Skiing

We spent the past weekend with family. Wayne came all the way from California to visit us in chilly Idaho. We had a lot of fun eating, playing monopoly deal, bowling, and skiing.

I was able to go with the boys, aka Wayne Michael and Kevin, skiing up to Grand Targhee. I was really nervous as I have only been downhill skiing two times previous to this, but they all encouraged me and helped me improve. At the beginning of the day I was feeling butterflies in my stomach, but after spending the first part of the day going down the "kid fun runs" I was ready to head to the top of the mountain for a longer run by the afternoon.  

The best parts of the day were:

#1 -  Skiing. I LOVE skiing. Every time I go I learn to love it a little more. One day I dream of owning my very own ski's.
#2 - Improving my skiing abilites. I hardly had to pizza and was able to really figure out my S turns. There were only a few times where I panicked because I was picking up speed. I was able to figure out what to do when I feel like I'm going too fast. I feel leagues ahead of where I was level wise.
#3 - Spending time with Michael boy. It was especially fun watching him patiently help, encourage, and be proud of me. Michael would do S turns as we went down the hill and I would follow in his tracks. This helped me SO much. He made it so I was visually able to follow and could get a better understanding of what I was doing. Also, when I would take off Michael would yell to me what to do, i.e. "Turn right!" or "Turn left." He was a great little teacher.  
#4 - Hitting a little patch of ice and taking off into the pine trees. This resulted in me practically hugging the tree while I regained my footing. I was laughing, Michael was laughing and I'm sure the people on the ski lift above me were laughing. *Side Note: there was no falling in this occurrence*
#5 - Watching all three of the Dill boys in their element. They each LOVE to ski and it's so fun watching them be able to do it together. I'm glad they invited me to spend the day with them. They each gave me a few pointers, were so patient with me, and were simply delightful to be with.
#6 - The lady at the ski rental place putting my boots on for me. I could definitely get used to that!
#7 - Grande Mas nachos. The man making the nachos most definitely knew how to make nachos.
#8 - Michael stopping to see if I was following him and me running over his pole in the process.
#9 - Watching 3 year olds ski. Yup! They were better at skiing than me. I definitely felt a little silly.  
#10 - And finally... getting a hot cocoa at the end of the day. It was a great way to warm up and defrost.

All around it was a wonderful day and there was only one fall for me. I was showing Michael that I could stop using the "french fry" technique versus the "pizza technique" and I simply tipped over when I turned around to make sure he was watching. I was laughing so hard I it took me a while to get up.

For me, it was a perfect ski day. Thanks Wayne for taking us and for being a part of teaching me to ski! I can't wait to keep on improving so together we can do some double black diamonds. ;)

24th Birthday....

Not to long ago I turned 24. The big 24... one year closer to 25, eeeks!

Needless to say it was a great birthday. I got to spend it with my siblings, and parents.

Heather, my little sister, works at the Hogle Zoo as a teen docent. She had a few tickets to get into the zoo and decided she wanted to take Mom, Michael and I to the zoo and give us a grand tour. So the last day to use the tickets she had, aka my birthday, we went to the zoo. I haven't been to the zoo in years and I loved every minute of it. It is so much different than I remember as a kid. There are so many new fancy exhibits and animal enclosures. It was especially fun to watch Heather. She knew all about every inch of the place. She knew every animals name and would talk to them as if they were her closest friends. It was the sweetest thing ever. She insisted that we have lunch at the "Beast"-ro and that it was the most delicious place to get a meal. Heather was 100% in her element, I think that is what made the visit to the zoo so great. That girl is going places and that girl will do BIG great things in world. Here are a few pictures from the zoo trip.

The day just continued to be full of more memorable moments. After we got home from the zoo I decided that I would make my favorite gluten-free cake. Mom and Dad went to the grocery store, Michael was napping, Adam was in Dad's office and Heather was in her room. So, Mickey (the dog) and Albert (the bird), were left alone to bake in the kitchen. (These are important details!) So, things in the kitchen were going well. I had the cake batter all mixed up and the oven was heated ready to bake. I found the only three round cake pans I could find in my mom's cupboard. The recipe says you need to use two 9" cake pans, but I could only find three 8" cake pans. So, I poured the batter into two of the 8" cake pans. This was my thought process. "It says 9" pans but it's a gluten free cake that is pretty dense... so, I should be able to get away using 8" pans. Yeah, I'll just use the 8" pans." So, I put the two pans into the oven to bake and set the timer.  

