Delos in the land of China

Here's me at the Beijing Olympic Stadium. Not quite done yet. But it's huge and looks like a gigantic bird's nest. I asked when it would be done and ready for touring considering the Olympics start in August. They said "maybe by July." Cuttin' it pretty close!

This is the land of China. I'm at the great wall, I can't believe this place. It follows the peaks of the northern mountains for as far as you can see. 5,600KM they say (about as far as I can see with my new eyes!). averages 27 feet high all th way along and about 15 feet wide (designed for 5 horses across or 10 men). It has stations ever 500m where people lived and stuff. It's mind-boggling that this was built. Way up in the mountains. I took a tram up and then rode an LONG Alpine Slide back down! A lot of it is so steep it's stairs. Reminded me of climbing the stairs of Sinai.
Wish it was summer, it was pretty chilly, and all the trees are bare. But I was a little hot after al the climbing and running I did on the wall. I walked/climbed about 2 miles along the wall. It's weird. You think that maybe if you walk a couple of miles on the wall, you'll see like an end or something after that far when you're on something so tall and wide. Nope, just keeps going, and going, and going....
You get a slight feel here for the length and height of the wall here. It goes on forever!
This is the Forbidden City. Loots of Emporers lived here--all the way from about 1000 to 1925. It was "Forbidden" that anyone but a few royals and parliament people go in this city. It's also Gigantic. About a mile square. And has about 10 huge gates to get all the way in to where the Emperor's quarters were. Only the Emporer, his wife, his boys (until age 12), and girls (to age 14) were allowed to live in this gigantic palace. Along with anywhere from 200 to 1000 concubines.

Look at the detail of the carvings on the roof of one of the buidings in the Forbidden City. There are probably 100 buildings in the complex.
Enormous courtyards in various places of the palace for parliament or other groups to meet in. The Emporer wanted to be "heavenly," and so he had these huge gray-looking stair steps to look sort of like the gray sky and try to create the feel that his palace was floating in the air. Anytime large groups came they lit hundreds of incense pots that generated smoke and also helped create the feel of the palace floating in the clouds. The buildings were all made of wood (Cypress), so they have big brass vats (2000 of them) all over that used to all be kept full of water to help put out any fires.


The entrance to the Forbidden City has a big picture of someone.

Downtown Beijing. Very modern. Street lights and lanes. Almost as many bikes as cars. Sooooo polluted. Can't see more than a block or two there is so much smog. Apparently there is NEVER a clear day there because of all the pollution. Things are pretty cheap here. Got an extra value meal with McNuggets at Mickey D's today for $2.

A Very Late Christmas Post

I know Christmas was 11 days ago, but I'm just getting around to posting about it. It's a lot more fun to have little kids at Christmas I've decided. Their enthusiasm and excitement is contagious and I can't help but smile as they experience "Santa". So here are some of the favorite gifts:

Kate and her ride on thing (who knows what they're called). All the kids want to play with it. You can also see her race track on the left. I got her that in the hopes that she'd leave Luke's alone and play with hers. Turns out, she doesn't care about either of them.


Abby and Luke with his race track. Boy was that a pricey figure 8.


The girls with their new dolls. That makes number 56 and 57. All Abby wanted was that dumb swimming baby. At least she works.


Lastly, Luke rockin and rollin with his new guitar. As you can see, a good time was had by all.

These are a few of my favorite things (today at least)

I saw these cute sleep pants (with cute matching shirts - don't know why the picture copied without them) in a catalog a few months ago. So when I got another catalog a few days ago with them on sale for $8 I quickly decided what me and all my sisters and sisters-in-law would be getting for our 2008 birthdays. Alas, when I got online, they were all sold out. You can all mourn with me. A-ha! I just added the tops! Anyway girls, just look and see what cute jammies you ALMOST got from me for your birthdays this year...
We took our kids to see Enchanted yesterday and we loved it! Amy Adams is the perfect Giselle and Hannah was so into the movie she was talking to the characters. It was so cute. This is one that will definitely get added to our library. I downloaded the soundtrack today too - some of those songs are pretty Alan Menken catchy! And you gotta love Carrie Underwood.
I don't know about you, but I think this may just be the cutest denim skirt I've ever seen. I'm seriously coveting it. Maybe I'll spend some of my Christmas $ on it...wouldn't it be so cute with boots and a sweater for now...and then in the spring with sandals and a cute t-shirt? I LOVE it.

