This year's masterpieces

In following tradition, Sean and I headed to Springville last weekend and picked out our prized pumpkins from the pumpkin patch. I think there's just something so much more satisfying and enjoyable in going to a pumpkin patch . I won't judge you if you bought yours from Wal-Mart-- loser. haha! jk

The chosen ones:

We carved them tonight and tried something new-- we cut the hole out of the bottom instead of the top. Makes sense, right? Easier to light the candle and the top is left intact!

The finished products:

Glamor shot:

Nov. 4

One week until this election fiasco is over (hopefully-- remember the hanging chads?). I don't know about you, but I am pretty tired of election coverage 24/7. Don't get me wrong, I'm all about voting and educating yourself on the issues, I'm just really tired of hearing about it all. This election seriously started two years ago.

I was in a waiting room last week watching CNN. Of course they were talking about the election. The lady sitting next to me turned to the lady sitting next to her and said something to the effect that she was sure McCain would win. The lady she was speaking to said something along the lines that she was still an undecided voter and that she liked McCain but had a lot of reservations about Sarah Palin. So then the lady who said she was sure McCain would win said, "Who is Sarah Palin?"

I'm not kidding.

For real? Um, where have you been hiding out the last few months? And how can you sit there and expect anyone to give you any credibility after saying that? Baffling.

6 months

Well, I'm starting the last leg—hello third trimester! As you can see, my tummy has definitely grown this past month. Oh, and in case you've noticed, I am wearing the same outfit each time I take one of these pictures. This is on purpose! According to my pregnancy book, I'm supposed to be gaining about a pound a week now—yikes! I've noticed in the last two weeks or so people are starting to feel comfortable enough to ask me when I am due. Most of the curious stares of "Is she pregnant?" are gone. I'm actually really happy about this because it means I look pregnant, not just fat. When I weighed myself the other day I had gained 18 pounds. It's amazing how different 18 pounds can make you feel. I already feel like I waddle when I walk (something I am consciously working very hard to correct)! A new friend named heartburn also decided to show up a couple of weeks ago. I've never had it before, so I'm a wuss about it. I really can't complain though—I know I have been pretty lucky thus far since I generally feel like life is moving on as normal.

In more "baby news," I scored an awesome crib a few weeks ago. There is a warehouse in Orem that makes baby furniture and sells it to high-end retailers. Their cribs are usually around $600-$700 in stores, but they are going out of business and decided to open doors to the public to get rid of the inventory. I happened to run across an ad and decided to go check it out. I really wasn't expecting much, but I am so glad I went because I picked up this baby:

It's SOLID wood and the sturdiest crib I've found so far. It's a really pretty cherry stain and just seems like it's high quality. The best part? I bought it for $200. That is cheaper than the cheapest one I could find at Target (after shipping). I like this crib much better than anything else I have seen—including Pottery Barn Kids. If you are looking for a crib, e-mail me and I'll give you directions to this place!

As you can also see in the picture, we painted the nursery. It's a really light, pretty blue (think robin's egg). Being amateur painters, I was kind of nervous about how it would turn out, but I have to say I think we did a pretty darn good job! No major accidents or spills. Thank goodness for Sean's steady hand—he free handed the ceiling line. I tried fit or about 20 seconds and we both decided it would be best if we left that task to Sean. :)

And for one final baby-related story: Sean had his head on my tummy this morning trying to see if he could hear the baby's heartbeat. I hadn't noticed the baby kicking much, but as soon as Sean put his head on my stomach, he kicked him hard in the face! We both burst out laughing and I just told him it looks like he's going to be a mamma's boy! ;)

Moonlight Ride

Sean and I headed with my brother and sister-in-law to Sundance's moonlight ride the other night. It starts at 9pm and you get to ride the chair lift up and back while checking out the scenery under the light of the full moon. We went last year also, and it has turned into something I really look forward to. The four of us rode the chair up together and had a great time cracking jokes and laughing at couples passing the other direction who were crammed on one side of the chair (making the chair look like it was going to tip over). One couple thought it was a good idea to have the girl sitting on the guy's lap without using the safety bar-- geniuses. The mountain looked really cool in the moonlight, and we even saw deer! It was a chilly night, and made me want to go skiing :) Maybe skiing will help me lose the extra pounds after our son is born-- I'll have to hit up the siblings for some babysitting action!

Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins

I was looking through some cooking blogs the other day and I came across this recipe for pumpkin cream cheese muffins. I've already admitted I am a little pumpkin obsessed this time of year, so when I saw the recipe I knew I had to try it. And oh my, I think I have found a new vice in life. These are SO GOOD. Sean says they are the best muffins he's ever had, and I believe him because he's wolfing them down as fast as I am. I've tried limiting my intake to two of these per day, because let's face it, muffins are really just cupcakes masked with a different name to make it ok for you to eat them for breakfast. Anyway, if you're a fan of pumpkin anything, do yourself a favor and make these! I followed the recipe exactly, except I omitted the ground cloves. Why? Because both my mom and sister claim they are pretty strong and I didn't feel like shelling out $8 for them!

Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins

Yield: 24 muffins
Ingredients:
For the muffins:
3 cups flour
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. nutmeg
1 tsp. ground cloves
1 tbsp. and 1 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking soda
4 eggs
1 ¼ cups vegetable oil
2 cups sugar
2 cups pumpkin puree

For the filling:
8 oz. cream cheese, softened
1 cup powdered sugar

For the streusel topping:
½ cup sugar
¼ cup and 1 tsp. flour
4 tbsp. butter, cubed
1 ½ tsp. cinnamon

Directions:
To prepare the filling, combine the cream cheese and powdered sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer and whip until smooth. Form into a log on plastic wrap or foil, making sure that the diameter is small enough to fit into the well of a muffin pan. Wrap the log up tightly and freeze until slightly hardened, 1-2 hours.

To make the muffins, combine the flour, spices, salt and baking soda in a medium bowl. Mix well and set aside. In the bowl of an electric mixer, combine the eggs, vegetable oil, sugar and pumpkin puree. Mix until well combined. Add in the dry ingredients and mix on low speed until just combined.

To make the streusel topping, combine all ingredients in a small bowl. Mix together with a pastry blender or two forks until crumbly.

Preheat the oven to 350°. Line two muffin pans with paper liners. To assemble the muffins, fill each muffin well halfway with batter. Remove the cream cheese log from the freezer and slice into 24 equal slices. Place a slice in each muffin well. Divide the remaining muffin batter evenly among the muffin cups, on top of the cream cheese. Sprinkle the streusel topping over the top of the batter. Bake for 20-25 minutes. Let cool completely before serving.

Tagged

My friend Lauren tagged me!

A- Attached or single: Happily attached!

B- Best Friend: ooooohhhh hard to say (except for the obvious: Sean) My best friend since 4th grade who I tell everything is Andrea, but I have a handful of lovely ladies I'd consider best/very close friends!
C-Cake or Pie: both, but if I have to choose one, cake (preferably chocolate cake with chocolate frosting!)
D-Day: Saturday—no work and always something fun going on
E- Essential Item: lip gloss
F- Favorite Color: pink, light blue, bright green
G-Gummi Bears or Worms: Both! I'm a big fan of gummi anything
H-Home town: Idaho Falls
I- Indulgences: Cadbury Mini Eggs at Easter, Oreos
J- January or July?: January-- our family will have a new addition!
K-Kids: One on the way!
L-Life is incomplete without: family, laughter, church, good friends
M- Marriage Date: April 24, 2004
N- Number of Siblings: Three. An older sister and brother and a younger brother
O- Oranges or Apples: Both. I hate Red Delicious apples though. The skin is bitter and they are always mushy.
P- Phobias or Fears: Something happening to Sean
Q- Quote: Love to one, friendship to many, goodwill to all.
R- Reason To Smile: Got to hang out with some of my nieces last night
S- Season: Fall
T- Tag: Taryn, Beth, Courtney E., Cecily, Gina
U- Unknown fact about me: When I was little my life's ambition was to be an ice cream scooper at Baskin Robbins
V- Vegetarian or Oppressor of Animal: I love meat and I am not ashamed!
W- Worst Habit: Sean says it's leaving egg shells in the egg carton
X-Rays or Ultrasounds: Ultrasounds. Never had an X-ray!
Y-Your favorite food: I love a good steak, pasta, etc.
Z: Zodiac Sign: Aquarius

Alpine Loop

I couldn't be happier about fall finally showing up here in Utah. The temperature is starting to drop and there is crispness in the air that I love this time of year. It is by far my favorite season. Fall represents the beginning of holidays, yummy food, better clothes (I pretty much hate summer clothes at this point), beautiful foliage, etc.

We painted the nursery this weekend and needing to get a break from the fumes, Sean and I decided to drive the Alpine Loop while listening to conference. My sister told me traditionally the fall colors are at their peak during conference weekend, so we thought we'd see what the canyon had to offer. Luckily we took the camera, because it was a GORGEOUS drive.

The colors were amazing and when the sun came through the clouds the trees almost looked like they were glowing! We were both in awe at how beautiful it was. We feel so lucky to be living so close to the mountains. How anyone can deny there is a God who created this earth is baffling to me. Hooray for fall!

Weekly Funny - Taco Town!!!

Jenny and I were watching SNL commercial parodies and we saw this and both thought it was hilarious. My favorite part is the end when the guys are yelling Taco Town. Pure genius.