1. enjoying one of the last nice weathered, beautiful days outside with Liam yesterday-playing with sidewalk chalk, having a picnic, kicking a soccer ball around...it was awesome.
2. letting Liam push the little shopping cart around the grocery store by himself yesterday-despite a few minor injuries to myself and a display case, he did rather well and was VERY proud of himself
3. mint hot chocolate

I couldn't resist

My friend Adrianne also put this on her blog and I couldn't resist. This is a sweet article about Nienie and her sisters.

I love both my sisters so much and they are always so willing to help me out with various things, especially with watching my kids and loving them unconditionally.

If you haven't clicked over to see how she is doing, the doctors said she is "Out of the woods". She is coming out of her chemically induced coma and doing as well as expected.

The kids got to see their dad and I can just imagine what a sight that was--all the excitement and love. Their boy, Ollie, gets to stay with his dad and grandparents for a while and really, how wonderful is that?

1. my cute mom who is totally tired from planning her ward trunk or treat last night willingly went through all the garbage in her ward dumpster this morning because I thought I threw Justin's huge school paper away and she didn't want Justin's nice work clothes to be ruined. THANK YOU, and really, you went above and beyond!
2. that Liam was excited to wear his wig and overalls for his costume after we told him he could get candy if he wore it. Go candy!
3. that within the next couple weeks I will be done with planning parties for a while!

Tagged!

I was tagged my Matti!

8 shows I love to watch:
1. Dancing with the Stars
2. Project Runway
3. Good Eats
4. the news...I do watch it but I really just like the weather part and the goof ups on Fridays (hey, it says LOVE to watch!)
5. Charlie and Lola-the cutest show on Playhouse Disney
6. The Simpsons
7. Jon and Kate plus 8

8 favorite restaurants:
1. Cheesecake Factory
2. The Brick Oven
3. Rumbi
4. The Melting Pot
5. Cafe Rio
6. Paradise Bakery
7. Crown Burger
8. The Olive Garden

8 things that happened yesterday:
1. saw the primary program-ADORABLE!
2. took a nap
3. went to my parent's house for dinner
4. decorated sugar cookies with the fam
5. ummm...Sundays are usually slow...

8 things I look forward to:
1. Justin being done with school!
2. looking at the pictures we got done today
3. cutting down my hours at work
4. Justin's birthday (11/3)
5. Andrew's birthday (11/8)
6. Nicholas' birthday (11/9)
7. listening to Christmas music
8. Andrew's baptism

8 things I love about fall:
1. shopping-I love all the colors and wearing sweaters
2. the leaves
3. soup and breadsticks
4. Halloween!
5. parties
6. baking-there is always something or someone to bake for and it makes your house smell delicious!
7. fall scents for your home-pumpkin spice and things like that
8. all the fun activities!

8 things on my wish list:
1. a new car for me
2. a new car for Justin
3. that I can be a stay at home mom
4. that we can make a good decision about where Justin will get his Master's degree
5. that my boys will grow up to be outstanding men and be good examples
6. sleep
7. a trip to Europe, really anywhere...
8. that Liam will be pottytrained soon

8 people I tag:
Andrea, Alli, Mel, Clancy, Mistie, whoever feels like it!

1. that our family pictures went off without a hitch. I am excited to see them in a couple weeks! Even Justin said he had a good time! I do have a fettish with pictures though--I might have to hold off for a while until Luke is ready to be baptized in Spring 2010--I don't know if I can wait that long!
2. that chocolate chip granola bars can cheer up a cranky 3 year old and a diet coke can cheer up a cranky mom
3. thinking about decorating possibilities!

1. that we had a super fun Halloween party at our house and I loved seeing all the fun costumes :)
2. that Liam thought the party was for him and kept saying: "It's my birthday coming up". So we sang to him at the end of the party and he blew out a candle. Then we did the same for Luke because he thought it looked fun.
3. that people actually ate the kitty litter cake this year

1. that I have creative friends to steal ideas from for crafts and things
2. going out with friends
3. that my cute friend remembered that I needed wipes after I had forgotten them at two stores and bought me some at Costco--Liam and I thank you!

Pumpkin picking!

We finally had a day to go to the local pumpkin patch. We have gone to the same one for about 4 years and it has really grown! The boys loved the mini corn maze and the tractors and I love the prices of the pumpkins.

Justin just loved being with me.

I am very picky about our pumpkins. They have to be relatively even in shape-not squished on one side or the other-and they definately have to have a good stem for decorating or to lift the lid off of the jack-o-lantern. These are good choices:

These are bad choices:

Our treat after!


1. I have every other weekend off now and it is so fun being able to do things like this and not have to worry about being tired or stressed about being called in.
2. Iceberg makes a mean shake and there are plenty of flavors to make anybody happy
3. that there weren't 13 kids in nursery today-much more tolerable.

1. The Utes are still undefeated!
2. that everyone's costumes are pretty much done and under control. Thank you mom for sewing Liam's...I promise one day I will learn this skill.
3. that I had enough courage to defend Luke in the fabric store

Also, Luke informed me on the way home from multiple errands today that since I have been patient, I can play the x-box when we get home. I guess moms DO get perks!

1. getting called off to play Yatzee with my family
2. nice strangers who let me have a diaper when Liam has gone through multiple in a short amount of time and I run out
3. Sweet Afton's candy shop at Gardner Village-it is a great bribery tool!

