Complaining

Have you ever wanted to blog/complain about something/someone and you weren't sure if you should because you didn't want to hurt any feelings? Even though the thing/person doesn't know you have a blog (you think) and wouldn't go out of their way to find it. But there's a part of you who thinks they/it might come across it and you don't want to sound mean or anything? Could I be more vague?

What do you do in those times? Do you just type what you want because it's your blog and this person/thing you want to complain about will be out of your life in a week or so? Or should I not use my blog for a complaining platform? But then it's my blog and I can do what I want. I'm having a huge fight with myself over this. Any opinions?

Most Talented Mom!!

That's my mom! The most talented mom!! My bosses birthday is Friday and he is taking the day off. Tomorrow he is out golfing most of the day. I had asked my mom if she would be willing and able to make a cake for him for his birthday. She brought one by today. She's VERY talented. My boss loves Coke so she make a Coke bottle cake for him. It was a white cake with a lemon pudding center. It was soooooo good! I say "was" because the cake went fast. Everyone in the office loved it and talked about how creative and yummy it was. Here is a picture:So yes, it's official. I do have the most talented and loving mother. Sorry to disappoint everyone, but I do. :)

Thanks mom! I really appreciate you doing this. Thanks also for giving me a ride to work today. I appreciate and am grateful for all that you do for Hutch and me. I love you very much!!

Prayers for Steph

Hello my dear friends! Many of you know and are friends with my besty Steph. She was supposed to fly out of Barcelona today but her flight was cancelled due to an ash cloud. She has a flight tomorrow morning. Please keep her and her group in your prayers that they will be able to make it out tomorrow. I figured the more prayers, the better.

Thank you!!

Congratulations James!!

Today my little brother, James, is graduationg from Utah State University with his Bachelors Degree in Enviromental Engineering. (man, I hope I got that right).

Congratulations James! I'm very proud of you and am happy for your success. It's a big year for you; two new nephews, graduation and a new wife! I'm so happy for all of the wonderful things happening in our family. I love you very much!!

This is an old picture of us in Switzerland. I should find a more updated photos of us.

If Yan Can Cook, So Can I!!

I can officially cook!! I know some of you might be thinking, "what are you saying? You've been cooking since you were little." Yes I have. I had a great teacher, my mother. But there's always been one thing I can't do. I can't cook where a roux is involved. I can't make cream soups or cream sauces or anything like that. For those of you who don't know, a roux is, "a cooked mixture of wheat flour and fat, traditionally butter. It is the thickening agent of sauces and soups." I've tried and tried and the sauces and soups never thicken. I can't make gravy either, but that's for another day.

The other day Hutch and I decided to have tortellini for dinner. We also had some cheese in the fridge. I thought I'd give making sauces one more chance. I found a recipe for cheese sauce on the Internet that seemed easy and gave it a try. I came to the step where you stir it until it thickens. I was nervous but continued on. I stirred and stirred. It wasn't thickening. I started to complain to Hutch that I can't cook. Hutch being as cute as he is kept encouraging me. I kept stirring and stirring and stirring and to my amazement (after what seemed like forever) the sauce started to thicken a bit. Then it got even thicker. I was so excited!! I kept yelling "It's getting thick, it's working!!" We added the cheese and the sauce was perfect. Apparently my problem has been that I didn't stir it long enough. So now I can officially cook! I can make cream soups and sauces! I'm so proud!!

Update

Feet back to normal size. I missed them.

Swelling and Cankles

"Cankles: the area in affected female legs where the calf meets the foot in an abrupt, nontapering terminus." ~Urbandictionary.com

Why are my ankles and feet so swollen? "What you're experiencing is edema - that's when excess fluid collects in your tissue. It's normal to have a certain amount of swelling during pregnancy because you're retaining more water. Changes in your blood chemisty also causes some fluid to shift into your tissue. In addition, your growing uterus puts pressure on your pelvic veins and your vena cava (the large vein on the right side of the body that carries blood from your lower limbs back to the heart). The pressure slows the return of blood from your legs, causing it to pool, which forces fluid from your veins into the tissues of your feet and ankles. Edema is often an issue during the third trimester, particulary at the end of the day. It may be worse during the summer." ~babycenter.com

So it looks like I'm not dying or have some freakish disease. I am swollen though. My feet have been swelling a little bit by the end of the day but nothing like last night. Last night Hutch and I went to the Family History presentation (starring David McCullough) at the LDS Conference Center. We parked at my office and walked to the Conference Center. Since it was snowing that day I wore shoes and knee highs. After it was over, we walked back. When we got home I looked like I had Gout or something like that. I started complaining that I have cankles but Hutch said you can still see definition between my leg, ankle and foot. :) I went to bed sleeping most of the night on my left side. When I woke up the swelling had gone down but was not all gone. My right foot is still swollen (not as bad but is noticeable) and my left is only slightly swollen. I guess that means I'm not doing anything tonight but putting my feet up. Pregnancy makes you feel so pretty.

I can't believe I'm doing this but here is a picture I just took of my foot. Please pardon the lack of pedicure. At least my toes are painted. And yes, flip-flops are all I can wear right now.

Good thing it's a Friday so I can spend the weekend resting my legs and feet. Sometimes I forget that being pregnant limits what you can do. Oh well!!