Chinese New Year Celebration

The Chinese New Year is the biggest holiday in China. It is a time when family, friends and neighbors gather to celebrate in reunion and exchange gifts. It seems like the equivalent of Christmas and The 4th of July mixed together.

The Chinese New Year is also known as the Spring Festival. It marks the beginning of spring and occurs between January 30th and February 20th. The festival of lanterns begins 15 days after the New Year. The Chinese people welcome the first full moon.

On New Years, Chinese families thoroughly clean the house to represent cleaning out the old year and bad luck to welcome a New Year and good luck. The families eat dinner together and stay up until midnight playing games and watching TV. At midnight, the sky is lit with fireworks to represent the welcoming of the New Year and saying goodbye to the old year.

In the morning the children receive gifts. They also receive a “lucky”, red envelope known as lisee or laisee and contains money. The rest of the day is spent visiting relatives, neighbors and friends.

Each Chinese year is represented by a repeated cycle of 12 animals: the rat, ox, tiger, hare or rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, ram, monkey, rooster, goat, dog, and pig. This year, 2009, is the year of the Buffalo.


RAT: You are imaginative, charming, and truly generous to the person you love. However, you have a tendency to be quick-tempered and overly critical. You are also inclined to be somewhat of an opportunist. Born under this sign, you should be happy in sales or as a writer, critic, or publicist. (Born in 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008.)

BUFFALO: A born leader, you inspire confidence from all around you. You are conservative methodical, and good with your hands. Guard against being chauvinistic and always demanding your own way. The Buffalo would be successful as a skilled surgeon, general, or hairdresser. (Born in 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009.)

TIGER: You are sensitive, emotional, and capable of great love. However, you have a tendency to get carried away and be stubborn about what you think is right; often seen as a "Hothead" or rebel. Your sign shows you would be excellent as a boss, explorer, race car driver, or matador. (Born in 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010.)

RABBIT: You are the kind of person, that people like to be around affectionate, obliging, always pleasant. You have a tendency, though, to get too sentimental and seem superficial. Being cautious and conservative, you are successful in business but would also make a good lawyer, diplomat, or actor. (Born in 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011.)

DRAGON: Full of vitality and enthusiasm, the Dragon is a popular individual even with the reputation of being foolhardy and a "big mouth" at times. You are intelligent, gifted, and a perfectionist but these qualities make you unduly demanding on others. You would be well-suited to be an artist, priest, or politician. (Born in 1916, 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000.)

SNAKE: Rich in wisdom and charm, you are romantic and deep thinking and your intuition guides you strongly. Avoid procrastination and your stingy attitude towards money. Keep your sense of humor about life. The Snake would be most content as a teacher, philosopher, writer, psychiatrist, and fortune teller. (Born in 1917, 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001.)

HORSE: Your capacity for hard work is amazing. Your are your own person-very independent. While intelligent and friendly, you have a strong streak of selfishness and sharp cunning and should guard against being egotistical. Your sign suggests success as an adventurer, scientist, poet, or politician. (Born in 1918, 1930, 1942, 1954,1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014.)

GOAT: Except for the knack of always getting off on the wrong foot with people, the Goat can be charming company. Your are elegant and artistic but the first to complain about things. Put aside your pessimism and worry and try to be less dependent on material comforts. You would be best as an actor, gardener, or beachcomber. (Born in 1919, 1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015.)

MONKEY: You are a vary intelligent and a very clever wit. Because of your extraordinary nature and magnetic personality, you are always well-liked. The Monkey, however, must guard against being an opportunist and distrustful of other people. Your sign promises success in any field you try. (Born in 1920, 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016.)

ROOSTER: The Rooster is a hard worker; shrewd and definite in decision making often speaking his mind. Because of this, you tend to seem boastful to others. You are a dreamer, flashy dresser, and extravagant to an extreme. Born under this sign you should be happy as a restaurant owner, publicist, soldier or world traveler. (Born in 1921, 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017.)

