End-of-November Festivities!

Our Thankful Tree (on top of awesome paneling... don't be jealous)

This year, we celebrated Thanksgiving on Saturday due to Jay's work schedule. Saturday also happened to be Calvin's 1st birthday. A two-fer! It was also the very first time in our 8 1/2 years of marriage that we tackled Thanksgiving all on our own. I think we did a pretty good job, if I do say so myself.

No fancy table arrangements, but some really, REALLY good food, mostly courtesy of Jay and some new recipes he got from a former chef that he works with. But, I was in charge of the homemade rolls and pie ... and let's face it, what is more important than pie on Thanksgiving? (Don't say "turkey," because everyone knows that pie trumps turkey any day of the week.)

What's Thanksgiving without a little olive theft?

Cal's birthday party was possibly the most low-key birthday celebration we've ever had, and that's saying something. Just the six of us and a few presents ... perfect! Anything else would have sent Dexter into a complete tailspin. He already had a hard enough time watching Cal open gifts. He kept screaming, "No! MY birthday!" and grabbing the gifts. This is what he looked like 80% of the time:

Poor guy. It's hard to be two.

Calvin didn't seem too disturbed by Dex, though. He just straight-armed him when necessary, screamed when he needed to, and played the rest of the time.

Here the girls prove that you are never too old to play with talking magnets:


I didn't want to bake a cake in addition to the three pies I made, so Cal had the unique privilege of being our only child to ever receive a birthday pie! (I have a feeling I will only be able to get away with this for another two years, max.)




The whipped cream was a hit ... the pumpkin pie, not so much. At least in Cal's opinion.

Overall, it was a successful and happy day. I felt so blessed to be with my family to celebrate all the many things we are grateful for, including the birth of our little (?) guy! Happy Birthday, Cal Browns. We love you to pieces!

Hi-YAH!

Tonight, not long after I had tucked the girls into bed, Beatrice came down the stairs, followed closely by Natalie.

"What do you need, Bea?" I asked.

"I'm just scared of the dark," she cried.

I responded sympathetically, "No you're not."

"I'm just afraid someone is going to take us," she exclaimed, burying her face in my stomach.

I gave her a big hug and reassured her that she was safe, our home was safe, I was here and I wasn't going anywhere, etc. That's when big sister Natalie chimed in, "I'm here, too, Bea." She paused. "And I can kick really high in the front."

I don't know about Bea, but I know I'll sleep a little sounder tonight...

My Kind of Girl

I found this "to do" list of Natalie's the other day (I hope this doesn't embarrass her, but it was too cute not to share):

In case you can't read it, it says:

5th Thursday list

Clean room, if it's messy

Play with Bea and Dex (the Dex part got cut off)

Play Nick Jr.

Go to school

Solve a mystery

Make my bed

I just love that even after a full day of solving mysteries, she will still remember to make her bed.

Pumpkins, Costumes, & Candy - Oh My!

Despite all attempts from our nemesis, the flu, we made it to the pumpkin patch before Halloween!

We fed goats, picked out our pumpkins, listened to Calvin scream, and balked at the price of a train ride. ($5 per person!) We came home with a wagon full of pumpkins, and on Halloween day, we carved them to pieces!

The day before Halloween was a busy day, with a parade at the school, and Trunk-or-Treat at the church that evening. We had a wonderful time at both events, and the kids really enjoyed dressing up in their costumes.

Saturday was trick-or-treating in our neighborhood, and I have to say, I was really happy with the experience. We live on a circle, and it was hoppin'. Families came out in droves, and even the groups of teenagers were dressed up. (I really hate when teenagers come to the door with no costume, their pillowcase thrust in your face. I don't think so.) Anyway, their was a friendly spirit in the neighborhood, and we were happy to be part of it. A big thanks to my mother-in-law, who passed out candy while Jay & I chaperoned the kiddos... you're the best!

Calvin, squeezed into a costume one size too small. Mobility is highly overrated anyway.

Dexter finally agreed to wear a costume. What a cutie!

