It's Halloween

Mabel is a pink ghost. Again.
She picked out the fabric, and believe it or not, she loves this costume.

Oliver is a dragon.

Happy Trick-or-Treating!

Real Life with Me

What are you really good at?
Cleaning. I think I do a pretty thorough job, although I did just book house cleaners to come before I have this baby. I about put myself into labor scrubbing my kitchen floor on Saturday.

If you could change places with anyone, living or dead, for one day, who would it be?
Guy, I can't think of anyone. I am living my dream life. Why would I want to change places with someone else?

Would you rather be a little smarter or a little sexier?
I'm smart enough, thank you very much.

The best decision I ever made was. . .
to marry Mike. It was also the easiest. When I married him I had no idea just how brilliant and wonderful he is. He amazes me everyday.

What was your mother right about?
She's right about everything. Here's a good example: In high school I had a boyfriend. He didn't have a car, so I spent a lot of time driving myself to his house. This drove my mom nuts. She used to tell me how my dad would ride his bike to come see her when they were dating, implying that if my so-called boyfriend really liked me, he would find a way to come see me. That used to make me really mad. Then I met Mike. After one semester at BYU, he moved home to Arizona. But nearly every other weekend for the rest of the school year, he made the 12 hour drive to come visit me. That was when I realized my mom was totally right. If a boy really likes you, he will do just about anything to spend time with you.

What are you most proud of?
My two smart, healthy, and loving kids. They are best friends.

Something on my mind lately is. . .
Why doesn't anyone want to buy our car? It is a lovely car, but it won't fit our soon-to-be three car seats and we are running out of time! Help!

Before I die, I'd like to. . .
see Mike as a really old, funny man.

I've said it before. . .

I am not a fan of Halloween.
But I do love that my kids get to use these:

Vintage trick-or-treat bags
(the picture really doesn't do them justice)

Made by my very own Grammy when I was little.

(How old does something have to be to officially be called "vintage"? Does about 25 years count?)

This makes me happy.

Paint

Some of you have asked what kind of paint I used on the crib. Well, I (or I should say Mike) used Rust-Oleum Painter's Touch Gloss spray paint in Colonial Red. In all of my research about baby-safe paints, the only advice I could find was to use paint that is free of lead.

If I had more patience and more time, I would have used Milk Paint, which is very natural and safe, but takes more work. I didn't want to have to strip the crib's original finish first. With the spray paint, Mike was able to prime and paint without much preparation.

I was forced to take matters into my own very pregnant (or puffy) hands.

Ok, maybe I wasn't forced. Maybe I was just a little antsy.
But I am having this baby 3 weeks from today (!) and she still didn't have a place to sleep.
Here's the thing, Mike is a busy guy. He works really long hours. He just hasn't had the time to move bedrooms around.
So I did it myself. I probably shouldn't have, but I just couldn't wait any longer.
Now Oliver has his room in the basement (which he loves), and Stella has a delightful room across the hall from me.

So without further ado, here it is. . . the red crib:

I have to say that Mike did a totally excellent job painting it.
I wasn't willing to sacrifice my unborn child's brain cells to man the spray paint myself.
Thanks, honey.

Fabric as Art

Embroidery hoops (painted red to match the crib, of course)
plus scraps of fabric

make for very cute nursery art, don't you think?

Ginger, did I get this idea from you?

Every girl deserves seasonal bedding.

Mike and I have inherited some new bedding.

It is soft and creamy and black and beautiful.
We will be enjoying it until spring, when our crisp white quilt will return from its banishment to the linen closet.

Our Little Social Butterfly

We lost Oliver for a minute yesterday.
This is where we found him:

Pumpkin Bread

3 1/2 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon nutmeg
3 cups sugar
1 cup oil
4 eggs
2 cups canned pumpkin

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Mix all ingredients.
3. Pour into two greased bread pans.
4. Bake for one hour.

If you are going to make one pumpkin treat this season, make this bread. Next to Marie Callender's Pumpkin Pie (which I eat year round), this is by far my favorite. The recipe comes from my great Aunt Lucille. My sister, Leslie, likes to serve it with cream cheese frosting. It is good plain, but for an extra treat, here is the frosting recipe:

Cream Cheese Frosting
2/3 cup cream cheese, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla
3 cups powdered sugar

1. Beat cream cheese and vanilla until fluffy.
2. Add sugar. Beat until smooth.

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoons salt
2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
1 cup packed dark-brown sugar
1/2 cup sugar
3/4 cup butter, softened
1 large egg
1 cup canned solid-pack pumpkin
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
chocolate chips (as many as you want)

1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees.
2. Mix all ingredients.
3. Bake for 22-24 minutes.

Sad Eyes

Oliver got my yucky cold.
It's sad.
And goopey.