DOG: The Dog will never let you down. Born under this sign you are honest, and faithful to those you love. You are plagued by constant worry, a sharp tongue, and a tendency to be a fault finder, however. You would make an excellent businessman, activist, teacher, or secret agent. (Born in 1922, 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018.)

PIG: You are a splendid companion, an intellectual with a very strong need to set difficult goals and carry them out. You are sincere, tolerant, and honest but by expecting the same from others, you are incredibly naive. Your quest for material goods could be your downfall. The Pig would be best in the arts as an entertainer, or possibly a lawyer. (Born in 1923, 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019.)

What is your Chinese Zodiac? Does it match your personality?

Oh so Grateful!

Notebooks were passed around a few weeks ago in Relief Society and we were challenged to use them each and every day. An 'I'm Grateful' Journal was the challenge given and I silently promised to take this one on. The only requirement was to write down one thing that we are grateful for - sounds easy enough.
I've been fairly successful with the task and it's been kind of fun to go back and see what I was grateful for weeks ago. It's been very rewarding to sit down at the end of the day and think about all the positive things that happened throughout the day .. it makes life a lot more enjoyable when it's the good that I'm searching through. I'm loving life these days and couldn't be more grateful for all my blessings .. big and small I'm one lucky girl.

Go CoWbOyS!

I knew the Carters were Cowboy fans but I had no idea what I was in for.. Dallas played NC yesterday and I was at Colby's house for dinner when the game started. I couldn't help but laugh as his parents got into (and yelled) as the game went on. I've always loved football but I've never really had a team and I guess it's never too late to pick one...
It's going to take me a couple more games before I'm completely sucked in but I'm definitely slowly but surely becoming a Cowboys fan and enjoying every minute of it.

BW in Concert

My family and some good friends were able to attend the Brooke White concert last week, she's amazing. The concert was so much fun and I can't wait for her to come again. Benton Paul from Salt Lake City opened the show .. He was amazing and I can't get enough of his cd. Michael Johns also came, I love his energy. Brooke was last to preform, she was my favorite, she's hilarious and you can tell she loves every second of sharing her music. David Archuleta surprised everyone and came out for 2 songs .. The crowd went wild. It was a really fun night, my family is always a blast.

on a side note ...Colby and I parked on the street and I didn't want to carry my purse so I quickly grabbed the cash from my wallet, put it in my pocket, and locked it in the trunk. We were waiting for the show to start when they said my name over the PA and asked me to come to the entrance. It wouldn't have been weird except they called Elizabeth Arnold .. I went to the front and there was a young couple holding some money, they asked if I was Elizabeth and then they handed me the money. Confused I counted the money and noticed there was a tithing slip in the middle. Apparently when I grabbed the money from my wallet I snagged a tithing slip as well and then I dropped the money somewhere between the car and the concert. With all the horrible things going on in the world you kind of forget that there are still honest people out there... I didn't get their names but I know their honesty will bring them blessings. I can't help but laugh as I think about all the little things the Lord has done for me, especially in the last little bit- Just some reminders that I'm living my life in a way that the Lord is able to teach me, help me learn, and be there for me. I love it.

Logan, Cousin Gracie, Mom, Brooke, Abby, Aunt Jenny, baby Lucy (coming soon)

The whole crew

Surprise!

Me and Colby .. Thanks Colb for coming with me, I knew you'd enjoy it!

Logan and Colb

Jon and Abby ... These guys are always making me laugh. The Love they have and show for each other is so cute.

Jon, Abby, and Mom

Spreading the word .. please do the same!

My friend Alison is putting together a 5K benefit race for an adorable little girl, her name is Maryn Cella. I saw her story on KSL and I couldn't stop thinking about her .. Colby and I almost drove eight hours to a small town in Colorado to run a race for her back in August but life got the better of us and we were unable to make the trip. I was so excited when I saw this post on Alison's blog and I was even more excited when she asked for me help. I've been telling everyone about this race and I hope you can do the same. Mark your calendars, we would love to see you there and have your support.
Here is the post I copied from Alison's blog .. Let me know if you have any questions.

