Cole Coming Down!

We decided to go sledding a couple of days ago, and what a blast it was. Scott and Cole have never snow sledded before, so I was a little worried for Cole.

Brittany loves to sled, and I used to sled all the time back in New Hampshire when I was growing up. Even as an adult, I’ve gone back there and did some sledding. It never gets old.

The first few times, Cole and I went down together in a big sled, and Cole was having a lot of fun. Then it happened….he wanted to go by himself. We were all a little nervous, but said… “alright.” After getting him all set in the sled, and he was holding the string, he was ready to go…

He was looking good..going straight, and then he turned slightly and went right over a snow bump, and dumped face first in the snow. All of us waited silently at the top of the hill….was he hurt?..would this be the end of the sledding fun? We continued to watch for a couple seconds more, and then he came up smiling and laughing! PHEW!!! What a trooper, and then he wanted to go again, and again!!!

After we were all having so much fun (yes, including me, going backwards on the disk, and spinning, etc), Scott decided that he was too cold standing at the top of the hill, so he might as well try it… and boy, there was no stopping him after he started! We were all like big kids…racing down the hill, trying not to run into each other…though we had some very close calls!

It was our first family snow sledding trip, and it was a blast! The kids have been asking when we can go do it again! Check out all the pictures here!

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Halloween was the last time we blogged, (We got busy! Sorry!!) so you’ll notice there are a bunch of new posts and pictures that have been added, so be sure to check them out!

Middle Fork Taylor Creek Trail – Kolob Canyons

Thanksgiving Recipes

My New Rzr!!

A New Family Member… Again!

Christmas 2007

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Cole & Brittany – Christmas 2007

Ahh yes…the holiday season…. when all children have their sweet smiles and oh so helpful attitude for at least one day…usually the day right before Christmas… ahhh my little angels. This year was no different.

My kids swear that December 24th is the longest day of the year. By 9 am, they were already wondering when the day was going to get over so that they could go to sleep… trying to keep them busy that day without driving yourself nuts proves to be very challenging.

Scott’s dad, Bill and Katie came up a couple days before Christmas and it was really nice to have them here for a visit. It was fun showing Kate around our little shops in Cedar. It was cool winter weather while they were here, but thankfully no snow….and then they left…and it seems like it hasn’t stopped snowing since. No sooner do we shovel from one storm, we have another one coming in… and another..and another.

All Decorated and Lit Up Christmas Tree

Christmas Day was its typical craziness. Crawl out of bed at 8 am, eat a very slow breakfast, all the while torturing your kids that they have to wait for you before they can open their presents. Ahhh, parenthood can be so much fun, sometimes! Then when you give the kids the go-ahead, it’s opening all the presents, cleaning up all the wrapping paper, opening all the boxes that the toys come in, assembling all said toys, and cleaning up all the boxes. The kids loved their presents. Brittany’s favorite things have to be the I-Dog she received from us and her Rhianna CD she got from Grandpa Bill and Grandma Katie. Cole’s favorie things are the Mario Party game for Nintendo DS that Grandpa Bill and Grandma Katie got him, and the dinosaur eggs we got him.

2 Days of Decorating and Here is the Finished Gingerbread House

The kids had fun making an edible gingerbread house. They didn’t really eat any gingerbread, but had fun making the house and then eating all the candy off of it.

Here’s some pictures of the kids decorating the tree, making the gingerbread house, and Christmas Day.

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As most of you know, we got a new little Dark Eyed White Ferret, Aeon back in October. Well, unknown to us, she and most of her litter mates were very sick, and a lot of them died, including Aeon after just 12 days being with us.

The pet store was going to replace her for us, but there ended up being lots of problems. Including the replacement ferret dying in the pet store. So the Pet Store had to get another one, and they were going to ship it a different route, and all this chaos.

So after several weeks, we finally got the call, that our new baby had arrived. The pet store had the baby in the store for a week, and thought it was time for him to go home.

We took him home and he weighed about .8 ounces. Now, about a month later, he weighs over a pound and a half. He’s a feisty little one, and the only male of the group..surrounded by 2 females. Now what boy wouldn’t like that?

Meet our newest family member, Tidus! (click on the birth announcement to see other Tidus pictures!)

