Sometimes I Feel Like Selling Ollivander to the Gypsies...

Especially on his cranky days...like today!

...but I'm usually glad that I didn't. He's pretty nice to have around most of the time.

Ollie's Stank Face

to let you know when he is less than pleased...

I Really Have to Stop Leaving Jesse Home Alone for so Long

Sure, he does awesome things like cleaning the house for me...

But he also does silly things like growing facial hair and getting attached to it.

I am not all about facial hair.

I fixed a Thanksigiving feast yesterday...

I made WAY too much food for the three of us to put away, but it was so delicious!
We had:
Turkey
Stuffing
Mashed potatoes and gravy
Magical Yams (Ollie loved 'em!)
Rolls
Cranberry Jelly
and some Pumpkin Pie topped with an inch of Whipped Cream

My turkey gave me trouble...just like the last one. But don't blame the turkey. I think it was my approach. I just need more practice.

We ate on china and drank from crystal. I think Thanksgiving tastes better that way.

I thought about dressing up in my brand new D.I. dress, which, trust me, would have been a TREAT...but after a day of slaving in my kitchen, I decided that casual clothes with a dishtowel around my waist would have to be acceptable.

The dinner dishes are still waiting to be washed...

I'll get right on that...

Now all that's left is the real deal at Grandma's house on Thursday.

I.Can't.Wait.

My Mom Jeans

The other day I was monologuing to Ashley Beatrice about how stylish I used to be, and how I used to have friends to play with, and how my music library was always up to date with my current favorite songs and artists, and so on and so forth...

She wouldn't hear it. Do you know what she said?

"Go put on your mom jeans and get to work!"

That's why I love her.

She's right you know...I may not have everything I used to, but I'm pretty lucky to have the things I have.

That's what we call wisdom.

She also said "Do you realize that we live in different states and neither of those states is Utah? That's crazy."

I'm gonna agree with her...that is COMPLETELY out of control.

Like a Faucet

Between

Sister Hansen's wonderful sharing time lesson about sacred places...

Sister Moyle's perfect singing lesson including "I Love to See the Temple," "Scripture Power," and my new favorite, "The Family is of God"...

Our new Christmas book "The Spirit of Christmas" by Nancy Tillman...

and the ten pound bag of onions I diced for freezing today...

I could have filled a bucket!

Decorating...

This topic has been occupying my mind lately and taking up all the space in my brain that is usually reserved for fun alliterations and witty remarks.

I really don't like decorating...(I'm always so unsure of how to achieve what I'm looking for)...but I love living in a space that is aesthetically pleasing to me.

That's why I am going to transform this apartment with a layout that I love into a space that I love to look at...even if it kills me!

I will fill it with things that I love. I will not be afraid of bright colors and bold prints (in moderation) and I will not refrain from buying whimsical things that I LOVE just because I don't want to have to pack them away when I move.

For this endeavor, I am especially grateful for D.I., Pinterest and people named Annie...

Did you know that I really really REALLY love to cook?

I especially love preparing delicious meals for the people I care about...

In fact, that happens to be my favorite way to say,
"I love you."

I think it's probably something I learned from a Grandma or two that I know.

Actually, if you're reading this, chances are that I have missed you immensely and would like nothing more than to sit you down at my kitchen table and stuff you with food!

Just so you know how I feel...

And you shouldn't fret if we're not super tight. I also use treats to let people know that I'd really love to have them as my friend...

This is Oliver Jesse

Silly in every way...

Hooray for husbands who wash the dishes when wives have had it with homework and housework!

The Story of Jesse's Life: Scones

Yesterday afternoon I was sitting on the couch...trying to decide if I would rather watch unending episodes of Medium, or write my paper on Cognitive Development

(Piaget and Vygotsky have been my best friends this week...wait? Didn't I already take Human Development AND Early Childhood? Alas, I am there again, but it could be worse...Anywho),   

Jesse came in and made a speech, complete with hand gestures, about how delicious a scone covered with butter and homemade strawberry jam might be.

I shrugged my shoulders and pretended not to be interested while he rummaged through the kitchen for my roll dough recipe...

that's right, lovelies, I now have a roll dough recipe because sometimes, every now and again, I like to make rolls...from scratch...in the bread machine. Hey, it counts!

I had to pretend I didn't want any for a while in order to avoid helping...

yes...sometimes I am just that lazy.

When the scone making process started to look fun, I got up and joined Jesse...and would you believe he started bossing me around...

"You need more flour" and "let that rise for a minute" and "Why did you use the pizza cutter to make a squiggly line in my dough?"

I thought it was a little bit funny that our kitchen roles had been so completely reversed...I mean, I'm usually the one bossing people around in my kitchen, so I teased,

"Since when did you get to be such a scone expert, huh?"

His reply,

"Since I just got off the phone with my mom."

And it was TRUE! They were, quite possibly, the BEST SCONES I HAD EVER TASTED! That Jacque sure knows a thing or two about scones...among many other things.

They were so good that I made him *pinky promise with his left hand (That means it was legit!) that he would make them for our family every Fast Sunday from now through eternity...

It is totally happening. My kids can thank me later.

*Thank you, ShaNeil, for making this family tradition possible by teaching me about pink promises with left hands...

The Story of Jesse's Life: Triple Dipping

Thank you for sharing your chips and salsa with our son...Try not to mind his multiple dips...

Welcome Winter!

I know it sounds like a lot to ask but...

Please provide snow on Christmas and my birthday...and please, pretty please, make room for spring in March... 

PENNSYLVANIA

Jesse's trip to Philadelphia has come and gone.

He said it was great,

And that the roads are CRAZY,
But the drivers were so nice.

He also thinks that he impressed his interviewer.

Would you like to know something a little bit silly???

Jesse was invited to interview a couple of months ago (I'm thinking august?)...but we couldn't really afford to send him then, so Jesse called the school and asked what the interview window was. When told he had plenty of time, he asked if there would be a penalty for waiting and was told no. Well, there was. The school had already sent acceptance letters to enough people to fill the program.

Jesse was told, however, not worry because the roll over rate on the wait list is pretty high since most people who get accepted to programs, get accepted to more than one...we'll keep our fingers crossed.

What did we learn?

It is all one big game!

And that's fine.

We like to play games.