Thanksgiving 2011

Yao and I stayed in a hotel suite for the Thanksgiving holiday this year. It was super comfortable and nice and we had a great time doing nothing!


view from Olympic Park
simple meal from Whole Foods I didn't have to cook

74 degrees inside and Yao is 'cold'

post meal 'snack' at 8 p.m.

private hot tub on the balcony

Yao's baptism

We are so excited to announce Yao's baptism last Sunday October 23rd! Yao has been a faithful nonmember for 6 years and he decided to make it official a couple weeks ago. He put together a great program and it was a really special day for us. So glad to have shared it with friends and family (Although, we wish our families could have been there in person).

before the baptism

Bishop Hong, 1st Counselor in the bishopric
and a member of the High Council Brother Janmuhammad


Brother Jackson and his wife came to support Yao.
Brother Jackson was in the bishopric in our first ward 5 years ago.


Friends and neighbor Livia and Kevin Taylor

Ward mission leader Bishop Gao, Bishopric and another member

of the High Council Brother Alder

Cabo, Mexico

Yao and I finally got time away to celebrate our graduation in May . . . and go on a MUCH needed vacation. We went to Cabo San Lucas and stayed in an all-inclusive resort that we never wanted to leave. You'll see what we did, swim and sunbathe. It was fabulous!

Riu Palace Resort in Cabo

Yao in the pool moments after we'd checked in

Yao's idea of buttering bread, the Welsh aunties would be proud

our first morning poolside

life is hard

a snorkeling trip to Moreno Bay

dinner cruise around the city with the famous arch in the background

Yao in the daily ping pong tournament

at the pool

final night before dinner

Auntie Sarah visits

Auntie Sarah was in town before she went to Alaska to visit Jeff & Adrienne. We went to lunch with Mom and Graham. So good to see her!

Apricots!

I bought some apricots from local farmers in Willard, UT to make fruit leather and dried apricots. How domestic of me, right? It took about three days to dry them both but they came out dried and yummy! Take a look.

Before

. . . . After

yummy fruit leather and dried apricots!

No-canning jam recipes

I tried Sunset's no-canning jam recipes today, strawberry raspberry and cherry rhubarb. Tons of fun in the 80 degree heat! What was I thinking? The recipe is below if you want to try yourself.

Cherry rhubarb jam

Strawberry raspberry jam

Strawberry raspberry jam

Makes 4 jars (8 oz.)

2 1/2 tbsp. Sure-Jell pectin labeled "for less or no sugar needed recipes"

1 1/4 cups sugar

1 1/2 cups coarsely mashed strawberries

1 1/4 cups coarsely mashed raspberries

1 1/4 cups unsweetened berry juice blend (Santa Cruz Organic Berry Nectar)

1 1/2 tbsp. lemon juice

1/4 tsp. butter (prevents foaming)

1. Combine pectin and 1/4 cup sugar in a 5-6 qt. pot. Stir in berries, then berry and lemon juices and butter. Bring mixture to a brisk boil over high heat, stirring often.

2. Add remaining 1 cup sugar. Return jam to a brisk boil, stirring. Cook, stirring constantly, 1 minute. Remove from heat.

3. Ladle jam into heatproof jars and close with lids. Let cool to room temperature. Keeps, chilled, up to 1 month.

Alaska

I spent 10 days in Alaska visiting Jefferson & Adrienne. I had such a good time hiking, running the Mayor's half-marathon, seeing whales on a Kenai Fjords cruise, and just hanging out. Thank you both for such a great trip! Highlights are below although I didn't get pictures of many of the true Alaskan highlights, i.e. mullets and moose spottings.

Too cute! Emma wearing Grandma's Michaels find

Thunderbird Falls hike

Seward, AK

Pacific Humpback whale

Holgate glacier in Kenai Fjords National Park

glacial ice

bike ride with Adrienne's kids

Hatcher's Pass hike

Butte hike

Adelaide at Tball

Davis at Tball

Ainsley at the playground

Try, try, try . . .