When it snows......

Right now we have snow on the ground, covering the beautiful orange leaves, capping carved jack-o-lanterns, and leaving little rivers on the sidewalks as it melts. Voluntarily, I stay inside, cozy with my little boy and watch from the window. I am lucky that on most days I don't have anywhere that I have to be. That will change in a few years, but right now, I am savoring it.

Our pumpkins ready for decorating are now frosty and white.

Once Orange



Now White



And Gray- a quick picture I snapped before the snow arrived. I'm glad I did.



I experimented and put together these little boxes for the ladies I visit teach.



We make hot cocoa by the quart. Tyson is the resident stirrer and helps me pour it into his sippy cup.



We stay in jammies, watch movies, and play.



And last but not least, we make yummy food. For example, I'm sure I'm not the only person with an affinity for Cafe Rio's salmon tacos. They are mouthwatering. Simply fabulous. While relishing the last one, I took careful stock of what was inside and decided that I could make it myself.

I baked some salmon with kosher salt, lemon pepper, garlic powder, and parsley sprinkled on top. Shredded it. Rinsed and heated some black beans, and washed fresh cilantro. Then I made my own version of the house ranch from Cafe Rio. Put it all together! So good! It's definitely a do-again.



The sauce:
1 cup butter milk
1 cup mayo
1 clov. garlic, chopped
3-4 tomatillos, chopped
1 packet ranch seasoning
1 tsp. lime juice
salt to taste
1/2 jalapeno chopped and seeded if you desire a little kick

Blend in blender. This makes quite a bit. Be warned.

Celebrating Fall

Each year, I host a little dinner for family and friends. It's so much fun! (and slightly exhausting) But I love it.






I deeply enjoy decorating for the fall. I am love how the colors inside my house match the gorgeous colors outside.




I'm always excited to pull out the pants and long sleeved shirts. I just think they are extra comfy and classy. I especially love to put on a sweater and some earrings and some extra dark lipstick. Fall fashion! Can't get enough!

School Picture Day

okay...not really, but that's what I teased Dusty about when he was primping it up for photos. I realized that it had been far too long since we got a good one of all three of us. Lauren followed us around for awhile, like a sweet sister, and I think we got some good ones. These are mostly just funny outtakes, I'm saving the best ones for Christmas stuff.

Interview of a Three-year-old

I found this in my darling cousin Eliza's blog and thought it was as great way to document the thought patterns and insight of a small child. I called Tyson over to the computer and asked him the following:

What is your favorite color? "I want red."

What is your favorite thing to eat? At first he was stuck on colors and wanted blue, but then told me "Lunch".

What animal do you like? "Giraffes" (they seem to be popular as that is what Eliza's Peter liked as well)

What song do you like to sing? "ABCs"

Where do you want to go on a mission? "the temple"

What is your favorite sport? "........(silence)........" okay, maybe you do take after me.....

What do you want to be when you get bigger? "Dad"

Where do you want to live? " a house on top of the temple". interesting....very very interesting

Who loves you? "GJ"

That's my mom, in case that didn't make sense. Mom, Tyson knows you love him. Then he made it very clear he was done with the conversation when he scampered out of the room.



Post Script: Tyson is also very into tea parties right now. He sets up the whole thing and calls me in. We drink pretend tea, very properly, using our pleases and thank yous and pour it for one another.

He loves to watch The Aristocats as well as Mary Poppins (thanks Brit). He walks around the house singing "just a spoonful of sugar....medicine goes down"

He puts his snow-boots on at every chance and was majorly bummed yesterday when the rain wasn't snow. Wish I could say the same......

His go-to book at night time are the David books. He gets a kick out of other boys in trouble. Vicarious fun I suppose.