Ordinances, New Baby, Vew Crafts and 2 Fairies

Boba Fett was baptized and confirmed a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints last weekend.  It was a good time to spend with my family and get a great family photo.

See how I got Moose to wear a tie?

Boba Fett requested that we go out for ribs at Applebees.

Blech.

I have been spending a lot of time millinering getting ready for the Boutique at the Barn. 

But I have had time to make a Halloween wreath that  I found here.

 

I also managed to make a nightgown for Kristen's sweet adorable new baby girl who is the most beautiful baby ever.

  I had to make it, the baby was 2 weeks over due and I was going stir crazy waiting to discover if it was a boy or a girl!I am so happy she is a girl.

Today we had sweet Bella over to play with Nutmeg and they were awfully cute.

I need to re-enact this up at the Gardner's place in the woods.

Aren't they the cutest pair of girls ever?

Today was a glorious autumn day.  I hope we can get a few more weeks of weather just like this as payment for our awful rainy and cloudy summer.

The Gnoming

The Gnoming happened this morning. 
As I had planned, Boba Fett was blissfully sleeping while the gnome watched over him, it was strategically placed so he would see it when he awoke.

He came down to me (asleep) to ask me why a "idiodic dememted dwarf" was in room.  I asked him what he was talking about.  As he headed back through the house he saw that there were gnomes everywhere. For example this guy was having a bowl of cereal on the table.

The pictures had been replaced with pictures of gnomes.

And all of his photos had been replaced with gnomes.

As well as other small gnomes in other places.

I told him I heard someone at the door and when he went to it he saw this terrible act of flamingocide.

Fleeing from this terrible scene he saw the Starlings' Chalkboard had been tampered with

.

In the back yard he was confronted with an army

 Whilst other kept watch from the foliage

There were also a dozen parachuting gnomes which were genius but were tangled in knots within 30 second of landing.

Which was too bad because they were really good parachutes.

 

There were also a bunch of gnome tattoos that doubled as stickers.

 

It was a sucessful gnoming and I think a cure for Gardengnomeaphobia.

Not What We Had Planned

It started out so well.  Boba Fett's birthday was on a Sunday this year so we spread out some of the fun stuff to Saturday.  I was the Boba Fett wrangler while Moose took the other kids to their 3 scheduled soccer games.  

First, we went to a friend's bowling birthday party, then Boba Fett and I headed to The House of Reptiles so he could pick out his gift from my parents. He was really excited.

He chose a baby crested gecko and we headed home to get his habitat set up.

His name is Glacier.

As he has been planning for more than a year, he and I went to Sushi Town to get his free birthday sushi plate.

After dinner we went to catch the end of Commander C's second game of the day. It was a long walk from the parking lot to the field but it was a nice day and we were all healthy at the time. Moose and I were watching the game while the kids played by the stream and berry bushes. 

They were trying to get to a cattail when suddenly  they BOTH came running and screaming.  I thought some one had been killed, there certainly had to be blood and lots of it from the way they were screaming but it turns out Nutmeg disturbed a wasps' nest and Boba Fett went in gallantly to save her.  Boba Fett really freaked out, he ran franticly to the car where my first aid kit was wailing all the way.  Parents on several fields were alarmed to see a freaking out, running boy trailed by a sobbing, crying girl and 2 bewildered parents.

We got to the car pulled out stingers, counted bites, distributed apis and headed home where more remdies were applied. Once we were in the car Boba Fett seemed fine, certainly better off than Nutmeg.  He had only 2 bites to her 3 and he was acting fine like a regular boy.

By morning on his actual birthday his ankle was all swollen and he was acting very subdued for a birthday boy.  He stayed home from church and watched movie, I made him dutch puff, lego cakes and we opened the gifts.  He was barely even pleased.  He was just not himself yesterday.  He couldn't even ride his new bike and he doesn't spend every waking minute looking at his gecko.  This is not normal.

Today he is much the same, swollen and melancholy.  

The gnoming didn't happen because my package of parachuting gnomes didn't arrive in time so we are going to have to do it another time.  It is probably just as well since he wasn't feeling very well and I think that all parties need to be in a good mood for a successful gnoming.

I just feel so bad for him.  This kid looks forward to his birthday more than any kid I have ever known.  He is so animated and seeing him like this is so sad.  I can't help but wonder along with him why he with 2 bites in different places is doing so poorly while Nutmeg with 3 bites on the same arm is doing just fine.

I just wonder why he always has such a hard time with everything; his eyes, his speech, bug bites, reading, chores, sports, anything involving coordination.

Gardengnomeaphobia

Gardengnomeaphobia is a rare but serious condition that affects...Boba Fett.  Boba Fett's "fear" of garden gnomes will come to a head on his 8th birthday (a phobia like this is just begging for a prank.) If you feel compelled to help us treat this serious condition known as "Gardengnomeaphobia," please deliver your gnomes, gnome artwork and gnome accessories to Starlings by the 10th of September.

Coming September 11th, 2011

The Gnoming

An Oregon Summerlet

 While most of the country is sweltering, we here in Oregon are enjoying 60 degree temperatures!  Occasionally we get a sunny day and a couple of times we have had 2 in a row but for the most part still cloudy, still chilly, still rainy.

