Jarom, I need help with the basics of Lacrosse. Max is going to play in a league out here and I will likely try to coach. I am learning basics on sportstv.com and I will read a book on it as well.
I would like to know about good equipment at the youth level.... give me some name brands and rough pricing on a good helmet,youth stick, pads, gloves, etc. Any advice or referral would be greatly appreciated!

Powder

We have been having an amazing snow season this year. Our little resort in Utah County, Sundance, has received the most snow totals in the state this past week with three new feet of snow on Wednesday. Tal, Max and Olivia have been in ski school every Wed. for the past six weeks and I have been teaching Ashton during this time. But yesterday the powder was just to tempting to pass up. We put Ashton in a private lesson (pretty darn expensive babysitting! but he loved it) and Bruce and I had the best ski day ever. I have never skied in so much new powder. It was amazing. The four children are becoming awesome little skiers, especially Ashton. I think the younger you start the easier it is. He was very excited to 'burn the worm' on his second day on the slopes. Now I have to remind him to slow down! Max and Tal are crazy and seek out any tree trail, bumpy, jump-laden runs they can find. (Remember those days Kevin and Andy?) They need reminding to stay in control and make TURNS. Olivia keeps up with the boys really well and never complains about anything, especially if she knows hot chocolate in the lodge is awaiting her.

Hope you are all having great winters! You can come visit anytime when you want to do a ski get-away. 

Try this pie...

For Boston's birthday party last month, I was asked to bring a favorite pie of mine. So I brought my home made blackberry pie, with homemade crust (is homemade one word or two words?). I knew I had done something right when the master cook, Roseanne Gunther (Bruce's mom), said: "Christy this pie is a real hit. You've got to get this recipe!" That was easily the nicest compliment paid out to me in the past 60 days from a very nice person indeed.

So, without further delay and with all due respect to Betty Crocker's New Cookbook, here is the recipe:

1. Heat oven to 425 F.
2. Mix 3/4 cup sugar, 1/2 cup flour, and 1/2 teaspoon cinammon in large mixing bowl. Stir in 6 cups unsweetened blackberries. Sprinkle with 1 Tbsp lemon juice for extra flavor. Pour into 9" pasty-lined pie pan.
3. Dot with margarine.
4. Cover with second pastry and put slits in pastry for proper venting during bakin. The slits can even spell neato things like: "U of U #1" or "Feliz Navidad" or "Betty Crocker Rocks." Seal the top pastry crust with the bottom pastry crust with back side of fork around the edges of the pie.
5. Place 2-3" of aluminum on edge of pie to avoid blackening out the edges of the crust during baking. Remove during last 15 minutes for some nice browning however.
6. Bake 40-45 minutes.
7. After cooling, serve first piece of pie to Roseanne Gunther for instant validation and gratification.