Last night we opened a new box of aluminum foil. 250 feet of aluminum foil. The roll of foil had been dented. Every time you unrolled it once, the edge peeled away and had to be peeled off. A minor annoyance. Minor becomes major over 250 feet of foil. Luckily I'm married to a handy man who tries to make my life easier. First he tried a knife. Then he disappeared to the garage. And came back up with a skillsaw. He cut off the troubled end of the foil. I will be smiling every foot of foil for the next 247 feet.

Catching wild chickens 101

Equipment needed:
A fishing pole
A looped rope
bread
wild chickens

Instructions:
Tie the loop onto the end of the fishing line. Practice quickly pulling up on the fishing pole. You may want to try to catch a family member. Dogs are good sports. Find some wild chickens. Open up your loop and move backwards leaving about 10-20 feet of fishing line out. Entice the chickens with the bread, leaving some bread inside your loop. Optional: hide in the bushes. When the chicken has both feet inside the loop quickly pull up on the fishing pole. Congratulations, you just caught your first wild chicken. If wild chicken is part of your food storage plan you can eat the chicken. Or you can just pet it and let it go.

Note: No animals were injured during the making of these pictures.

The chicken with the red has just been caught.

One might ask, why are the Cook's catching chickens? Well, why not? On Friday Rusty was at work and needed to get into a room at the Marriott (where he is doing a remodeling job). He had to get the maintenance guy to open the door. He called him, but he was busy catching chickens. Rusty offered to trade him places so he could open the door. Rusty was then schooled in the fine art of chicken catching. His debut as a chicken catcher was highlighted by all of the subcontractors cheering him on (and booing him when he missed). Marriot catches their chickens because they are aggressive for food and wake the guests up in the morning. They then take them to a little chicken reservation, which is near the cannery between Lawai and Kalaheo.

The girls loved catching chickens.

You really can learn something new every day.

Rusty's Birthday!

Happy Birthday to Rusty! We had our party last night. The girls made a fingerpaint poster for Daddy in the morning. We also made him two apple pies. That was his request in lieu of cake. He needed two pies because his first food love is pie for breakfast, so we had to have leftovers. Pie making is not my forte. However, I tried a different method with each pie and came up with some new apple pie baking preferences. Then I talked to my mom and she already knew what I had to experiment to find out. I should have just called first. I also got to use a pie crust recipe that I haven't used since I took pie's 4-H in high school from Joylynn. For dinner we had filet mignon steaks, baked/mashed potatoes (fixed like baked potatoes, but boiled as a method of cooking), green salad, jello salad, and corn. Kyky made Rusty a special green crown to wear and gave him a chess game so he could teach her how to play chess. Other fun gifts included gift cards to home depot and borders, a water bladder for bike rides, more juggling clubs so he can learn to juggle with more than three clubs, a daily spanish phrase calender, and a big book of magic tricks. He is a man of many hobbies. Happy Birthday Russ!

My apple pie tip: add quite a few more apples than the recipe call for and steam them for ten minutes or so before mixing on the sugary stuff. Then the apples fit in the pie pan and there are lots of them in the pie. I'm probably the last to know.

Na Aina Kai Botanical Gardens

Monday, January 18th was the annual kamaina day at Na Aina Kai Botanical Garden on the North Shore. We decided early Monday morning to make it a field trip day and head up. I had no idea it was such a big deal. The parking alone required 10 + people to direct traffic, and that's alot of cars in one place on Kauai. The formal garden was the only part included in the admission. We may have to go back to see the childrens garden. The formal garden included a hedge maze, a coi pond, and a desert garden. The whole garden had bronze statues throughout. We loved the hedge maze. Kyleigh told me later that she was expecting a maze in the dirt that you did with your finger. She was especially excited about getting to walk through the tall hedges. Katelyn's favorite part was feeding the fish in the coi pond. We were all glad we decided to make the trek to the North Shore.

Cute Sisters.

We put the girls to bed. Each in their in own beds. When we went to check on them before we went to sleep this is what we found. The flash makes it look like day, but the room was dark and they were snuggled up together in KyKy's bed. Both of the stuffed animals are Kyleigh's. She was just sharing.

"Other Highlight" Pics

Christmas in Idaho - by the pictures that aren't in order

Highlight - the surprise. Surprise, we are having a baby. Most people probably know that by now. He is due February 14th. I kept this a secret from my family for 7+ months so they could have a big surprise at Christmas. We got to my parents house before they got home from work so we could videotape their reaction. I wrapped my stomach in wrapping paper.

Highlight - Kyleigh and Katelyn waited by the window watching for GG and Gpa to come home. They could hardly contain themselves. It was their surprise, too. It isn't easy for a six year old to keep a secret like this. Nobody really understands what Katelyn is saying when talking to her on the phone, so that wasn't a big problem. My parents reacted about like I expected them too. My dad started laughing hysterically and my mom started screaming and jumping. That was definitely a highlight of our season.

There were so many other highlights. Brace yourself for Christmas by the pictures.

Highlight - Making sugar cookies with GG.

Highlight - playing in the snow.