I'm in the process (I think) of creating my own blog and I think I want to have a weekly "favorite things" feature because it's kinda fun. What do you think?

2007 Games Decathlon, er Heptathlon

The third annual New Year's Eve Decathlon was a success if your name is Delos. Because we had so many entrants this year we couldn't complete all 10 events, and the event was shortened to 7. The 2007 standings were as follows:

Gold: Delos Larson
Silver (tie): Jared Huddleston, Emily Foley
Participants: Austin Larson, Misty Larson, Dave Larson, Ellen Huddleston, Dave Foley

2006 Standings:
Gold: Jared Huddleston
Silver: Dave Foley (I think)
Bronze: Emily Foley (I think)
Participant: Ellen Huddleston

2005 Standings
Gold: Dave Foley
Silver: Emily Foley

As you can see I've slowly worked myself off the leaderboard. In 2008 I may simply act as moderator and judge to make my tailspin complete. Next year we may need to make this a two night event to ensure all games are played. Also, next year's events will entirely consist of methods for killing rats so Ellen will be sure to place in the standings.

Snow Slide

So we're up in Draper for New Year's and there's LOTS of snow, which is very fun for our kids and of course Jared. Give him some free time and a pile of snow and he'll come up with something fun. So he built a slide down the rocks in Mom and Dad's backyard. Not at all unexpected for Jared, but....

Dad?!!!

Kate and Abby were too scared to slide, but still had fun playing.

Christmas at Delos & Misty's

I suppose I should have stood on the other side of the table for this picture, that's why I'm not a great photographer I guess. We had a fun time over there, yummy food ($70 worth of ham and turkey, a $35 fruit salad, mom's Barb Worthen potatoes) lots of playing, lots of fighting over the wii, lots of begging to go home to play with toys (by Isaac of course) but mostly fun fun fun! David got these crazy helicopters that fly and you can shoot each other down (when you get shot you go into a tailspin). They were sooo cool and Isaac and Noah had so much fun watching them fly around. Isaac wanted to do some flying but I'm pretty sure he broke the one James gave Delos (a little different but same concept) so I was very nervous about it.

Songs for Sara

I don't have great taste in music and mostly I just listen to the radio, so music "experts" probably think my taste is too mainstream. Sorry I don't know more indie stuff, and I don't listen to much Hip Hop, R&B, or Country. I hear Kanye West is "off the chain" though, and everytime I flip over a country station I hear Rascal Flats, so maybe you should try those guys out. Anyhow here is my list of where you can start.

This is mostly a list of songs I think you might like, I don’t necessarily listen to all of these.

Some songs and bands I’m 95% sure you’ll like
Timbaland featuring One Replublic “Apologize”
Sara Bareillis “Love Song”
Matchbox Twenty “How Far We’ve Come” (but probably anything by them)
Linkin Park “Shadow of the Day”, “What I’ve Done”
Fergie “Big Girls Don’t Cry” (also download the video because Milo Ventimiglia is soooo hot)
Maroon 5 (Lynette already recommended; anything by them)
Pink “Who Knew”
Nickleback “Rock Star”
Bon Jove “Lost Highway”
Feist “1234”
Goo Goo Dolls “Let Love In”, “Before It’s Too Late”
Plain White T’s “hey there Delilah” (although I can’t imagine you haven’t heard this song, it’s everywhere)
Lifehouse “First Time” (but you should check out the whole album: Who We Are)

