Did McKell really go to Arches National Park?

      There has been some doubt as to whether I really went to Arches National Park or not.  Most of this doubt comes from Bryan Farnsworth and Nathan Ballard but mostly Bryan.  All I can say is how dare you question me?  Do you think I am one of those people that make up elaborate lies to draw attention?  Well Bryan I have pictures that are proof of my little adventure.  So HA!

      Oh what's this?  Looks like an arch?  You know from Arches?  Ok if you are not yet satisfied with this picture maybe thinking I just pulled this from the Internet, which I can understand why you may think that since my photography skills are in fact stunning, I do indeed have a picture with me in it.

Oh yeah!  Look at that sexy beast!  That is definitely me in Arches National Park!


Now for those who are new to the story let me fill you in. 

      After watching a terrible movie, we'll call it "Suckerpunch", I felt like my weekend was wasted.  I had the whole weekend off and I did not want it to be remembered with my seeing such a stupid film.  I decided at one in the morning to take a trip to Arches.  Why Arches?  I have always wanted to go there and when I saw it was not too far of a drive I knew I could do it.  I loaded up my car with a couple blankets and some Rockstar Lemonades and head off into the night.  It was such a gorgeous night you could see all the millions of stars for miles!  I arrived in Arches at about 5:30 a.m.  and it was still really dark so I decided to try and take a nap.  Unfortunately I was all hopped up on caffeine and could not sleep so as the sun started to come up I made my way to the trails.  Everything was so peaceful.  I didn't see anyone for a few hours so it was almost like I had the park all to myself.  I could not have imagined a more perfect time of the day and probably year to go.  It was a little cold but it was not windy and there was a lot of sun so it was perfect.  It was probably a stupid decision on my part not telling anyone, but that was half of the fun in it.  I made it there and back in one piece and conquered the fear of travelling alone.  Ever since my accident a couple of years ago the thought of going to Provo late at night is a little scary but not anymore.  I am confident in saying that I am glad I took this trip and I do not regret a single thing.

So there you go Bryan and Nathan but mostly Bryan I hope you now believe me and can finally put this question to rest.  I indeed did go to Arches.

Ba-Dum.......Ba-Dum.....Ba-Dum Ba-Dum..Ba-DumBa-DumBa-DumBaDum

This past week I had the awesome opportunity to grow as a cake decorator.  Lindy Merkley, a friend of mine from the home ward, asked if I would make a cake for her son Wyatt.  I was more than honored especially since it had been awhile since I had really had a chance to decorate.  She told me she wanted a shark cake since they were going to have the party at the aquarium.  I thought about it all week trying to decide what I should do.  As any cake decorator, there is a lot of research that has to be done when making a cake.  I usually find pictures on the internet of the subject and let my imaginative mind take over.  As I was researching sharks, I knew that I wanted to do a Great White simply because they are obviously the king of all the sharks thanks to the movie Jaws (which I had seen recently thanks to my mom who watches all of them way too much).  All the pictures of Great White sharks happened to be of them jumping out of the water.  I could not draw away from the idea.  I knew it was going to be difficult and I also knew that I had never sculpted a cake like that before.  Sure I have done shaped cakes which I usually just do the one dimension, but I had never really done a three-demensional cake made purely out of cake and frosting.  I was a little nervous but excited for the challenge.  I unfortunately had work that day so I knew my time would be limited on the cake.  I had about an hour.  I started with mixing some of the frosting into a pretty blue color for the water and iced a quarter sheet of cake.  Then I took the rest of the cake and stacked it on top of each other putting frosting inbetween each layer.  I then stared at it for a minute not quite sure what to do.  I just let my hands cut away at the cake until I saw how I could make a shark.  Once I saw what to me resembled a terrifying shark but what you may have seen as a huge mess of chocolate cake, I began the difficult task of icing.  Buttercream icing and chocolate cake do not get along very well especially when the cake is thaw.  Let's just say that it looked more like cookies and cream icing rather than white icing in the end.  I quickly took the cake and put inside the freezer for a few minutes just to let the icing harden a little while I got the fondant ready.  Surprisingly, the fondant was the easiest part about the whole thing and I was able to smooth it on the cake with no problems.  Next came the teeth in which I had to make from marshmallows and believe me it was a tedious job which consisted of cutting each marshmallow twice to make one tooth.  When you are in a hurry it is not the funnest thing in the world but it was definitely worth it.  Then came the task of putting it together with the other quarter sheet.  I knew placing it on top was not going to hold at all.  The shark was much too heavy.  So I cut a hole in the middle of the cake and I placed him inside.  Next came the task of covering the mess I made putting the shark in so with the remaining icing, I made it look like water was coming up.  There it was.  The finished product.  I must say I was impressed with my job well done.  One thing I know is that there are always critics.  Some people may like and some may not.  All that I care about is that the person who buys the cake loves it and that the person the cake is for loves it also.  They are the only people that really matter.  As I showed them the cake, they were really excited about the cake and I knew then that I had done my job.  So here is what the cake looked like for those who care, and for those who don't I am sorry you chose to read this whole thing on something you don't really care about.

