I think that he has imaginary friends that hang out by the door. He tends to spend a lot of time there just jabbering and pointing. His nonsensical babblings have gotten very frequent as of late. In frustration or anger, instead of a terribly obnoxious scream, he actually now yells gibberish. It's an improvement from the scream.

I have no idea why he decides to bash his head against the door in this video. Perhaps his "friends" told him to do it.

another fall favorite

Chewy caramel corn

This one has been one of my favorites since I can remember. It's from my Grandma O- and it is so dang good. Caramel corn always reminds me of grandma's house and Halloween. We made it last night for a movie treat.

1 can sweetened condensed milk
2 c br. sugar
1 c karo syrup
1 stick butter
1 tsp. vanilla

Melt the first four ingredients and bring to soft ball candy stage (when dropped in cold water, it will lose some elasticity- but when removed can be formed into an oozyish softball). I just let mine boil (while stirring) for two minutes. Remove from heat, add vanilla, and let sit for five minutes. Pour on top of six quarts (twenty-four cups popped or about 3/4 c kernals).

I halved my recipe and still made plenty!

Please forgive the filming. This is a bit of a bumpy and blurry movie- but well worth the seasickness. Zeb's hugs and kisses are so funny. He kisses open mouth and thinks that a hug is tilting your head and saying "awww". He is learning new words everyday and is up to nineteen that he uses regularly. My favorite thing he says is thank-you.

look what we won!!!

I entered Kent, Zeb, and myself into a raffle at Kent's school to win these giant pumpkins - and we won ALL three. Really, I don't think that anybody else wanted them and we won by default. I LOVE them. They are ginormous and make me so excited that fall has arrived. This morning on our run I could see my breath!!!!

freebies galore!

At walking group this week I heard about the "Fallen Timbers Farmer's Market" grand opening celebration. I also heard that it involved free stuff so we placed it on our itinerary for the day! it turned out to be fabulous. There were buckets of fun things going on. Zeb didn't love the oversized dog- but enjoyed everything else immensely. I was super bad and told the man inside the costume to hold Zeb tight even though he was screaming because I wanted a picture. I love the photo.













We went on a free hay ride (where we got free tickets to a haunted house), watched a P.F. Changs cooking demo (with great free samples, recipes AND coupons for a free appetizer!!!), sampled all sorts of great fruits,breads, etc. from the farmers, and got TWO ten dollar gift cards to the mall!! One for Zeb and one for me. Kent and I will definitely be going to P.F. Changs (w/o zeb)to use them and the appetizer coupon.

one of my favorite fall recipes

This recipe comes from Kent's family and I love it. It is absolutely terrible for you- but you can pretend that it's healthy because it has lots of zucchini in it.

"Chocolate Chip Brown Sugar Zucchini Cake"
the b sugar makes it soooo tasty.

Cream:
1.2 c butter
1 3/4 c w sugar
1/2 c oil
2 eggs
2 cups blended zucchini (skins and all)
1 tsp vanilla

Sift:
2.5 c flour
4 Tbs cocoa
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp salt
1 tsp soda
1 tsp b. powder

Mix wet and dry ingredients and then add 1/2 c sour milk (add 1/2 tbs lemon juice to 1/2 c milk). Pour into greased 9x13 pan. Sprinkle with 3/4 c brown sugar and choco chips. 3/4 c nuts optional. bake at 350 for 40 minutes!

a neeww caaaar! -just pretend it's rod roddy's voice saying it.

Hoooooooooooooooooray!

Zeb was all smiles and in celebration mode this weekend. We've always been a one car family and been rather content in our environmental friendliness. We also knew becoming a two car family would be an inevitable development with the progress of Kent's schooling. Our plan has always been to get car numero dos before Kent started his third year of school (which includes hospital rotations at insane hours, rotations in rural areas around Ohio, and military rotations all over the country). We've been on the hunt for awhile now trying to gage the market, find out what best fit our needs, and just checking out deals so that we were prepared and didn't have to jump into a purchase we weren't sure about due to necessity. Kent doesn't start his third year for another ten months but we stumbled upon the perfect car. With me teaching seminary in the morning, winter approaching, Kent having to be to church an hour earlier than us (mid Zeb's nap), and a plethora of other factors we decided to take the plunge.

