Merry Christmas 2012

Lincoln City, Oregon July 2012

I know we usually send out a fancy, hand-mailed copy of our Christmas letter out each year, but alas, we've decided to move it to our blog as I'm trying to simplify our holiday month (and truth-be-told, I wanted to save on stamps so I can still afford buying a real Christmas tree, which is no cheap item in the desert land of Utah where the lovely trees have to be shipped in).  

This year, we’d like to wish you Merry Christmas with a few questions and answers about our past year.  

Dinosaur National Park - September 2012

How often does it rain in Vernal, Utah? 

a. Rarely, according to the campsite host.  b. Only when the Rimingtons go camping.  c. Quite often actually.

a and b - We learned our tent holds up really well when the rare desert storm - complete with thrashing wind, lightning, and two hours of torrential rain pour - came crashing upon our campsite one evening during our Labor-day weekend in Vernal, Utah to visit the Dinosaur National Monument.  

Kimberly and Alicia sanding the play room

Amidst finishing the basement, which included Kimberly’s new room and the play room, what prevented John from doing as much sanding as he would have liked? 

a. Too much dust.  b. Child labor was much more effective.  c. Elbow Injury - Too much sanding, obviously.  d. The wife was really anxious to participate in the sanding.    Child labor of course, though Dana did get roped into a lot of sanding too.  John truly did have an elbow injury from all the sanding.

Why does Dana like getting up early in the morning? 

a. She doesn’t.  She would rather stay up late.  b. She can’t wait to get up to spend every waking moment with her handsome husband and 4 darling girls.  c. She is anxious to see where her articles landed in that days edition of the newspaper.  d. She likes to get some quiet reading time in before the kids get up. 

She does love to read, but only the newspaper in the mornings - and yes, she loves spending time with her husband and cute daughters.  

John and Dana - Lincoln City, Oregon July 2012

With all girls, how does John plan to spend the next few years getting some boy-time in? 

a. Building a man-cave.  b. Playing Legos with his daughters.  c. Being the Scoutmaster.  
 d. Having the girls help build his next project.    

Although he did find that Kimberly and Alicia can be very helpful when he built onto his bird mew to give his Peregrine falcon a kestrel roommate, the answer is that he is now our troop’s new scoutmaster.  

Alicia, Natalie, Kimberly, and Megan at the Tracy Aviary - June 2012

What is Kimberly’s (age 12) favorite part of seventh grade? 

a. Being in the orchestra and learning to play the violin.  b. Meeting all the cute boys.  c. Being locker partners with her best friend, Evie.  d. Getting to check out a pile of books from the library. 

All of the above, except for the cute boys, whom Kimberly claims she is not interested in (yet). 

What is Alicia’s (age 10) latest talent discovery? 

a. Painting her nails.  b. Painting and drawing c. Learning how to do new hair styles.  D. Craft projects. 

b- She is actually our budding artist amidst all of her other talents (a, c, and d)

Which words can Natalie (age 5) read now that she has started kindergarten?
a. and   b. like  c. Zip-a-dee-doo-dah   d.  I’m done reading.  Can I go play with friends now?
A and b - When she isn’t doing her reading homework, yes, she is begging to play with her friends, or stealing her sister’s DS games.  (Zip-a-dee-doo-dah is actually her favorite song)

What is causing our cute angel-child, Megan (age 3), to have more frequent moments of screaming tantrums?

a. Potty training isn’t going so well.  b. She did just turn three.  c. Saying no and refusing to listen is her latest game. 

Yes, Megan is quickly picking up on three-year-old tendencies, but still just as cute and bubbly as ever, who likes to sing, look at books, or just doing whatever her older sisters are doing.  

Moab, Utah - May 2012

How many hikes through Moab, Utah does it take before a two-year-old gets tired? 

a. Doesn’t matter.  When even the four-year-old starts complaining and wants to be carried, that’s too many. b. After the last hike, we realized we should have started with the Delicate Arch hike first.  Instead, we had to take a picture from really far away because the young-uns had done enough hiking.   3.  As many as they can tolerate in the carrier.           

We learned that our kids actually do really well hiking, but after we dragged them all over Arches National Park, we knew it was time to head to the hotel and grab our bikes for a ride on one of Moab’s many bike paths during our trip to Moab over Memorial Day weekend.

