• 22:03 Staying up waaaaay too late. Go to bed! #
• 22:18 And eating too much... #

• 12:03 80 what? Where is cold, crisp November? We practically melted at the Veteran's Day parade today. #
• 12:05 And yet another sign that we are getting very, very old: Aaron and I both choked up at seeing the flag and veterans walking in the parade. #
• 12:06 What is next? Lawrence Welk? #

• 08:25 TGIF!!! Hooray! #
• 13:53 Going shopping!!! #

• 15:27 What a gorgeous day! Apparently putting those summer clothes into storage was a bit hasty. #

• 20:58 It must be late. I am toggling websites about cloth diapering and feeling very much convinced. Should I do it? #
• 20:59 p.s. thanks to all for the recommendation about don'tjudgemyhair.com. Laughing out loud right now. #

• 06:01 November already? #
• 06:02 The delight of daylight savings time is no longer when you have children. They now just wake at 5:30 a.m. instead of 6:30 a.m. #

Seemed Appropriate

I was a witch, obviously.



Aaron was Elvis.


Due to the fact that we missed the picture opportunity this year with Aaron, I am showing, for your viewing pleasure tonight, a picture of Aaron getting ready for "trek" in 2008. In this picture you might notice him sporting a healthy beard--the singular object that brought all romantic notions to a screeching halt in our home that summer. Clearly, I would not have done well as one of Brigham's wives, but I digress. Enjoy!

Fast Sunday on Halloween?

They started out as pretty cute pirates but, to my chagrin, ended up stripping much of their costumes and walking around the ward's trunk or treat looking like the tattered little orphan boys who's mommy was too tired (or too broke) to dress them for Halloween. I hope this doesn't mean that I will be getting more* hand-me-downs doorbell ditched in the coming weeks.

Despite the wardrobe malfunctions, however, I think they had a marvelous time. And we almost got away without even picking up candy (the boys seemed happy enough just to hand it out and watch the endless parade.) But the inner-Mommy inside of me finally prevailed so we traipsed around to a few cars and drove home appropriately sticky and tired after the night's festivities.

Little do they know, that I have already corralled all their loot, sorted it, trashed some, and tucked the rest of it away until, in the coming months, we need a three-in-the-afternoon-pick-me-up. Either that, or a bribe.

*I seem to attract the charitable gaze of many a person who is looking to get rid of children's clothing. Seriously, people give me stuff, at least, every couple of months. I am not complaining, mind you. Really, it is very kind of them. All I am saying is that it is starting to give me a complex.

• 10:11 Caught ASH eating out of the garbage. #
• 10:14 Finally turned the heater on today. The smell makes me want to bake, make soup, and snuggle down with a book. #
• 10:32 In an attempt to be frugal, made my own cheese crackers yesterday. Took, maybe, 10 minutes to put together and the results were heavenly. #
• 20:17 Dear visiting teachers, home teachers, neighbors, and anonymous holiday zealots: I love you all, but please stop bringing by treats. Really. #

• 07:37 Fevers again today. Hate to admit it, but it is such a nice break to have a quiet, complacent, five-year-old. #

Food Storage for Lovers

My oldest baby is sick today with a fever. It made for a nice mellow day at home and I am finally taking a breath after another crazy few weeks. I even took a nap today. (The miracles will never cease!) I got a new calling this past week that sent me rummaging, in a brief emotional moment of stress, for chocolate throughout the house: Young Women's President. And I have been canning again (thanks to my great friend).

The bad news of the month is that I haven't really made a lot of progress in the weight loss department (currently at 168 lbs and holding), but the good news is that I haven't made any gains, either. And I am learning so much--about myself, about food, and about self-control in general.

I think why this month has been harder is because I am trying to tighten up the self-control muscles in multiple areas of my life. I am trying to learn to eat consistently, well (ie not wasting time eating gross food, emphasizing whole-grains, fruit, vegetables, etc), and with gratitude for it.

I am also trying to become stronger, physically. This involves breaking down years of mind barriers (I'm not that kind of person...) in addition to just plain getting up earlier than the children to exercise.

Then there is the budget. Without divulging too many boring details, we have enacted a tighter stance. And though there is money that could be spent, we are trying not to spend it.

Not to mention the fervent desires of my heart for meditation, scriptures and prayer. They go without saying and, always for me, take discipline and constant attention.

