All Hallow's Eve

After a feast at a friend's house, I'd say it was a very successful, and pumpkin-filled Halloween for me. Last night, Molly carved a pumpkin, from which we extracted it's gooey gobliny guts for seed-purposes. Today I made 4 dozen pumpkin cookies (some with craisins, most without), and tomorrow I will season and bake those yummy little seeds!

No, this isn't my Halloween costume, but my MIL did want me to be Sarah Palin so she could "get a picture with her;" I was happy to oblige. Alaska sure misses Mark's family; especially the little Alaskan in my arms.

In the last week, Mont has:

-gotten SO good at holding his head up.

Barely a bobble topper these days.

-found his fists; tries to shove his whole hand in his mouth.

-saw himself in the mirror

-loved being held!

-talked a whole lot! (soft little owl-noises)

day at the zoo

Mark designated today as the day to see the zoo animals and the F-22! Since no pictures would be allowed of the F-22, I was sure to send Mark out the door with our camera so he could land a couple of fun pictures for Mont's room (the canvases are WAY small on their wall, unfortunately).

Frosty, the polar bear:

Peter, the wolf:
Billy, the sheep:
Sherkhan, the Bengal tiger:
Baloo, the grizzly bear:
Klondike, the snow leopard:
Tobler, the tiger:

I think Mont will love all animals, much like I do. We will have lots of fun at zoos some day. But today Mont-man and I passed it up to stay warm at home, while he napped and I caught up on some laundry and Grey's Anatomy.

In case you wondered, the F-22 is incredible. All top secret. okay, maybe not all of it. BUT, I like to think I'm Sydney Bristow on Alias and I have been told all top secret things. So I'll say it just for fun: top secret. Tyler, thanks for showing us!

such a blessing

Today was Mont's big LDS debut; he was blessed in Sacrament meeting.

"I bless you that you will have a special love for your mother, and be a friend of your father's."

-Mark

We haven't been the most photogenic this week,

but I look okay in this one, so... sorry, Mark - HA:

On the way to the blessing... Mont must be excited!!

In his cute little get up. On the right side of his vest there is a cow jumping over the moon. This outfit is for a 3 monther, but he is so long that it fit just right:

My Uncle Stan even came up for the fun. Thanks, Uncle Stan!!

It was a very special day! Mont was blessed with good health, strength and happiness, righteous ambitions, an eternal marriage and family, a desire to serve others and share the gospel. I hope this kid knows we have many hopes for him. We love him so much and am excited to be apart of all of his adventures and experiences.

The day began with waffles dripping in warm maple syrup, and ended with homemade lasagna and the BEST pecan pie I've ever tasted (only seasonal there). Mont is back on his good sleeping schedule as of two nights ago. No crying, and just goes to sleep at 7 - 7:30. Unfortunately, he has one more shot to get, and that will be tomorrow... Tomorrow night may be a different story. Stay tuned.

Not a great picture of a few of us, but here it is just for the traditional purposes. It was too cold to take the picture outside with Mont, so we stayed inside and warm.

"you think of a wonderful thought"

Here is the second one. My goal was to get two done before Mark's family came to town, and by golly, I did it!

Medium: pastel chalks, acrylic paint, colored pencils, and graphite on stretched canvas.

It was a little trickier, but I still think it'll be great in Mont's little nursery above his little crib.

*anyone else see the crocodile cloud chasing the pirate ship?

Tomorrow I will color the sides of the canvases and then we'll spray the fixative to coat and seal. Then, we'll hang 'em high.

"straight on till morning"

I may be tired in the morning, but I'm too excited to not share. I began this while Mont was taking his first nap this morning, and finished it after he fell asleep tonight. It's on a 12x12 canvas; small enough to wish I had done it bigger, but big enough to make my entire arm sore. Medium: Pastel chalk and graphite on generic stretched canvas.

I was talking to Mark about Never Never Land tonight. It is the perfect place for little boys; Indian chiefs and princesses, mermaids, crocodiles, pirates, sword fights, jungles, waterfalls, ocean, mystery, best friends who never grow up, fairies, adventure, and no parents! But... they do need a mother. So here I am, letting Mont have all sorts of literary adventure with a little visual aid. I wish he never did have to grow up, but I'm looking forward to all our little adventures together.

It will be fun to teach this little boy of mine the Indian War Cry while we dance around a camp fire with feathers in our hair. Though I would love for him to stay little forever, I suppose it will be fun for him to grow up.. just a little.

We love the Peter Pan tale. So much adventure!

I'm hoping to do two more small canvases like this soon. These will go in his nursery. Whew! I'm tired... happy thoughts and dreams to me... and to you too.