Moab, Utah - May 2012

How many years has it taken John and Dana to make it back to a USU football game after graduating from there 14 years ago?  Exactly 14.  Just tragic.  

John, Dana, and Kimberly at USU in Logan - September 2012

Why did the Rimingtons want to have you read our Christmas Question and Answer Letter?  To wish all of you a Merry Christmas and thank you for your love and friendship.   

Love, John, Dana, Kimberly, Alicia, Natalie, and Megan Rimington

Journey Into Bethlehem

First of all, before I get into my blog post, I have to tell you what wonderful daughters I have.  We have all been hit with that lovely cold that seems to be going around of late, but what nearly did me in was when I got infected with a horrible stomach virus last week while John was on a business trip.

The older girls took great care of me (as I literally couldn't move the first day it hit) by making dinner, cleaning the kitchen, putting their younger sisters to bed, etc.  I was so proud of them for being such wonderful helpers.

We missed out on some fun Christmas parties over the weekend due to illness, but by Sunday, it seemed like everyone was back to normal, so we ventured out to one of the local Baptist churches that puts on a journey into Bethlehem event each year.  We've never been, but thought we'd check it out.  It was incredible, though everyone else seemed to think so too because it was a really long wait.

 

However, it was worth the long line since we got to experience life back at the time Christ was born.  We journeyed from Nazareth with a local Jew, 'Gaddiel', and his family to Bethlehem for the census and to be taxed.  Along the way (the church has a huge amount of land that we journeyed across - and yes, it was cold) we encountered Roman soldiers who made sure we had our passports with us, and then we met wise men, shepherds, and even were visited by an angel announcing Christ's birth.

We had to enter through a gate to get into Bethlehem, where our passports were stamped.  We got to visit some of the shops, and meet with some of the local people who wanted to know about the visit we had from the angel.  Everyone was so excited about Christ's birth - it was easy to get caught up in the moment.

We tried to get a room at an inn, but when they told us it was full, they showed us to some tents that were being set up by their stable where we got to see baby Jesus and meet Mary and Joseph.

It was fun to imagine what it must have been like to be there during those times.

My Latest Addiction

Many of you may already know that my number one favorite dessert of all time is raw chocolate chip cookie dough, followed by a very close second of freshly-baked cookies.  So much so, that I make them every few days or so.

In fact, I would make them every day, but I feel like it is probably best to eat said cookies before making another batch. I do not like stale cookies - any cookie over 2 - 3 days old just doesn't cut it for me.

However, I have discovered something that might be my new favorite dessert that will allow me to have a freshly baked cookie EVERY DAY, and also adhere to my not-so-friendly metabolism that has become devastatingly slow as I have aged.  You see, when I make a batch of cookies, I can't stop at just one cookie, or two, or even three for that matter.  I have found the perfect solution to my dilemma. 

Let me introduce you to the Chocolate-Chip Cookie in a Cup!!

One absolutely divine serving of cookie, perfectly diet-sized, and warm and deliciously gooey with chocolate chips just oozing in yumminess.  My new favorite dessert after lunch.  And I can make it freshly-baked, every day!  Can it not get any better than that?  Well, my family may start wondering why the cookie jar is empty, but other than that, I think not.  

Want to make one too?  I can vouch for it's easiness and taste-worthiness.  I tried the cake in a cup one, and that was not so good, but this cookie one is fantabulous!!

Melt 1 T butter in the microwave.  Then add 1 T white sugar and 1 T of brown sugar.
I will have you all know that I am typing this recipe by memory, as it is so simple (and I've made it 3 times in the last 2 days). 

 

Then add 3 drops of vanilla and one egg yoke - you guys all know the trick of cracking the egg and letting all the egg white stuff out while leaving the yolk part, right?

Then add a pinch of salt, and a scant 1/4 cup of flour. I am assuming scant means just under 1/4 cup, so don't be overgenerous - but don't quote me on that.  All I know is, my scant cup makes a perfect cookie.  

Lastly, add 2 T of chocolate chips, but I confess, I don't measure this...I just start dumping in the chocolate morsels until it looks sufficiently chocolately.

Mix, and then cook in the microwave for 40-50 seconds. 

Mine came out looking like this...

and this...

Trust me, it tastes better than it looks.

Now, get your bums off the computer chair and go make one of these...you won't regret it.

Need a litte Testosterone?

