Trunk-or-Treat!

Craig opened up the Scion and used pvc pipe and upholstery fabric to make our trunk into a shop from the "Zelda, Twilight Princess" game. Good place to purchase weapons, potions. You know, the usual.

Craig is generic-shopkeeper-guy. I'm sad that Connor is standing in front of him though - the black crushed-velvet pants I made him wear were awesome. I think he was a little bit disturbed at how much I liked them, actually.
Connor as the cutest Link ever. (Sorry, Connor, I meant 'most heroic ever')

For those who do not know the game, Link turns into a wolf for a good portion of it. That was Fletcher. He who would not wear his hood-strap UNDER his chin...

And I was Zelda. Tricky making the armor/shoulder pads. Fused some thick pellon onto felt and did it that way. I was really proud of myself for all the creativity and sewing - let me tell you! ...and then I saw this


Dang.

How to bake Happiness

One Spice Cake mix.(do NOT add other cake ingredients. JUST the mix)
One small can pumpkin (or 1/2 of a large can, shown).
1/2 bag chocolate chips.
Mix.
Bake.
325, 12-15 min.

Betcha can't eat just one.

amended: THANK YOU HANNAH! for the recipe :)

Week 43 Prompt: Scary!

My family and I are sick. as. dogs. right now so i went for quick-and-easy (I wonder, looking back, how many times I have made excuses for quick-and-easy during this challenge...?) but make no mistake - this one is HEARTFELT!!

A friend of mine organizes a card swap every month. This was my contribution for October.
I liked it.
I wish you could see all the gold glitter on the falling leaves!

Pumpkin Carving!

Very scary indeed. We had our Trunk-or-Treat on Saturday, which was very fun despite all of us being totally sick. Pictures will come when I get them emailed from friends. (yes i forgot my camera.)

Our Day at Underwood Family Farms
we went on Saturday with the Harveys - it was hot!

The boys had a great time. We went through a corn maze, took a wagon ride, saw pig races, got pumpkins from the pumpkin patch and ate roasted corn and shaved ice.

We had hoped to be able to pick some fresh produce, but the only things in season seemed to be tomatoes and peppers. Maybe we'll try to find an orchard in the summer next year.
More pictures of the pumpkin patch below -

Our Halloween Table

I finally (after a year) finished the final coat and finish on my dining table and chairs. Here it is all dressed up for Halloween. (I love the glass top that keeps decorations safe!) :)

My Pumpkins

My pumpkins grew a lot this year
In my garden on their vine.
With sunshine, rain and lots of love,
I’m so proud that they are mine.

One of them is long and thin

He’s grown for many years.
And when I see how big he is
I try to hold back tears.





The other one is short and small
He isn’t quite as old
But he makes up for smallish size
By being brave and bold.


One of them is good and kind
And sad when I am sad.
He wants to be a good pumpkin
And tries not to be bad.

The other one is sweet and wild
And keeps me on my toes.
And whether he will e’er calm down
Only Heaven knows.

At first I was surprised to see
How different they‘ve grown.
How two pumpkins from one vine
Have spirits all their own.

I see my gardener’s hands have left
Some prints, just two or three.
A little here a little there,
Made who they’ll someday be.


But as I watch them grow I know
That mostly it’s not me.
They make their way , too soon I’ll say
“it’s time to set you free.”

May they remember my garden here
When they are on their own.
And feel my love and feel my hands
And never feel alone.

A few reasons why NOT to let your 3-year-old wander around the house with the camera:

1. He will have proof of the unhealthy lunch you made him

2. He will be Disrespectful

3. He will show everyone what a bad housekeeper you are.

But then, you find something like this on the memory card and it all seems worth it:

can you see, just above his left arm on the entertainment center?
yep.
those are pinecones.
We got 2 more yesterday.

"Happy Birthday to yoouuuuuu...." It's on it's way!

