Drought

I didn't really even care who won the world series. I just wasn't ready for baseball to be over. I love when my whole family is gathered around the TV watching together. It's probably the only thing we all agree on watching, even though none of us cheer for the same team anymore--damn those Yankees. It's a long, long time until April. Hopefully my Tigers will be healthy and pitching will be MUCH improved.

I found this picture on a Tiger's weblog I read. It made me laugh. This is especially for the Halley family, namely Cody, Jamie and Josie. Any resemblance?

Jim Leyland (Tiger's manager)

Uncle Lee

More Halloween Fun...

Gardner Village

Making caramel apples

Carving pumpkins at Grandma Kathy's

Our annual Halloween dinner. Rats anyone?

7 Random Things

I was tagged by my friend Emmalee and my cousin Jodi so here I go:



1. I love Disneyland more than any 8 year old you've ever met. I would choose to go there over any other vacation.

2. I love to read in the tub. I think because it's the only place I feel like I don't have to get up and do laundry, make beds, do dishes, vacuum, etc. I lay there until my skin feels like it's going to fall off.

3. I love Christmas music. I usually start the end of September/first of October and go til February. This could possibly be the reason my 2 older kids and my husband don't care for Christmas music. And it's the same reaction every year, "oh my gosh!! Mom's listening to Christmas music ALREADY!" I love every kind too. Instrumental (Jim Brickman, David Lanz, George Winston--who I have on right now :)), country, pop, old classic Christmas carols (Jim Reeves). It's an obsession.

4. I can't stand being late. It ruins my whole day and completely stresses me out.

5. I can fit my entire fist in my mouth. I know. Talent.

6. I HATE when guys don't wear shirts!! Gag. Puke. It is a total turn off, no matter how good they might look. It doesn't matter if they are playing sports, washing a car, riding a motorcycle (and don't think I won't laugh when you wreck and have permanent road rash the rest of your life), etc. It's just sick and wrong.

7. I love storms. Everyone is always complaining about winter, but I love it. A good thunderstorm is my favorite, but I love when it snows and snows without stopping. It makes my home feel so cozy.

I tag everyone who reads this...and don't think I don't know who you are!

Dear Neighbor,

Thank you so much for the joy you bring into my morning. Not everyone gets to hear the noisiest truck on the planet started every morning at 5 am, and then get to hear it's wonderful melody as it runs in your driveway for the next half hour. We all know how great pregnant women sleep in the first place, and once I'm woke up--forget about it. The complaining about my dog stepping foot on your property and my kids cat LOOKING at you was getting old, so I guess I should be thankful you're mixing things up here.

p.s. Your dog was on my yard yesterday, and the day before.

Grandpa Fun

One of Gage's favorite things to do is to go feed the horses with Grandpa. On Saturday he came and got all of the kids and took them so they could pick pumpkins. (Thanks uncle Milt & aunt Cheryl!). After that they went to Cabela's and he bought them lunch. I have a strange daughter, this is her absolute favorite place to eat. She loves the elk and wild boar sandwiches. She thought she hit the jackpot, cuz I don't take her to eat there!

(photos by Halley)

Fall Family Fun

On Thursday night we went to Odyssey Dance Company's Thriller. I was so excited that they were doing shows at The Covey Center in Provo this year. This is probably my all time favorite Halloween thing we do, I LOVE it!! We even took the boys this year and they enjoyed it as well. The zombie in red dances at Halley's studio, so it was fun to watch her dance. She tormented Halley quite well--even following us to our car! (This is the only picture we have and it was taken on Halley's phone. I brought my camera--with no memory card!) If you have never been, get online and buy tickets now! It is fantastic!

Last night Jonathon's mom took us to The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. It is a production they do in American Fork. It was so fun and very well done. We bundled up and the weather was great, not one of us was cold. Even Gage loved it, he was clapping and laughing at the play.

They had a hayride through Sleepy Hollow before the play started. They had games from that period that you could play, too.

If they ever do a remake of A Christmas Story I think we might have a shot at the lead role!
The amphitheatre was such a great setting for the story. The view looking down on the valley was so beautiful.

While we were in line to get hot chocolate, the full moon was over the temple and it was so beautiful! I wish I had a camera that did it justice.

The guy that played Ichibod was hysterical! I couldn't quit laughing at him the whole time. He would walk across the stage and I would bust up laughing. My mom-in-law hit it dead on when she said he was a mixture of Mr. Bean and Steve Martin. She said this during a quiet, serious time of the play and I busted up laughing as loud as I could! It was a great night with great company.

My Date

I live with a romantic. It's true.

He asked me on a date, which is nothing new, we go on one every week. But this one was different.

Me: Where should we go?

My Romantic: Let's just stay home this time. We will need candles and food. And you should wear a bow in your hair.

We had our date at lunchtime today. He insisted we close all the blinds so it was dark. Then we had leftover homemade chicken noodle soup--by candlelight. We also pretended we came in a long, long car.

Me: Thank you for bringing me on this date.

My Romantic: My pleasure.

Seriously. I swear. My 3 year old said, "my pleasure". It took everything I had to hold those giggles in.

After our dinner, my date even helped me scrub the bathroom. He told me he would do it for me because he's a man. It might be the best date I've ever had.

Jonathon, you have SERIOUS competition.

Kevin Youkilis/Yukon Cornelius

I think this is what Kevin Youkilis of the Boston Red Sox does in the off season.

Fall recipe

I've been typing up our ward cookbook for the last several months. It's so fun to see new recipes and try them out. I could go all summer and not cook once and be fine with it. For some reason (probably the heat) I don't like to cook in the summer, but when fall hits I can't quit cooking and baking. I love making soups and baking all those yummy fall/winter goodies. This is my very favorite cake recipe. My mom's birthday is in September and I usually make it for her on her birthday. I've never had a better apple cake, if you have you better send me the recipe! I double the recipe and cook it in my Emile Henry baker ( if you don't have one, it's my favorite!) It looks so pretty when it's done. The sauce ends up as caramel on the bottom of the cake. Mmmmm.

Apple Cider Pudding Cake

1 cup flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp ginger
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1 large egg
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/3 cup milk
2 Tbsp melted butter
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups chopped apple (I use Granny Smith)
1 cup apple cider
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup brown sugar

Streusel:
1/4 cup flour
1/4 cup brown sugar
2 Tbsp cold butter

Butter an 8x8 inch square baking dish. heat oven to 350 degrees.

In a bowl combine the flour, baking powder, salt, soda, 1 tsp cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg. In another bowl, whisk together the egg, 1 cup brown sugar, milk, melted butter and 1 tsp vanilla. Stir in dry ingredients and chopped apples until well blended. spread in prepared pan.

In a small saucepan, bring apple cider, 1/2 tsp cinnamon, 1 tsp vanilla and 1/2 cup brown sugar to a boil. Pour slowly and carefully over the batter. Bake for 45-50 minutes or until tests done.

Put streusel ingredients in food processor (can use a bowl and cut in butter like you would for a pie crust) and pulse until butter is cut up and mixture is crumbly. Sprinkle evenly over the cake 10 minutes before it is done cooking. Serve warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.