Pickles

Well its been a while since my last posting and being short on time I thought I would share a short experience that may help many of you in the future, it has helped me so much in my life, in fact I had to wipe a tear from my eye just from thinking about it, yeah its that special!


This story shall be entitled:

PICKLES

Well as many of you may know I have many peculiarities, or "hangups" as some may say, regarding.....well everything, but especially food, or the handling thereof. In other words I don't particularly like my food being touched.

About three years ago on a hot, hot September day we went to Nephi to help Korey, and Emily move into there awesome new house. The Wrights had previously been living in a totally ghetto rental house in town.

Okay the pic. may be a bit of an exaggeration, but you get the idea.

Anyway behind the house there were some small sheds that Korey was using for storage, there were also some metal shelves that had to be disassembled and hauled to the new house. Cole and I took apart the shelves and packed up much of what was in the shed.
Well as is the case with most sheds there had been mice living there, and where there are mice there are also lots of mouse droppings. Along with general old shed grime these droppings were everywhere, and on everything and It was impossible to avoid contaminating your hands.

After filling the truck we went In the house to wait for others to return with more trucks. While in the house Cole started rummaging through the fridge looking for a snack, it was slim pickins, old ketchup bottles, half full mayo jars, soy sauce, some old leftovers and a large jar, half full of pickles, and mostly full of juice.

Being the most desirable choice to be had, Cole decided that he would indulge in a pickle. Now I AM quite certain that we had not yet packed up the silverware, but that didn't matter Cole already had a perfectly suitable utensil. This tool had four fingers, one opposable thumb, and was attached to his wrist. It is the same dirty tool he used to clean out the mouse infested shed. Then he did it, he stuck his whole hand in the pickle jar, wiggled his fingers around to find that perfect pickle, and removed his snack. I must also say that he did not wash his hands first, unless you consider his hand being submerged in pickle juice as an adequate washing.

After finishing his pickle he replaced the lid to the jar, put it in the box with the other condiments, and off it went to the new house, and in the new fridge, where to the best of my knowledge, it remained until all pickles were consumed.

I hope this story may, in some way be helpful to whoever reads this blog (all two of you). You may conclude that one should be very cautious when eating pickles out of a jar, or that you should buy pickle jars with small openings so that a hand may not fit in, or that you should write "no fingers use a fork" on the lid. (that's what I do)

Perhaps you will conclude that its safe to eat pickles anywhere, because if Cole can stick his mouse turd hands in the jar without getting anyone sick than pickle juice can kill anything!

CHRISTMAS DAY

As a child I remember those sleepless Christmas eve nights, laying awake wondering if Santa had come yet or if my being awake might prevent the jolly old man from stopping at my house, and finally getting to that moment when I dared venture out to the tree and ever so quietly rummage through the gifts to see what was left just for me, then returning to bed. At last the time had arrived 6:00 am, first check with dad to see if its okay and then.....pure chaos, paper ripping, gifts being opened, toys discovered, parts assembled, gadgets played with, elbows thrown, shins kicked, and then it was over the gifts were gone.

Those days are long gone and now our kids get to have those same sweet memories. Here's our pics of Christmas Day 2009.

Aiden investigating the remains of the cookies and milk left for Santa, and reading the note he left. Why does Santa have girl handwriting?

Laura and I have adopted the tradition of dragging Christmas out as long as possible so we all take turns opening our Santa gifts one at a time.

Me opening my Mini radio controlled car, sweet toy! Thank goodness Santa still gives me gifts or I would still be in bed. Laura got me all kinds of sweet gadgets, gizmo's and toys.

Whoa, whats this? Santa brought Laura a butter dish, no thers not an amazingly cool surprise in it, its just a dish.

This pic has a funny story, when Char opened her gifts she would Rip off a chunk of wrapping paper one at a time and hand it to her mom who would, without complaint, immediately put it in a trash bag so as to not mess up her tidy little house. She was determined not to let her house get messy.

Well this year I thought I would get Laura something I new she would love...Shoes. Now those of you who know me at all know that it was a stretch for me to buy women's shoes, but not just shoes, high hells! That's right hells, they are hell to pick out! (especially for someone who owns over 40 pairs)


These ones were an easy choice for me, why? Because they have 3 rivets on each side and a metal plate on the toe with 4 rivets perfect for the construction workers wife. If I were to make shoes they would also have rivets and metal plates.

When Laura opened her shoes she would pull one shoe out and inspect it, Charly would then see the other shoe and get all excited and say "hey look there are two shoes" that's right Charly I don't go halfway with my gifts when I get shoes I buy them in pairs, and I even make sure they match!

More Santa gifts.

Charly girl got a barbie head to do her hair. Is it a rule that every little girl has to have some sort of crazy head to poke and prod at? I give it one year before it gets a hair cut.

Aiden got the coolest Transformer ever, its that big sand transformer in the second movie that comes apart into like 8 smaller transformers.

Aiden playing with his Transformers.

After opening the Santa gifts its time to have breakfast.

First and most importantly I must make an experimental batch of Hot Cocoa. I'm getting closer and closer to finding that perfect recipe. This shirt makes me look fat, no honestly I'm not gaining weight, yes the cocoa is half cream and mostly sugar.

Yep its deliiiiicious.

And aesthetically pleasing! (looks totally pro)

After indulging in a great cup of cocoa its time to cook up some breakfast meat! I loves me some bacon!

Now its time for the kids to open the gifts from Mom and Dad, and friends.