Shortly after, I started to smell something burning. And this when it started getting interesting. I opened the oven door and saw the batter spilling over the edge of the cake pans, all over the bottom of the oven. I hurried to grab a pan and put it on the bottom rack to catch any more batter that might spill over, then shut the door. I thought I was good. The burning smell only got worse. Smoke began coming out of the oven vent. I opened the oven door and... FLAMES! There were flames. After saying  "Oh shit!" under my breath, I acted calmly. I got a spoon and began spooning the burnt flaming cake batter out of the oven and into a bowl of water. I opened the back door so the smoke could air out, and I turned on the fan over the oven. Yet again, I thought all was good. A few minutes later more smoke starts coming out of the oven vent. I open the oven door and again... FLAMES! even bigger flames. I yelled for Adam. He came in grabbed the bird cage and ran out. How helpful. I was flustered, but I got all the flaming cake batter out of the oven and things were good. When I checked back on the cake a few minutes later the cake was as black as could be. I was mortified. My expensive gluten free birthday cake was ruined. My mom and dad came home. I was afraid they would be mad I had caught the oven on fire, not once, but twice. Nope, not upset at all. They said "You aren't a Worthington woman until you catch the oven on fire!" Apparently it happens a lot around there. (I only have one memory of my mom catching it on fire, I guess it has happened a lot more since I moved away to college six year ago.) My sweet mom looked at my cake, I was in tears, and said let's start over. Let's make it again. I was insistent that we just not worry about it and not waste the expensive ingredients to make it again. So, my mom got to work to redeem the cake we had. She carefully carved off all the burnt edges she could find. When she was done, it looked lovely. The amazing thing about all of this is the smoke detector never went off. If you know the smoke detector at my parents you know that it is hardly believable that it didn't go off. It usually goes off if you make toast. At least we know that if there is actually ever smoke/flames the smoke detector might not go off. Needless to say, after a struggle with the cake, it all worked out. (just like it always does) Here is a picture of the cake the third time it was a flame that day. 

The day was all around pretty great. We had a great dinner complete with honey baked ham, baked potatoes, and salad. We played banana-grams, Just Dance 2014, and simply enjoyed each others company. The day was complete in welcoming in 2014 with fireworks,  a dance party in the driveway, a visit from the Dukes, and a toast to the new year with Martinellis. Thanks to everyone for celebrating with me, for the kind birthday wishes, and for thinking of me as I turned 24. Happy New Year! 

Alrighty folks...

Alrighty folks... So, here's the deal. I've been blogging about a secret project for a couple of posts now. Well, the good news is I'm ready to reveal a little of what I've been working on.

For a long time I've wanted to do some sort of craft/project/whatever-I'm-working-on, kind of blog. I believe that last year when I was working on a scrapbook for my grandparents I even mentioned that I was going to start doing it. But, I've finally worked up enough courage to go for my dream. I've started my own little hobby business and I've even started a new blog to go with it. The blog I have started to chronicle this is: http://thedandydill.blogspot.com/ I'm full of a wide array of emotions. I'm excited to follow this dream, afraid of failing, giddy to share what I love, hesitant to put myself out there, afriad and excited to learn a lot of new things, BUT I can't ignore myself and I'm taking the risk. I really can't wait to get my toes wet and test out the waters of the craft blogging/selling world.

I have great ambitions and hopes for the coming year and I am really excited to get things rolling. I'm very excited to begin sharing some of my favorite crafts, tricks, DIY projects, decorating ideas and all sorts of other shenanigans. Be excited because this is going to be a lot of fun.

I will still be writing other stuff on this blog, but http://thedandydill.blogspot.com/ is where you can find updates on what I will be doing in the crafting world.

Also in the works, I am opening up an etsy shop where you may purchase some of my handmade items. It is not quite up and running yet, but we are well on our way to opening day.

So, here's to a fun new adventure.... May it be everything I've been dreaming of and more.

Click the image below to be directed to the dandy dill:

Mr. Mdill

Meet my hubby.

Mr. Michael Douglas Dill.

This is him.

You may have all seen pictures of him or maybe even met him in person, but I have news for you. You don't know him. Not the way I know him. We recently celebrated Mdill's 25th birthday. So, I thought in order to celebrate his birthday just a little more I would write 25 things about him. Some of them may be things you know, some may be things you don't, but I adore all 25 things. 

#1- Michael is very kind. Even when he gets all worked and upset about something, he is very very kind and rational when he cools off. He is very nice to people and I love watching him interact with people, especially complete strangers.  

#2- Michael can be a very very picky eater, but is usually willing to try things. He is often surprised when he likes something he has told himself he will not like. I love when he agrees to try something new.  

#3- Michael is very aware of his self image. He has great hygiene, loves to be dressed nice, and most importantly.... smell good. 

