Pre-Planning for the First Night of Christmas

The Fellow Family is ready for the first night of Christmas: Halloween.

Well, many of you know I've spent quite a bit of effort trying to get Quinn on the Halloween bandwagon. Not sure why. Following the crowd is not exactly a quality I want her to adopt.

The girl doesn't like costumes. And she has made this quite clear. No big deal.

We (I) finally got past costumes, and we've just been enjoying the season a lot more.

Last week we bought apple juice to get ready for all the Halloween Night cider.

And today we picked out our pumpkins and went to a Halloween event at the farm. We bought kettle corn at the farm from one of my students, and we sat and listened to a witch storyteller. And, of course, we took about 5 pony rides.







Before we left, Quinn helped me get McKenna all dressed in her costume. Our baby girl is a skeleton that glows in the dark. She wasn't quite on board with the Halloween events; She slept all day. So we got some pics of her when we got home.

We all ready for carving on Thursday and then the big night on Saturday!

Stuffed Food

I made a bit of amazing food on Sunday night. I called it, "Ode to Twice Baked Cuisine."

I made twice baked potatoes. Growing up we called these "Stuffed Potatoes," and they were a family favorite.

And for the main course I made chicken-stuffed banana squash. The stuffing for this one was made with cubed chicken, onions, lots of garlic, oil, salt, cubed summer squash and then the shredded insides of the banana squash after it was baked in the oven. It rocked. We loved it.

The banana squash didn't keep its shape the way I thought it would after I carved it out, so the final product looked different than I expected.



I was just in a weird mood and enjoyed the "Ode to Twice Baked Cuisine," but I normally wouldn't make these foods together because -- along with the corn -- they are all yellow and orange. I think the plates needed some green (which I am allergic too). But, anyway, it was a fun way to start to add chicken into our diets again. Not sure I'll make it a habit. We'll see.


And Sweet Beef Tacos
As long as we're stuffing things: today I made a few mix for tacos. SOOOOO Good! I started with diced onions and tomatoes and half a can of shredded roast beef. Then I added half a can of diced green chiles and a fourth a cup of brown sugar. Then I added a can of great northern beans and a can of pinto beans, salt and oil, too, of course. I stuffed to soft tacos and added some slices of avocado. I was in heaven. Later I added 3 cups of cooked rice to the mix. It masks some of the flavor, but it make the mix go a lot further. And I am all about cheap and east. So OK. Loved this "stuffing."

Ammie's Baby Shower!

Tonight I helped throw a baby shower for my dear friend Ammie. She is having a baby girl in a few weeks.

We had the shower at my house but tons of people pitched in:
Aubrey: Cupcakes and moral support
Natalie: Cupcakes and came early to help
Kati: Brought the amazing flowers AND the veggie plate
Karen: Cookies and made phone calls
Collette: Baked cookies (while pregnancy sick)
Eva: Wonderful fruit salad in cool bowl AND donated some decorative plates

It all turned out beautifully! I am so excited for Ammie to get her girl. I look forward to raising our kids together for MANY years to come. What a fun neighbor!

Here is a pic or two:

Tie Bib

So I LOVE this.

Makes me laugh and smile and love Mormons and life. I think someone should make bibs with missionary name tags. (Cut me in on the profits please.)

Anyway, I love it. They are sold at:
Red Brick Sewing

Mama said there'd be days like this ...

When we were in 8th grade my dear friend Bridget and her friend Sabrina kept a notebook that they used to pass notes back and worth. They were much better writers than the rest of us, and so they wrote each other long notes during class and then passed the book to the next person and back and forth throughout the week. Not a good idea to put your gossip on paper.

And it really wasn't. If I remember correctly, Jennifer Gregorio found the notebook and read horrible things that were written about her in it. I wasn't really involved, but I do remember two swarms of yelling pre-teens next to 8th grade park at lunch one day.

Over the years Bridget has mentioned that moment and the horror that surmounted. I don't think the pit in her stomach ever really healed.

Not fun.

I had several of my own similar experiences. Barf. I can't even go there.

And remember 3-way calling and mean girls? What a horrible combination. What a nightmare for a normal girl just trying to learn about life and friends and boys.

My mom used to say that I would be so happy if I could be known among my friend as the girl who never says anything bad about anyone. That was amazing advice. I still really want to be that girl.

But it is hard. It is easy to let things slip. It is easy to just talk for the sake of humor without considering the aftermath or how it might feel to be on the other end of the story.

At least when Jesus talked bad about people, he knew to speak in parables ... no names, no relationships, just hypotheticals. Smart guy.

The "pocket dial" has create yet a new disastrous check on opening your big fat mouth. My friend's husband fired a guy at work and then pocket dialed him the next day while he told the other workers all the crappy things about the former employee. Oops.