It's a 2002 Honda Civic LX. The only downside to the car is that every time I see it, it makes me think that my mom is here!

We've now got a Toyota and Honda- not the most popular car choices here in middle America!

We are terribly excited and pretty nervous! Big life changes always make me a little anxious.

We obviously have yet to figure out the complexity of picture taking in bright sun because our pictures didn't turn out so hot today :) but we did have a blast at the "Black Swamp Arts Festival" in Bowling Green. We'd heard about it from some friends (thanks emilee and beth) and really had a good time. Zeb's favorite part was the abundance of dogs. Ohioans have so many dogs- and take them everywhere with them. He didn't love the crafts as much as I did! he wanted NOTHING to do with the hat and couldn't figure out why I was wearing it. All of the kids crafts were FREE!
I'm really glad that Kent agreed to spare some of his study time and take the mini roadtrip. I did help him study in the car (they are studying immunity and infection right now and I wish I could learn it too-so he teaches me) and ended up making him terribly carsick with the turns and hills. I just giggle when he gets motion sick. It really is so foreign and so funny to me that driving in the car can make one ill.

I usually blog at night once Zeb has gone to bed and things are wrapping up for the day. Now my nights are filled with lesson prep and tiredness! I may miss a few posts in the next little while until I adjust to my new schedule. Or perhaps I should blog during the day instead of reading while Z naps! I just finished two wonderful books.

4.5 stars

These is my Words by Nancy Turner. Kent's family had read this book and passed along the recommendation. It was a splendid book. It reminded me a bit of "My Antonia" and "Bless Me Ultima" - only lighter and much easier to get through. It started as a pioneer book and twisted into a western and love story of sorts. It didn't get too cheesy or over the top at all. It was one of those books that makes you happy and sad all at the same time. There are two more books in this series that I've already checked out from the library.



4 stars


The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls. Aunt Donna Joy sent this book to me and I loved it. Memoirs are my favorite books to read. It was a sad story of sorts- but had a happy theme throughout. I really don't love depressing books- but this one almost made depressing seem exciting and fun so I really enjoyed it.

Zeb still has such a bad cough- but he is doing SO WELL with it. His blood oxygen levels are GREAT and everything is so manageable. And look at the smile on him this morning! He loved the treatment today :) I think the pulmicort is working wonders. I'm keeping my finger crossed that everything stays swell. He's been all smiles lately.

Here's the little guy at playgroup today. It was a little too hot and humid for me and we didn't stay as long as he would have liked, but he had fun nonetheless.

one of those days

Today was one of those days that made me happy.

I started seminary this morning at SIX AM! I got up at 5:45 and went to bathroom and thought to myself "what in the crap have I gotten myself into??!?!" By 5:50 I was tired but not so out of it and by 5:55 when my first student arrived I was almost my normal self (which is saying A LOT considering my normal state that early in the morning- just ask my sis or mission companions). The teaching part, the teenager part, the New Testament part- I'm excited for ALL of it! The morning part is going to be a serious trial- and for that I am grateful. What is hard for us makes us grow.










Zeb and I went on a great run this morning after seminary and had a shoe miracle. On the run, Z kicked his shoe off. I didn't notice until we got completely finished. I reran the route with no luck in finding it. The dang shoe is camoflauge and I knew it was a goner. We stayed to play at the park with friends and just as we were about to leave one of the park rangers walked up to us with his shoe. HOORAY. I so didn't want to buy him new ones. Zeb also had a little hay day with the wild berry bushes at the park. The kid downed zillions of blackberries.

Zeb is also doing his Pulmicort treaments TEAR FREE. It is an answer to my prayers- literally. Here is a picture of his first one EVER (at six months). Tonight he happily sat through it while reading books. I am so happy.

Ignore the dirt all over his hands, face, and legs! We were headed home from the ward labor day picnic and zebby was in the backseat jabbering away. His words are so funny! His new favorites are apple, hot dog, and bug. I love how he makes the dinosaur sound too.

He is quite the independent little rugrat! He kept taking off at the park to go exploring. This past Sunday he begged and screamed and wailed to get into nursery. We caved and let him go in for just a little bit (I know we shouldn't have but I finally understand all of those parents who put their kids in when they weren't supposed to). Only eight more Sundays till he's technically legal! I couldn't be more excited!!!