Tidus Sleeping with Dakota and Domino.

Tidus eating, Domino Looking out the Playpen, Dakota Looking Up

Tidus, Dakota and Domino All Wrestling

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No, I’m not talking about the Motorola Razr phone…

Motorola Razr – NOT the Razr I got….

I’m talking about the new 2008 Polaris Ranger Rzr 800 EFI!!!! (Click the Rzr Picture below to see all the pictures in this album!)

My Polaris Ranger Rzr 800

I put this baby on reserve back in June…and originally they told me it would make a nice Christmas gift…but then as time went on, and I kept checking the status of it…they told me January or February. Then I got the call in early December that it was coming in next week! I was so excited!

There were a lot of accessories I put on to it to get me started…and I’m sure I”ll be adding more along the way. I finally got to pick it up on December 13th. The first day I got to drive it was December 16th.   We had so much fun with it.  It really is an awesome ride.  After a couple of hours, we took it up to 40 mph during the “break-in period” but that came to a quick halt, as we lost 2 bolts that go into the tire hub, and some lug nuts.  So our first trip was cut a bit short…now we’re waiting for parts before we can go out to play again….

Here’s some highlights about the 2008 Polaris Ranger Rzr 800.

The RZR stands for “Razor”…. As in Razor sharp side-by-side.

The all new Polaris Ranger RZR. It is smaller, lighter, and faster than any side-by-side currently on the market. It is incredibly responsive with lots of power provided by a twin cylinder 800 EFI engine, low center of gravity and front/rear anti-sway bars.
From the side you can see the lowered seat placement and a longer wheelbase which will help keep it on four wheels.

Electronic fuel injection
The RZR is powered by an 760cc EFI even-firing, twin cylinder engine that is mounted sideways behind the seats. The electronic fuel injection system constantly and automatically compensates for changes in altitude, pressure and temperature, making the RZR extremely reliable no matter where the rider chooses to go.

RZR Engine

RZR’s 760cc EFI twin cylinder engine

Power-to-weight

The dry weight of the Polaris RZR is 100 lbs. less than the Yamaha Rhino. With a larger engine (800cc delivers 30% more horsepower than the Rhino) and EFI, the RZR’s power-to-weight ratio is reportedly 44% better than a Rhino. It also reaches 35 mph 26% faster than a Yamaha Rhino.

The RZR also has the highest top speed of any currently available side-by-side. It has been tested to 65 mph.

Size
At 102″ long, it is almost a foot shorter than the Yamaha Rhino (113.6”). There is not enough room for people to turn it into a four seat UTV. At 50″ wide, the RZR is narrow enough to be used on most ATV trails. Although the RZR is shorter, it actually has a longer wheelbase by almost two inches. The RZR is 4 1/2 inches narrower than the Rhino.

Polaris RZR Comparison

Rhino vs. RZR vs. Prowler

RZR Size

The RZR is smaller than the Rhino in every dimension except wheelbase.

RZR Width

Polaris Ranger RZR is 50″ wide so it can fit on ATV trails.

Center of gravity
With the traversally mounted engine placed behind the seats, Polaris was able to lower the seats by at least 7 inches to that the Rhino & Artic Cat. The lower center of gravity will help stability and responsiveness. Polaris thinks this is such and advantage they have a patent pending.

Suspension features – More travel out of the box
The Rhino sports 7.3” travel front and rear. The Polaris RZR has 9″ of front wheel travel & 9.5″ of rear wheel travel.
The rear suspension is an “Rolled” Independent Rear Suspension (IRS) System that is canted backwards so as the wheels travel up, they also travel backwards to help absorb some of the shock. Polaris calls this feature “recessional wheel travel.”
The RZR is also the only side-by-side that is available with a front anti-sway bar. Front and rear anti-sway bars make the RZR more stable in hard cornering. We need to take a look at how easy it is to disable the anti-sway bar for rock crawling type use where the bars limit off-camber wheel travel. The front sway bar is pretty weak in the dunes. If you want to jump at all, you might want to remove the front sway bar.

All Wheel Drive
Polaris equipped the RZR with an all-wheel drive (AWD) traction system. The AWD is enabled or disabled via a dash-mounted switch. When enabled, the RZR senses wheel slippage and automatically engages the AWD. Then when traction is no longer needed, the system automatically reverts back to 2WD.

