the first week of November. I did my civic duty by making sure I had a babysitter lined up each day and calling in after five each evening to see if I had to go to the court house the next day. I think it would be interesting to serve on a jury, but it would also be a hassle trying to find someone to watch my kids and do carpools and such. I was a little relieved when Friday rolled around and my number hadn't been selected. Ok, more than a little relieved. So you can imagine my shock, disbelief, and consternation at finding ANOTHER jury summons in my mailbox for next week. Yep, the week of Thanksgiving. I wonder if they just keep sending these things until they get you into the court room. If I do get lucky and have to go downtown to the court building, they will pay me very generously - $18.50 for the entire day. I can't wait.

Sour Cream, Anyone?

I promise - he was only out of my line of vision for two minutes. I had just got his breakfast for him, and then sat down to the computer. Next thing I know he's climbing into my lap and stinks. It was a smell I couldn't identify readily (sour cream isn't on my top ten list of reasons kids might smell). I asked him what smelled and he grabbed my hand and walked me over to this lovely site. He's taken the pint of sour cream out of the fridge, a large spoon out of the drawer and a canister of punch mix out of the cupboard. He then decided to fill the empty canister with the sour cream. I don't know why - he won't tell me. (He only has about 4 words and is generally a VERY quiet and stealthy kid).

At least this mess was easier to clean up than the one Anna got into with the punch canisters. I was in the hospital the day after Andrew was born. Bret came to pick me up and mentioned that Anna had made a little mess in the kitchen right before they left to come and get me. She had opened 8-10 of the crystal light like containers and mixed them up on the floor.



Andrew did do one cute thing this morning. When he got up and saw the snow he was so excited. He ran and got my camera, took off the lens cap, raised the flash and started trying to take pictures through the window. I turned on the camera and showed him where to push and he took about 15 pictures of the snow outside. He then turned the camera over to see the pictures he'd just taken. I better go, he just ran out of the kitchen and I'd rather not have another major mess today.

Yummy Recipes

I love fall. I've decided it's my favorite season. The leaves are so beautiful, it's the perfect temperature, and there are some great fall recipes out there. Here are a few I've tried lately.

This is our favorite sweet potato casserole recipe. I usually double the recipe, but keep the margarine at 1/2 cup, and put it in a 9x13 glass pan.





Pumpkin Bread

1 3/4 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 cup sugar
1 1/2 teas. pumpkin pie spice (see below)
1 teas. baking soda
1 teas. baking powder
1 cup pumpkin
1/2 cup apple or orange juice

Mix together. Put into a sprayed (Pam) loaf pan. Bake at 350 for 40-45 min. Makes one loaf.

I didn't have any pumpkin pie spice so I looked online and found this recipe for it.

1. Measure 1 teaspoon of cinnamon into a small bowl or cup.
2. Add 1/2 teaspoon of ground ginger.
3. Add 1/4 teaspoon of ground allspice or ground cloves.
4. Add 1/4 teaspoon of ground nutmeg.
5. Stir to blend.
6. Makes 2 teaspoons of pumpkin pie spice.

(Note: There isn't any oil in the recipe so the texture of the bread may seem different, but it tasted great.)

Curried Butternut Squash Soup

• 3 pound(s) butternut squash (1 big one), peeled, seeded and diced into 1-inch cubes
• 2 medium onion(s), peeled and quartered
• 29 oz canned chicken broth
• 1 1/2 tsp curry powder
• 1/8 tsp table salt, or to taste
• 1/8 tsp black pepper, or to taste
• 1/4 cup(s) fat-free sour cream

• Combine squash, onion, and chicken broth and simmer for about 30 minutes. Let cool for 15 minutes.
  
  
• Puree soup in blender- I used a hand held bamix type mixer. Add curry. Season to taste with salt and pepper; garnish with sour cream and scallions if desired.

I also found a recipe online that suggested nutmeg and cinnamon instead of curry, so I'm going to try that next time.

Pumpkin Spice Cake Mix Cookie

• 1 spice cake mix
• 1/2 large size canned pumpkin
• 1/2 (12 ounce) bag mini chocolate chips

1. Mix the dry cake mix and the pumpkin together until moist.
2. Add the chocolate chips.
   
3. Bake at 350 degrees for 12-15 minutes.

(I don't like spice cake so I used a white cake mix and it turned out great).