Went for a bag of chips but came back with a pair of socks

Socks in the vending machine. Who does this?

Not Lunch Ladies

Today Monica and I decided to prepare for an emergency and went to the Lindon Cannery to do some home storage canning. We had 2 hours to do all the cans we could.
I did white flour, sugar and oats..30 cans in total. Monica did sugar, white flour, potato flakes...50 cans in total. On the way out the door we still decided to buy potato pearls and pancake mix. Next time when we come back we will do beans, the musical fruit.

If you go with a friend, you get done so fast. The workers at the Cannery are super nice!


Monica canning like the wind.


We would look good as lunch ladies, too.


Monica ready to go home with her loot.

What had the Doctor been Smoking

when he called me "SLENDER" today? I think I will have to see this doctor again...and soon!

If you need your self-esteem uplifted, I'll give you his name.

May Day! May Day!

I woke up at 5am this morning to make donuts for May Day. May Day was a huge celebration in Finland when I was growing up. The traditional foods for the day are definitely donuts and sima (fermented citrus drink), hot dogs and potato salad. To follow this tradition, that's what the Larsens' are having for dinner tonight minus the sima. I didn't make any this year....or in the last 22 years.

I miss the May Day celebration. There are no communists marching on the streets parading their red flags. No drunks wandering around. No men's choir singing at the city hall building. Nobody wearing their high school graduation hats. No balloons. Just a regular day here in the U.S.

Happy May Day for those who happen to celebrate it!

Patesco Apocynaceae Plumeria

A few years ago when we went to Hawaii, we visited a sugar cane plantation in Kauai. Unfortunately the plantation had closed for the day for the visitors but we were able to go to the store to see what kind of touristy stuff they had in there. One of the things that I purchased was a stick in a bag. This stick happened to be my life line to Hawaii, a reminder of everything that is fragrant and beautiful there. It was a Plumeria plant. Absolutely my favorite flower. I brought the "stick" home and planted it according to the directions that came with it. I nurtured it, loved it, fertilized it and had high hopes for it. One day I will have beautiful Plumerias blooming in my living room, I thought.

I have loved that plant now for 3 years.

This is what I expect to see one day.


This is what I have at the moment.

Do you think they sold me a stick?

Whitney calls this the penis plant.

To my defense, for three years now, I've had beautiful green leaves growing but no flowers yet. Every winter it drops its leaves and every spring it grows new leaves that are hardier than the year before. Unfortunately this last past winter, it didn't drop the leaves. This last weekend it did. What could be the cause of this unseasonal droppage? Global Warming? The Swine Flu?

A Graduate and A Captain Crunch

On Friday, our nephew, Jeff graduated from BYU. That same night we had the graduation party at our house. Rod's mom and dad arrived to our house from New Mexico on Wednesday, Rod's oldest sister, Lexia, and her family arrived from Arizona on Thursday night. Liz came from Logan on Thursday, and Whitney and her family drove over from PG to the party. It was a big party with lots of visiting and fun.


Dana, Jeff and Jeff's girlfriend, Melanie posing with the cake.


Rod's dad doesn't travel anywhere without his Captain Crunch cereal. He puts it on EVERYTHING. I think he is going to turn into a Captain Crunch himself. ARGGGHHH!


Captain Crunch on German Pancakes. 'Nuff said.

Spring Break 2009-Day 5 "Home Sweet Home"

Spring Break 2009-Day 4 "Snow in Utah, but Not Here"

Day 4 started with Fischer's soccer game. It was 80+ degrees and I was enjoying every moment. Did I mention that while we were gone, it snowed a foot of snow in Utah? I'm so glad we were out of there.


Jenn was also enjoying the warm sun.


Kristian, Rod, Alex and Carsen watching the game.


Sweet Campbell.

Alex and his buddy, Campbell.

Next activity was the Pole Position Race Track

All out competition. Jorge's bet was that he was going to win. Let's see what happens.

Alex is driving fast.

