CANDY

                                           

Did I ever tell you I love candy?  There is the funnest store here in Boise called Powell's Candy store.  We were at that end of town this weekend eating dinner between NCAA tourney games, and I just couldn't resist.  It is an entire store with nothing but candy, chocolates and gelato.  It's not just M&M's either, it has every kind of candy ever made, and it is like taking a walk down memory lane.  So I thought for posterity sake, I would rank my 10 all time favorite candies.  Now, I am not a chocolate girl at all.  I never have been, but show me the straight sugar sort of stuff and I am happy, happy.  I told my kids they could each pick out their favorite 3 things, which they did, and than Sam and I each had about 10 of our favorite things.  Nothing like leaving a candy store with a Nordstroms size bag....Mom, don't worry I am exaggerating just a little.  So now for the ranking:

#1  Slap Stick Sucker....You know that carmel dream they used to sale at King's in N. Ogden.  I sucked on that thing Friday night for a whole hour, and loved every carmelly, slightly banana flavor.  Yummy!

#2  Necco's....I know you are all grossed out by this, but I love those chalky little wafers...especially pink.

#3  Smartie pops....The chalky double flavor suckers we used to be able to get at North Ogden Park during softball games.

#4  Big Hunk...Nougat with a couple peanuts here and there.  Pull your crown right off kind of good.

#5  Charleston Chew....vanilla, chocolate, or strawberry, I love them all.

#6  Bit o' Honey...I ate about 10 this weekend, and had to run twice on Saturday to feel better about myself.

#7  Sugar babies...Yummy, chewy,  and they kill if you have even an inkling of a cavity coming.

#8  Nibs...It has to be Nibs too, because the imitators are no good.

#9  Cotton Candy...This was one of Elle and Sissy's picks this weekend.  Pure sugar bliss., that reminds me of the rodeo as a kid.

#10 Boston Baked Beans...Sam's club sells gigantic bags, they are great on the boat.

So now  everyone knows what treat to buy me. Luckily for my booty, you can't find my favorites at every convenient store in town.  It is only on special occasions that I take the Body Bugg off and say, "to hell with it, "  which does happen on rare occasions, like this weekend, with a visit to Powell's.  Come visit so I can take you all there.

GO MALAYSIA

                                       

We were so lucky to be a host family this year for the Special Olympics World Winter Games.  Idaho was the state to be in this February, as the world came to participate in the special olympics.  Back in November they announced at church that families were needed to host athletes from around the world for up to one week prior to the start of the games, as they got acclimated to the time difference, settled in, and let them experience life in Idaho.  We thought, "sure we can do that, we have extra rooms."  

About 1 week before they arrived we learned we would be hosting athletes from the Malaysia floor hockey team.  We so lucked out, because we also had the head of delegates, who spoke English...(added bonus, we would actually be able to communicate).  So from Tuesday evening when we picked them up until Saturday morning, we hung out with the Malaysian Special Olympians.  I might be biased, but I think we got the two funnest athletes, they were so polite and darling. And Raymond, the head of delegates was great.  My girls instantly wanted to snuggle with him and sit on his lap.  The more I thought about it though, I realized, anyone who takes time to be with these special olympians is someone special too.  It was hilarious to see them experience their first hamburger and fries, pizza, snow, a hot tub, a washer and dryer, and warm water in a shower. They also froze thier butts off. The best was one morning for breakfast, I fixed fruit and muffins and then pulled about 5 different kinds of cold cereal out for them to try if they wanted.  One of the boys went for muffins and fruit while Raymond, the head of delegation, and Geoffery, one of the athletes tried cereal.  Raymond mixed all 5 kinds together, and Geoffery went for Captain Crunch Berries.  After about 3 bites, he nudged his fellow athlete, who was eating a muffin, and in the fastest Malay ever, I think he said something to the effect of, "put that crap down and get yourself a bowl of this...it is awesome."  So he did, and 5 bowls later, and late for practice because of it, they each almost threw up crunch berries running up and down the court.  Their wasn't a meal they didn't love, and it was seriously so fun to have them try a little of this, and some of that.  As for sleep, I don't know that they ever got that figured out, because their light was always on and they didn't get out of bed most mornings until 10 or so.  We loved it though.  Sam and the kids were gone all day, so Sicily and I had some major bonding and entertaining.  We loved it and had a great experience and wish the special olympics came to Idaho every year so we could do it again, and again.

Me and Geoffery and Iquan.  Iquan was Muslim (they don't eat pork) so the first night, I made homemade pizzas and I didn't realize pepperoni was pork until after we ate...oops please forgive.

This is the whole Malaysian floor hockey team.  It was the only sport Malaysia participated in, because winter is not a climate in Malaysia.

They always wanted me in their pictures...I was flattered.

These are the coaches and Geoffery on the end with Raymond, the head of delegate, second from the right.

This is Raymond out enjoying a burger and an Idaho potato, in the form of fries.

Iquan and Geoffery trying french toast for the first time.

THINK SPRING

We are kind of getting sick of winter here at our house.  This picture was taken Sunday night after a blizzard for a couple of hours. Now, I'm sure my sister is looking at this picture and laughing that I am complaining about my sciff of snow(I think she got 30 inches yesterday...but she chose to live in the Arctic Circle) and we are ready for spring now.  Let me explain why my boys are in their undies making snow angels...I don't know where they ever got the idea they could go in the hot tub in their underwear, but that is their suit of choice...okay second choice, buck naked would be their first, but we draw the line there. I'm sure one of these days we will receive a complaint from the HOA for indecent exposure, because never fail, the kids will be in the hot tub, I will look out the window at them and one of the boys will be standing on the edge peeing onto the grass...I might have even caught the girls a time or two.  We don't have any neighbors that you can see in our backyard, but there is a walking path that neighbors frequent at all times of the day.   So this is our nightly ritual before bed.  Hot tub at 8:15- 8:45, than make a gigantic mess of moms bathroom before they attempt to go to bed.  It is practically the only sort of bath/shower Carter will take, so we don't argue.  I'm sure you all want to come sit in our hot tub on your next visit to Eagle now, huh?  Don't fret it is heavily treated and drained bimonthly...although I do not get in it unless it was just filled that day. 

So here's to politely excusing winter and welcoming spring.  Bring it on.

Tagged

I've been tagged by Lisa Lou.  So I was supposed to pick the 6th picture, from the 6th file on my computer and blog about it.  It just so happened it was one of my favorite pictures of Elle holding this frog that is almost bigger than her.  I love it because that is just her.  She loves frogs, lizards, iguanas, and snakes, or whatever other creepy crawling thing she can get her hands on.  I remember a  year or so back she caught a snake while we were in Utah at Lisa's house and she insisted we bring it home.  So she put it in a water bottle and we started our 4 hour journey home.  About 2 hours into the drive she decided to get the snake out and play with him, and thought he might need to stretch  a bit, so she let him do so on the floor of the car.  Meanwhile she got distracted and the snake took off.  Two or so minutes later, she remembers the snake, but he was no where to be found.  Can I just say it was a long ride home for me.  We finally did find him,  but poor guy didn't make it to Boise...he was out'a there.  Elle is one of the toughest chicks I know, and loves whatever Carter and Spencer love.  There is a waterfall/pond right next to her bus stop and come spring, I can just count on her and Carter coming home with 3 or 4 frogs  a day, and mud up to her thighs.  I added a couple more pictures of Elle with her critters just to show her love.