September's Ten Things

Another month is almost over again. I'm linking up with Emmy Mom for Ten Things to Smile About this Month. Honestly, it took me a few minutes to even think what happened this month. My first thought was, "did we even do anything this month?" But looking it over, I realized it's been busy and great! Thanks for the reason to smile Emmy.

1.Ethan started Preschool and is loving it.  He even went on a field trip to the zoo!

 2.  I joined a Community Christmas Choir!!!  I am so excited to have the chance to sing more often and celebrate Christmas in one of my most favorite ways.

3.  We painted our computer room

 4.  We are making slow, but real potty training progress.  Madeline goes in the potty every night before bed now.  And one morning she woke up dry!

5.  I canned peaches with my mom

 6.  My sewing machine got fixed.  How can one live without it?

7.  We went to grandpa's house and picked pumpkins!

 8.  I got to go shopping with my mom and aunt

9.  Since the weather is still hot (not the thing to smile about) we did get to go to one more swimming party (that's the smiling part!)

10.  Todd and I recently purchased something very exciting!  It's not going to be delivered until next week though, so you'll just have to wait to find out what it is.  This particular thing makes me very happy!!!

Hide-and-Seek

Playing hide-and-seek in the backyard isn't very tricky.  There aren't THAT many places to hide. . .



But it's still fun!

From Ew to Blue!

Remember the way my craft room looked earlier this month?
Now it looks like this!

I am especially happy with how this wall picture hanger turned out. Perfect for a crafting area, I think. I love how I can change what is hanging according to mood or project: And the other side of the room is just as lovely a blue. And even has my hubby in the picture, doing open heart surgery on his guitar. (He finished successfully and now it sounds better than ever!)

Heres to new paint and a "new" room!

Zoo Day

Yesterday, I got to go with Ethan on his first preschool field trip. We went to Hogle Zoo.

The kids were very excited and all had on their matching school shirts:
As we approached this area, Ethan yelled out, "Whoa, those look like Orangutans!" He was right.

The other favorite was the giant gorilla sitting right by the window:

It was fun to be a part of his school for a day and enjoy seeing the animals with Ethan.

A New Favorite

I have a new favorite store. If you live around here, you should go and visit. But take money with you . . . or maybe don't. I could really spend a lot in there without even blinking!

Osmond Designs! Located in Lehi (151 E. State Street)

Oh my heart! I am in love with just about everything in there (though I still think I like the chairs in Down to Earth better than any chairs I've seen), I can't get over their wall art and accessories, their amazing leather furniture, and the bedding that they have. One of each, please?!

I got out of the store having only spent $25!! That's the other great thing about it, it's WAY cheaper than The Black Goose. And just as gorgeous. I got a beautiful metal swirling piece to hang over my bed. Sorry, no pictures. (I know, I know . . . totally out of character!)

I think I could go there a lot and buy something every time, and be happy. . .

Yogurt and Silliness

Sometimes, it is just plain fun to eat yogurt!

Don't you just love that little yogurt? perfect size for Maddie!

And when you're done eating your yogurt, you just can't help but do this:
Here's little miss copy cat:

Happy yogurt-eating!

Remembering

Today we went to a place called Healing Field. Three Thousand flags are set up to remember the lives lost nine years ago. We spent quite some time walking through them.
so many flags . . . so many people . . .

I'm grateful to those who are spending their lives protecting mine.

Soup Weather

With the past two days in the 60s, I took advantage of the cooler weather and made one of my favorite foods, soup! This time, a Southwest Corn Chowder.

And with warm cornbread, it was hard to beat.

Bring on more cooler days!

First Day of Preschool

The day finally arrived, and Ethan was ready!
New clothes, new shoes, and of course his new backpack:

You're looking grown up Mr. Ethan!

Friends

Madeline saw the bite mark pictures today. She saw the actual wound yesterday, but never the pictures. She sort of gasped and then with sad eyes looked at Ethan and said (again), "I'm sorry Ethan!" He told her it was okay and they hugged.

They've been enjoying each other today. Laughing a lot, and avoiding tears. It makes me happy.

Another lesson learned, forgive and forget like little children!

Ouch!

What is that?!?!?
It just happens to be a sample of all of Madeline's teeth, imprinted on Ethan's back:

This is a perfect example of why you want your children to listen. Not because you want to be right or want to control or be mean or tell them what to do, but because you want to prevent sadness and pain. You want them to be happy. Two rules were broken, and two children cried. 1. Don't take toys from Madeline. 2. DON'T bite! I hope someday they will trust me when I tell them that choosing the right brings happiness.

It has made me think a lot today though, about how many more times a day I could feel happiness if I just did what I was supposed to do. If I always spoke kindly, always chose the better part, and always listened.

Happy weekend!

Projects

What is this? Well it's my kitchen counter COVERED in some of Ethan's recent projects. Recent you ask? Yes actually, because I tend to recycle about this many papers every couple weeks.

Since the beginning of summer, he has gone through four art pads, each with 100 sheets, and three packages of lined paper each with 150 sheets! These are all his drawings, of course. Mostly animals, with a few cars, diggers, and tools thrown in the mix. He traces animals, draws animals, traces animals and draws animals. Did I mention that he likes to trace animals?

I recently collected my very favorite pages and put them in a three-ring binder in page protectors. Sad to say that the rest have met their recycling doom. It was hard to choose which ones to keep because they are all so darling, but can you imagine if I kept all of them?

My ENTIRE house would look like my kitchen counter!

People wonder what to do with all the papers that their kids get in school. I, on the other hand, will welcome the one project a day that preschool will bring!

September Recipe

Loaded Chicken and Mushroom Calzone

Adapted from The Bon Appétit Test Kitchen

yield: Makes 4-main course servings
active time: 30 minutes
total time: 48 minutes

1 tablespoon olive oil plus additional for brushing
5 crimini mushrooms, sliced
3/4 teaspoon fennel seeds
2 garlic cloves, pressed
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
3 cups (packed) baby spinach
1 cup diced cooked chicken
All purpose flour (for sprinkling)
1 pound fresh pizza dough (or one 13.8-ounce tube refrigerated)
4 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese, divided
3/4 cups grated Mozzarella cheese
1/4 cup whole-milk ricotta cheese
1/4 teaspoon dried crushed red pepper

Preheat oven to 425°F. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in heavy large skillet over medium-high heat. Add mushrooms and fennel seeds; sauté until mushrooms are brown, stirring often, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and oregano; stir 1 minute. Add chicken and heat through. Add spinach; stir just until wilted, about 1 minute. Transfer to medium bowl. Season with salt and pepper.

Line rimless baking sheet with parchment. Sprinkle paper with flour. Roll out dough on lined baking sheet to 15 x 10-inch rectangle. Sprinkle 2 tablespoons Parmesan crosswise over half of crust, leaving 1-inch plain border. Top with Mozzarella, then mushroom mixture, distributing evenly. Spoon dollops of ricotta cheese over; sprinkle with crushed red pepper. Fold plain half of dough up over filling. Crimp edges tightly to seal. Brush with oil. Sprinkle top with remaining Parmesan.

Bake calzone until puffed and brown, about 18 minutes. Brush with oil and serve.