And today I was dealing with something only slightly annoying but totally hurt people's feeling when I pocket dialed while telling my dramatic tale.

Just be nice, and no one (including yourself) gets hurt! I swear this is the message my mother has been trying to teach me for 20 years. When will it sink in?

But I learned a lot to day from the girl I pocket dialed. In junior high, it was the end of the world if you made a mistake because no one ever forgave you or let you live it down. But today my friend was so loving about my error and my mouth and my pain. She made it about me and seemed to really want to know if I was ok and if there was anything she could fix.

Now that is an angel. An angel who listened to her mama.

Sick of Mom?

Mommy: Quinny, have I told you today how much I just love and cherish you?

Quinn: Yes.

Mommy: Well, do you think I should tell you again?

Quinn: No.

Blogging in the car

So, my mom took Quinn on a shopping adventure today while I hung out with my sister-in-law and her new baby. My mom said that Quinn rambled on for 20 minutes on the way to Target. She never stopped. My mom said it sounded like she was rehearsing all her new words and reviewing all the thoughts and events of our trip to California. Time out ... and Calli say no ... and the mountain in the ocean ... that's Catalina ... in Grammy's ocean ... and the park ... and don't throw da' ball in da' house ... and on and on and on.

When I told my dad the story, he said, "Oh, so she was basically blogging back there."

Pulled Pork and Pear Butter

What a day!

Do you think canning and cooking count as cross-training for The 3 Day?

Temple of Blocks

Temples mean everything to Mormons. They represent the ultimate goal of life, which is to become like Jesus and return to Heaven with our eternal families. That is really what I want for myself and my family members.

So you can imagine that it means everything to me when my angel baby proudly builds a Holy Temple when she is given a pile of blocks. So cute.

It is also why I had to be honest with Quinn yesterday when we were supposed to walk to the temple, but I wanted to turn around early. We turned around near a Wal-Mart, and when she told me she still wanted to go to the temple, I was very tempted to tell her that Wal-mart was, in fact, the Temple. She would have bought it, and it only would have confused her for a week or so. But I just couldn't do it. Maybe another building, I thought to myself. Any other building, but not Wal-mart. (No matter how magical it might be.)

Later she pointed out a church building, and she thought it was the Temple. I went with it for awhile because she was pretty sure of herself, but eventually I told her it was just a church. So after our walk, we got in the car so I could fulfill my commitment to her and take her to see and walk around the temple. But, no joke, the road to the temple was closed! What?! Quinn was ticked. It was a serious issue. But how do you punish your 2 year old for throwing a fit because she is devastated that they Temple is closed?

So I still owe her.

I think she built this temple (at the top of the blog) to remind me of my commitment. Smart lady.

For the next month I'll keep up this picture of her block temple up to remind me to spend more time with my children -- loving them and teaching them of the principles that bring me and will bring them so much happiness.

Matchy Matchy Picture Day

I happened to have two of the same cute Old Navy shirt, and I they magically both fit the girls right now by a hair. To say the least, Quinn was beside herself with excitement to be matchy, matchy with McKenna. In fact, after I changed McKenna into a different but accidently similar outfit, Quinn thought they were still matchy matchy and would not change her own clothes for another 24 hours.

Anyway, here are the pics we took on matchy, matchy Wednesday and pictures of McKenna in a hat. It turns out she is about the most beautiful baby ever ESPECIALLY in a hat. Who knew? Didn't think she could get much cuter. But she did. Much love to all.

Favorite Pumpkin Cookies

I was going to make the pumpkin bars for Miss Gretel's birthday, but Quinn insisted that we make her COOKIES and NOT cookie bars. So here we start. Making cookies together. We are going to frost them with big a big "G" on the tops. Thought Quinn could learn a new letter in the process. Everybody wins.

Update: We just put the Gretel Cookies in the oven. Quinn did everything herself. She put in all the ingredients. We had to repeat the process for a few ingredients, but that was ok. After awhile she understood that she has to hold the cup or spoon over the bowl dump or tap tap it carefully. The vanilla flew across the kitchen, but I let it go. No big deal. We just pour a new spoonful.

Frosted Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Cookies

Cooking time: 12-15 min

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Beat together:

1 cup Canned pumpkin

1 cup Brown Sugar

½ cup oil

1 tsp. vanilla

Add in and stir together:

2 cups white or whole wheat flour

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp baking powder

½ tsp salt

½ tsp cinnamon

½ tsp nutmeg

¼ tsp ginger

1 cup chocolate chips (any kind)

Place large balls of sticky dough about 1 inch apart on cookie sheet. Cookies do not spread or change shape while baking.

