Baby in a Backpack.

Dangerous? We think so. We saw multiple backpack babies today. Last week we saw a mom skiing with a really young (infant?) child strapped to her chest. What? If you want to read an article written by a father on crack skiing with his baby in a backpack, click here.

Homemade Granola Bars

Chris and I have been packing lunches for boarding every weekend. I usually pick up some granola bars. In general, they aren't that yummy and they are certainly not that good for you. So, I found a recipe at Joyful Abode. I changed it a little. Click on the link for the original version, picture directions, and variations.

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

• 2 cups oats
• 3/4 cup sunflower seeds
• 1 cup peanuts, crushed
• 3/4 cup honey (+ or minus, I eyeballed it)
  
• 2 Tbsp butter
• 1 tsp vanilla extract (I used Penzey's Double Strength Vanilla)
  
• 1/2 tsp Kosher salt
• approximately 8 oz. dried fruit (I used Craisins)
  
• Some milled flax seed samples I had laying around the apartment

Mix the peanuts, oats, sunflower seeds, and flax in a baking dish with sides. Toast them in the oven for 10-12 minutes. I toasted for 10 minutes, stirring once at 5 minutes.

Put the honey, butter, vanilla, and salt into a saucepan and bring to a simmer. This part smells SO good!

Mix the toasted mixture with the honey mixture and fruit, coating evenly.

The original recipe recommends preparing an 11x13 baking dish with waxed paper that is lightly sprayed with nonstick spray. I buttered my Pampered Chef baking dish and skipped the paper and spray.

Pour the coated mixture into your prepared baking dish and put a sheet of waxed paper over it. Press the mixture tightly into the pan so they don't fall apart when you cut them. Cool for 2-3 hours and cut your granola bars into whatever size and shapes you like.

Ours have cooled for a couple hours now. I cut them and they came out of the pan just fine. They are soft and were falling apart a little bit. But we both agree that they are super delicious. I think I might throw them in the fridge for a bit and hope they harden a little more. Either way, I am pretty happy and will definitely make them again.

We are Sunny!

Sexy goggle lines. We forgot our sunscreen :( Will have some in hand tomorrow when we go to Solitude.

We had to snap the pic in the bathroom where the best natural light is to give you the full effect.
Sent from my BlackBerry

Erica at Mineral Basin

Erica posing at the top our favorite run.

Chris Takes a Magic Carpet Ride

$1.4 million tunnel (with magic carpet) through the mountain at Snowbird to get from Peruvian Gulch to Mineral Basin. You can read more about the tunnel and its construction here.

We spent most of the day in Mineral Basin. It was a good day. We are pooped out after all the sun and boarding.

Off to Snowbird!

Erica has her skis and board today so we are prepared for anything. We are getting a late start, but we got plenty of sleep so it is looking like it will be a great day!
Sent from my BlackBerry

Scammer gets $3,000 from worried grandmother

Don't be sending the grand kids money!

ksl.com - Scammer gets $3,000 from worried grandmother

Snowing in the Mountains, but not in the Valley

Sent from my BlackBerry

Donor Deferral

The blood bank called me last week; they are in need of A- blood. I thought it would be nice to donate again (I donated at work this past fall) so I scheduled an appointment for tonight after work.

Because I was in Peru in the last year and because there is now a malaria endemic there, I couldn't donate. They just started deferring for this area, which is why I was okay last time (?? I don't really understand the logic). The CDC has a pretty cool Malaria Map Application. Here is a screen shot:

The Dominican Republic (among other areas) is red, which means malaria is everywhere. So, you probably can't donate blood either, Mom and Dad. I can go back at the end of May which will be one year since the trip.

On a side note, I now have a blood donor punch card. The more punches you accumulate the more free stuff you can get: 3 punches for a t-shirt, 9 punches for a fleece blanket, 15 punches for a thermos, etc. I thought this was a little weird, but kind of a clever way to get donors in the door.

We Have Clouds! Now That is Love!

Chris got me a cloud for Valentines Day (I had been talking about one for weeks) !:



Get yours here:
https://www.dropbox.com/referrals/NTQ3MzM1MTM5

IKEA Coffee

We are drinking IKEA coffee right now, the Bryggkaffe Morkrost. It very aromatic and tastes yummy - the entire apartment smells so good. They also have espresso coffee which we are curious about. It is Utz certified and if you go to this site, http://www.utzcertified.org/ikea/index.php you can trace your IKEA coffee from the plantation where it was grown.

It sells for $2.50 a half pound. If you are lucky enough to live by an IKEA, we highly recommend it.

Sleeping Beauty

Erica did not have a good day snowboarding today! After struggling to get her out of bed this morning we finally got up to Brighton a little after 10:00 and we were on the lift by 10:30. Three rough runs and 2 hours later we went down to the car to have lunch. Long story short, I made it back to the mountain after lunch for 2.5 more hours of snowboarding and Erica slept in the back seat of the car that whole time. I snapped this picture when I left the car after lunch. Erica was already sleeping!

2010 USA Sevens to Air on ABC this Saturday‏

What a Little Angel

Erica showing her angelic side while taking a lunch break yesterday at Solitude.

V-day 2010

Sent from my BlackBerry

Perfect Valentines Day

Picnicking at Solitude.

Chris and I grabbed a bite out tonight. This was my fortune - thanks for nothing!
Sent from my BlackBerry

Erica was SUPER sleepy today

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

I haven't had bruises like this since rugby.

Snowboarding mishap.

View from the Eagle Express Lift in the Snow.

Chris snapped this shot 2 weekends ago.

Top of the Eagle Express Lift Later that Day

Avatar: Creating the World of Pandora

Behind the scenes of Avatar. Pretty amazing stuff.