Endless Winter

When I was young I had a Beach Boy's record called "Endless Summer". My girls found it and I think one of them made a clock out of one of the record (it was a 2 record set). It had some great surfing songs on it like Surfing USA. I only mention that because in the song it mentions Waimea Bay and Sunset Beach. Both are one the north shore of Oahu - close to where our kids are.

Growing up listening to that song I never could have imagined that I would someday take a family picture on Sunset Beach.

That's really not what this post is about - but it Hawaii is a good starting point. We aren't having an Endless Summer - We are having an Endless Winter. When we came home from Hawaii in December we were welcomed with snow.

This is what it looked like back in December the day after we got back. Notice that there is no pile of snow on the lawn.

Today is April 5th and we still have up to 3 feet of snow on our lawn and we haven't seen the pavement on our street since we left for Hawaii in November. Normally the Chinook comes and melts all the snow but not this year.

The following pictures where taking today.

Taken in our cul-de-sac towards our house. It looks like it just snowed but this is what its been like all winter. In some places if you park on the street you are on ice that is 6 inches higher than the sidewalks.

It really has been an endless winter. Forecast for next week is double digit temperatures so we should see lots of this disappear. But maybe some snow will hold on until Erika and Alana return for the summer.

A new conference tradition - The Tim Tam Slam

We've been watching conference in our home since our kids were small.   One of the things we would do to keep the kids busy was to get licorice laces and Fruit Loops.  The girls would string the Fruit Loops on the licorice and make jewelry or simply braid.

This year we got some licorice laces like we usually do.   It kept me busy (at least until they were all eaten)

This year we started a new tradition - thanks to Mike and Petrea.   When we were in Saskatoon they told us about this biscuit (cookie) from New Zealand called the Tim Tam.    They do this thing called the Tim Tam Slam.  They explained it to us but I really didn't get it until I did a google/You Tube search.

So between the morning and afternoon session we decided to try it.   You can now my Tim Tams at London Drugs.

So for a Tim Tam Slam you need some Tim Tam's and hot chocolate.   We also had some KitKats because Mike said it might work with those as well.

Jenelle made the hot chocolate

  

I went first.  The first step is to bite off the ends of the Tim Tam.

  

Then you use it like a straw to suck up the hot chocolate.   The hot chocolate melts the cream filling and the makes the biscuit very soft.

   

You have to "slam" it into your mouth before it falls apart.

  

It literally melts in your mouth.

  

Its finger licken' good.

   

Jamie went next.

  

Then it was Jenelle's turn

And finally Judy

It was fun.   It really does melt in your mouth.   We also tried it with a KitKat bar.   It works but it doesn't melt as much.  But Judy and I agreed that we like the taste of the KitKat better.

Thanks for telling us about this Mike and Petra.   They learned it from Tom who served a mission in New Zealand.   I wonder if my Mission President does the Tim Tam Slam at home.

  

Another Great Conference

Another General Conference has come and gone.    I felt like many of the speakers were speaking directly to me.   Now I need to relisten to them and read the transcripts.  In the past I would download the conference talks onto my iPod and listen to them when I drive or run.   It was great to listen to the talks over and over again.   Unfortunately I have lost my iPod so I'll have to figure some other way of doing it.

In the Sunday morning session the closing song was "We Thank Thee O God for a Prophet".   I am thankful that we have a prophet.   During the last chorus they showed some pictures of President Monson with different members from around the world.   One of the pictures was of my nephew Brent's wife Amber and their kids (and his mother-in-law) at the dedication of the Twin Fall's Idaho temple.

I was able to capture the picture.  Amber's mom is the one in the black dress holding Carter.  Amber is next  holding Brooklyn.