This weekend . . .

I am hoping for more park time. Maybe a nap or two. And cake! Always cake. (Although I'd settle for muffins or cookies.)

Have a good one!

time marches on

My kids are growing up, whether I want them to or not, and I don't want to miss it. Sometimes it is easy to let other things distract me from my most important job of mothering. Oh, I hate when I do that!

We've fallen into some bad habits lately, and I'm hoping that with the change of seasons comes a change in routine. More outside time, better focus, less tv.

In other words, it's a good thing that tomorrow is a new day, and I am thankful for the chance to make it a little better than the one before.

a pretty dress + the primary program

Last Sunday was our ward's Primary Program. I had to sit on the stand with my class and I knew it would be freezing up there so I wore long sleeves. Silk long sleeves. In Arizona. In September. And I was still cold! I felt really great in this dress, but I knew it was a major keeper when the boy in my class who is not Oliver interrupted me mid-lesson to tell me that it was pretty. Eight-year-old boys aren't terribly observant, so I was completely flattered.

Watching my darling children (including four-year-old Stella) say their speaking parts in front of the entire congregation was pretty wonderful, too.

I found the dress for a song at my local DownEast. Does your DownEast sell jcrew cast-offs, too? Maybe you should check.

Mom's Best Fall Back to School

Have you visited Mom's Best yet? It's a beautifully designed site meant to empower mothers and  inspire them to be their best. Their online magazine was just released this week, featuring an article written by my brilliant little sister. Julianne highlights Healing Hands of Joy, a wonderful organization (page 66). Check it out!

adventures in pie making

Cake will always have my heart, but this fall I want to learn how to make pie. I started on Saturday with a classic apple. I used Martha's recipe with this pate brisee, read this post about 10 times, and made a big huge mess of my kitchen. It was fun, but I can see that I need more practice. What kind of pie should I tackle next? Probably pumpkin, I think.

(This pie has been one of my favorites for years, but I have always used a frozen pie crust. I think I need to try it again, this time from scratch.)

sayonara summer

This week has been a quiet one, which is just fine with me. I've been able to make a dent in my humongous book (War and Remembrance- so good, but so long), I've taken naps and baked cakes, and I even got to to spend some time with friends at the park. (It's really not park weather yet, but we braved the heat anyway and I am so glad we did!)

Yesterday I cleaned out my closet. First I boxed up my summer clothes because even though it's still 104 outside, I just can't stand to look at them for one more second. Then I tried on everything else. (Even my sweaters, which was sort of painful, since sweater weather is still weeks away.) Lots of things were sent to the donation pile, and now I am left with the bare minimum, and that is just how I like it. Does having too many wardrobe choices paralyze you, too? I'd rather have a handful of tops that I love and a few pairs of pants that fit well. And that's really all I need. Except a chambray shirt! I am on the look out for the perfect one. Let me know if you see it.

Happy last day of summer and have a good weekend!

tub time silhouettes

Yesterday was a take-a-tub-to-pass-the-time kind of day. Were people bored at your house, too?

Buttermilk Cake

My friend, Sara, shared a slice of this cake with me last week and it sort of changed my life. It was warm from her oven, sweet and light, with a hint of lemon. It was so good that my kids and I ate the slice, every crumb, in about 2 seconds flat. I immediately begged her for the recipe.

I happily brought it to Sunday dinner last night. I swapped the shortening for butter and the lemon extract (my bottle was dry!) for lemon juice. It has a nice crust, was moist inside, and would be great paired with just about anything. I chose raspberries and peaches.

I love cakes like this. Thank you Sara!

p.s. My cake was done baking after an hour, not the hour and 15 minutes that is called for in the recipe.

weekend plans

This weekend Stella will probably be wishing that our house guests were still in town. It's been sort of lonely without them all week. I predict that Elliot will change his clothes about a million times. I will wear my new mustard pants (from Walmart!). And maybe we'll all do yard work together? I don't know, but we should definitely take advantage of this breezy weather. It's funny how a high of 93 can feel so much like fall.

What are your plans?

not so quiet time

Stella stopped taking naps recently. That's good, because now she falls asleep the second her head hits the pillow at 7:02 pm. But it's not so good, because it makes the afternoons seem like they last forever.

On the best days, I can get her to lie down for a minute so that I can close my eyes. Sometimes she can be convinced to play in her room for a bit. Most of the time she's chatting my ear off. Today she was showing me magic tricks.

And then I caught her eyes mid-sparkle.

Chewy Molasses Cookies

Yesterday was meant for baking. It was "cool" and rainy, cloudy and quiet. I made these molasses cookies, a favorite around here. They are chewy and crunchy and spicy in all the right ways.

I can't think of a better way to usher in fall.

(Just don't talk to me in a few days when the temperature is back up to 100.)

a september miracle

I couldn't believe it, but it was only 80 degrees this morning when I went to the grocery store. It was overcast and a little bit rainy. I was wearing jeans and I didn't even feel hot once! Oh, it was a nice surprise.

It was the light at the end of a really long, hot tunnel. I love Arizona, but months June through August are not my favorite.