Natalie, looking like the teenage sleuth herself, Nancy Drew:

Bea, wearing Jay's awesome creation - a shower:

(yes, it was inspired by a movie)

She got quite a bit of attention wherever she went. People were taking her picture at the door, and summoning loved ones from inside to take a look as well. She seemed to enjoy it, but I started to worry that all the attention would take a toll on Natalie. Natalie was a trooper, though, and didn't show any signs of jealousy, even if she felt them. She loved being Nancy Drew and taking notes in her notebook. And although Bea really loved her costume, I think she was happy when it was time to take it off. It was certainly not an easy thing to walk around in. She only fell one time though ... much better than I expected!

I hope everyone had as fun of a Halloween as we did.

OH! How could I forget?

Happy 31st Birthday to Jay, the love of my life. "One year older and wiser, too..."

Too bad he'll never catch up with me.

Coming Up Out Of The Fog

I don't want to jinx anything, but I think it's possible we are finally becoming ourselves again here in the Fear household. We've been sucker-punched by the respiratory flu, which started with Natalie and made its way through the rest of us, one by one. It's been a miserable 10 days. All of us, with the exception of Natalie, are still nursing one or more symptoms, but thankfully we are all finally on the mend.

I am very happy, though, that the fog of sickness seems to be lifting just in time for Halloween. We already missed one party, and we're not keen to miss any more. The girls are actually allowed to dress up at their new school, and there will even be a parade! Hooray! I loved Halloween parades when I was in elementary school, and was more than a little bummed when their previous school did not allow the tradition.

I don't think there is a costume contest at the school, though, which is a shame, because Bea would totally take it this year, as is her birthright. (Jay and I have both won quite a few costume contests in our time - no wonder we are a perfect match.......... what? Too sickening?) Jay made Bea's costume and I'm so excited to have her wear it. Natalie's costume is adorable as well, but I'm afraid people won't know who she is. I'll know, of course, since it was my childhood dream to *be* this person, but we'll see if anyone else can figure it out.

But anyway ... enough talk about costumes. There are so many things to do this week that I don't know why I'm still typing. I should get off the computer and:

1) Decontaminate my house, which looks like a mob came through it just to use every clean dish and throw used tissues all over the place.

2) Determine if it's worth sorting through the mountains of unfolded laundry to figure out what's really clean, or if it's easier to just throw it all back in the wash.

3) Figure out what I'm going to do for Jay's birthday, which is this week...

4) Finally go to a pumpkin patch with the kiddos, assuming there are any pumpkins left.

5) Find the cheapest place to buy Halloween candy, since word on the street is we get *a ton* of trick-or-treaters in our neighborhood. Not to mention our church's trunk-or-treat celebration. Jay thinks we should just buy candy for trunk-or-treat, and then use the candy the girls get that night to give out to the neighborhood kids on Halloween. I of course have ix-nayed that idea, but he seems determined, so I'm going to need to be extra vigilant.

There are many more things to add to the list, I'm sure, but I better stop if I want to have a chance to actually accomplish something today. Have a great Halloween everyone ... and whatever you do, don't get caught swiping your kids candy. Take it from me, it's very embarrassing.

What Service!

Ever since General Conference, we've been trying to emphasize the importance of serving others, as taught by our prophet President Monson.

I guess Dexter has been paying attention! :)

Results x 2

#1 - the results of our family pictures are in! When Jay and I first viewed them, we were alternating between cracking up and exclaiming, "awwww!" Thanks to the wonderful Shannon Montez for the great experience and the great results. You can view the 3 minute slideshow here.

#2 - Remember those apples we picked? (I hope so, it was only one post ago!) Here's the "before:"

And here's the "after":

Jay and I had a blast making the pie together. He tackled the crust, and I must say he did an excellent job. I had the last piece for breakfast this morning. (After the girls went to school, naturally.)

Adventures in Apple Picking

We continued the exploration of our new area with a trip to Apple Hill, a group of 56 apple farms and orchards (and lots of bakeries, to boot). We had a wonderful time, full of apple picking, cider drinking, and baked-good eating.

When the healthy point of your day is a hot dog, you know it's been a good day.

I think we've found a new Fear family Autumn tradition, although next year we'll have to start in September and squeeze a few more trips in before the season ends. There are a lot of apple pies to be made and consumed, you know!

Let the baking begin!