Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Super Glue

Super Glue is what holds the world together along with dental floss and duct tape, but sometimes things don't need to be that secure. Let me give you an example of why super glue should be as super. I have been painting and finishing up a Christmas project so I will be ready for next year. Nick and I have been going to craft stores (ask Nick how much he loves craft stores, he actually laid on the ground in the Quilted Bear two weeks ago because he said he couldn't go on any more) looking for a certain color of paint that has been discontinued but trying to find the two colors that mix together to make the one color is also impossible to find. We finally found the discontinued paint at the Ben Franklin down from our house, but I was also looking for Lambs Wool, which NO ONE CARRIES!!! Anyway, I got some doll hair instead to see if that will work (no it won't work) so I decided to just super glue everything together and keep looking for the wool. Nick got me a brand new thing of super glue, so I opened the top and used the poinkie thing to make a hole and the whole stupid tube blew up all over my hands. I yelled for Nick to come help and save the counter top where I was gluing everything, I put my hands under cold water to harden the glue and Nick is yelling the whole time "Keep your fingers apart"!!! Apparently Nick has a 6th sense about super glue, I didn't even tell him that I was going to be gluing. So to finish up my story - Super glue is super when it isn't all over your hands!!! We are going to Nick's parents tonight to drop off some movies and I will see if I can borrow some of Linda's fingernail polish remover.

Thursday, December 18, 2008

Long Time

It has been absolutely forever since I've written, but work has been super hectic and stressful - anyway. Nick finally bullied me into getting a face book account and I've been putting that together tonight.

Last month Nick was able to get some GREAT tickets to the Coldplay concert at Energy Solutions, we were on the 4th row. The show was incredible, they sounded great, the lasers were really cool too. They would show video and live feed on these balloon thing that were hanging from the ceiling. We thought that the band was possibly lip syncing or on a track or something but during one song they messed up and you could tell they were singing live. It was sooo cool!!!

We finally have the house completely set up (thanks to Nick) right now he is studying for his next flight test and listening to Queen (I don't know why) in the "study". All the study really is, is a couple of chairs and an end table in our third bedroom but he feels like this is a sanctuary. Well I need to get ready for bed.

Saturday, November 8, 2008

Spinach Artichoke Pasta ~ Not Tried Yet~


Cook Time: 20 min
Prep Time: N/A
Ingredients
( Serves 4 )
12 oz. bowtie pasta, cooked according to package directions
1 tbs butter
2 cloves garlic, minced
8 oz. cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup sour cream
Juice from 1/2 of a lemon
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
1 14 oz. can of artichokes, drained and chopped
10 oz. frozen spinach, thawed, and drained of as much water as possible
1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese (plus some for service)
Directions
  1. In a large skillet, melt butter over medium heat.
  2. Add the garlic and cook for one minute.
  3. Add the cream cheese and stir until it is melted.
  4. Add the milk, sour cream, lemon juice, salt, and red pepper flakes and stir until well-combined.
  5. Add the artichoke hearts, spinach, and Parmesan cheese.
  6. Stir ingredients until they are well-incorporated and warmed through.
  7. Add cooked and drained pasta to the artichoke mixture.
  8. Mix pasta into the sauce and taste for seasoning.
  9. Adjust salt if needed.
  10. Serve with additional Parmesan as needed.

Sweet Potato Coins with Gorgonzola and Bacon ~ Not Tried Yet


Cook Time: 1 hour
Prep Time: 15 min
Ingredients
( Serves 14 )
1/4 cup orange juice
1 tablespoon brown sugar
2 sweet potatoes, washed and sliced into 1/2-inch rounds
ground black pepper
3 strips bacon, cooked and chopped
1/3 cup nonfat plain Greek yogurt
3 tablespoon gorgonzola cheese, crumbled
2 tablespoon chives, chopped
Directions
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
  2. Line a baking sheet with parchment and set aside.
  3. Whisk together orange juice and brown sugar, add sweet potato coins and toss to coat.
  4. Remove from bowl and place on baking sheet.
  5. Seasoning with black pepper.
  6. Bake for 60 minutes, flipping rounds half way through.
  7. Remove from oven and transfer rounds to a serving platter.
  8. While potatoes are cooling a bit, mix yogurt and gorgonzola in a small bowl.
  9. Gently spoon mixture onto potatoes.
  10. Top with bacon and chives.

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

These things that I think, I think.


