Andrea Bocelli and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir singing the Lords Prayer..........

December-January Birthday Party

Saturday evening we had a combined birthday party, for those that couldn't attend in December and January birthdays.

Jordyn & Caralie were excited for the candles to be lit.

Caralie turned 6 in January

Jordyn turned 6 in December

Elijah turned 13 in January

Tyler turned 14 in January

Brianna  turned 17 in January

Erik

Kendall

Chris

Jason

Pam

After 10 choruses of Happy Birthday, the kids finally got to open their presents.

Kendall showed off the new VIolin made for him by Doug, it was beatiful, but I wasn't able to get a closer picture of the finish.

And as in any family gathering there was visiting, passing the babies around and cake and ice cream.

Holiday Inn launches the first human bed warming service

Posted on: 18 Jan 2010 at 01:55 PM in Hotel News
As the big freeze envelops Britain, and the MET office forecast more snow for this week, Holiday Inn has taken the unprecedented step of introducing human bed warmers into its hotels, helping guests get a great night’s sleep and keep thcold at bay.

With temperatures plummeting as low as -17 degrees Celsius in the UK, Holiday Inn has teamed up with renowned sleep psychologist Dr Chris Idzikowski and a dedicated team of bed warmers to heat up guests’ beds. Dressed in all in one sleeper suits, the bed warmers will work as human electric blankets, bringing the bed temperature up before guests climb in so guests can be toasty warm from the moment their heads hit the pillow.
As Dr Chris Idzikowski, director of the Edinburgh Sleep Centre explains: “There’s plenty of scientific evidence to show that sleep starts at the beginning of the night when body temperature starts to drop. The decline occurs partly because the blood vessels of the hands, face and feet open up and release heat.
“A warm bed – approximately 20 to 24 degrees Celsius – is a good way to start this process whereas a cold bed would inhibit sleep. Holiday Inn’s new bed warmers service should help people achieve a good night’s sleep especially as it’s taking much longer for them to warm up when they come in from the snow.
Jane Bednall, spokesperson for Holiday Inn said: “People want to leave the cold outside and climb into a warm bed. The new Holiday Inn bed warmers service is a bit like having a giant hot water bottle in your bed, warming it up before guests climb in to give them a great night’s sleep away from the cold. And of course they jump out before you jump in!”
The bed warmers toasting suits (pictured) were specially designed to maximise sheet heating efficiency. The complimentary five minute bed warming service will trial at Holiday Inn London Kensington Forum, Holiday Inn Kingston South and Holiday Inn Manchester Central Park. Sessions should be booked to take place between 21.00 and 23.00, from 18 to 25 January 2010.

MAJOR TECHNOLOGICAL BREAKTHROUGH

Introducing the new Bio-Optic Organized Knowledge device, trade named BOOK
BOOK is a revolutionary breakthrough in technology: no wires, no electric circuits, no batteries, nothing to be connected or switched on. It's
so easy to use, even a child can operate it.
Compact and portable, it can be used anywhere
-- even sitting in an armchair by the fire -- yet it is powerful
enough to hold as much information as a CD-ROM disc.
Here's how it works:

BOOK is constructed of sequentially numbered sheets of paper (recyclable),
each capable of holding thousands of bits of information. The pages are locked together with a custom-fit device called a binder which keeps the sheets in their correct sequence. Opaque Paper Technology (OPT)
allows manufacturers to use both sides of the sheet, doubling the information density and cutting costs. Experts are divided on the prospects for further increases in information density; for now, BOOKS with more
information simply use more pages.

Each sheet is scanned optically, registering information directly into your brain. A flick of the finger takes you to the next sheet. BOOK may be taken up at any time and used merely by opening it.

BOOK never crashes or requires rebooting, though like other display devices it can become unusable if dropped overboard. The "browse" feature allows you to move instantly to any sheet, and move forward or backward as you wish.
Many come with an "index" feature, which pin-points the exact location of any selected information for instant retrieval.
An optional "BOOKmark" accessory allows you to open BOOK to the exact place you left it in a previous session -- even if the BOOK has been
closed. BOOKmarks fit universal design standards; thus, a single BOOKmark can be used in BOOKs by various manufacturers.
Conversely, numerous BOOK markers can be used in a single BOOK if the user wants to store numerous views at once. The number is limited only by the number of pages in the BOOK.