Cook for 12-15 min. at 350 degrees. (a little longer is also ok)

Cream Cheese Frosting

Beat together:

8 oz. cream cheese softened

4 T. butter softened

1 tsp. vanilla

2 cups powdered sugar

Overachieving with FHE

So, Mormons are encouraged to hold a Family Home Evening every Monday night. It is kind of a big deal around town. Nothing happens on Monday nights. People are encouraged to stay home and have family prayer, conversation, a lesson, a game and a treat all together. Its a nice idea, right?

Tim and I didn't worry about it too much at the beginning of our marriage. Occasionally we would hold a family night. We would invite enough other and a stuff Mickey Mouse that I got as a gift while working for Radio Disney. Tim would talk in a pretend voice and welcome me and Mickey to the meeting. I wanted to slap him, but I went with it.

But we believe that our church doesn't just give us a lot of busy work. There must be something to this Family Home Evening thing. So when we couldn't get pregnant the first time, we gave it a try. Full speed ahead. We never missed a Monday.

And it worked. In a few months we were happier AND blessed by our obedience with the conception of little Kristie Quinn.

We have been very diligent ever since, but we got behind this year because Tim had to work on Monday nights. We tried switching to Thursday, but it just didn't have the same gusto. After 6 months, we are finally back on track.

Now here is the overachieving part: My phone reminds me every Thursday during Quinn's nap time to plan for FHE that night. Yesterday, I went to town and planned lesson called "Baking Spirituality."

I basically assigned a spiritual concept to each ingredient in chocolate chip cookies. Quinn and I made signs and tape them around the kitchen, and then Quinn and Tim had to find the right spiritually building concepts and ingredients as I made the cookies. When we were done, we wrapped them up for a new neighbor and as a birthday gift for an old friend. Seriously overachieving, right?

Here are pictures and the "recipe."

Avery McKenna is ready for family night. Nice to have her awake for the big event.

The kitchen is all ready!!! Each sign says something like, "Personal Scripture Study," "Church," "Tithing," or "Charity."

"Quinn and daddy search for the word "Temple," which is represented by the butter -- the first ingredient -- the Temple has to be the first priority in our lives.

Spiritual cookies ready for baking!

Cookies ready to take to the neighbor!

(Warning: This recipe is for High Altitude Only. Use a regular recipe if you are not in the mountains, folks.)

Making Spiritual Cookies

Family Home Evening

Start by deciding what you want each ingredient in your recipe to represent. Then write the names of each spiritual concept on a piece of paper and let the children decorate them.

Tape the papers in the kitchen based on where the matching ingredient is stored. For example, since the salt represents Tithing, would tape the paper that says “Tithing” on the cupboard where the salt is kept.

When it is time to make the cookies, tell the family "we are going to make spiritual cookies." Tell them to find each ingredient. Say, “First, we need the Temple.” They will go over to the “Temple” sign on the fridge and find the first ingredient. When everyone agrees that butter should go in first, explain the relationship between the temple and the butter. “If we are going to make it to the temple we have to think about it first a lot of the time.”

Continue this way until you have had a nice family lesson and discussion and a nice treat to end the night.

This activity can also be adapted to all age groups, religions and purposes. It can be done as a small lesson for pre-school ages by just making numbered signs and placing them around the kitchen. The child has to identify the number to know which ingredient comes next.

INGREDIENTS (Spiritual Nourishment)

• 1 cup butter or margarine – TEMPLE (Butter goes in first. Put temple worship as a goal BEFORE other activities)
• 1 cup white sugar FAMILY PRAYER (it is pure and sweet and makes the day better)
• 1 cup packed brown sugar FAMILY AND PERSONAL SCRIPTURE STUDY (Scripture study works with prayer)
• 3 eggs FAMILY HOME EVENING (Without eggs, it all just falls apart AND late is better than never. 2 Days Late)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract CHURCH (it’s just a little bit but it gives the cookies a lot of flavor)
• 1/2 teaspoon salt TITHING (Tithing – it is just a pinch, but it makes all the different)
• 1 teaspoon baking soda WORD OF WISDOM (We don’t eat yucky things)
• 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour PRAYER (ADD LOTS AND LOTS AND LOTS OD PRAYER. Flour and prayer are the bulk of the cookies)
• 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips CHARITY (The chocolate is an important ingredient that gives the rest of the ingredients their purpose. Without Charity, it is not a chocolate chip cookie. Plus, chocolate is sweet, and we should be sweet too.)

DIRECTIONS (Obedience)

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. In a large bowl, stir together the butter, white sugar and brown sugar until smooth. Mix in eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla. Combine the flour, baking soda and salt; stir into the batter just until blended, then mix in the chocolate chips so they are evenly distributed. Drop cookies by heaping teaspoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets spacing 2 inches apart.
3. Bake in the preheated oven until the edges begin to turn golden, 12 to 15 minutes. Allow cookies to cool for a few minutes on the baking sheets before removing to wire racks to cool completely.