To all who read this... please help me spread the word about a 5K Run/Walk that I am organizing for a little girl named Maryn Cella (details below). Post this on your blog, or pass it along on Facebook. Any exposure we can get helps! I can also e-mail you flyers for your work, local businesses, etc.

Event: Hope for Maryn 5K Run/ 1 Mile Walk

Date: Saturday October 24, 2009

Location: Celebration Pointe Reception Center - located in the Business Depot - Ogden, UT.

Time: Registration starts at 8:00 am; Race starts at 9:00 am

Registration: Same day - sign up before the race at Celebration Pointe Reception Center

Cost: $20.00 (includes shirt for 1st 75 people)
$50.00 family pass (2 adults, up to 5 children under the age of 15. Includes 2 shirts)
Strollers/Wagons free (please for the safety of all participants no bikes or dogs)
Montetary contributions will also be accepted

Other Details:

The 5K route can walked or ran. There will also be a 1 mile route for walking.

We will time the run but since it is a charitable event we will not use a professional timing service. To make sure that you get an accurate time, we suggest you bring your own stopwatch.

There will be a raffle for prizes at the end of the race

Prizes will be given to the first runner, walker, and stroller/wagon at the finish

One last thing... we are also looking for sponsors for prizes, food, and $ for the T-shirts. If you know of any local businesses, your own business, or have a little bit of $ to help out we would REALLY appreciate it! All sponsors will have their names printed on the back of the T-shirts.


About Maryn:
On June 17, 2009 Maryn was diagnosed with Diffuse Pontine Glioma, an aggressive form of brain cancer. She was given 9-12 months to live. We are raising money to help with some treatments that could extend her lifespan. One of which is treatment at the Burzinski Clinic in Texas. People who have been treated there live 4-5 times longer. The cost is $100,000. We are also working with the Maryn's Hope Foundation that is helping to work towards a cure. More information can be found at https://marynshopefoundation.org/

After reading Maryn's story on my cousin's blog I really felt like I needed to do something. I couldn't get her out of my mind. The day she was diagnosed was my birthday. Maybe that is why I feel some connection. All I know is that we need to have hope, pray for a miracle, and give this little girl the best life she can have for the rest of her time here.

Please view these two videos created by Alexa Nofsinger. Alexa's mom, Erica Shields has created the Maryn's Hope foundation. Erica also organized a benefit 5K in Littleton, CO. It was a huge success. The video below showcases the run. Thank you Alexa and Erica for all your help!

Great Fundraising

A tradition that our program has had for quite a while is, "A Taste of Raider Nation", which is usually an end-of-year banquet for parents, players, and coaches are able to get together and enjoy a fine meal.


This year, the potluck-dinner was moved to a Sunday afternoon in the middle of the season. This was a good way to raise needed program funds and bring together families and athletes before the season ends (which is a GREAT idea). Everyone had plenty to eat and were treated to a photo slideshow and highlight reel of the season so far.




Among the many contributors, Raising Cane's of Louisiana provided a generous donation of food and supplies to this function and established a partnership for pre-game meals this season.

Swine Flu Vaccine Closer to Release

BALTIMORE- 9/29/09- The novel H1N1 virus (Swine Flu Virus) is expected to complicate the 2009/2010 flu season. At this time novel H1N1 vaccine has been approved for release but availability and access is still unknown. Seasonal influenza vaccine (flu shot) is available and the CDC recommends vaccination as flu season peaks over the next few months.

The H1N1 vaccine will most likely start to be released in mid to late October, “but the supply will be limited and only those at highest risk will be able to receive it,” stated Fran Lessans, founder and CEO of Passport Health, the largest private provider of travel medical services and immunizations in the nation. “We still do not know when the general public will be able to receive the H1N1 (Swine Flu) vaccine. We recommend that everyone get a seasonal flu vaccine.”

Passport Health plans to administer the novel H1N1 vaccine as a community vaccinator and has been attending weekly conference calls held by the CDC who will ultimately determine who receives it and who administers it.

Those at highest risk include:

• Pregnant women
• People who live with or care for children younger than 6 months of age.
• Healthcare and emergency medical personnel.
• Those between 6 months and 24 years.
• People 25 through 64 years with chronic health issues.