Tootles.

unusual

This October has been very unusual! Lots of fog and rain, but no snow yet!! In fact, all of the snow on the mountains near our home has melted. It's funny because all over up here, there are bumper stickers that read:

"Alaskans FOR Global Warming!"

But I'm wondering where this dang snow is! We're also wondering if it's warmer for longer, does that mean there will be unusual amounts of snow this winter? And if so, we will have lots of fun sitting inside watching it fall in the night time sky.

The sun doesn't begin it's day until about 8:30 these days, and I'm enjoying it. At night, the sun will go down about 7:30. The darkness is coming!

Here's a small bull moose we saw near base (near the above picture, just different day), when it got to where the fence corners off he just stood there staring at it; the dunce hat just wouldn't fit over those antlers. I'm pretty sure he's the son of Bullwinkle.

I told the witch doctor I was in love with YOU

... she said, "oo - ee - oo - ah - ah! Ting. Tang. Wallah, wallah, bing, bang!"

(this always reminds me of Homeward Bound - ahh fun movie)

This was the week Mont received his shots (still have one left to get). Before the shots, he had about 3 weeks of great nights; going to bed just after 7, then waking up a couple of times to eat, then getting up for the day around 8 the next morning. Since the shots, he has not had one good night.

Either the shots gave my baby something to be afraid of, or the amount of naps he has taken during the day (side effect?) makes him too restless (but still exhausted) at night... or both.

He is 23.5 inches long, and weighs 11.5 lbs. They don't tell me anything in there, so I had to ask "how long? how heavy?" I'm not sure what percentile all of that is, but I figure he's as healthy as an 11 lb horse. oh wait.

Things we need to work on:

tummy time (so far, he likes it)

turning his head to the right... he really prefers turning to the left (while sleeping, car seat, or cradling in arms)

contact rash on his belly (stop fabric softener, see if that helps)

fiesta

*notice my unintentional play on words? I was glad people thought I meant to do that...

Tonight at our church building, the ward missionaries (that us!) threw a !FIESTA! I think it was a hit (I can only speculate because I left after 40 minutes!). I had drawn up these invites with the help of my brother in law (who dictated it to me in Spanish... muchas gracias, Miguelito!), and they were passed out two Sundays ago at church, and extras were taken for members to pass out to their neighbors. I wish I had the guts to ask our friends up the street. I've asked them before, and I've gotten both yeses and noes (yes, these are BOTH words!! I learn so much from this mac-daddy-lap-top), and I felt like I should lay off a bit this time.... so I did... shameful!

ANYWAY. I took a little snack chalupa that my friend from the clinic showed me. She was from Mexico and named Rose Marie - what a fun lady! She just came up with this one day for lunch. All you need are the flat tostada shells, smashed avocados, salsa, diced tomatoes, garlic powder, salt and pepper. And Voila!.. or... AYE! AYE! AYE!

And just for a pinch of cuteness.. Mark found Mont sleeping ever so cutely in his swing this afternoon while I was preparing these. Soooo properly cozy.
I hope you all had a Fiesta-full Friday night too! Now it's off to hit my hay-stack. Arctic Bazaar tomorrow. ARRIBA.

happy dance

I really want to start doing the Reeder version. Ah! how fun!!

spooky

Spooky nights in Alaska's October calls for some partying. Last year, the frost was heavier, and the snow was lower. Thus far, the first week of October has shown it's spooky face by melting some of the snow on the mountains, and letting us enjoy the frost-free branches of the sleepy hollows.

*out our back door*

Tonight before Mark left for his party with the young men/young women, it was extra spooky (aka fun) outside with the low fog, crisp, chilly air, and the bare trees.

*out our front door*

This picture below is really randomly placed here, but I HAVE to explain this guy. He was a patient I often saw, and I don't think anyone believed me when I tried to tell them about 'this guy;' not even Mark, who's supposed to believe me, right? I really wished he would have turned around for this picture, so everyone could see just how crazy cool he is. I could always tell this kool kat had his hay day in the hippie era, because I think he's still doing somethin... he has no teeth, he's very skinny, he wears a top hat, he has a very long beard to match his very long hair, he talks like a hippie, you know, "heeeey maaaaaan" (- OH! Just like Leo from "That '70s Show.'"), and finally, he is a very nice and happy. His outfits were also something I looked forward to seeing. Only once did he not wear this top hat, but he had on another hat that was just as funky. He often wears t-shirts that say things I'm not always sure what they mean. I don't think I'm the naive one, either; I think these are shirts that he had made at the 5th Ave. Mall downtown with sayings he has come up with. It's hilarious. I would always get him to run his conversations down tangents and I would just laugh and laugh with him. Keep reading for the reason why I am telling you this...

