Mr Photog

I looked outside today and saw Ben laying face down on the snow, peering into our ditch, when I noticed he was practicing his photography skills. Here's what he got.

Sorry it's a slideshow, but I can't get blogger to upload pictures so this is the best I could do.

I guess I'll add the slideshow I made of our Christmas celebrations. Enjoy.

Christmas in DC

Since I've gotten in trouble for not posting on this blog. I copied and pasted this from my Bliz blog . . . Enjoy.

Ben finally took me to the Temple to see the lights. I've been wanting to go ever since we got back from Illinois but he kept using finals as an excuse. So lame.

I love the DC temple at Christmas, even more than SLC. Here are my reasons why: not just white people, not just members, (as we were walking in the little girl ahead of us said "look mommy, a castle" to which she replied "It's a church. It's the Mormon Temple." So great!) and the visitor center had the greatest display of photos, Reflections of Christ. It moved me to tears.

For Christmas Ben's parents bought us the sweetest camera. Ben has become quite the photog. He took like 100 pictures at the temple. I thought this one was really cool, with my reflection and all.

After the temple we went downtown and enjoyed our annual ice skating extravaganza. Since 1990 I've been dreaming about ice skating outside in a big city. So Ben was a sweetheart and helped me realize my dream. It was just as romantic and dreamy as I imagined.
Like a kid in a candy store. I was loving it. This is the only way we could take a picture and have the rink show in the background.

We got a picture before Ben left the ice. He didn't last as long as me. Wuss cakes.

Christmas Tree Helpers

We lost two sisters and gained two lumber jacks. We got our Christmas tree last night and the one we got was the last one on the lot that was big enough for our house, it's not very wide but it looks alright once there was ornaments on it no one will be able to tell. Without any men here (Dad and Brian) Jessica and Katie took over the role they did a really good job as you can see the really got into the role.

Don't Try This...

This one is dedicated to my Big Brother.

TRY THIS

I know I put a lot of weird stuff on this blog but you guys have to try this optical illusion! Stare at the center of the image in the link for 30 seconds and then look at someone's face.

http://media.fukung.net/images/8195/7ad28287f9866999f75e8d90f3fdb1b2.gif

Evil fire department christmas party

We took the boys to a family christmas party last weekend............ terrible idea!

Fire santa arrives on "sleigh"

We discovered that our sons are terrified of santa!

Jack was not having it!

Maybe we haven't let them watch enough claymation christmas specials

More Christmas Village

This picture made the newspaper in Ogden! If you don't remember this was when our IWA group went to Christmas Village in Ogden and let me tell you the Grinch got fresh with me. It was a very tramatic experience!

Squirrel Homies

I'd just like to post this for all my squirrel homies getting shot at in the hood. Don't let the man get you down!

Click on the picture to see the whole thing. It's too big.

Christmas Devotional & Temple Square

I don't know how to write by the pictures but most of them are from the Christmas devotional it was so cool to see the 1st presidency in person and the picture with us in jeans is from when our IWA went to Christmas Village in Ogden it was so cool! I took more pictures but I don't know how to work my camera so they didnt turn out, so only one picture. Enjoy!

What Gives

I want to know why the "Liz & Ben" blog gets all the cool stuff like "little Szilagyi's" and all we get is "water with gas"?

I also want to know where all of you other bloggers are? Few posts, fewer comments.

Lets get going out there.

Love, Dad

PS Merry Christmas!

Carbonated Water

In the vein of ranting about my recent food discoveries, mostly in an effort to rationalize putting off studying for finals, I thought I would tell you all about my recent experience with carbonated (or seltzer) water. I can remember tasting Perrier in High School and thinking that it was revolting swill and wondering why would anyone pay a premium price for it. Fast forward 10 or so years, and it seems that seltzer water is enjoying a bit of resurgence (at least amongst Georgetown Law students). I noticed several of my classmates drinking seltzer water and I decided that I would give it another try. I was partially motivated by finding a replacement for my disgustingly absurd Diet Coke habit, but also it just seems so cool and European to drink carbonated water.

At first it was much as I remembered it. Very bitter and dry (an oxymoron I know but it's true). I persevered and by the end of the bottle I found myself accustomed to and almost enjoying the bitter taste. I still wouldn't say it has become my favorite drink, but I can honestly say that I do enjoy a nice liter or so of carbonated water every now and again. Perhaps the best part is that I can get it for free from the cafeteria's soda machine, and since I can use my own bottle it is much more eco-friendly than drinking from aluminum cans. For those of you interested in trying it firsthand just take your trusty water bottle to your local soda dispenser and look for the little tab near the spout labeled "soda" (on mine it's on the Sprite dispenser). You probably won't want to fill your bottle completely though because like I said it can be quite bitter and if you're not accustomed to it you'll likely end up pouring most of it down the sink. Let me know what you think!



P.S. If you want to be really pretentious you can tell everyone that you're enjoying some eau gazeuse!

Dates

So this week the wife and I went to Costco to pick up a few essentials in bulk and while we were there I noticed an enticing platter of dried fruit for sale. I thought to myself, "Man this would be great to have next week because I'll be studying for finals and it'll be nice to have a healthy snack." So after I got permission to buy it and I found out that underneath all the good looking fruit (i.e., apples, mango, apricot, etc.) there was a whole layer of dates. Initially I was quite disappointed, I figured anything that looks so similar to a suppository (or Miracle Max's magic pill) certainly cannot taste much better than one. That's where I was wrong! I love those little things! They have have a great texture, kind of like marzipan, and are sweet but not overly so. What a great discovery. Just thought I should let you all know not to judge a dried fruit by it's turd like appearance and go try a date. I promise you won't be disappointed, and should the unexpected happen and you are disappointed I will be happy to find your unwanted dates a good home.

P.S. They have pits so don't bite into them too hard! (Ask me how I know.)




Ours wasn't quite this nice but you get the idea.

Random Pictures

These are just some random pictures. Many were taken during two trips to Williams Tree Farm, one at Halloween and one at Thanksgiving.

Others taken over the fall.

Enjoy!!!!!