“Businesses have to understand the storm that’s coming and take measures to insure their viability since the Swine Flu is highly contagious. They should have a pandemic plan in place which should include a seasonal influenza program and possibly antivirals,” continued Lessans. “There should also be special guidelines to follow if businesses are sending their workers overseas.”

Passport Health is gearing up for what will be undoubtedly be a “challenging” flu season, as described by Lessans. “Our priority is to help immunize the public against the seasonal flu first, and then assist in the administration of novel H1N1”. Lessans also explained that demand for the seasonal flu vaccine has increased significantly and manufacturers are having problems delivering the vaccine. “We have been through shortages before, and it’s challenging, but we have always been able to pull through.” Passport Health conducts on-site flu clinics for corporations nationwide and has an antiviral program in place.

For more information visit http://swineflu.passporthealthusa.com. To schedule an on-site flu clinic, contact Passport Health at 1-888-499-PASS (7277).

Jorge Castillo

Jorge.castillo@passporthealthusa.com

410.727.0556

September 28 is World Rabies Day!

World Rabies Day is September 28. TODAY!

On this day, begin to take the steps to keep yourself and your family free from rabies.

Rabies is a deadly virus that can kill anyone who gets it. Every year, an estimated 40,000 people in the U.S. receive a series of shots known as post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) due to potential exposure to rabies. In addition, the U.S. public health cost associated with rabies is approximately $300 million. Each year around the world, rabies results in an estimated 55,000 deaths – approximately one death every 10 minutes. Most deaths are reported from Africa and Asia with almost 50% of the victims being children under the age of 15. (cdc.gov)

Here are some tips to help protect you and your family:

Keep Away From Wildlife and Unfamiliar Animals
More than 90% of all animal rabies cases reported to CDC each year occur in wild animals. The main animals that get rabies include raccoons, skunks, foxes and bats. Never pick up or touch dead animals. Animals who have died can still give people rabies, especially if they have only been dead for a short time. If you see a dead animal, call animal control to take care of the animal's body.

Take Pets to a Veterinarian for Their Rabies Shot
Make sure to take your pets, such as dogs and cats, to the veterinarian each year. A veterinarian can make sure your pets are up to date on their rabies shot, which can protect them from getting rabies. This is important, since animals that have not received a rabies shot and are exposed to rabies must be quarantined for six months, or put down.

Stay Rabies Free In and Around Your Home
No matter where you live, rabies can threaten your family's health. Fortunately, there are things you can do around the home to help reduce the risk of getting rabies.

• Keep your pets indoors. When a dog goes outside, make sure an adult is there to watch it and keep it safe.
• Do not feed or put water for your pets outside and keep garbage securely covered. These items may attract wild animals or stray animals to your yard.
• Teach children never to handle dead wild animals or unfamiliar domestic animals.

Take these tips to heart to protect yourself, your family and your best friends (your pets) from this deadly disease. If you have more questions, or want to know more here are a few sites to visit.

Infectious Diseases Today
CDC
Passport Health Rabies Info Page

Lets all take a stand against Rabies!

Welcome to da Boot - Curious Calls

Now, I am the very LAST guy to ever complain, blame, or question officiating. It is a DIFFICULT and thankless job where your critics are many and those that know what you actually do are few.

I'm also the last guy to point to 'bad calls' for costing a team a game - teams should be able overcome one or two plays as a result of being human (nobody's perfect, especially in split-second decisions).

However, that being said, I would like to share some particularly delightful calls that have made dramatic impacts in the games they occurred in.

1. This first call occurred in Game 2. This would have put us up 14-7 going into the half. This is just a trips bunch sprint out, with a fade thrown to X. The call was holding on #21 (EMOL - Y). This was a 1st and 10 call.....making it 1st and 20, killing a drive that started on our 15.

holding @ Yahoo! Video

2. This second call occurred in Game 4. During a crucial drive to start the 3rd quarter, on 3rd and 10 we run curls, attempting to hit #28 for the 1st down marker. Bang! We get it, but you'll see the umpire call a cut on the nose by our center a CHOP block. Our guard falls into the nose simply because he isn't very athletic, and contributes nothing to the 'block'. Converted down? Nope - 3rd and 25.