Pumpkin Cheesecake

for the crust:
1 1/4 cups graham cracker crumbs (from 10 whole crackers)
1/4 cup sugar
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

for the filling:
4 packages (8 ounces each) bar cream cheese, very soft
1 1/4 cups sugar
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 cup canned pumpkin puree
2 tablespoons pumpkin pie spice
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon salt
4 large eggs, room temperature

To prevent the top from cracking, be careful not to overmix the batter, and do not open the oven door while the cake is baking or cooling inside the oven.

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees, with rack in center. Assemble a 9-inch nonstick springform pan, with the raised side of the bottom part facing up.

2. Make the crust: In a medium bowl, mix cracker crumbs, sugar, and butter until moistened; press firmly into bottom of pan. Bake until golden around edges, 10 to 12 minutes.

3. Make the filling: With an electric mixer, beat cream cheese and sugar on low speed until smooth; mix in flour (do not overmix). Add pumpkin puree, pie spice, vanilla, and salt; mix just until smooth. Add eggs one at a time, mixing until each is incorporated before adding the next.

4. Place springform pan on a rimmed baking sheet. Pour filling into springform, and gently smooth top. Transfer to oven; reduce oven heat to 300 degrees. Bake 45 minutes. Turn off oven; let cheesecake stay in oven 2 hours more (without opening).

5. Remove from oven; cool completely. Cover with plastic wrap; refrigerate until firm, at least 4 hours. Unmold before serving.

from Martha Stewart Everyday Foods, November 2004


I don't think I have the energy to make this cheesecake this year, but if you do, it is well worth the effort. It is delicious. Just make sure you have lots of people to share it with!

For Your Listening Enjoyment

In celebration of our forcasted high of 81 tomorrow, here's a little something from Simon and Garfunkel, the ultimate fall weather band.

For Emily Whenever I May Find Her

'Tis the Season

for yummy pumpkin treats.
Stay tuned for my favorite pumpkin recipes.

Things I heard at church today and What I wish I had said in response:

*You're so big!
First of all, jerk, I'm not that big. And second, I am only 5'2'', so the baby has to go somewhere. In my case that means straight out. (For the record, over the past few months this same person has also said: You're humongous!, I can't believe you're so big!, Why are you so big?)

*Are you not feeling well?
No, actually, I feel terrible. I have had a bad cold for over a week and wish I was home in bed.

*You look like you aren't feeling well.
Thanks. I guess all that time I spent getting ready for church this morning wasn't really worth it.

*Wow, you look like you're ready.
Nope. I have a whole month left.

*You look really tired.
Thanks for noticing.

*Any day, huh?
No. Actually, I have 33 days left. That's still a lot.


And Mike wonders why I am so grumpy when we get home from church. Maybe I should stop going. I know it's only going to get worse.

By the way, if you know someone who is pregnant, just smile at them and tell them they look beautiful. Or better yet, tell them they look tiny and there's no possible way they can be as far along as they say.

I like those people.

A Man of Many Tastes

Safari hat. Check.

Surf shirt. Check.

Army shorts. Check.

Brand new cowboy boots.

Double check.

It was just like the commercial.

You know the commercial where all the kids choose Life cereal over cookies or candy or some other treat? Well, that happened this very morning in my very own kitchen. Mabel chose Life over Lucky Charms. Don't get me wrong, Life is a delicious choice, but would I choose it over Lucky Charms? I'm no fool. And neither is Oliver.

Mabel, Authoress

The following pages are from her most recent work, "Our Family Book."

"My dad says he loves me and I love him. I love hugging. I love my dad. Favorite color: blue"







"I love my mom. She has a baby in her tummy. I am so excited I can't [wait]. Favorite color: black."







"A very sweet girl (and humble, too, I might add) Mabel. Favorite color: pink and purple. Lot of things about me Mabel. I am a very sweet girl."






"Oliver is very sweet. I love him and we play together."








"Stella. I hope she has blue eyes and yellow hair."

Can You Spot Oliver?

I'll give you a hint.
He's next to Big Bird.

What a way to start the weekend.

Our high tomorrow is only supposed to be 81.
It is nearly mid-day and I still have our windows open.
It is perfectly lovely outside.
This will probably be the finest weekend weather we've had since sometime in 2006.

So why the long face, you ask?
Because I have the beginnings of a massive head cold.
I feel crummy.
I'm afraid I'm going to miss it all.

I'm not a fan of Halloween.

However, I do enjoy eating these every October.

Where will you be on November 16th at 5:30 am?

I will be in the hospital having a baby.
Yay!

Unless, of course, I go into labor before then. But I don't think that's likely.

Tuesday, 5 pm

It's my least favorite time of day.

I'm bored.
We're just passing the time until Mike gets home from work
and we can eat dinner.

Oliver is singing songs on the couch
while perusing the Mini Boden catalog.
(Have you seen their latest catalog? If I were made of money,
my kids would so be decked out in their super cute fall fashions.)

Mabel is playing computer games in our newly converted laundry/sewing/computer room.
(Our old computer room is in the process of becoming Oliver's new room.)

How do you spend your late afternoons?