Leg minders & Passenger Grab Bar

RZR Nets

And it looks like Polaris did their homework and learned from Yamaha’s mistake. They include nets and deep foot wells to keep your legs in the vehicle during a roll-over.

The leg nets are there, plus another net that overlaps and goes higher to keep your arms in.
The Passenger Grab bar is a nice feature that is adjustable (can be pulled out) to the size of the person sitting in the seat.

Seats

RZR Seats

The RZR seats are much improved over Yamaha Rhino. They are more comfortable, and adjustable for those with different leg lengths. Once you have your seat to your liking, they can be easily removed and switched to the other side, to let someone else drive.

Seat Belts
The Seat belts can be a bit sensitive when trying to retract the belt on un-level ground. Moving to level ground seems to help. There is an alternative…swap to an aftermarket four-point harness.

Air Filter
There have been problems with the air filter letting debris into the engine. New aftermarket air filter setups will help cure this, but hopefully Polaris will come out with a fix for this problem. I just bought a Uni foam air filter to replace the stock paper air filter that comes with it.

RZR Air Filter

Tilt Steering Wheel

RZR Tilt Steering

Tilt steering from the factory is a nice addition. Scott needs it all the way up, and I like it most of the way down.

Leg Room

RZR Leg Room

Scott is 6′ 3″ and the RZR is a bit tight for him, but not tight enough that he didn’t enjoy driving it!

Bed

RZR Bed

The bed on the RZR is very small, but setup to use Polaris lock and load type tie downs.

Ground Clearance
Ground clearance of the RZR is advertised at 10″ vs. 12″ for the Rhino.

Emergency Brake

The RZR does not have a separate emergency brake. On the RZR, the parking brake is automatically engaged when the vehicle is in Park.

Hitch
The RZR has a Hitch Towing Capacity or 1500 lbs, but don’t expect to tow that much. The receiver cannot handle any tongue weight.

Whip Flag
The RZR roll cage does not have any provision for a whip flag. Plan to add a whip flag mount if you are headed to the dunes.

Rear View Mirror
The RZR does not come with a rear-view mirror. But you can buy one aftermarket.

The Polaris Ranger Rzr comes in Red and Green and MSRP is $10,299.

Some of the Accessories I added on to my Rzr:

RZR Half Windshield

Half Windshield – It provides protection by deflecting and blocking a great deal of rain, snow and debris that could otherwise end up in the cab. Meanwhile, there is still plenty of open area above the Half Windshield for optimal visibility and fresh air. This Half Windshield is made of durable polycarbonate.

RZR Cargo Box

Lock and Ride Cargo Box – This Cargo Box installs securely in the cargo bed in just seconds using Polaris-exclusive Lock & Ride™ technology. The Cargo Box can also be removed from the bed in seconds, and it features convenient side carrying handles as well as a tongue-and-groove rubber gasket that seals the lid to keep dirt, dust, and water out of the box interior.

RZR Fuel Can

Fuel Can Mount – This Mount can be mounted in, and removed from, the cargo bed quickly and easily using its Lock & Ride™ technology. The cargo bed will hold up to two of these Fuel Can Mounts, and this Mount can be used along with the Cargo Box

RZR Sport Roof

Sport Roof – This durable roof is ideal for riders who enjoy trail running and hunting in wooded terrain. It offers protection from the sun and from overhanging brush and branches. The Sport Roof is made of durable, scratch-resistant, high-density polyethylene material.

RZR 14 " Bruiser Rims and Tires

14″ Bruiser Rims and Tires – This set of four Goodyear MTR off-road radial tires mounted on 14” cast aluminum Bruiser Rims infuses a Polaris with high-performance style. Heat-treated to meet automotive quality standards, the rims have a 4-spoke design. The front wheels are 7” wide while the rears are 8” wide. The larger tire sizes, which increase ground clearance, are: 26×9Rx14 in front and 26×11Rx14 in the rear. These tires have a dimpled tread for superior traction in dry conditions. Lug nuts are included. Set of 4 rims & tires.