Mix it all together and I am running out of indulgences, frankly. I cannot (or will not) eat mounds of cookie dough. I am not wantonly purchasing to my heart's content, and I am trying to be frugal even in the necessities. The advent of motherhood has effectively relegated personal exercise and spiritual enlightenment to the early morning hours. And the list goes on and on.

Where can a girl catch a break?

Finally, though, in the interest of complete disclosure, I am not tearing it up in any of the above categories. Really, I am not. But there is so much satisfaction and power in the attempting--in the striving. And I can feel my heart changing.

• 20:45 Turbo scrabble, anyone? #
• 21:45 Ok, fine. I ate half of the pan of apple crisp today. There. I said it. (I really need some professional help, obviously.) #

• 19:34 Enjoyed myself at the Witches Tea Party, now I'm off to the Stake Dance. I can almost hear "Lady in Red" as we speak. Wish me luck! #

• 22:27 So I am sitting on the backyard porch, shooting the breeze with the hubby, and a skunk casually saunters by looking for grub. #
• 22:28 Totally freaked me out. My blood ran cold... Now I am watching him through the window wishing the kids were awake to see it. #
• 22:29 Aaron's texting various friends to see if anyone wants to come and do some target practice. #

• 11:23 Re-thinking the pillsbury bake-off. I don't like the products, and looking over the website, I feel out-of-place. #
• 11:23 It's a jungle out there. Ladies make a career out of this stuff. #

Finally Broke Through

169 lbs this morning!!! (Technically it was 168 for three times and then 169 for two times. But for goal-sake I am rounding up! Yes, I am a multiple weigher-inner.)

Unfortunately my goal for next week is 167 lbs, which means that I need to stop eating these lovely ham appetizers that I am making for Aaron's work today. Darn.

• 19:56 Successful family home evening means ending with a rousing game of "boola, boola." Ahhh, memories. #

Ladies and Gentlemen, It's List Time!!

It has been an interesting few months. I have been:

• Staying up, consistently, too late every night
• Learning to make ruffles
• Losing children in department stores
• Coordinating a wedding reception in two weeks
• Failing at communicating and leading (I have so much more to learn)
• Coming up with tart crust recipes
• Baking said tart crusts
• Eating said tart crusts
• Coming up with filling recipes
• Taste-testing said recipes
• Pulling off the wedding reception (with lots of great gals)
• Doorbell ditching leftover tarts
• Enjoying the constantly-entertaining antics of my little ones
• "Falling off the wagon"
• Getting back on the wagon (never surrender...)
• Feeling lonely and misunderstood in the world of women (sometimes I would just rather talk to men, they are much less...complicated at times)
• Transforming an ugly DI-headed jumper into a lovely light skirt
• Playing "hide and go seek" as a family and having a grand time (I forgot how much fun that stuff is...)
• Watching conference
• Re-listening to conference on the iPod
• Kissing
• Failing at motherhood
• Succeeding at motherhood (ha!)
• Boot scootin boogie-ing with the YW
• Studying America's Test Kitchen's latest cookbook (and then putting it on the back burner for a while because it is a distraction to my diet...)
• Fitting into my dress that I wore to Aaron's misson home-coming talk (Hooray!!!)
• Waiting (in vain!) for that 169 on the scale
• Running my mouth
• Absorbing Elizabeth Smart's trial testimony
• Exercising outside at night and in the morning--finally sane weather after months of madness
• Feeding four hungry teenagers
• Re-working the family budget to save several thousand more a year (cross the fingers)
• Devouring Julia Child's My Life in Paris
• Embarassing myself
• Suffering through mandatory "parent meetings" at HY's school
• Enjoying the quirks and sweet babblings of my baby
• Trying my hand at canning (or my friend's hand, really. But I am learning.)
• Writing parody (TBA later...)
• Leaving the children with a babysitter and going to that college football game we wanted to go to
• Running, as a family, and loving it (yes, actually jiggling up and down and everything. Shocking, I know.)
• Loving my crazy, boring, tasty, casual, loud, exhausting, fabulous, and fulfilling life!

• 19:30 So so so tired. Everyone in bed right now! #

• 09:06 Good morning Saturday!!! What shall we do today? #
• 09:07 Welcome little sissy and new uncle-to-be. Wish you could stay longer. #