What to do if you fall through the ice

I was surfing the Minot Daily News (seeing how life is in Seth's new stomping grounds) and I came across some useful information. I doubt they share this type of thing in the DR, and I want Big D and Lady Di to be prepared. Enjoy.

If you or a companion fall through the ice, keep a cool head

With the arrival of spring, the process of melting has begun on the ice covering the Mouse River.This presents greatly increased danger for the public, and the Minot Fire Department is reminding people to be aware of the thin ice.“With the temperatures reaching the upper 40s and lower 50s during the day, the ice is really starting to thaw and become dangerous,” said Ken Sisk, the department’s public education officer, in a press release. “Therefore, the Minot Fire Department Public Education division is offering tips on ice safety.”If you are on the ice with a companion and your companion should fall through, the most important thing to do is to remain calm.“Think of a solution,” the release said. “Don’t run up to the hole. You’ll probably break through and then there will be two victims.“Use some item on shore to throw or extend to the victim to pull them out of the water.”If the victim cannot be rescued immediately, 9-1-1 should be called to summon medical and emergency assistance.People who are subjected to cold water immersion seem fine after being rescued, but can suffer a condition called “after drop.” After drop occurs when cold blood that has pooled in the body’s extremities begins to circulate as the victim re-warms.If you are on the ice and you fall through yourself, calmness is again the key.“Try not to panic,” the release states. “Instead, remain calm and turn toward the direction you came from.“Place your hands and arms of the unbroken surface of the ice. Work forward on the ice by kicking your feet.”Should the ice break again, you should maintain the same direction and try the same procedure again. Once you have gotten out of the water and up onto the ice, do not stand up.“Roll away from the hole,” the release states. “That spreads out your weight until you are on solid ice.”These safety tips are effective in a crisis situation. However, even more effective is the common sense to avoid putting yourself in jeopardy in the first place. It is best to avoid moving out on thin ice in the first place.For more information on ice safety, contact the Minot Fire Department at 857-4740.

Easter Fun

My brother Brady and his family came and stayed with us for part of Easter weekend. The kids colored eggs and loved doing it. I should have boiled 6 dozen--they would have happily done them all. Satchel didn't get involved with the eggs, but he enjoyed all the chocolate that was at his disposal, foil wrappers and all.

Cute Kids

Last time we went to Mike and Aimee's I took these photos. Such cute kids. The thing that I wish I had on video was the performance that Payton and Gracie did for us. Payton played his own composition on the keyboard while Gracie did a dance that she choreographed herself. Aimee said they had practiced and practiced. It was fab-u-lous!

Semana Santo

This has been a very tiring and very, very spiritual week. As the title indicates to those of you who speak Spanish this was the Holy Week. It began with about twenty-two members from Haiti coming in a bus last Tuesday. On Wednesday I gave Own Endowment Instruction to eight wonderful, sweet, humble sisters who were there for the first time. The are so humble and anxious to learn. The look so beautiful in all white and they thought my Spanish was good. That shows how humble they are. They stayed here on the temple grounds until early this morning (Saturday). As I was walking over to the temple this morning at 5:15 am they were boarding a bus that would take them back to Haiti. I'm sure the temple and the surrounding grounds were like the Garden of Eden to them. They came every morning and again in the evening. They brought their own family names to do. Some on pieces of paper napkin and the Family History Center would help them get the names temple ready so they could go over and do all the ordinances for their loved ones. They would sit in the Celestial Room and not want to leave and we would be very hesitant to close until they had 'supped' their fill. Oh, how we take for granted what we are blessed with. Many brought children and they would play around the temple grounds until their parents were through. I'm sure they felt very safe here. We would pass by the MTC cafeteria and see the families sitting around the tables with their children. It would bring tears to my eyes. (But then at my age reading the phone book brings tears to my eyes!!!)
Then on Good Friday, yesterday, the temple was opened for three extra sessions. All the stores were closed and the city was deserted. It was great driving around. Except we had to go out to one of the larger stores to get ham as we am hosting a potluck dinner tomorrow evening and we are furnishing the ham (again). Inside the stores it was like the day before Thanksgiving or Christmas. Crowds everywhere-that is why they were not on the streets!
We had large crowds in the temple in the morning. Then at one o'clock we drove out to the airport and, wonder of all wonders, we picked up our second counselor and his wife and another temple missionary couple. How we have waited for this day. In fact, I teared up at the sight of them (like the phonebook!) We will have a complete presidency for 4 weeks and then our first counselor is released to go home and we start all over again.
Today we were on the morning shift, arrived at the temple at 5:00 am and there were crowds all morning long. There were more people than we have seen since we arrived. We finally shuffled home about 2:30 and collapsed. I think this is the tiredest we have been since we got here. But it was so worth it.
I think the moral of all this is please don't take for granted what you have in the way of your families, your homes, the luxury of having temples close by and all that that stands for and means to us as an eternal family. We can get in our cars and drive to the temple, do a session and be home in about 2-3 hours. These people sit on buses with their whole families and come to the temple once every six months if they can afford it. They have to pay to get out of their country and then pay to get back in. They are so patient and just want to absorb all that they can to last them until next time. Some can't afford to bring children to be sealed to them this first time but will later.
We wish you all a very happy Easter. We will be thinking of you and knowing that you will be with loved ones and enjoying your day. You with younger children probably had an easter egg hunt today or this evening. Dad and I did too. We walked around the temple grounds, each with a plastic bag, and picked up the trash left by our visitors. (If there is a fault in this land it is the trash). We picked the grounds clean though and now the Garden of Eden is back the way it should be for the Lord. We love you all. Mom, Grandma, Di

Going to the Dominican Republic?