I really truly believed that after last year's disappointing summer we were in line to get a nice one this year.  This just goes to show that no one asks me when planning the weather.

We have had a busy month none the less.

On the 4th we went to the ward pancake breakfast, the Oak Hills Parade and the Oak Hills fireworks display.  Springville ward had it's own mini fireworks show while we waited.

On the 9th we traveled to Salem to visit our dear friends (who moved in May) for a birthday celebration.

I promise, she really has 2 perfect eyes.

 On the 14th my niece Aurora was born, she didn't want to nurse so there were 5 anxious days but now she has the knack.  We were to visit the weekend after she arrived but Moose is busy doing the work of 3+ men at work and so we postponed our Montana vacation and baby snuggling.

On the 16th we went to the Portland Highland Games and it was awesome. I love kilts!!  All of the mooselings participated but Boba Fett was particularly excited about tossing the caber.

On the 17th our ward was split and a new ward formed in our stake.  We were sad to lose some very dear ones including our entire Relief Society presidency to the "Tomahawk Ward."

Monday the 18th is the day I became mentally ill and began taking yoga classes and seriously considered joining a gym.  The gym illness has passed but I will be continuing with the yoga classes.

 

Last weekend we celebrated Pioneer Day at Fallbrooks Farm, and on Sunday La Keira was called as Relief Society President.

I'll just let that sink in for a few moments.....

Being the "besty" of the Relief Society President is weird, really weird.  We are still trying to figure out how it is going to work.  I can't imagine how she managed to keep it a secret for a week!  It is just surreal and it will take time to sink in.

And all month long I have been preparing for the 5 night, 50 mile hike that Commander C, La Keira, Jonah, myself and assorted members of the Hanna family are taking next week.  I have been planning meals, shopping for gear, borrowing gear, breaking in boots, and training.

I just have one thing to say: I am going to DIE.

Boys and the Women Who Put Up With Them

We are finishing up the final details before the Wedding of Moose's nephew.  We are hosting the groom's dinner/family reunion on Friday and Nutmeg is the flower girl on Saturday.  The maids arrive in one hour.  The maids!  I wish I had more time to enjoy this moment.

Yesterday, I had all 3 kids with me while running errands (a rare occurrence)  and we stopped at Khol's to get a HAWT skinny tie for Moose. (Dressing him up is SO fun.) The kids were running all over the place, as they are not used to department stores, as I was paying this is what occurred:
I shall used Commander C's words so you can imagine a 11 year old saying this and blushing.
"Boba Fett said to me "Look at this" and ran up to a mannequin and pulled out the shirt and looked down her breast! *BLUSH*"
He still sill can't talk about it without squirming, blushing and giggling.

Later in the parking lot Commander C kept giggling and saying "I can't believe you did that." And Boba Fett was giggling with pride.

 Then I realized that I saw him do it.  I was standing there and watching him.

There isn't any delicate way to put this so here it is.  I spend at LEAST a total of an hour everyday of slapping Moose's hands and trying to get him to STOP doing the same thing.  So much so that when I stood there and watched my 7 year old peek at a mannequin's assets it didn't even register.  Boys looking down girl's shirts in my mind, completely normal.

Until they were talking about it in the parking lot it didn't even register.

Wherein I find our Homeschool Lacking

Boba Fett says this isn't a Valentine. 

 

I don't know what he thinks a valentine is but this is definitely one.

On the back it reads "I SCOTT lots of love for you."

If this isn't a valentine I don't know what is.

Heart? Check.  

Handmade from construction paper? Check.  

Punny, implied yet non-committal declaration of love? Check.

Obviously my kid would have learned this if he had been to public school.

In other news Nutmeg has been over the moon excited about Valentine's Day.  She has been counting the days all month long.  This morning she woke us up 2 hours early running into our room screaming "It's time!" 

Since we don't make a terribly big fuss over Valentine's Day, last week, I wisely I asked her why on earth she was so excited about it.  "Because I want one of those heart shaped boxes with chocolate." she replied.

Silly girl, every one knows that the reason to be excited about Valentines Day is the 30 year old Moss Family Tradition. 

Cinnamon-Marshmallow Valentine Suckers,  the sure fire way to be the most popular kid in school one day a year.

Salmon en Crote avec les Police

Otherwise entitled "How fulfilling my 2011 goals ended in a visit from the sheriff."
Monday was a busy day. I babysat in the morning and then set out with 3  kids in tow to do the bi-monthly grocery and sundries shopping trip.  When I got home I hustled to make a pumpkin pie from scratch and make dinner before friends arrived for games and dessert (see pumpkin pie above, and fulfillment of 2011 goal "socials" and continuation of 2010 goal "Find a Friend for Boba Fett.")


Pie:  There wasn't quite enough time to bake a pie and let it cool before our guests arrived so I ended up serving warm pumpkin pie.


Dinner:  On the menu was Salmon en Croute from Jamie's Food Revolution.