You can also make personal notes next to BOOK text entries with an optional programming tool, the Portable Erasable Nib Cryptic Intercommunication Language Stylus (PENCILS).

Portable, durable, and affordable, BOOK is being hailed as a
precursor of a new entertainment wave. Also, BOOK's appeal seems so certain that thousands of content creators have committed to the platform and investors are
reportedly flocking. Look for a flood of new titles soon.

SIMPLE TREATS

When I was growing up, Mom used to bake lots of treats, cookies, cakes, pies, bread, etc. They were always really good, but the treats she made with the leftovers were even better.

One of my favorites was made from leftover pie crust rolled out, put on a cookie sheet and sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar. We called it Cookie Pie.

Another treat I always liked was Fried Bread, with melted butter and homemade Strawberry Jam (the kind with great big chunks of Strawberry in it).
I made it my goal to be able to get raw cookie dough whenever I was home on cookie baking day. Mom told me if I ate raw cookie dough it would give me worms. I didn't care, it was still a favorite treat (Still is).

A favorite that has carried through the years are what my Niece Rachel named Grandma's Special Cookies. They are made from graham crackers and leftover frosting.

I made some Saturday for Hunter & Jordyn while they were visiting their Dad. The adults liked them as much as they kids did.

UDI'S GLUTEN FREE BREAD

Anyone that has eaten Gluten Free Bread knows it is pretty nasty. It has to be heated to even be able to bite into it, and still it tastes like warm saw dust.
That is changing. UDI BAKERY in Denver has developed a new line of Gluten Free Products.

In addition to Whole Grain Sandwich Bread, they sell White Bread, Blueberry Muffins & Lemon Streusel Muffins.

The Bread is Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Soy Free & Nut Free.

It does not need to be refrigerated, it stays good out on the counter for 7-10 days. It doesn't need to be toasted, or heated to be edible. It is light and fluffy at room temperature.

I tasted a piece this afternoon and may I just say YUM, it is delicious. I wish I could find sandwich bread with gluten in it that tasted as good.

READ GF STEPH'S REVIEW of this new bread, she says it much better than I can.

In Arizona This bread can be found at the Gluten Free Country Store on Val Vista & the 202, or Sprouts.

If you live outside of Arizona, check with your favorite specialty store, or order direct from the factory.

WHERE'S THE LINE TO SEE JESUS ?

"Where's the Line to See Jesus?" (An Original Song) Performed by father and daughter, Steve Haupt and Becky Kelley Inspired by grandson, Spencer Reijgers Written by Steve Haupt and Chris Loesch R...

The story behind the song, as told by Steve Haupt:
"While at the mall last year, my 4 year old grandson saw kids lined up excitedly to see Santa Claus. Having been taught as a toddler that Christmas is the holiday that Christians celebrate the birth of God's son, with the innocence of a child, he asked his mom, "where's the line to see Jesus"? If Christmas is Jesus' birthday, why don't we see Him more?
As his grandpa, I was so happy that little Spencer understood the meaning of Christmas at such a tender age, and then the words for a song were jotted down in just a few minutes. The song was inspired by my grandson, and the message was inspired by my Savior. Out of the mouths of babes come profound truths that many adults cannot understand. Hopefully Spencer's observation and our song will cause people to reflect on the love of Jesus, and the certainty that one day we will all stand in line to see Him."

New Years Eve

We celebrated New Years Eve at Aunt Karen's this year. Our numbers were small this year, but we had fun anyway.
Some of the partiers played Sneaks and later Pounce.

Leanne, Shari, Amanda, Cindy, Aunt Karen

Amanda, Tyler, Aunt Karen

Leanne, Shari, Tom, Kelsey

Danny was happy and full of energy

Danny

Danny and Gramma Lori

At midnight we rang in the New Year with poppers, sparklers and other fireworks. (I didn't get any pictures of that part of the evening.) And drank a toast to the New Year with Martinelli's Sparkling Cider.

Lori

HAPPY NEW YEARS EVERYONE!!!!