Since we're talking about John and his all-girl situation, I think someone above feels like John could use a little break from all the hormonal drama.  Yes, after 3 years of serving in the primary - which John loved and is very sad to be leaving - John now has a new calling. Care to take a guess?  I'll even give you a hangman-like hint:

___  ___  ___  ___  ___     ___  ___  ___  ___  ___  ___




Scout master it is.  All of his boys he had as cubs when he was cub master are now in his scout troop.  The boys and their families are thrilled.  John, well, not-so-thrilled about all the camping, but he is excited to be working with the boys again.

John's First 'Official' Pinewood Derby

As you know, John has participated in nearly a gazillion cub scout pinewood derbies during his 10-year tenure as cubmaster, and spent every one of those with his garage open to any dads or boys that needed help.  He has spent countless hours helping others with their pinewood derby cars, but had not had the chance to work on a pinewood derby with any of his kids due to the all-daughter factor.

All of that changed this month when our ward hosted an achievement day Father/Daughter pinewood derby activity.  To say John and Alicia were thrilled was a serious understatement.  They spent weeks working on their car together.  John let Alicia design the car, sand the car, and nearly every aspect of the car work, aside from some cutting that John did to avoid any finger mutilations. 

 Her car did well, but didn't place.  They really built it for looks, not necessarily for speed.  She did get the Best of Show award, and she was thrilled. 

Now it is in prime location in Alicia's room, and both she and John are hoping the primary decides to make it an annual event. 

My Thoughts on the Election - Don't Worry, It's Short

As I have reflected on everyone's comments regarding the election, some good, but many of them not so good, full of worry and trepidation for the future of our country, these are the two thoughts I have chosen to stand by regarding my thoughts on the election.  

President and Prophet of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Harold B Lee during the early 70s said this:   

"Men may fail in this country, earthquakes may come, seas may heave beyond their bounds, there may be great drought, disaster, and hardship, but this nation, founded on principles laid down by men whom God raised up, will never fail. This is the cradle of humanity, where life on this earth began in the Garden of Eden. This is the place of the New Jerusalem. This is the place that the Lord said is favored above all other nations in all the world. This is the place where the Savior will come to His temple. This is the favored land in all the world.

Yes, I repeat, men may fail, but this nation won't fail. I have faith in America; you and I must have faith in America, if we understand the teachings of the gospel of Jesus Christ. We are living in a day when we must pay heed to these challenges.

I plead with you not to preach pessimism. Preach that this is the greatest country in all the world. This is the favored land. This is the land of our forefathers. It is the nation that will stand despite whatever trials or crises it may yet have to pass through."

Then - this is the statement issued by the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Tuesday:

SALT LAKE CITY - We congratulate President Obama on winning a second term as President of the United States.

After a long campaign, this is now a time for Americans to come together. It is a long tradition among Latter-day Saints to pray for our national leaders in our personal prayers and in our congregations. We invite Americans everywhere, whatever their political persuasion, to pray for the President, for his administration and the new Congress as they lead us through difficult and turbulent times. May our national leaders reflect the best in wisdom and judgment as they fulfill the great trust afforded to them by the American people.

We also commend Governor Romney for engaging at the highest level of our democratic process, which, by its nature, demands so much of those who offer themselves for public service. We wish him and his family every success in their future endeavors.

Politically Correct Halloween

We always make fingers for Halloween - if you've never had one of our fingers and you live close-by, please feel free to drop on by as we have a few tasty digits left.  

John made them for work last year and won the prize for most creative Halloween treat.  

This year, he made them again because he has a bunch of new people in his group, though one of the guys is allergic to peanuts (a problem with the heavily - laden peanut butter fingers), so John made a batch with Nutella, and they were rather black, so he called them his Obama plate of fingers, and his Romney plate, and they were to eat the finger of the person they supported for the upcoming election.

Note to family members who've made fingers - Nutella actually tastes really good!

This year for Halloween, we deemed Kimberly too old to go trick-or-treating, so she had a party instead with several of her friends.  They made fingers too and played a bunch of games, including a candy-hunt outside in the dark, so they got a bunch of candy despite the lack of trick-or-treating.  Oh, and I did let them walk down to the neighbor who always makes scones on Halloween night.

 For the lucky three who did get to go trick-or-treating, here they are after they came home from their fun-filled evening.