RZR Accessory Rack

Accessory Rack – This versatile Accessory Rack can be attached or removed in seconds with its Lock & Ride™ technology, and it acts as the host platform for several other cargo box accessories

Polaris Ranger Rzr with Rally Lights

Bumper & Rally Lights – It helps block debris, brush and limbs from reaching the vehicle’s radiator, hood and headlights. It features tough, durable 1 1/2” tube construction with a black powder-coat finish. The Rally Lights help light up more area when driving at dusk or night.

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We had a wonderful Thanksgiving Dinner with our family. Scott’s mom, step-dad and niece, Jennifer came for dinner, and we ate like royalty. We tried some new things this year, and it was one of the best meals we’ve ever had. Here I’ll share the recipes I used.

First, I decided I was going to brine the turkey this year. I’ve never done it before, so it was definitely going to be a new experience. The first obstacle I had to overcome was finding a container LARGE enough to hold a mess load of liquid and an over 20-lb turkey. Well, after scouring lots of coolers, we finally found a container that would work. It was an old laundry detergent plastic container that was being used for other storage items. So after soaking in hot water and dish soap for a few hours, and then repeating..it was ready for brine! I prepared the brine the night before Thanksgiving and stuck the turkey in the brine and put the whole container in the garage to keep it cold throughout the night. I let my turkey sit in the brine for about 12 hours total. Then I added an Herb Rub under the skin before I cooked it. It was the best-tasting, moistest turkey I’ve ever had!!!

Tammy with Pumpkin Gingerbread Trifle and Jennifer with Cherry Pie

Along with the turkey, I made some white wine gravy, buttermilk mashed potatoes, roasted season vegetables, ears of corn, cranberry sauce, and rolls. For dessert, I made a pumpkin gingerbread trifle, and Jenn made a wonderful cherry pie. That girl has a knack for making great pies! She makes her own crust, and it comes out so good and professional looking!

You’ll find some of the recipes I used below. Enjoy them, we sure did!

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Hawaiian-Style Turkey Brine

INGREDIENTS:
* 4 quarts pineapple juice
* 2 cups brown sugar
* 1 1/3 cups soy sauce
* 1 cup light maple syrup
* 1 cup salt (1 1/2 cups Kosher or coarse salt)
* 6 cloves garlic, cut into halves
* 4-6 whole bay leaves
* 2 tablespoons red pepper, crushed

PREPARATION:
Combine all ingredients. Place turkey in large dish or container and pour brine over. Cover and allow to brine for 1 hour per pound.
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Herb-Rubbed Turkey

INGREDIENTS:
* 2 teaspoons dried rubbed sage
* 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
* 1/2 teaspoon dried marjoram
* Coarse salt and ground pepper

DIRECTIONS:
1. In a small bowl, combine sage, thyme, marjoram, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and a pinch of pepper.
2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees, with rack in lowest position. Place turkey on roasting rack set in a large roasting pan. Working from both ends of the turkey, slide fingers under skin to separate it from the flesh (being careful not to tear skin). Spread herb rub under skin.
3. Loosely fill neck cavity and large cavity with 4 cups stuffing. Using kitchen twine, tie legs together securely. Rub all over with butter, and season generously with salt and pepper. Place neck, giblets, and 3 cups water in bottom of roasting pan.
4. Cook according to time and weight on package.
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White-Wine Gravy

Prep: 35 minutes Total: 35 minutes

For a silky-smooth gravy, whisk constantly as you gradually add flour to the pan. You can make this recipe to accompany any turkey, but it’s particularly delicious with the Herb-Rubbed Turkey.

INGREDIENTS:
Serves 8.
* 1 cup dry white wine
* 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
* 2 cans (14 1/2 ounces each) reduced-sodium chicken broth
* Coarse salt and ground pepper

DIRECTIONS:
1. While the turkey rests, place the roasting pan on the stove across two burners (if using a disposable roasting pan, scrape drippings and browned bits into a medium saucepan). Heat drippings over medium-high, scraping up browned bits, until thickened, about 10 minutes.
2. Add wine; cook, stirring constantly, until syrupy, 5 to 6 minutes. Gradually whisk in flour, and cook, whisking constantly, until incorporated, about 1 minute. Gradually add 1 cup broth; cook, whisking, until flour is a deep caramel color, 2 to 3 minutes.
3. Gradually stir in remaining broth and 4 cups water. Bring to a simmer; cook, stirring occasionally, until gravy reaches desired thickness, 10 to 15 minutes. Remove neck and giblets, and strain gravy through a fine-mesh sieve; discard solids. Season generously with salt and pepper.
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Buttermilk Mashed Potatoes

