Pumpkin Patch Doll

While helping out at Shabulous (see Facebook for more pictures and details) yesterday, Ella got to go to her first pumpkin patch. She also got to ride a donkey! What a kid. 

I also have to say, we had such a fun day! We (Eric and I) mainly worked in the "soup kitchen" selling delicious, warm bowls of soup with my sister Riley and brother Eli. I was a little worried about how well Miss El would do, but she did great! She loved seeing all the people and things - and she loved just being outside. She also took an excellent two hour long nap in my Uncle's den in his shop and woke up so happy for the next several hours. 

Here are some photos. 

This was early in the morning before people got there, a bit warmer attire, too. 

In the afternoon.

Big, medium, small. 

This picture is out of order (as the different outfit suggests), but our Stake President and his wife brought some donkeys and were giving free rides. Ella loved the pony's hair. 

Hay fever? 

One of the best things about parenthood is getting to experience the little things in life again. You get to share in your kids' new experiences, while still holding the "wisdom" of age to appreciate these moments. Love it. 

P.S Remember this? 

And you could also check out our pumpkin patch excursion from 2010, apparently I can only come up with one title for this type of blog post. 

How much is that doggy in the window?

Ella's favorite thing lately is to stand on the couch and look out the window. She's entertained for so long by it, especially in the morning when all the kids and cars are going by the school (we live right by an elementary school). 

She always reminds me of that song by Patti Page, "How much is that Doggy in the Window?"

Officially Fall

My Mom came and picked up baby El and me for a quick trip out to the country to pick some corn from another one of the ward gardens. While there, we enjoyed the old barn, the mist out in the valley, the chickens in the coop - and lusted after the property! We also got a few corn stalks to decorate our respective front stoops.

Plus, the "fall fairy" had already dropped off lots of front door goodies - indian corn, sunflower heads and a few more pumpkins.

When we drove back into town last night we opened the car door to pouring rain. And today it's been raining on and off and cool. Very fallish.

And fall weather makes me want some fall food. So, I went to work and put this soup in the crock pot. It's not originally a crock pot recipe, but I improvised.

Ingredients

• 1 onion, finely chopped
• 6 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
• 4 skinless, boneless chicken breasts, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
• 2 canned chipotle chiles in adobo sauce, finely chopped, plus 2 tablespoons adobo sauce (NOT 2 cans, just two chiles)
• 6 cups chicken broth
• 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
• 1 can pinto beans (drained)
• 1 1/2 cups fresh corn 
• Juice of 2 limes
• Salt and pepper
• 1 hass avocado, thinly sliced lengthwise into 12 pieces
• Crushed tortilla chips

Directions

I basically put all the ingredients into the crock pot except the avocado, the juice from one lime and the tortilla chips. I cut the kernels off of some fresh corn from the garden and a can of pinto beans (drained) that I had just hanging around in the cupboards to make it a little more hardy. This afternoon, after 3-4 hours in the crock pot, I will add additional lime juice, cut up the avocado and put it in at the at the end. Then sprinkle the tortilla chips on top. It's smelling FANTASTIC! 

When life hands you batter...

I was a fun mom yesterday and gave Ella some old pancake mix so that she could practice "pouring" like they say they can start doing. But El had other ideas.....

The first video is a little long, but cute. Also, DEFINITELY watch the second video. Ella turned into an angry bird chef or something.....






P.S. I am putting this out there so that you all can keep me accountable and motivated, but I'm starting a 6 week "Hot Mama Biggest Loser" competition today. Trying to lose 1.5 pounds a week! Wish me luck!

Rocks and Mountains and Lakes

We went on our first little family camp trip. It lasted a mere 21 hours, but it was one for the history books. We had fun, except for the whole part where Ella woke up several times in the night crying and would take 15 minutes to quiet back down (sorry to everyone else at Anthony Lake - however, you only paid $8 - $12 to stay there, so what did you expect?).  Ella also scared away all the fish when we sat by the lake to watch them jump up and eat bugs on the surface. Apparently she didn't think it was as entertaining. She also decided to eat her first handful of dirt. 

The photos are prime, so here we go. 

Ella loved the tent, in the day time. 

I forgot a sunhat, so we made do, with a do-spit-rag.

The ski resort. 

E also enjoyed reading books back at camp.

Where's Lexy?

Happy face. 

Candid.

My favorite shot of the trip! Hot! 

By the campfire.

Morning owl.

She was so happy, she couldn't hold her hands still! 

It was okay, maybe we'll try again next summer, when she's a year older and a better sleeper, too! 

Hillybilly Husband

Eric's been wearing this camo hat every night.
Guess he's trying to fit in with the local folk.
I think it's pretty cute.