Ok here we go.
Shauna wanted me to be a contributer to all of this blog stuff, so I gusse I will do my best to do these things in witch she asks me.
I have a lot of time on my hands right now, and that allows me to start thinking my deep thoughts and contemplate my life as it is. I have come up with a few things that would make the world a better place, so I thought I would share a few of them.
1. All kids that are names Ray Ray must go. Most of the time theese are the most annoying dirty kids, and the name its self just sucks.
2. People who let me know that I am going bald. Do they really think that I dint realize that i was loosing my hair at 25 years old. Yes I am bald and have a nice cu di sac parked on the top of my head.
3. The fox commercials on the radio were they make it sound like the call some looser who just watches House and fringe, and cant wait for the next episode. Do these guys really think we believe they just called them up out of the blue. I hate house any ways. Shauna loves him so I have to watch his whinny butt save some washed up actor from a illness he got from eating food out of a kitty litter box. I hate house.
4. I think it would be nice if when the mail man drops of your mail he also leaves you a small mint to go with it. Then I would check the mail more than once a week.
5. The BYU channel needs to go away.
6. Drivers who swerve every were while they talk and text message down the freeway. I know we all do it but i love how you pass them because they allways slow down to 45 to be safe, and they dont even notice that they are in 2 lanes while they talk about which one of there friends has the bggest butt.
Well I know its only six thinks, I never said i was that deep of a thinker. Plus Shaunas chronice nagging is starting to act up. That and I think thers only 2 people that read this, the guy Shauna dated in high school thats now in prison, and the kid I used to throw apples at during lunch. I hear he is slow planning his revenge.
So if your out there let me know.

Nickolas Q Guthrie.

Sunday, September 14, 2008

Zoo Day

Nick & I went to the zoo a couple of weeks ago and had a great time. The zoo workers were doing "enrichment" activities where they place different items in the cages and see how the animals interact with them. They gave the bears flavored, red, frozen ice chunks to eat. They looked like they were having fun. The keepers put frozen watermelon and honeydew melon in the Elephant's enclosure and they really enjoyed that too.

Wolf Enrichment Part 1

Wolf Enrichment Part 2

Sunday, August 17, 2008

Happy 30th Birthday Nick

Yesterday the 16th of August 2008 was Nickolas Adam Guthrie's 30th birthday!!! I got up early and decorated the house putting up a banner, yard sign and some streamers; after that we had some of his favorite things for his birthday breakfast. For lunch family and friends gathered in Salt Lake for lunch at Macaroni Grill. It took Nick forever to eat, he just couldn't stop talking and joking with everyone there. Even though it wasn't the most glamorous birthday it was tons of fun. This year his one big present was a Zune. Luckily I got the Zune a month ago while he was at work and we haven't been able to find once since. Nick thought I wasn't able to get one because he look also and couldn't find one. He was so surprised and happy.


Rock Star Shawn

This is Shawn playing Rock Star on the Wii. Sorry this video is sideways.

Rock Star Linda

Linda is rockin' out to this tune. This one is sideways too.

Rock Star Katie

Here are some videos from today's rock expierence. Sorry, the video is sideways.


Guthrie Family Rock Star

Well the Guthrie family has turned into a family of rockers. We went over to Jake & Alicia's on Sunday and while we were there Nick couldn't resist playing Rock Star on the Wii. We had a great time and have the pictures to prove it. Enjoy!!!


Sunday, August 10, 2008

Avon

Nick & I spend some time enjoying nature today with the puppies. We took a drive over Avon (by Nordic Valley) and had a great time. We drove to where there is a beaver dam and decided to walk around and let the puppies run. Unfortunately we didn't see any beavers this time. Nick and I went up there about 8 years ago and we did see a beaver then. The dogs had tons of fun playing in the water and it was just nice to get away for a couple of hours.

Monday, August 4, 2008

Randy's Fairwell Party

On Saturday the Guthrie family gathered together to bid farewell to Randy who is leaving for New Hampshire to attend law school. We had a barbecue and then played volleyball afterward. Everyone had a great time. Randy and Cassi will sure be missed.