Chop @ Yahoo! Video

3. During this drive, a questionable call (IMO) and I'll let this go, but I figured this would go the other way (OPI). The F streaks up the field into the middle of the field.....the quarterback delivers the ball BEHIND the F who isn't in a place to make a play on the ball and is barely looking for the ball, however, our FS is reading the quarterback and is quick to jump the throw. Only thing is, the F plows right into him..... Notice where the ball lands incomplete (significantly behind the F). Notice the 'push-off' by the #2 receiver on the SS to gain separation on the Out.

dpi @ Yahoo! Video

4. After this drive, the opponent gets the ball and drives into the red zone. The back flinches and steps after a hard count by the quarterback, in plain view of the Umpire. Notice the Head Linesman wave ('hush') the coach on the sideline after going ballistic over the first movement from the back. Now, watch the back reset, and again flinch before the play (second)....still no call. However, this certainly doesn't stop the Umpire from making a call (from behind his back) on our MLB (#58) for unsportsmanlike conduct.

false start @ Yahoo! Video

5. After a stalled red zone drive in the 3rd, we have the opponent backed up within their 5 yard line. After protection breaks down, the quarterback is forced to eat the ball - notice where he is at (on the goal line) as he is hit and his forward momentum stopped, he is IN the end zone. Safety, right? No........down at the 1. No problem, right? Just punt it and get great field position.....

safety @ Yahoo! Video

6. The next play - punt. A flag is thrown for 6 men on the line (live ball foul), then as change of possession occurs, a dead ball foul occurs (#58 white on #37 black). Okay, so we get the ball back minus 15 yards, right? Nope......it becomes white ball, 1st and 10 from their 15.......

punt @ Yahoo! Video

In all fairness, they DID call 'facemask' on this egregious violation, so I guess I should just count my blessings

facemask @ Yahoo! Video

Week 4: Parkway

Parkway 17 - HHS 7

Against a 2-high Panther defense, we were able to amass 281 yards passing (25/37) working smash, curls, and shallow. We're improving in our ball distribution with our H (6 for 63 yds), X (5 for 68 yards), Y (4 for 45 yards), F (3 for 6 yards), and Z (6 for 99 yards).

Our run game continues to be non-existent and has cost us on crucial downs, but our sloppy air raid IS moving the ball. However, unfortunately, our defense still struggles with killing drives ....namely stopping the run (opponent rushed for 163 yards on 43 attempts).

9/25/09 D @ Yahoo! Video

9/25/09 O @ Yahoo! Video

China: How to get around

China is a very large country with a lot of big cities and rural areas. Getting around the country and town you are traveling to can actually be relatively easy thanks to the great transportation methods China has available.

Train- Traveling by train is the most secure and reliable way to travel through the country. The rail system in China is very efficient. Traveling by train can be a favorite method as you can catch the train almost anywhere. There are four options for tickets:

1. Hard Seat- Essentially business class, 4-6 seats in a booth. This option is the cheapest and the most crowded.
2. Hard Sleep- The business class version of beds in a train, 4-6 beds in a booth.
3. Soft Seat- More like first class and has comfortable seats and more room.
4. Soft Sleep- Most expensive, 4 cabs of beds in a booth. First class version of sleeping on the train.

Bus- Traveling through China by bus is a common and less expensive way to travel than by train. Buses usually run through cities and are almost always full. Buying a bus ticket is extremely easy and accessible. The drawback to traveling by bus is the trip tends to be noisy and busses make frequent stops. Traveling through China using this form of transportation is good for short distance. Luxury buses are available in the country for traveling long distances cross country.

Air- Flying is expensive; however, it is an option at all regional capitals and many bigger cities. The train is the most preferred method of travel if flying can be avoided.

