cheH kuhn boozee mo-an!

That means, "I know how to grind spark plugs and chicken!" I thought I would come up with a random phrase to say in Cham to all the local Cambodians!
Well, we thought we should give a quick notice to people that we are going to Cambodia, Hong Kong and China for the next few weeks and won't be updating the blog or answering our phones. We will be thinking of you all as we walk around in our shorts & T-Shirts! :)
We will write the moment we get back to the States!

A Home & A Family

So, it was inevitable that we had to go to California and get all of my furniture and belongings that have been in storage for over a year. So, my mom, Eric and I woke up at 6 a.m. and headed off to get the U-haul (the largest they had to offer) and meet up with the movers...we were on the road by 1 o’clock and ready to conquer the roads…all was well until we reached Elko, Nevada (the fact that we were in Elko, Nevada was already painful in and of itself) and the blizzard hit us. There were times that we had to drive 19mph. (…and by “we” I mean Eric drove the ENTIRE TIME) and did not reach Kemmerer until 7:45 the next morning. We took a little nap and some people from our new ward (Thanks Roger, Eric and Wayne!!!) helped us move the entire truck full of stuff within a few hours. Unpacking all my boxes was like Christmas times a thousand!!! Finding little treasures that were long stored in the recesses of my memories was thrilling. Some treasures were more valuable in their monetary sense…some were valuable in their convenience (like my beloved Pink Kitchen aid, my bread machine and my nice knives)…and some were purely for the warm feelings of home that they brought me. I decided after seeing the multitude of clothes that I had, that I would donate any unnecessary items to the D.I….some that did not make the list that probably ought to have were my pajama pants I got in 7th grade that just remind my of so many nights lounging at home…a home that I did not have to pay the mortgage or light bill on…also, my Sorority sweatshirt that I never wore while I was actually in the sorority…or the purple tie-dyed shirt I made my first day in the dorms as part my first college activity. Some things are just not meant to let go of! Cheers to having a house and a husband and having it turn into a home and a family!

We will add pictures so you can see the transformation of our house since day one!

Finnan Haddie

So, Christmas was SO much fun this year...we woke up (were woken up) early and headed over to Geoff & Jody's (Eric's older brother and wife) house to watch their kids (Dylan, Brooke & Alex A.k.a Hanky) open presents...the glee of kids is truly infectious...it was so cute to hear their reactions to everything...we all knew that Dylan was getting a Wii for Christmas, so every time Dylan opened a game that was for the wii (instead of the X-box which he owned) everyone just kept saying, "Man, what is with Santa this year...doesn't he know you don't have a Wii?" Dylan fell for it, hook line and sinker!! Then we went back to Eric’s parents’ house (Jim & Julie) and opened presents! Giving is good…but so is getting. I got this amazing complete Nativity scene from Eric’s mom and my sister-in-law Jody. Eric got me a sewing machine and EVERYTHING I asked for (which was only two things…but still…he is amazing at making me feel spoiled!) We got Eric’s father an iPod complete with Western oldies and Julie a Diamond necklace with a diamond for each member in her immediate family. Then, after a lazy day in the matching P.J's we were all given, we had the traditional Christmas breakfast of poached eggs, Hollandaise sauce, English muffins, fruit and one of my new favorite things IN THE WORLD!!! (it’s not for all…but I love all seafood and smoked anything is pretty good in my eyes)....

Finnan Haddie!!

“The Scottish have been smoking fish for -- well, forever. One can hardly think of the Scottish lochs without the true Scottish national dish coming to mind (no, not haggis): Finnan Haddie. Finnan haddie is an ancient tradition; rich, cold-water haddock smoked with hardwoods until meltingly tender and exceedingly rich. Its origins are unknown. We can imagine pre-historic Man, having discovered the bounty of the ocean, having too much fish to eat all at once. Perhaps he leaves a fillet of haddock on a spear by his fire and awakes the next morning to discover that the fire has not only preserved the smoked fish, but transformed it into a buttery, rich delicacy. With no tea to drink, he enjoys his new-found treasure by itself, and history is made.”

Here’s the website if you really want to know ALL about Finnan Haddie

http://www.mackenzieltd.com/mackenzie/finnan_haddie.html