Sunday, August 3, 2008

The Misadventures of Nick & Jake

Friday the 1st of August Nick and his little buddy Jake (Alicia's husband) set out on an adventure of a lifetime. As they loaded up Jake's truck with two black inter tubs, a mischievous gleam in their eyes they felt they were prepared for anything the river had to offer, but alas they were wrong. Nick not bothering to listen to his wife left the bottle of sunblock on the dresser, mistake one. The two boys drove to the end point of their mighty adventure in the making and left Nick's car and then proceeded to the starting point in the river. Both boys being as prepared as they were brought water with them on the trip, they also wore tee shirts, swim trunks and flip flops. They jumped over the fence with the "No Trespassing" sign posted and proceeded down to the river. Everything was going well. They removed their shirts and hoped on the tubes and were off. As they approached the first "waterfall" Jake's water bottles top blew off and all of his water was gone. Then as they were rounding a curve Jake crashed into a tree and that's when he lost his shirt. They went back and looked for it but to no avail. The proceeded down the river and Jake got caught in some "rapids" and as he was trying to get out lost his wedding ring. Nick then got caught in a different set of "rapids" and he lost his shirt. They were still going down the river when the rope carrying Jake & Nick's water bottles got caught on a log and as Jake was untangling it his tube started floating down the river. Luckily Nick got his tube and as Jake walked down to Nick he asked if Nick saw his flip flop floating by but Nick didn't see it. The rest of the river was good, nothing bad happened but when they reached the end they noticed 2 kayaking shoots; the first time they went down they were normal, the second time they were on their stomachs and they had a great idea for the third run; they were going to balance on their hands and knees on the tubes. Jake went first and crashed and got knocked off his tube. Nick laughed and said that wasn't going to happen to him. Nick went down and crashed in the same exact spot and then got washed to the second "waterfall" shoot and Nick told Jake he needed to ride down the rest of the way with him on Jake's tube. Jake said "OK" and then he let go of the tube and Nick and the tube went down the second "waterfall". Before the "waterfall" Nick thought he sliced his foot open because something was flapping against his foot, but it ended up being the flip flop (he broke the thong). Nick went over the second "waterfall" which knock off his flip flops and he was able to retrieve one good flip flop and the tubes. Somewhere down the river Jake lost his other flip flop. After that they decided to call it a day. So Jake ended up with no flip flops, no shirt and no wedding ring, Nick ended up with 1 flip flop, and no shirt. Luckily they both ended up with their swimming trunks.

Sunday, July 6, 2008

Fun at the Reunion

This week was the much anticipated Christensen Family Reunion in New Harmony; everyone who was there had a great time. Nick was able to fly down with his company on Thursday and see everyone except Dean (Nick was sad) but when everyone got back today we found out that Dean will be coming up here for a day (Nick is not sad anymore). Nick got this picture of Jared wearing all of the safety swimming stuff at Grandma and Grandpa's pool. Next is his "One Handed Floater" jump. The last picture is Nick sitting in the cockpit of his works plane. Everyone really had a great time.

Jared Displaying Safety Diving

Flying with Jared

Nick is still trying to build hours for all of his flying certificates and so he took Jared up to Logan a couple of days ago. Luckily this time when Nick took Jared he didn't puke (the last time Jared went up he was 9 and he puked skittles everywhere). Jared got some great picture though.

Thursday, June 19, 2008

Nick playing with nylons

While we were still living in Washington the puppies got a hold of a pair of my nylons and ruined them so Nick decided to let the puppies ruin them completely.


Getting Caught Up - Mother's Day

This year for Mother's Day we were at the Guthrie's for dinner and some after dinner Frisbee football. There were tons of people here and it was good to see everyone. Frisbee football was tons of fun and Shawn also got out a bat and some softballs and Grandpa Christensen turned into the pitcher; I think his arm turned to jell-o by the end of the night. One of Nick's cousins (Brittany) and her kids (Kennedy, Kyler) came to visit and it was great to see them.


Shawn, Linda, Nick, Shauna , Randy, Sharee, Matt, Jessica, Jesse, Alicia, Jake, Jared, Elizabeth, Katie, Grandpa & Grandma Christensen, Brittany, Cindy, Kayla, Tyler, Carson, Streeter, Kennedy, and Kyler