Car- Driving a car across China is still banned for foreigners. Foreign residents can rent a vehicle for local use in Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Hainan Island and Sanya. In order to do this, they must show an international drivers license, proof of residency and place a deposit. So, chances are good that if you planned to rent a car and drive across China, you will need to come up with a new plan.

How did you get around when you traveled to China? Was traveling by Rickshaw an option?

China: Top 10 Attractions

China is a vast and extraordinary country spanning thousands of miles from the deserts in the west to the ocean on the east. Culturally, China has one of the most rich and textured histories of all civilizations that encompasses over 5,000 years. This is rich stuff for a traveler.

1. The Forbidden City
The Forbidden City, or Palace Museum, sits at the center of Beijing, directly north of Tiananmen Square where the famous portrait of Mao Zedong hangs on the palatial crimson wall. It was the imperial seat for Ming and Qing dynasty emperors from 1420 until 1912 when the last emperor, Pu Yi, abdicated. It was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987.

2. The Great Wall
The Great Wall winds its way across China covering over 4,000 miles (6,700km). While the latest construction occurred after 1368 during the Ming Dynasty, construction of the Great Wall began over 2,000 years ago. In fact, the Great Wall is actually made up of a number of interconnecting walls spanning China that different dynasties and warlords constructed over the years.

3. The Terracotta Warriors
Discovered in 1974 when a local farmer was digging a well, the terracotta army, buried in 210 BC with the first emporer of the Qin dynasty, is a breathtaking site. The thousands of life-size figures have individually unique faces and hair and armor styles appropriate to their rank. The museum of the Terracotta Army is located in Xi'An, Shanxi province.

4. Karst Mountains in Yangshuo
Illustrating the 20 Renminbi (Chinese currency) note, the karst mountains are famously beautiful in China. Located in the south of China in Guangxi province, they can best be viewed from Yangshuo, a small town outside Guilin, a major city in Guangxi Province.

5. The Yangtze River and the Three Gorges Dam
Best seen by tour boat down the Yangtze River, the Three Gorges Dam is a modern construction marvel. The dam is the world's largest as well as the world's biggest hydroelectric power station. The river itself is the world's third longest and the Three Gorges are the natural highlight of the boat cruise.

6. Jiuzhaigou
Jiuzhaigou Valley is a nature reserve located in China's Sichuan province. A beautiful example of China's varied landscape, Jiuzhaigou is famous for crystal blue lakes and multi-level waterfalls. It is populated by a number of Tibetan villages so is also a superb place to see and experience Tibetan local culture.

7. Potala Palace, Lhasa
Now a Chinese museum, the Potala Palace was traditionally the seat of the Dalai Lama, Tibetan Buddhists' spiritual leader. Famous for its imposing white walls surrounding the inner red palace, the building sits at 3,700 meters or over 12,000 feet. The Potala Palace is located in Lhasa, the capital of the Tibetan Autonomous Region.

8. The Bund, Shanghai
The Bund, meaning embankment, was historically the seat of Shanghai's most powerful businessmen in the late 1800s and early 1900s. The Bund is a fabulous place to see examples of Shanghai's rich architectural history, illustrated by the HSBC Building, built in 1923 and at the time said to be "the most luxurious building between the Suez Canal and the Bering Strait." (Quote source: Wikipedia)

9. Giant Pandas
3 hours outside Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan province, is the Wolong Nature Preserve, the largest panda reserve in China. The center tries to ensure the Giant Panda species can continue to exist. Tourists can observe pandas in their natural habitat and can also help researchers feed and play with these beautiful and threatened animals.

10. Modernity in Hong Kong
See modern China - and Asia - at the cutting edge with a visit to Hong Kong. Walking down the Kowloon side promenade gives the traveler a view of some of the most beautiful modern architecture in China, dominated by the Bank of China Tower designed by I.M. Pei.

What site do you most want to see? Ever been to any of the sites before? Tell us about it!!

Thanks to about.com for the info for this post.

In love ..

With my new Hobby .. I started taking random pictures of 'letters' in island park and I'm excited to find more back home. I'm hoping to have everyone's Christmas presents done by November .. Did I spoil the surprise? Eh .. Merry Christmas ahead of time.