INGREDIENTS:
* 1 1/2 pounds red potatoes
* Coarse salt and ground pepper
* 1/4 to 1/2 cup buttermilk
* 2 Tbsp. butter, cut into small pieces

DIRECTIONS:
Place potatoes in a large saucepan; add enough cold water to cover by 2 inches. Bring to a boil; add 1 tablespoon salt, and cook until potatoes are very tender when pierced with the tip of a paring knife, 20 to 25 minutes.
Drain; place in a large bowl. Mash with a potato masher, then add buttermilk and butter. Season with salt and pepper. Mash until combined.
Serves 4
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Pumpkin Gingerbread Trifle

INGREDIENTS:
* 1 (14-ounce) package gingerbread mix
* 1 (5.1-ounce) box cook-and-serve vanilla pudding mix
* 1 (30-ounce) can pumpkin pie filling
* 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
* 1/3 teaspoon ground cardamom or cinnamon
* 1 (12-ounce) container frozen whipped topping
* 1/2 cup gingersnaps, optional

DIRECTIONS:
Bake the gingerbread according to the package directions; cool completely. Meanwhile, prepare the pudding and set aside to cool. Stir the pumpkin pie filling, sugar, and cardamom into the pudding. Crumble 1 batch of gingerbread into the bottom of a large, pretty bowl. Pour 1/2 of the pudding mixture over the gingerbread, then add a layer of whipped topping. Repeat with the remaining gingerbread, pudding, and whipped topping. Sprinkle of the top with crushed gingersnaps, if desired. Refrigerate overnight. Trifle can be layered in a punch bowl.

*** The only difference we will make to this recipe is…instead of putting the frozen Cool Whip on the top, we will use the spray can of whipped topping, and only put it on right before serving. We tried it with the cool whip and then put it in the refrigerator, and it ended up expanding and making a mess all over our fridge! ***

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Taylor Creek Trail

We started this hike in July… but got a late start on it, and wasn’t prepared enough with enough water for all of us during the heat, so we didn’t get to finish this in July. We went back in November, much more prepared with cooler weather, and we were able to finish the whole hike, even though rain did threaten us a bit on the way back to the truck. So in the pictures, you’ll see us in shorts, those were obviously taken in July, and then in pants, in November, where it was much cooler. We were warned that there are many rattlesnakes along this trail… We were lucky enough not to see any..in July or November… This trail criss crosses many times over the creek. In July, there wasn’t any water, but in November, there was..so sometimes it made crossing a little more fun since you didn’t want to get wet feet!

This was Cole’s first major hike… 5 miles round trip, at age 5, and even though he did need a little piggybacking on the way back to the truck…he did walk most of it himself.

The route begins at the Middle Fork of Taylor Creek Trailhead about 2 miles past the Visitor Center in Kolob Canyons. This is a 5.4 mile, easy to moderate hike, leading to a double arch alcove. The ascent is 450′. There are a couple of charming historic cabins along the way.

Larsen Cabin

Larsen Cabin: The Larsen Cabin is located among a grove of Pines and of Juniper trees 1.2 miles up the trail, a little off the trail on the left. The 1930s cabin marks the confluence of the two forks. Tucupit Point towers above the cabin. To the left of this point is the North Fork of Taylor Creek. The limestone capped mountain behind Tucupit is, Horse Ranch Mountain, the highest point in Zion National Park at 8726′/2660m.

Fife Cabin

Fife Cabin: SUSC instructor, Arthur Fife also built his cabin in 1930. When not at the college in Cedar City, he lived in the cabin and raised goats. This cabin rests in a grove of maple, oak and fir trees. The trail bends to the right after the Fife cabin.

Double Arch Alcove

Double Arch Alcove: Continue following the creek bed to where the canyon ends at two blind arches in one rock face. This was amazing to see…definitely worth the hike we took to get there. Check out the other pictures from the hike here.

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