  I am really keen on this book not because I don't know how to cook but because I am serious in my kitchen laziness.  I want delicious healthy food fast with little trouble or clean up.  I am going to share the recipe/process with you here because the point of this book is to SHARE the recipes with friends.


First a little olive oil on the pan.


Then roll 2 sheets of puff pastry out together to fit the pan.


Next a little more olive oil and a salmon fillet on top.
I used a much smaller piece of salmon than I usually use for a salmon meal for my family.  I was pretty concerned about it but it turned out fine and I even had leftovers.


Then spread a bit of black olive tapenade over the salmon. 
I couldn't find a black olive tapenade and I know that I don't care for other tapenades; I was going to skip this step all together but I felt that there should be some sort of zing to the recipe so I added about 2 tsp of mayonnaise mixed with lemon juice for an impromptu ailoi sauce and spread that on the salmon. 


Next layer some fresh basil leaves over the salmon.


Then crumble a generous amount of fresh mozzarella cheese over the leaves.


Then lay out sliced tomatoes on the cheese.


Salt and pepper the cheese and tomato layers.


The final step is to pull up and pinch the puff pastry around the sides of the fish like a fish baby in a blanket.  I thought it looked so cute.


Bake in a 400 degree oven for 35 minutes
I had a pie in the oven so I had to bake it at 350 and that was unfortunate as we shall see.

The Review:
This was delicious!  Moose liked it, I liked it, Camrock liked it.  Boba Fett and Nutmeg thought that they would rather die than eat it, but they did eat it and they didn't die.


As any mom knows 3 out of 5 is a win!


The consensus was that it would have been much better if the pastry had been cooked at a hotter temperature it would have been crispier.  It was a bit doughy on the bottom which makes sense considering it was cooked 50 degrees too low.
 
I was also fairly inexpensive.  As I mentioned I usually use twice as much salmon for a meal for our family so this was half the salmon price plus a box of puff pastry which wasn't bad.  The mozzarella wasn't too pricey, and if you have basil or tomatoes from the garden...
It was a very posh feeling meal for so little effort.


The Gathering:
Our guests arrived just as dinner was put away and the pie came out of the oven.
We played games and had a good time while the boys ran around the house being boys.  We ate warm pie, it was good.


The Police:
Just as we were finishing up our pie one of the boys said that Boba Fett had called 911.  Just as we turned to look at Boba Fett the newly-installed-in-the-library-that-very-afternoon phone rang.


Boba Fett's face turned to one of despair as he cried "I thought it was a fake phone!"  Moose answered and told the nice 911 operator that it was a mistake and got the lecture and he hung up.


Our guests were packing up to leave when there was a bang-bang-bang on the side door.  It was the sheriff's deputy he had been wandering around the house looking for the front door.  He didn't find it.  When Moose showed him into the dining room Boba Fett hid under the table crying.


It was chaos.


I hope our guest will come back again sometime.


Dinner was good.

Pumpkining

I got my 2nd BlogHer check, and again I made about 11 cents a day, and even though I should have used that $25  to buy shoes for the kids, Moose said I could do whatever I wanted with it.

Things have been happening on the selling the old house front.  Good things, bad things, disappointing things, stressful things, but things, things that require risky decisions to be made.  All choices are equally risky and safe.

I am not going to say just what because I don't want to jinx it.  I believe God is in control  and has a plan for us that we can't always see but I also believe in jinxing. ( I totally jinxed myself out of getting a big calling recently.  I was certain that it was going to be a BIG one, one with a LOT of responsibility but because I told people that I jinxed myself into one with very, very little responsibility. SWEET!)

I can however relay facts. 

• Fact one, we still own our old house.  
• Fact two, said house is empty.  
• Fact three, we can not afford to pay 2 mortgages next month. 
• Fact four, rental management properties have been spoken to.  
• Fact five, someone is interested in buying said property but since no paperwork has been made it is still only interest and interest doesn't pay the bills.  
• Fact six, November is coming quickly.

So last night as I tossed and turned in my bed while I tossed and turned decisions in my mind I knew exactly what I was going to do with my BlogHer check.  Buy pumpkins.  What better way to soothe mid autumn nerves than with big orange squash?

This morning I put the situation to the kids, I had a $25 limit for pumpkins and the pumpkin farms charge a lot of money for the attractions and the pumpkins and as far as I can tell none of them do what they used to do which was pay a fee to do everything at the farm which includes a pumpkin. So we hashed it out and decided to buy pumpkins at Winco (17 cents per lb.) and go to a pumpkin farm that had free attractions.

 

The main attraction was the "Hay Pyramid"  I even managed to get some pretty decent pictures from the broken camera.

 

 And just when you think it isn't possible to love Boba Fett any more than you already do, I give you....

Boba Fett the Basilisk, complete with hissing.

On the hayride Camrock spun a tale about  how it was really a vehicle taking us to a Zorg prison camp.  In this picture he was singing a song, presumably a prison song?

As we left we bought some apples for a snack and corn for dinner and a full hay bale.  The hay bale will serve 3 purposes; first, Halloween decoration for my porch, second, a target for my avid archer son, and third, dry matter for the garden.

The best part is I still have $5 left over.