LOVE.

Island Park .. 3 .. last day.

We floated the Snake River on the last day .. It's one of my favorite things so I was excited for Colby and Chelle to do it with us. It was incredibly windy but we managed to have a good time anyway. I can't wait to hit Island Park again, we had so much fun! Thanks for a great trip everyone .. lets do it again soon. Peterson's feel free to join us, we missed you.

On the bus ride up .. Not very many of my pictures from the ride turned out but I did manage to get a few.

These two crack me up. I'm glad neither one of them brought a friend, I think they had a good time with each other.

Jon's parents Bob and Marsha .. I'm so glad they cam with us, they were so much fun.

Colb on the River ...

Logan

Abby and Jon

Abby, Jon, Logan, and Chelle

Chelle .. earning her keep.

The other raft ... Bob, Marsha, Lesha, Lincoln, Mom, and Taft

The water was sooo cold.

Jon and Colby

Lesha and Lincoln

KEEP READING ....

Island Park .. 2

Inside one of the gift shops in West Yellowstone we found some glider planes and we decided to have a contest. We took em back to the cabin, colored em, and put them together. I'm not sure who won but we had so much .. great idea Abby.

I'm not sure where the random white splotches came from .. weird.

Me and Colby

Taft and Logan

KEEP READING ...

China: Food

The Chinese meals take a lot of preparation which is often why travelers refer to Chinese food as some of the best food they had while traveling.

A typical meal consists of two general components:
The main food which is a type of starch including rice, noodles or buns (depending on which part of China you live in) and accompanying dishes such as a vegetable, fish or meat.

If you were not already aware, the Chinese culture eats with chopsticks as opposed to forks and knives. Spoons are used to eat soup and chop sticks are used to eat solid food. Traditionally, Chinese culture considered using knives and forks at the table barbaric because these utensils are regarded as weapons. It was also considered ungracious to have guests working to cut their own food. This is another reason why the preparation of Chinese food is extensive and why travelers regard the food as being some of the best when traveling; it is prepared ready to eat, literally!

Traditionally there are eight main families of dishes:
* Hui (Anhui)
* Yue (Cantonese)
* Min (Fujian)
* Xiang (Hunan)
* Yang (Jiangsu)
* Lu (Shandong)
* Chuan (Szechuan)
* Zhe (Zhejiang)
Today there are primarily four main styles of food in China, namely the Beijing Style, the Shanghai Style, the Sichuan/Szechuan Style and the Cantonese Style.

The Chinese have long been famous for their tea—if you're a tea drinker, you won't be disappointed.

Also, don't expect to see fortune cookies at the end of your meal; they don't exist in China because they are uniquely American.

Have a look at this video below of some Americans trying out some adventurous foods during their trip to Beijing.



What is the most unusual Chinese dish you have ever had?

Island Park ... take 1

My Uncle Chris let us stay at his cabin in Island Park this last weekend and we had a BLAST. We did most of our favorite things and the weather was perfect.
I took a million pictures and even started a new hobby .. so much fun. Here are a bunch of the pictures .. more coming soon.

I gave Colb a piggy back and he broke my necklace .. luckily it was a quick fix.

All of us at big springs .. I love this picture.

This little guy is growing up way too fast, but right now he's at such a fun age. He's walking and he's all smiles.

Almost everybody. Big springs had a TON of fish to feed and we even saw a few muskrats.

Logan jumped off the bridge on to Colby's shoulders .. I had to take a picture.

We probably had a little too much fun in this store .. This is Chelle.

I can't take him anywhere ...

Abby .. I laughed for quite a while after I took this picture.

Taft and Lesha at the Pizza restaurant. Best pizza crust I've ever had.

Me and Colb

Taft made his face every time I told him to smile.

ha ha ha ha .. oh chelle!

Me and Logie

Mom, Colby, and Lesha .. West Yellowstone.

Taft, Logan, Abby, Jon, and Chelle

We parked the cars for a little bit and Lesha let Lincoln out of his car seat .. he loved the wind in his hair.