Whoa! that's one sweet Jeep. When I was a kid I loved getting radio controlled cars so we thought Aiden would to. (he's just like me ya know)

My Charly got a sweet Barbie doll house. Well, I guess its not just for Barbies you can use non barbie dolls as well, I mean who's to say there is really no outlined code of ethics for doll houses. I will look into it.

This is Laura attempting to assemble the Barbie/non barbie, doll house.
She got mad at me because I was playing with all of my toys and wouldn't help her snap it together.

Christmas dinner (I hope there is turkey)

Each Christmas day we go to my parents house in Mount Pleasant and indulge in a gourmet meal, painstakingly prepared for hours over a hot stove by my dear Mom.

Mom, Dad, Amanda, Tyler and Laura.
What could possibly be this interesting? its a phone, no its not from Santa, we are using it to communicate. Rusty is still on his mission in Cajun country and we got him on speaker phone.

My spoiled kids got more toys from my Mom and Dad. No childhood is complete without Lincoln logs they're so cool.

Sittin around the table getting ready to eat.

Notice that there are tools and construction stuff in the background? This is the new part of my parents house we are just about done with it.

THE MARSHMALLOW BATTLE!

When we arrived in Mount (that's what the cool locals call it) Amanda,Tyler and Clint were fashioning some totally awesome home made marshmallow guns out of PVC sprinkler pipes so we got in on the action.

Amanda and Tyler just before I unleashed pure marshmallow shootin fury on them.

It is so cool that you can inflict pain with a marshmallow!!!!

Laura loading her weapon. Her pants were the kind that fit a little tight and it was really fun to shoot her in the But, oops I mean Bum sorry that was a little crude.

Clint trying to perfect his design, don't worry we still shot him I called no time outs before the game. Why are you holding a shovel in your left hand.

Amanda about to shoot Clinton, he was wearing baggy clothes that would absorb the impact so it looks like she just decided to shoot him in the back of the head, that'll show him.

With the knowledge of air flow thought to me by Chet Stallings, and Clints experience as a mechanical engineer we were able to deduct that if the Mouthpiece has a 45 degree transition to the barrel instead of a 90 we could reduce friction on the marshmallow and increase air flow and pressure, producing higher speed projectiles resulting in more pain.
I haven't seen this much Marshmallow action since the ghostbusters toasted stay puft.

Yesterday (Jan. 9) we went to Mom and Dads to do the finish work in the addition and we were still finding old dried up miniature marshmallows.

After the battle I decided to crack open the controller from my mini car and modify it so the turbo is continually on.

Then the men sat around the table and talked about "Man boobs" a growing problem in our country.

What a special picture!

I NEED MORE PRESENTS!

After all the sweet action in Mount we headed back to Moroni to visit the Beardalls and exchange gifts.

We got the Poppy these totally hip, bad to the bone shades. Seconds later that cat attacked his head, okay it didnt but it would have been cool, and the sunglasses would have protected his eyes.

The Poppy and Grammy shur do like to spoil them youngsters, us too they gave me some sweet gear, walkie talkies, and a cool solar powered flashlight (it only works in the sun) Laura got some totally rad boots.

CHRISTMAS IS FINALLY HERE!

The long awaited day has finally arrived Christmas Eve!

I think Christmas Eve the greatest day of the entire year. It is the day when we take time to remember that Christmas is about the birth or Christ one of the greatest events in the history of mankind. Everyone seems a little bit happier than usual, children are excited to receive their long awaited gifts from Santa wondering over which continent the jolly old man could be flying over right now, and Moms and Dads are excited to see there kids open that one gift they have been looking at in that wrinkled up old toy ad for the past month.



OUR CHRISTMAS EVE

Each year we go to the Beardalls for their annual Christmas Eve Dinner. When we got there The Averys were ready to go sledding so Aiden and I tagged along.

The steepest hill we could find was at the Moroni ball park. Here's Aiden running up the hill as fast as he can to go again before another kid wants to use the disc.

Aiden towing Ella back up the hill, what a gentleman!

Cole, Aiden, Andy, Keyton and Ella (sandwiched between Andy and Keyton) ready to race. Can you spot the dog in this photo?

Keyton about to wipe out for the 8th time.

Aiden is afraid of 2 things, speed, notice the dragging feet, and Dogs.

Just cause the directions say 1 person at a time doesn't mean you cant fit more on there.

When we got back to the Beardalls there was an amazing foggy sunset over the fields.

I'm not sure whats going on here perhaps some Christmas tradition, looks intense.

Three little red cheeked kids after a cold sledding adventure.

Christmas is not the same without Turkey, its so good. This is Sarah getting between me and that plate of delicious turkey, I WILL push you down.

I WAS kind of disappointed that Marc didn't make his delectable rolls.

The children chowing down.

The Kids attacking Jenny. Wool socks are so comfy.

Each year before exchanging gifts The Poppy does a little nativity play for the kids.

The kids sat around and carefully listened, as time passed they would creep in closer and closer till they were standing against the stool, so the moms would move them back and they would slowly move in again, and again. Moms ruin all the fun.

Charly stood in the back feeling Zoe and Ashylins hair, so soft and fluffy

GIVE ME MY PRESENTS!
After the Nativity we exchanged gifts with those whose names we drew weeks earlier. Andy gave me a big box of paintballs.

The Averys gave Cole this crazy game that shocks you if you loose. Does that make you want to play? It is fun to see others get shocked.

I told the kids they had to close their eyes so they couldn't see their gift and they took it seriously!

Charly girl carefully opening her cabbage patch dolls.

This is me holding the Ry Guy while he went crazy on the wrapping paper. Kids that age don't need gifts just give them some paper or a box and they will be in heaven.