       Last night I decided to bake some delicious cookies.  You might think that this is a typical thing at my house considering I am a baker by profession, but I would have to say that I hardly ever bake at home. 
       One might say this is selfish to not share  my talents with my family and constantly bake treats for them more often, but I have my reasons.  One being that there are only three of us at home.  At times when I do either bake at home or bring home baked goods from work, they end up only being consumed halfway and then into the garbage they go.  What a waste.  Two, my mom has diabetes and now my dad feels he is very overweight ever since he went to the doctor about a month ago and got on the scale.  I still think he has nothing to worry about but hey that is me.  Lastly three, I do not want to indulge in bad habits now when all of a sudden I wake up one morning and find I can not get up anymore.  That would be a sad day indeed.
       Anyways back to the cookies.  I made my version of Cowboy Cookies.  Some people think that there needs to be coconut and pecans or something like that in it but mine is simply oatmeal raisin cookies but instead of raisins I put in chocolate chips.  They are so good!  They were my favorite cookies at Albertsons before it closed even though I never really made them the dough just came in a box in which I put on a tray and stuck in the oven.  Not very good.  That is why I decided to recreate the chocolaty goodness last night.  Here is the recipe if anyone would like to make it themselves.  (Note:  make it yourself.  I do not do charity baking.  If you want cookies use your own crap to make them.  Like I want to bake eight hours a day at work and then come home and bake for free for you.  Not that I don't love you, I just think that learning on your own will make you a better happier person and maybe more lovable.)

Cowboy Cookies

3/4 cup butter

1 cup packed brown sugar

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

2 eggs

1teaspoon vanilla

1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour

2 cups rolled oats

1 cup chocolate chips

1. In a mixing bowl mix butter, brown sugar, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and cinnamon until combined (make sure all butter is distributed unless you want that one cookie that has a huge clump of butter in it). 

2.  Beat in eggs and vanilla until combined (do not over beat eggs. The dough will not bake correctly in the oven.)

3.  Beat in as much flour as you can.  Start with 1/2 cup and if you notice your mixer slowing down add the rest by hand. 

4.  Stir in oats and chocolate chips until combined throughout. 

5.  Scoop out dough with either spoon or cookie scoop about twelve on a pan.

6.  Bake at 375 degrees for about ten minutes.  The edges will be slightly golden brown.  Do not over bake.  Cookies will be super dry if you do.  

This is the finished product and yes I did place them on the plate all cute like that.  That is what girls do.

Sledding!!!

        With so many downfalls to winter (ie:  bitter cold temperatures, snow, icy roads causing ridiculous traffic, head-splitting icicles, and shooting your eye out on Christmas morning) there is one activity that I know without fail will make it all worth it.  Sledding.  It was an amazing time.  With a few sketchy moments we were definitely fortunate to have no major injuries although looking at this video would make you think otherwise.

       Although Zac briefly lost both his shoes and his glasses in this feat, the only blood lost was that of his tongue.   He bit it.  Hard.  That is nothing close to how much pride and dignity he gained considering it was his first try at the jump and he hit it dead on.  I wish I could say the same for Nathan Ballard and Spencer Hansen.  I can't tell you how many times they each tried but unfortunately there was embarrassingly no success.

             Bryan Farnsworth made it over the jump multiple times.  This time he went down penguin style.  Almost like he is mocking those who can't hit the jump.

             I even made it over the jump.  Unfortunately Zac did not record it.  He claimed this was an accident but I call it sabotage.  I will tell you how my jump went. 
            Once I finally psyched myself up for the jump, I decided to use the circle sled instead of one of the longer, safer sleds.  As I made my way down the hill I noticed myself starting to spin ever so slightly.  Right then I knew my fate.  If I was going to hit the jump, I would be backwards.  I thought for a split second that maybe I would miss it this time and be safe, but as I turned my head to look for the jump, I saw I was about to hit it straight on.  No turning back now.  Suddenly I was up in the air, knees bent arms flailing as I let go of the sled.  I landed on my knees and rolled backwards.  It was awesome!  I think the exciting part for me was that I was going to be able to see it on video as soon as I got up the hill, but as I started to make my way up, I was informed that it had not been recorded. 
            So instead you get this lame video of my first attempt at the jump and my obvious fail, but know this.  I lived through that jump and there were witnesses so even if Zac decides to not admit my accomplishment, I know the truth!

           Soon after, we decided to start doing trains.  If you are unfamiliar with this term you have not been fully living.  The more the danger the more the fun right?  That is how I see things at least.  A train in sledding is when you link however many sleds needed to support however many people you have.  For example in our train we used three sleds for five to six people (Zac did not participate the first few times).   This was the attempt that actually was successful.  That's right all the way over the second hill and almost to the lake.

            We also had another awesome run with Zac included but it was not recorded due to loss of cameraman (Zac). 
             I would like to say thank you to all those who participated in this amazing sledding day.  Also many thanks to public schooling and the laws that keep children there.  It would not have been as much fun without you.  Thank you Bryan Farnsworth for living next to an awesome location in which this event took place and also for the hot cocoa afterwards.  Thanks to the sun for deciding to come out for a few hours and keeping it from being as bitter as days past.  Also thank you Zac for driving us there safely.  Bryan, Nathan, Spencer, Nicole, and Zac thank you oh so much for inviting me and also participating it was definitely a good way to spend a day off.