the costumes

Halloween is not my holiday, but I have to admit that it is pretty satisfying to outfit the children in the exact costumes of their dreams. I think everyone was pretty pleased with the way they looked this year, and for that I am grateful. If only we could skip the trick-or-treating and the candy part of this holiday, then I would be all set.

First up, Oliver as "Ralphie Parker" from A Christmas Story. He sort of already looks like Ralphie, so we just went with it. He's totally going to shoot his eye out with that thing.

Next is Elliot as Troy, the red Power Ranger. Can you believe that the Power Rangers are still around? Elliot found them on Hulu and promptly fell in love. He's worn this costume everyday for the last week and it is my favorite.

Mabel wanted to be an elf from the Lord of the Rings. This is the only costume that I made this year, and the smile on her face when she tried it on for the first time made all of the hours of sewing worth it.

Stella is Little Red Riding Hood. She was having a tough time deciding between a basket for candy (more accurate to her character) or her trick-or-treat bag. Last I heard she had decided to carry them both. :)

The whole gang.

Happy Halloween!

p.s. I'll see you back here tomorrow for the start of my month of Thanksgiving posts. It is my favorite and I hope you'll play along!

weekend report

We went to a pumpkin patch on Saturday afternoon. The kids were too busy having fun and I was too busy sweating in my skinny jeans (Good grief, it was 90!) to take any of the cute pumpkin patch themed photos you see floating around the interweb this time of year. However, I did manage to snap that winner above. Stella and Elliot were about to go for a ride on the cow train. I think Mabel and Oliver were jumping on the big air pillow nearby. High class fun, I'll tell you what.

You know those people who are always out doing fun things as a family? We are not those people. We mostly stay home, so when we do things like visit a pumpkin patch AND go out to dinner together afterward, you know it's been a good day.

Also, the sunset was killer. How was your weekend?

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

I'll try just about any pumpkin chocolate cookie recipe. I think I've established that fact here on this blog. I saw this one on Hey Natalie Jean, and loved that it called for molasses. I think that's what sets these apart from the rest. The molasses gives them a richer flavor. They only change I made was to switch the oil to butter. They were light and cake-y and I immediately parceled them out to the neighbors (the recipe makes a ton!) so that Elliot and I wouldn't eat them all for lunch.

Have a happy weekend!

on fame and fortune

I've loved this quote for a long time, and when Elder Christofferson referenced it in his talk at General Conference a few weeks ago, it struck me once again.

I think that sometimes in this world, women are praised for all of the wrong reasons. They are congratulated when they are contrary, or when they adopt the attributes of men to get their way. They are celebrated for being popular or for seeking notoriety. Women are taught that to be important, they need to be rude or unkind; they need to be ruthless. Their tenderness, or the quiet, nurturing ways of their divine nature are ignored, or thought old fashioned, when these are the things we should be praising.

This quote reminds me that what I am doing in my home with my little family is what is most important. No fame or fortune or popularity will ever replace the warm feeling I get when I know that I have served my family well.

It is a good reminder for me to try a little harder, to be a little kinder, a little more patient, and to embrace that divine, feminine part of my spirit that the world is trying to swallow up.

Apple Crisp

One fun thing that happened while we were in Massachusetts was meeting Ellen Patton. There are three things I know for sure about Ellen. One, she knows everyone, and everyone is her friend. Two, she is wonderfully kind and very generous. And three, she makes the most delicious apple crisp. I know this last one because she brought a batch of it with her when she came to dinner at my brother's house.

One week later, I found myself back in Arizona, making her apple crisp for Sunday dinner. I'm not sure what is happening, but pumpkin has taken a back seat to apple for me this fall. I can't seem to get enough of warm, cinnamon-y, apple-y desserts. It's like I don't even know who I am anymore.

This apple crisp has a secret ingredient: butterscotch pudding mix. It is great with whipped cream, ice cream, or even cold from the fridge for breakfast the next day. (Don't ask me how I know that.)

Thank you Ellen! It was such a pleasure to finally meet you in person.