#4- Michael is very very handsome. I am in love with his dimple in his chin and love to rub it. Whenever he gets upset that I'm rubbing to hard I tell him it's because I don't want it to disappear. 

#5- Michael is very patient. He is married to me, thus he has to be patient. Sometimes I wear him pretty thin, but he usually just shakes his head and says "What am I going to do with you?" 

#6- Michael is a great dancer. This boy can dance better than anyone and always adds just the right amount of sass to his dancing. 

#7- Michael loves to get all fancied up and go out to a nice dinner or date night. 

#8- Michael Dill is a shopper. 

#9- This boy loves good smelling things, mostly candles. If you lose him in a store you can most likely find him smelling cologne, candles, and other smelly things.  

#10- Michael leaves his socks on the floor next to the bed because he can't sleep with his socks on. This used to drive me bonkers, but now I find it cute. 

#11- Mdill likes any reason to celebrate, any.  

#12- He LOVES nice things. Nice cars, watches, clothes, shoes, computers, and the list goes on and on and on. He has taught me that it is sometimes ok to indulge a little.  

#13- Michael is very caring. He cares about all people and always wants everyone to feel included, loved, and like they belong.  

#14- His love for ice cream is on the verge of being an ice cream addict. He asks me every night if we can have ice cream. The funny part is that it usually makes him feel sick, but that doesn't stop him.  

#15- If he could he would spend all day snuggled up in blankets. 

#16- Michael is someone who is a great road trip travel buddy. Great DJ, snacker, and conversationalist. All around if you are going on a road trip, you want him in your car.  

#17- Michael is a little music guru and regularly quizzes others on their own knowledge. This is also something that used to drive me bonkers, but has grown on me. *I'm getting good!*  

#18- He is willing to try anything. I have seen this time and time again. One example is last Christmas he wanted to help me with some presents and he tested his hand at sewing. He now loves sewing and is getting pretty good at it.  

#19- Michael has an adorable cowlick on the right front side of his head. I love running my fingers through it, twisting it, and I hope our little boys all get their daddy's cowlick.   

#20- He is probably the most sassy person you will ever meet. Trying to keep it under wrap is almost a full time job. But, his sass is what makes him him, and I love that about him.
#21- His natural smile is beautiful. Just telling him to smile usually results in a look of pain. It's a talent to capture his natural smile on camera, but when you do it is priceless.
#22-  He is really helpful in the kitchen and always helps anyone who is cooking or baking.
#23- The man loves tacos. He would eat them for lunch and dinner every day if I would let him.
#24- Michael is always ready for an adventure and loves being spontaneous. He always has some surprise up his sleeve and I love it!
#25- And last but not least, Michael Dill loves and cares about me. He puts up with my quirkiness and craft messes. He listens to my goofy ideas and opinions. He is mine forever and me his forever. I can't wait to continue on our journey through eternity together.

I love you Michael and can't imagine life without you! Thanks for being the best husband you can be and always working towards being even better. Keep laughing, smiling, and living life to the fullest. You can do anything you put your mind to and are continually making a difference in the world. You are talented and smart beyond measure. You, my dear, are my favorite and that will never change! I love you to infinity and beyond!

Ramblings...

More often than not I have a blogpost I am compiling in my head, but it seems that every time I sit down to write down my thoughts and opinions the awesome wording, opinions and blogs I conjured up in my head have vanished. As the cursor blinks, ready for me to type, I'm left with a completely blank slate. Last week I was going to blog about this, that and the other. This week I was going to blog about the weekend, the projects I'm working on, and some awesome events in our lives. So, for now, I'm left with random thoughts and an overwhelmingly amount of things I would love to share. With all that, this is what I'm saying for today. I'm working on a really cool project that I really want to share, but I can't ruin the surprise. I'm just not quite ready yet. But, when I do you will all know. Also, remember that very personal blogpost I mentioned a few posts ago? Well, its still in the works and I'm still figuring out how to word and say my thoughts and feelings. In the meantime, MDill and I are headed to visit family this weekend. We just have to see our beautiful twin nieces who are growing up without us. Also, Papa Ed has requested our help in making homemade applesauce. So our newly found canning skills are going to be put to use. More updates will be coming, more regularly, promise.

I remember how!

This last week I spent the entire week with my parents and siblings in Park City. It is an all time family favorite. It was wonderful to spend time with each of my siblings. I especially loved snuggling with my two beautiful nieces Ellie and Lyla. Spending time with newborns is always a precious experience and a great reminder of God's love and amazing plan for his children. Being able to snuggle two newborns is definitely a special treat. Also, I must say that my big brother as a father is absolutely adorable. I've never been so proud of him. He is already an amazing father who loves and protects his little girls. I can't wait to continue to see their little family of 4 grow together.