This was at the parking lot of Joann's in Anchorage, where this guy does not live, so I was quite surprised to see him here with his girly friend with pink hair. I often hear of weird, scary people being at this mall, but I have never run into any, and I have frequented this place often. Call me lucky. But I was meeting a pregnant (this is relevant) friend, Jessy, of mine here to get some custom framing done, and inside, we saw another pregnant (relevant yet again) friend of ours inside. Both of my friends have a little one already with them. The friend that we both happened to see there left before we were done with our orders, so we said goodbye without a second thought. Later that evening, Jessy called me to make sure I had made it home safely (knowing I would have to feed Mont in the car in the parking lot [thank you, dark dark windows] because of the timing). I thought, "aww, that's so sweet of her! Calling to check on ME, when I should be calling to check on HER, seeing is how she's pregnant and all!".. but then she goes on. "I just talked to Lindsay (friend #2), and she had a bad run in with a big scary guy in the parking lot." Go read her story about her love for Mall Cops, here. I'm just glad she's okay.

What I thought was funny (in an odd way), was I only saw ONE weird person, and I happened to know him! Again: I'm glad she's okay.

So on to the PARTY. I didn't go, but I did help Mark-the-Party-Planner out by drawing him a huge Witch face on cardboard so that the young-men and young-women could play...

*this is my self-dyed hair = oo la la!*

Pin the Wart on the Witch! Last year we played, and the pins were chewed gum. It made it difficult because you didn't want to touch other players' gum. EW. So here is my witch:
After we went grocery shopping and bought our HUGE pumpkins, Mark spent the entire afternoon baking sugar cookies (thanks, Betty Crocker! and post-mission crew rest) and making his own delicious frosting (his frosting is the best). This morning we watched The Adventures of Mr. Ichabod [and Mr. Toad] so he could time how long it was (only half hour incase you were wondering). They set up a projector at the church while the frosted cookies and played "pin the wart on the witch." ALSO, this cauldron from last year was used to hold bubbly A&W with dry ice. Mark is such a party-er; but I love it!

hola zapatos

or in Ingles, "hellooo, shoes!" There is a quote that says,

"The optimist, ... when he wears out his shoes, figures he's just back on his feet."

-Hartman Rector, Jr.

I like to think I'm an optimist, but with the snow on its way, I didn't want to have snow in my shoes (again) like I did last year with the cracked soles of my favorite brown flats. I found plain brown flats on Friday, then I couldn't stop thinking about these babies also on sale all weekend.. thus I returned and was pleased to see them still sitting there blinking their little bling at me:

Aren't they sweet? If I were to put a movie character into these shoes, she would be a sweet school teacher with a frilly side. I'd want to play that school teacher. And sit in the book-shrouded library grading papers. aaahhh...
Also on a hunt to find earrings, and perhaps some necklaces, I found a few on sale!

I love that it's paired with a simple pearl. Just like on my bracelets I make on which I love doing a pearl charm near the clasp. I think this will work with many outfits:
Jeweled with a purple gem, it's a faux clasp, with a chain leading down to a feather. I love feather-necklaces! And doves mean peace, right? claro!
here's the feather:
I have worn a feather on a necklace for many years, and very often, but the chain it fits on always grabs strands of hair, and it hurts. So my use of that necklace has sadly diminished over the years, so I was so happy to have found this one as well! On sale for $5.oo, it's a lengthy necklace:
And for the small amount of glitter, here are some teeny little cz earrings:

helloooooo ladies! Isn't being a lady the best??

toasty inside

*forest across the street from my bedroom window, 9:oo am today.

This morning,

- Mont and I woke up at 9:oo

- Mont ate

- I put on a BYU hoodie (toasty)

- I changed him

- I ate cinnamon-sugar toast (toasty)

- I took Buckwheat out quickly (it's raining)

- I turned on conference and enjoyed the 'toasty warm' messages

- I teared up hearing about the 'warm fuzzies' (toasty)

- I thought of the Reeders when Elder Eyring said, "No empty chairs"

- Mont fell asleep in his so-soft blanket (toasty)

- Buckwheat's napping on his 'perch' on top of the couch (toasty)

- I'm about to blog-surf for house decor

I love toasty conference weekends!

only the beginning

of the most delicious 3 months of the year! ... and the most fattening. But not for me - I've already been fat this year. ha! Now it's your turn. ;)

welcome harvest

"There are nights when the wolves are silent and only the moon howls."

George Carlin

I heard no wolves tonight, but I saw a glorious moon rise.