I'm sure the chickens breathed a sigh of relief, too.

To celebrate, we drove with our windows down and went in the backyard on purpose. I know it's not here to stay, but we sure loved today.



p.s. My thoughts are with those who lost loved ones 11 years ago. The country changed that day, but I think for the better. I love this video about finding hope after 9/11.

Oliver's happy day(s)

It started on Wednesday with a bb gun and new church shoes.

Then he opened a set of scriptures at breakfast on Thursday and had a lunch date with Me and Stella and Elliot in the school cafeteria. That night: a pogo stick + pancakes with Mike. While he was sleeping, clouds rolled in and cousins arrived.

Friday was spent mostly not at school, with a family dinner out + cake and a backyard campout.

And then Saturday! The big day. Oliver was baptized by Mike and given the gift of the Holy Ghost. It was a special day for such a wonderful boy. He had lots of family there to support him, and afterward we all celebrated by eating enchiladas.

We didn't even plan to coordinate, I promise.

Last night, it was back to eating vegetables again for our Oliver. No more free birthday passes. :)

We had a pretty great weekend over here. I hope you did, too.

a downeast review

A little while ago, DownEast asked me to test out some items from their fall collection. I was happy to oblige! You can find my review (and some pumpkin bread, too) on the DownEast blog here.

Thank you, DownEast Basics!

p.s. I tried really hard to get out of my comfort zone with this outfit (mixed patterns! tucked in shirt!), and I ended up really loving it.

p.p.s. Even if it's still hot where you are (like it is here), make some pumpkin bread this weekend. You won't regret it.

Oliver

Oliver arrived on a sunny Labor Day Monday in Newport Beach, California, eight years ago today. My c-section was scheduled for 1:00 pm, but my doctor must have been loathe to leave his Labor Day festivities, because he didn't get to the hospital until after 2:30.

We waited and waited, and then just like that, there was our chubby, dimpled baby boy. Where Mabel had been pink and delicate, this baby was round and grunty. I feel like I really got into the swing of things as a mother once we had Oliver. Life was easier with him around. He was such a good baby.

He is bright and kind, quiet and resourceful. He always has a stash of boxes and things under his bed in case he needs to build something. He is friends with everyone and he has the most fantastic laugh. He is a good partner to Mabel, the best big brother to Elliot, and he puts up with Stella. :)

He better not shoot his eye out with that thing.
(It's a birthday bb gun.)

The soup can survived. For now.

Happy birthday, Oliver! We're so glad you're ours.

food city, more like fun city

Oliver is getting baptized this weekend, so we are planning to host lots of family for dinner at our house afterwards. Mexican food is always good for a crowd, so we headed to our neighborhood mexican grocery store for some supplies. The kids loved the pinata selection. I loved the tomatillos! I was seriously impressed.

Also, avocados are 4 for 99 cents at Food City right now. Such a deal.

Most of our house guests are set to arrive tomorrow night. Is it tomorrow night yet?

Mabel is home sick from school today, but was a good sport about getting dressed and leaving the house.

There was a big storm last night.

But you'd never know it. I'm always surprised when the world's loudest thunder and pouring rain wake me up in the middle of the night, and then in the morning the sky is a clear blue as far as the eye can see. Where did it all go? I love monsoon season. Even though it makes the air sticky, it is such a relief from the usual.

We're having a house full of guests this weekend and we are so excited. Lots of sheet washing and baseboard scrubbing happening around here. I'm even thinking about cleaning out our super scary who-knows-what-infested basement window wells for the occasion.

In other news, Elliot crafts and I have sore knees. Does that make me a real runner?

syrup

After I made buttermilk syrup, I started to think about making my own "maple" syrup. I knew it was a possibility, I had just never tried it before. Then reader Halli shared her family's favorite recipe, and that sealed the deal. I haven't bought syrup at the store for weeks now!

Pancake Syrup

1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup water
1/4 teaspoon maple flavoring
1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Cook sugars and water on medium high heat until almost boiling and clear. Remove from heat and stir in the maple and vanilla. Store in an air tight container in the fridge.

Just like with the buttermilk syrup, a little goes a long way. It is very sweet, and probably runnier than the syrup you buy at the store, but it only takes a minute to make! And there's no corn syrup!

Thanks again, Halli.

and so it begins

Every year I think to myself: I'm not going to go crazy with the pumpkin stuff this time. But in the last week I have made pumpkin bread, pumpkin pancakes and now pumpkin snickerdoodles. And it isn't even Labor Day! I just can't help myself, I guess.

There are quite a few standby recipes that I make over and over and over (find some of them here), but I love to try new recipes, too. Today I made these pumpkin snickerdoodles. I usually don't love snickerdoodles, but I thought I'd give them a try anyway. They were light and fluffy and yummy. If you like plain snickerdoodles, you'd probably love these.

The good news: I am getting much better at not eating the whole batch of whatever it is I'm making. I love to make half-batches, or better yet, give the majority away to the neighbors. Hooray for having a teeny bit of will power! It feels good.

We're sticking around this weekend. Mike has strep throat and I have to teach primary tomorrow. Are you doing anything fun?