The time spent with family was perfect mental therapy. It helped me realize a few things about myself, a few things I am doing right, and a few things I want to improve on. It essentially was a perfect mini break from life for me.

My adorable husband came down to bring me back to Idaho and to spend a few days with the family in Park City. Of course he added some sass and spice and of course I was so ready to see him and snuggle. We ate great food, shopped at the outlets, played games, watched movies, and hot tubbed to our hearts content. One of my favorite things we did was revisit our past. The very first time we went to park city 4 years ago we went to the lounge area and played chess together. I wasn't good at chess then and couldn't really remember the rules. I've never been good at chess. Period. Well, we went, played chess, and I remembered how. I, Jenny Dill, remembered the rules of chess and actually enjoyed playing. The happy conclusion to this story is that I will again play chess and other two player only games with my sweet MDill.

Last Weekend...

I am currently working on a different post where I share some very personal and deep thoughts and feelings, but... you know what??? I do not yet feel ready to hit publish. So, instead I am writing a different post for the day about the highlights from my weekend. Hold on to your seats because there is one thing in particular that you just won't believe. (Trust me on this one!)

This last weekend my sisters Shauna and Amy came up for a visit. I always love having visitors and am consistently asking members of my family to come up for a weekend. We had great plans for the weekend and I was ready to spend time laughing, talking, eating and simply being with family. What brought about the whole visit was a Mindy Gledhill concert that was taking place on BYU-I campus. So when my sisters got here we jumped in the car and headed to the concert. It was a great performance by "Mindy and the band". (Amy that's for you!) And I loved bantering back and forth with Amy about the going ons around us. It reminded of when she and I used to be roommates and do all sorts of fun things together all the time. I loved Mindy's performance. It was the perfect reminder to me of several things: 

1- Do what you love.
2- Do what makes you smile.
3- Make others smile.
4- Don't let yourself or anyone else hold you back from pursuing your goals, plans, and seemingly impossible dreams.  

Her music is such a great reminder for me to continue to love life. I find her inspiring and am falling more in love with her music. If you haven't heard of her or haven't ever listened to some of her music, you should! You can listen to a few of my favorites here, here and here. (Thanks to MDill for purchasing some more of her music!) Following the show, while Mdill and Shauna were waiting to purchase some of her sweet tunes,  Lara and I entertained ourselves for quite a while trying to capture the best version of this picture that we possibly could.

Yeah.... I was laughing so hard I was crying. We aren't weird, we just know how to have fun! 

On Saturday we had plans to go to Yellowstone and visit a few of our favorite places there. Yellowstone is a childhood favorite. I remember going there what seems like every summer. We would all pile into our maroon and silver astro van and stay in West Yellowstone at "The Dude" motel. Over the next few days Mom and Dad would drive us all around Yellowstone showing us all of the beauty to found there. I think the only way they could get us to behave in the car was to tell us to look for animals out the window. I distinctly remember pulling over on more than one occasion because there was an animal in the field only to find out it was a log or rock or something. I think each of us 6 kids was guilty of this at one point in time. Yellowstone was definitely a favorite and continues to be. We had a great time driving through and reminiscing about times we had been there before. We also loved the beautiful weather, each others company, and a lot of laughs. There were several incidents throughout the day that make me laugh every time I think about them. One that I'm going to share includes an older couple with a bumper sticker that read "I'm retired. Go around me." We had been following this car for quite some time when one of us noticed there was a cat... yes A CAT sitting in the back window. I was busting a gut. It just kept getting better. The cat had a harness on. I laughed harder. We began to come discuss the cat in the window, it's owners, and how far they had travelled. (I believe they had South Dakota of Kansas plates?) When I thought we were all done laughing about it I was sorely wrong. I looked up and saw the cat in the window and began laughing all over again. I laughed so hard I snorted. That's how you know something is really funny, if I snort. Well here's a pretty grainy picture that just doesn't do it justice. 

So, we continued to follow this car because we (mostly I) insisted that Shauna didn't pass it. We went on talking about something which I don't remember. All of a sudden Amy yells, "There's two!" that's right folks not only was there 1 car in the car there was 2!!!! Picture evidence below. 

When we finally decided it was ok to pass them one of the cats was in the backseat staring out the window at us as we went by. Soooo funny. I think one of the best quotes from the day was "Even if those are the only two animals we see today, I'll be happy!" Yes the quote came from me, but it was still funny. 

The rest of the day was just as fun and a great way to spend a Saturday. Below are a few pictures from the day. (They are phone pictures, so not the best, but I still need to download real pictures from the day.)