2 cups of pumpkin

i had 2 cups of pumpkin left in my fridge.
and i felt like baking.
plus, my mouth has been screaming chocolate all morning.
i love eating the choc chips.
sometimes i grab the bag and a glass of milk.
it's very satisfying.
from me to you, for your halloween festivities:

pumpkin chocolate chip COOKIES.

2 c brown sugar
2 c pumpkin
1 c oil
3 tsp vanilla
4 c flour
2 tsp baking soda
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp ginger
2 c chocolate chips

*mix all together, bake at 350 on a greased cookie sheet for 12 or 13 min.

and please,
don't hesitate to drop off your reeses stick candy bars you or your children may gather this evening.
they are my favorite.
...
curse me for not taking brennan to a pumpkin patch.
the one on state street just wasn't appealing.
i like close and convenient.
i need hills and open fields full of pumpkins.
i'm sure they have them in lehi.
i'll bet there was something darling at wheeler farm.
what will i do without a folder in picasa labeled "pumpkin patch '09"???
(insert sarcasm here)
hopefully next year the folder will have a "pumpkin patch '10" label on it?
hot dog, we're still alive.
even without a visit to the pumpkin patch.
imagine that!
at least we're squeezing in carving pumpkins in a few hours.
that's got to count for something;-)
note to self:
work on ability for sarcasm to come through in blog writing voice. no one is getting your jokes. not even the ones about the pumpkin patch. it's funny, it's supposed to be funny!

childhood obesity

fighting childhood obesity is super important to us.

maybe we should rename him gerbil? hamster? whichever.

BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

also, we're headed to discovery today.

please alert the media.

do you get my jokes???

sometimes people don't get my jokes...

gene simmons, a pirate, and batman at my door

these 3 characters showed up on our doorstep this morning.
the pork loin peed in his diaper for sure.
these are the mornings i can never imagine moving away from my family.
i also really loved it when mary (the pirate) came down to show me her new braces a few weeks ago.
it's halloween fever around these parts.
we leave for the scout master's class party at 12:30 on the dot.
my morning will consist of baking pumpkin chococate chip cupcakes and a walk with the pork loin.
and the sun is out.
what a hot dog day;-)

the first.

it snowed the big flakes yesterday.
the kind i love the best.
the kind that are perfect for the first real snow of the year.
where you look up into the sky and all you see are millions of puff balls falling onto your face.
i was bound to be in a good mood with weather like that.
i love the cold.
it doesn't bother me.
i don't mind coats, boots, hats, and warming up the car.
it makes me happy.
i love to bundle up and step outside into the most quiet sound you'll hear.
snow.
so i pulled out the book tent and crawled inside.
i love a good book on a snowy day.
the pork loin loved it.
so did i;-)

when the tent wore out,

we bundled up.

i love my collection of winter hats.

there are 3 i am currently favoring.

snow on coats, hats, and in hair are my favorite.

after lunch and a nap we headed off to the U.

the scout master was playing in the intramural football finals.

big fancy stuff you know;-)
note to self: cotton pants don't work well in the snow with a toddler.
i love a man in uniform;-)

they won!

way to beat those med students boys;-)
do you think it's too much to ask to pray for snow again tomorrow?

mmmmm.

i love a snowy day.

on my face

when it snows i must walk outside to greet it.
old habits die hard.
have you ever had snow on your face just after you've woken up?
best facial you can get, and the price is very agreeable;-)
it woke my eyes up and made my skin feel fresh.
it's a good thing too b/c sir brennan was up ALL night.
why is it that they changed the rules about cough medicines and decongestants for children???
really, does anyone know why?
found a hobo spider in our apartment this morning.
not fun.
i very much dislike squishing spiders.
it's not that i am so tender hearted that i am sad for their death.
i'm not.
i'm happier when they're dead and gone.
it's that i watched arachnophobia when i was 7, and i still can't put my slippers on without shaking them to get the spiders out. that poor old man!
the scout master earned extra credit last night by going to holiday at 9:36pm to bring me home a dr. pepper.
ice halfway please.
oh boy, he did it perfectly.
no food dreams last night;-)
now, how to get the tender loin to "ehem."
it's been far too many days...

even fevers

103 has been on our thermometer since saturday.
thankfully for me, it hasn't been the temperature in our apt.
sadly for B, it's been the temperature in his body.
however, a package arrived on our doorstep just before gigi's chicken soup graced our table.
the best kind of package.
a surprise package.
addressed to brennan.
from grams and silver fox in california.
although, pretty sure grams gets all the credit for this one, minus the labeling and shipping done in silver fox's handwriting.
have i explained gram's talent for finding you the perfect gift you didn't even know you wanted?
it's a true talent.
really, she will get you something on your birthday and christmas that will make you think,
"hey self, why didn't you think of that?! it's exactly what i wanted!"
no joke.
it's amazing.
this present holds true to form today.
doting on the tender loin's current love for elephants.
thank goodness for grandparents.
and packages;-)
both can cheer up almost anything.
even fevers.

a delicacy to enjoy

i have heard it's supposed to snow on tuesday.
i'm excited and sad all at the same time.
the first snow that sticks to the valley always seems magical.
yet, darn it, i always want the fall to last a little bit longer.
when i was in elementary school i remember jumping out of bed to look out my window every morning in the hopes i would see our backyard covered in a blanket of fresh snow.
fall always seems like a little glimpse of a season.
but maybe that's why we all love it so much.
it's like a delicacy to enjoy.
like babies.
i like enjoying them.
and toddlers.
i've heard that's what i have now.
i still see my baby:-)

and i enjoy him a lot.

he enjoys bubbles.

the gymboree ones.

have you tried them???

i dare to say there are none better.

the scout master's pick for sunday dinner:

chili

2 cans kidney beans

2 cans black beans

1 can corn

4 cans tomato sauce

2 cans diced tomatoes

2 pkgs chili seasoning

..................

directions:

throw it all in a big pot, stir, warm it up! it can be ready in 10 min., or it can sit on your stove for an hour simmering.

*serve with shredded cheese and a dollop of sour cream

...................

corn bread

1 c flour

3/4 c cornmeal

4-5 tbls sugar

2 1/2 tsp baking powder

3/4 tsp salt

1 tbls butter

2 eggs

1 c milk

1/2 c oil or melted butter

..................

directions:

preheat oven to 400*. put butter into a square glass dish or cast iron skillet (i used a glass dish) and place in oven for 3 min. at 400*. all dry ingredients go into a bowl, set aside. combine eggs, milk, and oil in mixing bowl. whip together until blended. add dry ingredients, stirring until moistened and smooth. pour into bowl, bake 15-20 min at 400*.
*serve with butter and honey