Thursday, June 12, 2008

4 Ever

It has been so long since I've taken time to sit down and write about what is going on. It has been a month since I posted last but there haven't been too many changes. I am still without a job and I'm at my wits end. I send out another 13 resumes and applications today and something has to happen soon.
Nick & I are heading out tomorrow to look at more houses. Buying a house is a wonderful and horrible thing at the same time. It is so exciting to finally after all these years get a home but it is terrible because there is always something not quite right about the house. We aren't looking for the perfect house we are just looking for "our" house.
Tuesday was our 8th anniversary and I got Nick a set of golf clubs and he is so happy. He wanted to take Shawn and Jared to hit some balls but the weather got pretty yucky. He did go yesterday with Jared and hit a bucket of balls, they were both like little boys that were so happy. Today Nick had to drive up to Idaho for work and then he'll be flying back later today; I wish he didn't have to do that because he is going to be so tired.
I am in such a cooking mood so I told my mother-in-law that I want to cook dinner and she is so happy; we are going to have Lasagna and the kids are excited too.
I really need to post some more pictures. A couple of weeks ago, I think it was Mother's Day, almost everyone came over for dinner and then we went to the bowery down from the house and played Frisbee football and it was tons of fun. I got some great pictures of everyone.
Nick's brother Randy left to head back east a couple of days ago. He has a really great internship lined up with the Obama campaign and it should be a really good start into politics for Randy. I feel sad for his wife; they decided that for the time being she would hold down the fort in Layton and then he will come a get her in about 6 weeks. 6 weeks is a long time and I wish them the best of luck.
Well nothing else really to report have a great week!!!

Friday, May 9, 2008

Friday

It has been so long since I've been able to post, my life has been very busy lately. I am so appreciative of my in-laws for letting Nick and I invade their house and Elizabeth is so amazing because she has given up her room for Nick & I to use. We are actively looking for somewhere to live and I don't want to impose upon their hospitality too much.
Nick & I went to dinner with Randy, Cassi and Randy's friend John at a Thai place in Layton. I had a very good salad with a different dressing, it was a spicy peanut dressing, it was different but good.
I am so excited for tomorrow. I went to the nursery with Linda and Sharee yesterday and I got some amazing plants and tomorrow I'm potting them and I hope that they are going to grow. Gardening in Utah is very different than gardening in Washington. In Washington all you really have to do is throw some seeds outside and they will sprout and bloom.
I finished a good book two days ago and I can't wait for the next one in the series to come out. The series is Fablehaven and I finished the third book which incidentally came out a month ago so now I have to wait a whole nother year for the next book. I'm also waiting for the third book in another series to come out and it won't be out till 2009. It is the Hood series by Steven Lawhead. I really like the series.
Well I have probably babbled enough for now. Happy Friday.

Hubby Tag

1.what's his name? Nick
2."how long have you been together? Almost 9 years
3.how long did you date? 9 months
4.who eats more? I do
5.who said 'I love you' first? I had to ask Nick because I didn't remember. He said that I did and then he just said "Oh"
6."who is taller? Nick
7.who sings better? I do but Nick changes the words to songs better than I do.
8.who is smarter? Nick is street smart and plane smart and I am book smart and craft smart.
9.who does the laundry? I usually do but one time when Nick was helping me out he decided to wash the couch pillows. I told him to take the covers off but he decided to put the all the pillows in the washing machine. I got home from work and he grabbed me and said, "I love you!" I said "What did you do?" He said "I love you and I'm sorry!" I said "What did you do?" He told me to follow him up the stairs and showed me a pillow that the washing machine shredded. All I could do was laugh.
10.who does the dishes? I do but when I'm not feeling well Nick helps out.
11.who sleeps on the right side of the bed? I do right now because we are sleeping in Elizabeth's bed but usually I sleep on the left.
12.who pays the bills? We do it together. If we can't sit down together and do it we at least discuss what is being paid and when.
13.who mows the lawn? We don't have a lawn right now but Nick is going to mow his parents lawn tomorrow.
14.who cooks dinner? I do. Nick was helping me once and he was making instant potatoes and instead of putting one package in he put in both and couldn't figure out why the potatoes were so thick. He fixed it and was so proud of himself.
15.who drives when you are together? It just depends. When Nick doesn't want to drive I do.
16.who is more stubborn? Nick says that I am but I think that he is. (He really is)
17.who kissed who first? Nick kissed me.
18.who asked who out first? Nick called me the day after he got home from his mission and we went out the day after.
19.who proposed? Nick
20.who is more sensitive? I am, Nick thinks that I'm a big cry baby.
21.who has more friends? We share the same friends so I'm not too sure.
22.who has more siblings? Nick - There are a total of 8 of them. 3 boys and 5 girls.
23.who wears the pants in the family? It depends on the situation.