(Btw, I am still taking a break from sugar, but I took a break from my break whilst on vacation, and have since started having Sunday as my day off. Just fyi. Also fyi, my skin has dramatically improved and I feel better overall since limiting my sugar. I will probably still have my thyroid tested, though. And also, I discovered that my scalp sensitivity was due to my dry shampoo use, although I don't know if I can blame it for my hair loss.)

Boston, Mass: A Report, part the last

New England sure knows how to do fall. Our last day in Massachusetts might well have been the most perfect fall day that I will ever experience in my lifetime. Oh, it was wonderful!

We left the big kids at the house and went to Concord. We ignored the government barricades and visited the Old North Bridge in the Minute Man National Historic Park. It was super beautiful. I mean, those leaves. Gah!

Picturesque downtown Concord.

We also visited Orchard House, where Louisa May Alcott lived and wrote Little Women. I would definitely recommend it. I love old houses, and the fact that this one was used as the inspiration for Little Women made it even more special. My only regret was not bringing my budding author, Mabel, along. She would have loved it.

And there you have it, more about our trip to Massachusetts than you ever wanted to see, I am sure. We really had the best time, and I could have easily stayed another week (or two!). Thanks for having us, Parkers! And thanks for humoring me, readers!

Boston, Mass: A Report, part four

My mother's family comes from Massachusetts, so my brother Elliott, a family history buff, took me and my big kids on a little family history tour. Our first stop was the church where my grandparents were married in 1950 in South Walpole.

The newlyweds.

This is the house where my great grandparents lived, across the street from the church.

Here is my grandmother, Wilma (my grandma B), on the lawn of that house on her wedding day.

The cemetery where Wilma and her parents are buried is just up the road.

We also saw the house where my grandfather, Richard, grew up. Seeing these spots in person gave me the itch to know more about my ancestors. Thankfully, my brother and sister have done quite a bit of work on our family line. I am anxious to read more about these people who are part of me! Have you ever been interested in finding your ancestors? Mormons are well known for their interest in family history. Here's why.

Boston, Mass: A Report, part three

After Candlepin bowling together one night, my brother's family introduced us to Kimball Farms. Oh man, I don't think I've ever had better ice cream. Elliot's vanilla cone was as big as his head, and my gingersnap molasses was right on par for that drizzly fall evening.

Kimball Farms also has a giant arcade. I'm pretty sure the kids loved it.

Back at the house and time for bed. These guys are all such pals. Thanks for the matching jammies, Henry!

Boston, Mass: A Report, part two

Another major reason for our trip to Massachusetts was to visit my brother, Elliott, and his family. They lived briefly here in Mesa and we hadn't seen them since they moved away more than a year ago. We had such a fun time staying at their house. My kids were in heaven with their cousins, and I was in heaven sitting on the couch talking to Ginger. Man alive, we miss those guys!

While the cousins were in school, though, we headed into the big city.

Our first time into Boston we parked our rental car in the North End and walked to Faneuil Hall, where we picked up the Freedom Trail. We didn't walk the whole thing (it's pretty long for little kid legs), but we did see the Old North Church (plus the neat printing shop next door), the Paul Revere House, the Old State House (in the picture up top), and Boston Commons. We made a few stops in between to get pastries at Mike's Pastry and a lobster roll for Mike at a restaurant in the North End called Pauli's.

On our second day in the city, we took the commuter train from my brother's town. It was nice not to have to worry about navigating the freeways or parking the car. Boston is very pedestrian friendly and a car really isn't needed. (We were grateful for cousin Henry's stroller, though!)

We arrived right at lunch time, so we headed to the Quincy Market (just across from Faneuil Hall) to get something to eat. It is one giant food court, and I think all six of us chose food from a different vendor. We ate on the steps before heading to the aquarium.

The aquarium was a big hit. Mike purchased City Passes, which included tickets to a few different museums/sites. We loved the penguins at the aquarium and the huge sea turtles. The jelly fish were pretty spectucular, too. (But the rest of the fish gave me the creeps.)