Like mother, like son

Today when Liam got out of the shower, he looked at me and said (sighing): "I need a diet coke." I wonder where he has heard that before!

1. Walking to a volunteer training at the school with Liam's arms clasped around my neck with him whispering "I wub-e you mom" over and over
2. All the boys are out of school for fall break tomorrow and Friday
3. I just found the cutest tater tots at the store-they are letter shaped! I really like killing two birds with one stone: now lunch can be educational and delicious!

the CupCake reCipe

Pumpkin's not just for pies. Mix up these cupcakes with canned pumpkin and lots of spice, and top them with your favorite cream cheese frosting for a sweet snack.
Ingredients
Makes 18
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon coarse salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
1 cup packed light-brown sugar
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, melted and cooled
4 large eggs, lightly beaten
1 can (15 ounces) pumpkin puree
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line cupcake pans with paper liners; set aside. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and allspice; set aside.
In a large bowl, whisk together, brown sugar, granulated sugar, butter, and eggs. Add dry ingredients, and whisk until smooth. Whisk in pumpkin puree.
Divide batter evenly among liners, filling each about halfway. Bake until tops spring back when touched, and a cake tester inserted in the center comes out clean, 20 to 25 minutes, rotating pans once if needed. Transfer to a wire rack; let cool completely.

-Taken from Martha Stewart magazine

I was able to get about 32 cupcakes from this recipe, not just 18. They are delicious!

Oh, and the frosting recipe I used is:
1 cube cream cheese (the 1/3 fat kind)
1 stick butter
Cream together. Add about a half a bag (16 oz?) of powdered sugar and mix together with cream cheese mixture. You can then add a teaspoon of vanilla if you would like. I seriously could eat this with a spoon. You will have enough left over after frosting the cupcakes to put on graham crackers. Wow...two treats in one! Enjoy!

1. pumpkin flavored things-I am glad that they are abundant this time of year (and I just baked some delicious pumpkin cupcakes with cream cheese frosting...drooling much?)
2. Justin is on break this week from school
3. that Liam loves his little Cars saucer chair and looks like such a big boy kicking back in it watching t.v.

1. I have a new favorite Rascal Flatts song-"Here"-when I first heard it, I cried.
2. candy corn
3. the secret bathroom by the O.R.

1.the heaters on the ceiling to warm me as I walk into work
2.that I FINALLY decided what we are wearing for our family pictures! YEA!
3.that my cute niece Caroline called me today (with help from her mom) and her little "buh-bye!"

1.Luke got his cast off!
2.I started Christmas shopping
3.it is soup weather :)

One of my favorite traits: honesty

Today has been a very emotional day. My plan was to go to the bank, go to the zoo, the scrapbook store, and then home to make dinner. Well, there was another plan in store for me.

I went to the credit union this morning to withdraw a considerable sum of money, in cash, to redeposit into a different bank account a few miles away. I put this sum of money in my wallet, went to the car, put Liam into his carseat, and drove to the other bank. When I went to reach for my wallet to make the deposit-it wasn't there. Not under Liam, not on the floor of my car, not in my purse, in my pocket, on top of the car-it was gone. I proceeded to retrace my steps and drove to the credit union. I was sobbing. Freaking out, if you will. I called the credit union to see if I had left my wallet inside or if it was out in the parking lot. They said they would check. Justin called during this and I tried to remain calm but he could tell I had been crying. When he asked me what was wrong, I lost it. He said he would come and help me look for it and he would start and the bank. I made it to the credit union and looked around. Then, as I was in the parking lot the credit union called me back and said it was not there. I was pretty much hysterical at this point. I drove back toward the bank and called Justin to tell him that the credit union did not find it as I was scouring the roads for my little brown wallet. As I was talking to Justin, a call came through with a number I did not recognize. I clicked over and it was my neighbor telling me that a good samaritan had dropped my wallet at her house. All the cash was still there.

I went to my neighbor's house and she had gotten his number. I called him and thanked him profusely. I asked him how he found out where my neighborhood was-my drivers license still has my old address on it. He said he drove to my old house, the people obviously told him I didn't live there and so he said he looked at my checkbook and saw my current address. I cannot believe that someone took all that time to help someone he didn't even know and he was worried about leaving the wallet somewhere that it would be compromised. He said he thought my neighbor looked pretty trustworthy-he was totally right. He apologized for digging through my wallet and I told him that I didn't mind, especially since he brought me the wallet back! I asked him if I could do anything for him and he said no, he just hopes that someone will do something nice for him one day. So, please, if you know anyone named Ben, give him a hug. And spread good karma. You never know when you will need some in return!

I am thankful for honest people and that Heavenly Father answers prayers, a nice day with Liam at the zoo, and that Nick's team won tonight!

1. listening to Liam sing
2. Liam's "What's this, mom?" (I know that this usually happens much earlier than at 3, but it means that he is more interested in talking and wants to know what is going on around him! Yea!)
3. decorating sugar cookies

1. that I am going home...it feels strange but freakin' awesome!
2. that I will be awake for conference tomorrow
3. that all my kids have decided what they want to be for Halloween-and none of them are inappropriate :)

1. That I made a good decision--much to my angst.
2. that Liam woke up with a dry diaper this morning
3. this is my 200th post!