Some bands and albums I like and think you might like so you should check out but no guarantees (also they’re not all new)
Jimmy Eat World: Chase This Light (but I like all their stuff)
Angels & Airwaves: (I like all their stuff but start with “Magic” off the album called I-Empire)
Matt Kearney: Nothing Left to Lose
The Fray: How to Save a Life (aka, Grey’s Anatomy soundtrack)
The Fratellis: Costello Music
Unwritten Law: Music in High Places
Snow Patrol: Eyes Open
The All American Rejects: Move Along
Yellow Card: Lights and Sounds
Jack Johnson: In Between Dreams
Anything by Dashboard Confessional
Anything by Weezer
Foo Fighters: Echoes, Silence, Patience, & Grace

If you need more ideas, or if I've offended you with my music let me know.

(This is posted by Dave Foley, in case it's not clear which Dave I am.)

My Merry Christmas

Well, Santa has finally dragged me into the 21st century - I got an ipod for Christmas. I also got a giftcard for itunes and as I am quickly discovering, there is A LOT of stuff out there. I mean, a lot! I am so out of it as far as music is concerned - I don't remember the last time I listened to the radio (even in my car). Anyway, when I was checking out ipods at the Apple Store before Christmas, I listened to a song by Chris Daughtry called "Over You" and I really liked it and I realized there's a lot of good music out there that I know absolutely nothing about.

So, I'm conducting a little poll. If you have any recommendations for me, I would love to hear about the songs/artists that you're into right now. Make your list long or short but let me know what songs you like or think I might. Thanks!

Christmas Clothes

One of my favorite things at Christmastime is getting pretty new Christmas Clothes for church. I wish I could get some for myself, but since that doesn't usually happen it's almost as fun to find stuff for the kids. They looked so cute this year I thought. The picture is a little fuzzy, but you get the drift. Jared only took one so it'll have to do.

Elf Yourself

We put Napoleon Dynamite to shame. Click here to see us boogie.

EW!

My friend Duncan posted this on their blog yesterday and I had to share it. Oh MAN!

Visiting Teaching

http://www.blip.tv/file/255494/

Click To Play

I couldn't figure out how to post this video. Maybe I could have if I had a little more time but I'm in a hurry because I'm going - you guessed it - visiting teaching in about 15 minutes and Rachel is still napping. Anyway, although it's very OBVIOUS, I thought this was a funny little video (forwarded to me by the R.S. Pres. of our ward - what do you think she's trying to tell me anyway?).

By the way, I was also given a new calling on Sunday as a Primary worker and I was sustained and set apart. The counselor who extended the calling said, "...the implication is of course that at some point who will probably be released from your R.S. calling but we don't know at this point when that might take place..." So, I guess right now, I'm the Enrichment Counselor and a Primary Worker...any ideas how to split myself in half so I can be in both places at once?

Highlights from Houston

We had a great visit in Houston - watched the little ones for a couple days of the visit while CJ and Sara took a break. The temperature was in the low 80's every day. Quite a contrast to what we found when we returned to Utah. The pickup had 6 inches of ice on it - the foot of snow that had fallen while we were gone had partially melted, compacted and then refroze to form a nice 6 inch layer of ice on everything. (Dave and Emily, thanks for clearing our walks and driveway - they were great).

I think some of you have never seen Sara and CJ's home. She has shown you pictures of the inside on the blog. Here is a picture of the outside. It really is a lovely home and they have done a great job decorating.

Sara took us to look at some model homes in their development while we were there. Some in the $300,000 range were super-nice, about 5000 sq ft and would be $1 million plus in Draper.

And here is Charlie is his brand new Jedi Knight outfit -specifically ObeWanKinobe - that Grandma made for him while we were there.

And some more of Mom and Sara's handiwork in painting and putting a border up in Charlies room (Sara wanted the two tone paint and a chair rail, but I couldn't haul my compressor, nail gun, and miter saw to Houston on the plane. We could have rented them, but Sara decided a border would be fine. She went out and found this one - should look familiar to you, Emily!! Looks great in Charlie's room too.