We rode the subway to the Museum of Fine Art. It is on the North Eastern University campus. Mabel and I loved it. The others, not so much. Mabel soaked in as much as she could, and then we hopped back on the subway to the Science Museum.

After a long day, we stopped for ice cream and then caught the late train back to Littleton. Some of us were deliriously silly the entire ride home.

Boston, Mass: A Report, part one

Last week was Fall Break in Arizona, so we packed up our sweaters and headed for the fall colors in beautiful Massachusetts. Mike and I both have roots there, and it was high time that we visited them.

Our first stop was Mike's Granddad, Bob. It had been over three years since we saw him last, and he was just as warm and welcoming as I remember.

He has a mind like a steel trap, and I love that through my blog he knows us, even though we don't see him nearly often enough. The time we spent visiting with him was so special.

We love you Granddad!

I sort of never wanted this weekend to end.

Except that I caught a cold. I would very willingly say goodbye to my stuffy nose with the start of this new week. Alas.

But seriously, wasn't this weekend fantastic? Here are a few snapshots I have to share.

Like I said on instagram, sometimes I remember how remarkable it is that I get to be the mother to these four children. I love them so. This weekend was so good for us. We got our Conference wiggles out at the park on Saturday, and Stella finally got to wear the snood my sister, Leslie, sent to her for ballet.

My generous friend, Beth, shared some of her pretty hand-picked apples with us, so I baked up a crumb-topped pie for our Sunday dinner dessert. We mostly spent lots of time in the basement together watching Conference. The kids were great. They played quietly together or sat and listened to the speakers. It was so nice! I think they are getting to the age where they get it, and that makes it much easier for me and Mike to get something out of it, too.

And now for my favorites:

I loved Elder Uchtdorf's talk on why people join our church. My favorite quote: "First, doubt your doubts before you doubt your faith."

Elder Christofferson's talk on women was wonderful. He spoke of how women provide a moral foundation, and how we, as women, need to cultivate the "innate moral power" within us.

Elder Oaks' talked about the importance of marriage and family, and the Plan of Salvation. He lays things out in such a logical way. I really liked this one.

Brother McConkie's talk on teaching with the spirit was an answer to my prayers. I will listen to this one again and again, I am sure.

You can see a list of all of the talks here. Which ones am I forgetting? I am looking forward to listening to them all again over the next little bit. There is so much to learn.

It's going to be a good one, I just know it.

It's one of my favorite weekends of the whole year. Hooray for General Conference! There are quite a few things that I have been thinking about lately and I know that if I listen to Conference with an open heart, my questions will be answered. I am excited to hunker down in the basement with my family and hear the words of our prophet. I believe that God still speaks to us today through living prophets, just as He did long ago. When I listen to the prophet speak, I feel comfort and peace. I learn things that help me navigate my way through this world in a better way. My worries are soothed, and I receive a renewed desire to be better and try harder. These Conference weekends buoy me up and help me to carry on.

Plus, my mom is in town. And that's always a good thing.

You can watch General Conference in your own home here. I hope you'll have a listen. Then we can talk about it next week.

See you then!

to nap or not to nap

Elliot is in that tricky stage where he still needs a nap, but then has a hard time falling asleep at night. And when he can't fall right asleep, he keeps Oliver awake, and then Oliver gets grumpy because being a third grader is hard work and sometimes little brothers are a pain.

So today I thought we'd try skipping the nap and watching a movie for quiet time instead. 34 minutes into the movie and he was out cold on the couch. Shoot.

I love that my kids share rooms. I think that Oliver is learning some very valuable lessons right now, but goodness, sometimes it's tough.

We made it.

Phew. October. I'm so glad that it's here that I bought a big white pumpkin at the grocery store this morning to celebrate. Perfect weather is right around the corner now, and just in the knick of time. October means trips to the park, riding bikes outside, going for family walks. I've even been opening the windows in the morning to let in the cool air. Nothing feels better than airing my house out after a long summer sealed up tight.

Happy October!


p.s. Thank you for concern and advice on my last post. You guys are the best!