We played in the snow all that we could. We didn't get a big snowfall until the last few days of our trip, but we made the most of what we had. We don't have alot of heavy winter clothes. We layered up the girls with about every warm thing they own. As far as boots go, we took their gardening boots and put three pairs of socks underneath. In this picture Katelyn is wearing her bathrobe as one layer and Kyleigh is making a snow angel. Our first trip back to the beach she made a sand angel. Sand angels are harder to clean out of one's hair.

Highlight - roller skating.

We took the girls to the roller skating rink one day. This show's Katelyn's intial reaction. Eventually she was "skating" all around the carpet and even ventured out on the rink for one trip around before we left.

Kyleigh really enjoyed herself and was brave enough for the rink soon after arriving. Rusty and I also skated. For those who worry, (Mom and Holly) I was careful.

Highlight - roller skating... again.

The girls enjoyed it so much they begged to go back and we did so on New Years Eve. This time Katelyn got out on the rink immediately and wouldn't let me hold her hand. She was dancing to the music and was the last one off the rink when it was time to go (except the old guy with the bandanna skating around doing his own little dance to the music).

Highlight - my devious nephew.

My mom had a paintbrush sitting on the counter inside a baggie. It still had some tan paint on it. My barely 2 year old nephew Payton got ahold of it. Nobody knew that until he came booking down the hall and chucked it over the banister. We picked it up and put it away. No harm done, right? A few minutes later my 6 month old niece started crying. She was up from her nap. My brother in law went in to get her and came out very concerned. She had something on her head that they couldn't place. Rusty walked in on the conversation about what could possibly be on her head. He put two and two together and started cracking up. Payton had made the most of the leftover paint on the paintbrush and painted Alma's head. Then ran away and disposed of the evidence.

Highlight - Mom and Dad with the grandkids.

My mom and dad had alot of fun with all of their grandkids. Even though it was alot of really loud fun. They all settled down for a reading of the night before Christmas on Christmas Eve.

Highlight - Christmas morning.

Christmas morning brought lots of smiles. Rusty has a new skill to learn. He got a book/CD combo on how to yodel.

Highlight - snuggling baby Alma.

Her cheeks are really so kissable.

Highlight - Tucker and his Cars fettish.

Tucker is the biggest fan of the movie cars. Aunt Karla hit the nail on the head with a new pair of cars pajamas and matching slippers. Payton was asleep when Tucker opened his pajamas. When Payton woke up Tucker shoved the box at Payton and insisted he open it immediately. Tucker was trying to pull Payton's clothes off before the box was even opened. On Christmas morning he opened a cars computer from my mom and dad and neither he or Payton cared to open anything else.

Highlight - prime rib for dinner on Christmas.

Rusty was our chef. It turned out delicious, despite the neighbors melted meat thermometer.

Highlight - Christmas morning excitement.

Kyleigh and Katelyn were so excited that Santa had come. Rissie couldn't be at my mom's house on Christmas morning, so we had another Christmas from GG and Gpa in the afternoon. Two Christmases in one day. Who can stand excitement like that?

Highlight - the Wii.

My mom and dad's big present from us kids was a wii. The smiles say it all. We spent several days bowling, boxing, and playing golf and tennis. No one could beat Kyleigh's boxing record.

Highlight - easy bake oven desserts (including a 3 tiered cake).

Kyleigh got an easy bake oven from my mom and dad. She spent every day cooking us up miniature delights and serving them ceremoniously after dinner, but only to those who had eaten their food.

Highlight - Nate.

We got to see my brother. And we still love him, despite his sweatshirt.

Highlight - Christmas Eve party with Larsen family.

We got to spend Christmas Eve with Aunt Karla and Uncle Mel and Aunt Mardyne and Kayla. We had an ornament exchange and a ham and turkey dinner. Kyleigh and Katelyn got pajamas and slippers from Aunt Karla and Uncle Mel and love them.

Highlight - Cousins.

Cousins are so fun. Here are the four of them (minus Alma who can't quite hold herself up to peer over the fence, yet). They are looking at the dogs in the neighbors yard.

Highlight - 24/7 Dad on vacation.

Which includes horse rides on Daddy/Uncle T.

Other highlights included (pictures on second post):

-A day trip to Salt Lake to see the lights on temple square, go on a carriage ride pulled by Bart the horse and eat at the soup kitchen.

-Rusty and Tyler went duck hunting for a day.

-Sledding ( yes, I did that too).

-Building a snowman as tall as Rusty with a cowboy hat and a purple scarf.

-A trip to the Idaho Falls temple for Rusty and I.

-Spending a few days with the Christensen clan at Rulan and Kath's. The fun never stops with 19 grandkids to play with in one house, and we got to do that twice.

-Taking the girls and Tucker to see the Princess and the Frog.

-Playing at the playground in the mall.

-Visiting Uncle Randy in the hospital. He was up and able to talk to us.

-A quick visit from Uncle Steve and Uncle Brent.

-A quick visit from my cousin Justin and his family.

-FOOD! Suffice it to say there was no shortage. Personal food highlight - birthday cake and chex mix.