My blog does not want to post pictures right now. Be comforted that interesting insights and inspiring images are soon to come. :)

Dear Kelly,

These two subjects are very close to my heart. *assumes lecture voice*

(Reminiscently): Luke, Leia, and Han got me through the torturous years of junior high and high school. I had Episodes IV-VI memorized before I ever memorized my first scripture. I have had entire conversations with my husband in "quotations". I was seduced by the dark side, (episode 1) and betrayed (episodes 2 &3). The boy who was Anakin Skywalker became twisted, and evil.

On another note: after the golden sunrise that was Buffy the Vampire Slayer had its day and melted, smouldering, into the horizon, I searched for new Vampire venues to haunt. You can imagine, there were few that were readable/watchable. Then I stumbled across The Book.
I made all of my friends read it. It spread across the Santa Monica Stake like wildfire.
Obsessions began. Husbands mocked.

I even went to the Eclipse Prom.

Now that I have cited my Background and References:
Kelly! -
How could you watch this scene without wanting to take a shower? He was so CREEPY!

(sing-song valley girl voice): "Oh hi, I'm Padme. Even though I was so mature that at the age of FOURTEEN I was elected queen of an entire world, Senatorship has caused my brain to freeze like a Bothan on Hoth and I somehow find myself in love with a whining, wicked, juvenile wanna-be jedi who is at least 10 years younger than me!"

Did you ever see Under the Tuscan Sun? DID YOU?! Pawel was perfect. Perfect for this role. Sweet. Sincere. Lovable. Adorable. (um, Hot)
Edward:

While your most recent photos prove that HC can sit still in a photo and brood very properly and alluringly - STILL:

Not Edward:

What have I gotten myself into?

that first little pinecone was so cute. but every day, those pinetrees drop more. I had to make rules. 1) no pitch. sticky pinecones not allowed
2) no completely closed pinecones
3) no broken pinecones.
We still find at least one every day. And can I just say that I think my street houses the only 3 pine trees within the Los Angeles city limits? Bugs, rocks, sticks, flowers: all have been abandoned in pursuit of a new pinecone to take home and glitter-fy.
Oh yeah - but Fletch is no longer interested in doing the glueing/glittering. It's Mommy's job now.

At this rate, by the time Christmas comes around we'll have close to 40 pinecones.

Part 3 of "What Makes me Happy/I am Grateful For". This is the last bit. I promise. :)

On our walk home from taking Connor to school each morning, Fletcher tends to find some bit of nature that he cannot live without. Last week this cute little pinecone was the thing. We took it home and covered it with glitter. He was overwhelmed with the byeew-tee-fuw ness of it.

By now you are all acquainted with my obsession. Thanks to Karalenn for these "peace, hope, love" sheep she found for me in Utah!

Another gift from another friend. These elephants from South Africa are actually a calendar, and go by size in a row - one for each month of the year. Thanks Catherine!

Of course, what could make me happier than these little rock stars? Well, maybe their Dad, but he is nearly impossible to catch for a photograph. :)

More Happiness

My Mom quilted this flag for us for Christmas years ago. I love having a flag in the house and I love that my boys recognized the American Flag at an early age.

We got this Knight's Head Ice Bucket for the Harry Potter room off of ebay last summer. It may be the coolest thing on the planet.

It's Autumn now and that means 3 months of Awesome Fun until the end of the year.

Doing a little bit of therapy. Here are some things in my home that make me happy. (my own little version of "Count your Blessings":

This is a granite sculpture that my husband made in college. It's a perfect bookend!

Proof that I am crafty: great storage bins! :)

One of our favorite family activities has been to go up to Malibu and beach comb for fun shells. Every once in a while we find a really cool one. (yes, they are on the toilet in this picture)

Click on the link to watch an awesome:

Buffy/Smallville crossover video!

Pushing Daisies premiered last night and it was everything I had hoped it would be. Yay! It was so so colorful and beautiful and I loved it!!