Monday, April 21, 2008

Moving - Yet Again

Well it is that time again when I dust everything in my house preparing for our latest move. The moving company called today and they moved up our pack-out day. The company will be packing us up and out on Thursday and that isn't all that happened today. We received a letter in the mail and our rental agency has changed so now there are stupid things we have to do to make the new agency happy. So our stuff will be moved out on Thursday and we are checking out of the townhouse on Friday at 9 AM so I have about 15 hours to get the house completely clean after everything is gone. Nick won't be able to help much because he is scrambling to finish up his instrument rating. He is scheduled to take the written test tomorrow and review with his instructor on Wednesday and hopefully get a review flight on Wednesday also. Thursday (the day the movers are coming) hopefully he can take the practical portion of his test and be all done. I have been helping Nick study for the past couple of weeks and we are studying even harder the past few days. I just finished serving Spaghetti for dinner and am now getting ready to start washing the walls. I really think that I'm going to be relieved when this is all over.

Sunday, April 20, 2008

Sunday

Today was our last Sunday in our current ward. I've been the primary chorister for the last year and the primary presidency was sad to see me go. As a going away present they gave me a vase with tulips from the area. The tulips are absolutely beautiful. They are a cross between a dark pink and a light purple, I absolutely love them.
Nick has been in a bit of a grump mood the past 4 days because when he is concentrating on something and it isn't working out quite right he gets moody and short with everyone. The reason he is grumpy this week is he got a Rubix cube and hasn't been able to solve it yet. The cube came with a seven step process on how to solve the cube. He adamantly refused to look at the "cheat sheet" and has been an ornery as a bear. Today he finally decided that it may be alright if he took a look at the "cheat sheet" - his mood is greatly improving. I also decided to help his mood improve as much as I could so I made him a batch of chocolate chip cookies. Making the cookies helps in other areas too because I need to use them up or give them away in the next 5 days.
The move is coming up so quickly. I've know the date the movers were coming for a long time but today it really started sinking in. I only have 3 days to get everything ready now. It's not like I've been slacking off but I didn't want to do too much because it really destroys the house. I guess that all the pictures are coming off the wall tomorrow and I'm still finding homes for things the movers won't take. One thing that I'm sad to be leaving is a almost new bottle of olive oil. I know that probably sounds stupid, but as many times as Nick & I have moved it get easier but sometime some things you have you can't get in the new area. I bought a great salad dressing at Safeway and I'm almost positive that they only sell it at Safeway. I think I may but another one and stash it away in the car. I just hope the bottle doesn't break when we start traveling.
Well I have probably complained enough. It will be good to be around family and friends and live in a real city again. We haven't lived in a real city in 5 years and I am very excited.

Thursday, April 17, 2008

More Pictures of Washington while Flying Today


First: Cloud cover off of left wing. Second: Puget Sound at 4000 feet. Third: Deception Pass bridge connection Fidalgo Bay and Whidbey Island 4000 feet. Fourth: San Juan Islands 3000 feet. Fifth: San Juan Islands (different area/angle) 3000 feet.

Cross County: Olympia to Bellingham

It has finally happened. Nick was able to complete his cross country flight after 3 weeks of trying to get it done. Every time we tried to fly there was icing and apparently if you fly too much through icing the plane can fall out of the sky. Today's fight was very cool because there were tons of clouds and we flew on top and through them; I am really going to miss Washington because it is so amazingly beautiful. There isn't too much to see flying through Utah, you either see a crusty looking shrinking salt lake, a couple of trees on a mountain range or sand, lots and lots of sand. We only have about a week and a half left up here and I am taking tons of pictures to remember as much of Washington as I can. Nick only has a few things left to do before he finally gets his instrument rating. We are trying to hurry thing up as fast as we can because we have to get it done before we move. The move seems like it is moving closer faster than it should; I think that ever time you are working with a deadline time moves a lot faster. Well here are some picture of today's flight. First: Nick is doing pre-flight on the Cessna 172 724TM Second: Just checkin' to see how I'm doing (between Everett and Olympia) Third: The state capital building in Olympia. Fourth: Cloud cover over Whidbey Island. Fourth: Nick checking the fuel sumps (just making sure we have enough gas).

Sunday, April 13, 2008

Nick's Saturday Landings


Landing in Olympia (First 2 pictures) Landing in Everett (Last 3 pictures)