But Jorge and Rod are driving faster. Rod passed Jorge at one point but then Carsen t-boned Rod and Jorge took the lead. It was downhill from there for Rod. He couldn't catch up to Jorge.

Rod is right behind Alex, ready to pass.

#1 Jorge, #2 Rod, #3 Alex, #4 Carsen.

Then it was pool time.

Hot tub!

Rod showing his mad squirting skills.

Who is this divine creature? Is it Kipp?

CANNONBALL!!!

Dinner without the kids at the Ponte Winery. This place was so GORGEOUS!

Kristian, Rod, me and Jenn are ready to sample the chef's creations at the Ponte Smokehouse. Everything was SO yummy.

Me and Rod. Oh look, we match.

Us all.

The sunset was so beautiful. Kristian and Jenn looking fabulous as always.

Thanks Jenn and Kipp for having us over at your house, once again. You are the greatest hosts. We love you and miss you.

Spring Break 2009-Day 3 "Life's a Beach"

Mission Beach in San Diego was our destination on Day 3. Even though it was quite cold at the beach, it didn't stop Alex and Carsen enjoying the sand and sea.


A scene from the movie "Chariots of Fire" Turn on the volume so you can hear the music.


Boys running back from the freezing water.


Suck it in, Boys!


"I'm just a gigolo wherever I go...."


Alex buried in sand.

Carsen buried in sand.

Enjoying the warm sun.

Finally Rod was not on the phone and was able to nap for a minute until the phone rang again.

"Jorge, this is not Acapulco. The water is freezing." After Jorge went to test the water, he came back and told us that it is freezing. Like I said. Jorge put out a towel and was catching some rays. He got a lot of looks from the girls at the beach. I wonder why!

After a couple of hours at the beach, it was time to start heading up to Temecula. On the way there we stopped by at La Jolla.

No, no, that's not me on the beach down there. Those were seals laying on the sand.

Carsen and Alex were able to do some exploring on the rocks at La Jolla Cove.

Then it was time for late lunch. Alex and Carsen are sitting on the patio with a great anticipation. What could be so good to bring such sweet smiles on their faces??

SWEET LUMPY'S, of course.

Lunch at Sweet Lumpy's in Old Town Temecula.

Alex ordered the nachos, thanks to Kipper's suggestion last year. Alex couldn't get enough.

Carsen ordered the Beef Brisket sandwich. It was so good.

After lunch we drove to Jenn and Kristian's house for the weekend.

Spring Break 2009-Day 2 "Getting Wet in SeaWorld"

We got an early morning start on day 2 to SeaWorld.


Alex, Jorge and Carsen waiting to get into the park.


First ride of the day: Atlantis. It wasn't even open yet when we got there. The boys were ready to get wet.


Here they come.

Almost there...

Through the water and everyone's wet.

But they are happy.

Next up was The Shamu show.

While we enjoyed the show, Rod was conducting busines...as usual. Does this guy ever just take it easy?

What was the welder woman doing at the show?

Shamu and a trainer on top of Shamu's nose.

Still on the phone.

Alex, Jorge and Carsen coming down the Riptide Rapids.

Next show was the Dolphin Show. This is where the boys get really wet. What you can't see is that Jorge ran up the stairs a long time ago when he realized that he was getting wet, again.

Carsen running up the stairs. Too late. He is already soaked.

Alex is running as well. And too late for him.

Stopped by to have some lunch. Here is our own animal attraction. Rod the Walrus.

At the Wild Arctic, Alex and Carsen got inside a snow cave. Ok, it is just plastic.

Beluga Whale. Hey, where's the caviar?

This King Penquin was just standing there, looking after all the little ones.

Is that glitter real on that Piranha's back?

One-legged Flamingo, or is he just hiding the other one? I learned that the reason why Flamingoes are pink is because they eat shrimp.

At the end of the day, the boys still wanted to see the starfish.

Ummm...the starfish was not supposed to be out of the water, Carsen.