I may have told some of you but for those I have not, it looks like I will be visiting Big D and Lady Di in Santo Domingo on April 6th. I have an event in Miami and its less than a 2 hour flight to Santo Domingo so I think I will be flying there on Sunday the 6th and staying for a few days. I would be willing to take some pictures or letters if you want to send them to me. I talked to Mom and Dad and they said there were a few items they would like from the condo but nothing big. I am flying into Portland next week for the day and may swing by the condo to retrieve a book or photo for them. Let me know if you have anything that is not too big or heavy. Please no illegal contraband as I have no desire of "doing time" in the Dom. Rep.!

Hope all is well with you and yours.

Todd.

ps. Enjoy my stylings in the greatest snow on earth!

Recipe for Custard Rice Pudding

Break 3 eggs into a 2 quart casserole bowl and beat slightly with a fork. Stir in 1/3 cup sugar, 2 teaspoons vanilla, 2 tablespoons of melted butter/margarine, 1/2 cup raisins (more if you like more) and 1 tablespoon grated lemon rind (I use1/2-1 teaspoon of lemon juice).
Combine 1 cup of cooked, cold rice with 3 1/2 cups milk and stir into egg mixture; dust the top with nutmeg. Set casserole bowl in a baking pan (I use a 11X14 pyrex cake pan; fill pan with hot water to within an inch of top. (Can't always get it that full as the cake pan is not as tall as the casserole bowl's I have here). Bake in a 350 oven and stir after baking for 30 minutes,I add more nutmeg to the top then, and bake another 40-45 minutes. You want to be able to insert a bread knife into the center of the custard and have it come out clean. this is really good served warm or cold with whipped cream or Cool Whip. Be sure to keep the leftover custard in the fridge, covered with plastic wrap so it won't dry out.
You will discover that you might like it with more rice or raisins than I have put down.
Let me know how you like it guys.
Next up will come eggplant and liver!!!

Where's Bompa?

It's great to have this blog. It's fun to read updates on everyone, and know that my husband's kiss with a movie star rates highest. And I am glad that Grandma and Grandpa look at the blog often--that's why we started it! (And thanks to Kristina for being the blogmistress. Good work, Kris!)

Yesterday when Satch woke up from his nap, he was cranky. I put him in the high chair for a snack and tried to distract him by asking him about people--Do you see Nina? Where did Dad go? etc. He'd yell and whine until finally I said "Where's Bompa?" He immediately gave me a huge cheeseball smile showing all his teeth. And he did it again, and again. Everytime I said "Where's Bompa?" he would smile that way. (Maybe 17 times?) He even let me take a picture. And then Nina wanted her photo taken too, so here they are, my rooty-toot-tooters.

Recipe Share

Hi Everyone,

Grandma had a great idea of adding a part of the site that we could use to post recipes! So I've tried to do that and we'll see how it works. On the right side of the blog underneath the pictures there will be a section entitled "Labels" . There you will see a link called "Recipes". When you would like to post a recipe, make sure that you label it "Recipes" (you will find the option to label at the bottom of your post before you publish it. Your recipe will show up on the main page but then when it gets moved into the archives, if it has the recipe label, it will come up when you click on the recipe link under "Labels".
I really hope that this makes sense. If anyone knows an easier way to do this, let me know!
Thanks Grandma for the great idea! I'm impressed with how into the blog you are!!!! That's just what we wanted.

The true location of Minot

I couldn't figure out how to correct stuff on the blog (is Sym the Blogmaster, or is it Blogmistress?). But in any event, Seth's address is wrong. The zip code is 58701. Although I can't imagine a wrong zip code interferes with delivery. We got an e-mail today. He reported it was 2 degrees this morning, so spring is definitely on its way to Minot. Seth says things are well and they are working with some investigators. He thanked Uncle Todd for a birthday present pair of sunglasses last year, since between snowstorms the sun is quite bright. He also reports the clouds are very cool in North Dakota. Thanks to everyone for your support. Stuart

Wi's having a girl!!!

Hey there,
Just wanted to announce that our Wi baby #2 will be a girl! She'll be joining us on or around July 1st. We're really excited and have more than enough girl stuff, so we're set for this next one. Also, we have moved again. We're in Renton now, just 15 minutes or so south of Bellevue. So we're still close and still want to be the party house! So please come and visit. Here is our new address:

5834 SE 2nd Ct.
Renton, WA
98059
425-282-4985

Well that's all for now. Bye

Coming to a Theatre near you (maybe)

Here is the poster for a movie I worked on 2 years ago. Maybe go and see it (although it's getting bad reviews). I just wanted to post this so I can mention once again to my family that I got smooched by Jessica Lange. Jessica from Tootsie, King Kong, married to Barishnikov... Not bad. Take that "I kissed Burt Reynolds" Lisa. In fact now would be a good time to start a poll. Which is the bigger celebrity pucker. Burt Reynolds, or Jessica Lange. I have a feeling that all family under 35 would put "Neither" or "Who?" so that just won't be an option.