November Part 1 - Nashville!

I visited Nashville with a team from SLCC, CEU & Weber to observe CIT 2007. The 3 colleges are co-hosting the conference in Salt Lake next year & I am heading up the steering committee (yikes). While there I visited the Country Music Hall of Fame, the Ryman Auditorium, a Charlie Daniels museum (in the back of a little souvenier shop), a few historic streets, a great BBQ place, & Hard Rock Cafe... In a great stroke of luck I happened to be there when the Grand Ol' Opry was showing at the Ryman, just around the corner from my hotel. Best of all was the last performer on the program - Josh Turner!! What luck!

November Highlights

Yikes! I feel like I was out of town for most of November (can I use that as an excuse for being so behind??)

2 - DPS Awards Ceremony - John received a much deserved Public Safety Medal of Excellence for all of his hard work with the new POST curriculum - CONGRATS!!
6 - In Park City for MPI's Fall Seminar...and some shopping at the outlet stores...
10-14 - Nashville - To observe a conference I'll be planning next year, eat traditional BBQ & see a few sites (including Josh Turner @ the Grand Ol' Opry).
15-18 - Texas - Hair Cut, So You Think You Can Dance Concert, Zoo, Fun Kids, 2 trips to Papasitos...
20 - Dancing @ the MAC - I finally made time on a Tuesday to go west coast swing dancing again - yay! I'm so out of shape & I miss it tons! Why do I let myself get so busy?
22-25 - Thanksgiving in Vernal - Good Food, Fun Family, Christmas Tree Hunting, Flu of Death...
29 – Admin's Holiday Luncheon - The first of a few holiday events. I had the Culinary Arts students cater this one (YUM!). It was a fun event & fun to see a friend (Bryan) there working sound for the acappella performing group.

Ok, Ok...

I get the point - you all want updates! Gotta start from where I left off, so here's October (quick outline style)

General Conference - Conference is always great, and Brandi & I had tickets to the Sunday Afternoon session this time. We rode TRAX & were grateful that the 5 kids running around terrorizing passengers were not ours!
Happy Birthday Brandon! - we had a fun party for this cutie on Conference Saturday (then attempted the Deseret Book ladies night...bad idea!) He also had a superhero party, which included appearances by Batman, Super Mom & Super Little Sister - Tiff's blog has pics!
Happy Birthday Jacquelyn!
Witches Night Out
Volunteered @ Taste for the Cure
Spent $10 to get my Flu Shot - then STILL got the Thanksgiving Flu of Death...I could have gone to lunch instead...
Happy Birthday Brandi!

Mmmm, Cocoa!!

I decided today that, with the snow & cold & all, it is finally really wintertime and therefore time to get out the CocoaLatte - wahoo! If you have never heard of this amazing kitchen appliance, you are missing out!

I would love for ya'll to stop by my house soon for a visit & some yummy hot cocoa or a steamer.

Happy Winter all!! I think I'll celebrate right now with a cup of Godiva dark chocolate cocoa...mmmm...

Be Prepared!

Recently my ward put 72-hour kit food together for enrichment night. We fit basic food for 3 days into ONE gallon ziploc bags. Here's the menu:

Day One
Breakfast - Nutragrain Bar, Hot Chocolate
Lunch - Beef Jerky, Train Mix, Fruit Cup
Dinner - Cup-a-Soup, Crackers & Cheese, Fruit Leather
Snack - Hard Candy, Fruit Snacks

Day Two
Breakfast - Oatmeal, Hot Chocolate
Lunch - Beef Jerky, Crackers & Cheese, Applesauce
Dinner - Ravioli, Fruit Cup
Snack - Hard Candy, Raisins

Day Three
Breakfast - Nutragrain Bar, Hot Chocolate
Lunch - Beef Jerky, Granola Bar, Fruit Snack
Dinner - Cup-a-Soup, Crackers & Cheese, Fruit Snack
Snack - Hard Candy, Raisins

Seems like a lot of cheese crackers now, hmm. You certainly wouldn't gain weight on this menu, but it fits nicely in a backpack and would keep you alive for a few days if needed.

PS - Utah experienced our first big snowstorm this weekend - wahoo!! I love the snow, but not so much the ice - I fell on some slick asphalt in my heels last night & skinned my knee, ouch!
I'm guessing that the power outage yesterday (which happened just as I was needing electricity to get ready for the ballet gala, haha) was somehow related to the storm, but I'm not certain. Things like that are always good little reminders to gather our emergency prepardness items!