And I could show a picture of the additional electrical outlet I installed in Sara's master bathroom, but you have probably all seen an electrical outlet before!

And finally, the day we left (yesterday) we went to Passmore Elementary School in Alvin, TX and took a McDonald's lunch and had lunch with Hannah - she is in a bilingual program there.

As you can see, a good time was had by all. We thank Sara and CJ for their great hospitality.

We were also fortunate to have Janet and Holly over for Pizza on Monday evening. Steven was in Amsterdam so we decided we would have to excuse him - just a little bit too much of a commute - but we had a great visit with Janet and Holly and we thank them for driving about an hour each way to come and visit with us.

Deck the Halls with lots of lights!

This year being the first Christmas where we have lived in our own house, James and I were so excited to put up all kinds of lights. James reminds me that this is nothing compared to one year in Albuquerque where he put up so many lights that it was actually effecting their electric bill. But we are very much enjoying all of James' hard work, and I'm sure all the neighbors are also enjoying our lit up corner house.

Here's the front view.

This is the side view looking at our garage (on the left) and my music studio in front.

(By the way, James was the photographer)

This is the view of our patio and the back door to my music room.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

Scattergories

I got this in an email from Peggy this week and thought it was kind of fun. I'm posting mine, now all of you do yours!

1. What is your first name? Emily
2. 4 letter word: esta (does spanish count?)
3. Vehicle: Escape (Ford?)
4. TV Show: Everybody Loves Raymond
5. City: Edinburgh
6. Boy Name: Earl
7. Girl Name: Emma
8. Drink: Earl Grey Tea
9. Occupation: Educator
10. Something you wear: Earrings
11. Celebrity: Eminem
12. Food: Eggs
13. Something found in a bathroom: earwax?
14. Reason for Being Late: Especially tired
15. Cartoon Character: Ed, Edd, 'n Eddy

The answers in white were the ones I had to google because I couldn't come up with anything on my own. It's harder than you think. Now you try!

Yuck!

In honor of my parents upcoming visit, I decided this morning it was time to clean out my fridge. It is something I've been wanting to do for a while and since my mom will be here in a few days, it was extra motivation. Anyway, I guess I still consider my fridge "new" even though we've been using it for almost 2 years now so I didn't think it would be that bad.

I was wrong.

It was disgusting and I can't believe I waited so long to do it. And I can't believe we were storing and eating food from in there! Yuck! I have hopefully learned my lesson and next time I won't wait 2 years before I clean it out again. My parents probably won't even notice, but now I know my fridge is CLEAN!

Christmas has come to Texas

Last weekend, after Thanksgiving, we got our Christmas decorations and spent a few days putting up our tree and other decorations. We put up TWO trees this year... this one downstairs and a smaller one upstairs for the kids.
I had to include a shot of my favorite star-shaped wreaths hanging beside my front door. Now that we're all starting to feel better, I can pack away our decoration boxes and clean up a little bit. Decorating for Christmas the day after Thanksgiving is turning into one of my favorite holiday traditions. I love to put on music and unpack our decorations and talk to CJ and the kids about our memories from holidays past. This is a great time of year.

Bedroom Makeover

You all know nobody likes a good makeover like I do. Well, we've spent the past several weekends working on our bedroom. I've always wanted a bedroom that felt, well, like a retreat and mine very seldom does. Here are a few pictures "before" - and they were hastily taken after we started to move furniture in order to paint.


And here are a few "after" shots. I've wanted this bedding for a long time and I'm so happy to finally have a bedroom like I wanted.
We even found this cute little cozy chair and I got the throw to match our bedding.

After 10 years, we FINALLY framed one of our wedding portraits and actually put it on the wall.
Here's the master bathroom.

One more shot of the bathroom - we're still working on this, but I'm really happy with what we've done so far and it's been a lot of fun too. I never knew CJ was such a good decorator but he has a great eye for things. And he works for pretty cheap!