cat ears

It rained today, so I let the cat in the house to see Max. He loves The White Cat (that's really his name). Max tries to give him kisses and stroke his long fur, but of course he's a bit rough. The White Cat walks away, and Max chases him. They have an on again, off again kind of relationship. I did catch Max gently rubbing the cat's ear, though, and they both seemed content.

 

max loves da

It's been a bit over two weeks since Max and I came to Franklin for Applesfest. With our trip extended another two weeks while we wait for Julie's wedding, we've been on the phone a lot with "Da." On occasion, Max gets out the full "Dada." He gets ahold of my phone and calls Nate probably twice a day without my catching him. So most of my phone calls start with, "Sorry, Nate. Max called you again." Max lights up whenever he hears his dad's voice.

And when he sees him via Skype?

 



the tart apple apple pie pie

I'm so happy to have had another day in Franklin because I made my second pie.

 

A success.

 

I am officially a big fan of pie baking.

walking laps, child

Max and I spent most of Tuesday in the Cleveland airport with my mom. My flight to Houston was delayed which would have made me miss my connecting flight to Utah, so we waited around for a flight back to Franklin. We ate bagel sandwiches AND pizza. Mom bought Max a pull-back, noise-making United plane toy. We walked the expanse of the airport looking for a cookie and ended up eating sea salt caramel gelato. And we stopped twice to watch a ball machine sculpture. Basically, we did everything there is to do in an airport aside from getting a massage or having your shoes polished.

 

 

Max always enjoys brushing up on the emergency procedures using the trifold pamphlet from the back of the seat. He finds it every time, without fail.

My lap child and me



 





the back yard

BEFORE

 

 

AFTER

 

face: what i like

Liz shared with me a pin on Pinterest about facial oil cleansing, and I realized that I've neglected to share three recent changes to my skin regime that have significantly changed the appearance of my skin. I've had "bad" skin since I arrived at college in Utah 11 years ago. I thought it was due to a change in climate, and I was right. But I have since realized that my skin is sensitive to almost everything - climate, hormones, water, diet, products, and change. I also have really thin skin that scars easily. I've tried a few products over the years trying to stay on top of it all, and the use of the three products below have yielded the best results so far (and are all natural, which I like).

Witch Hazel - I use this after I wash my face morning and night before I apply lotion.

Aztec Clay Mask - I use this once or twice a week mixed with apple cider vinegar and leave it on for 20 minutes. Originally, I used water, but the mask wasn't smooth and clogged the drains. The vinegar is a must.

Young Living ART Skin Care - This is pricey, but I got it from an awesome friend. I started using this around the time I started the witch hazel and mask, so the results may be from the combined use of products. Regardless, I know the majority of the results have been from the wash and lotions (I've been the most consistent with them). If you can fork out some money for it, it works.

I suggest reading up on all three products to learn more about them. I'm going to be trying out the oil cleansing that Liz showed me and will let you know if it changes my life.

That's my two cents on skin. Hopefully it helps someone in their clear skin endeavors. And if anyone has any suggestions, I'm open to them.

i literally shouted "woo hoo!" when i heard

Nate is off hiking and camping in southern Utah, so during a patch of good cell phone reception he called and left me a message.

"Hey, love. Just wanted to let you know I passed the bar. I just called my dad and he got online and confirmed it. I love you. Bye."

I don't know where Nate got his original information that made him so skeptical that he had to have his dad confirm it, but I, too, got online and confirmed it.

So it's official (thrice confirmed). He passed.

i stayed in my pajamas all day

I stayed in my pajamas all day. I ate raisin bread with butter for breakfast. I looked at old pictures and looked through recipes while Max played with Grandma's basket of toys for the grandkids. Max and I took a long nap together. We talked on the phone with Nate a few times. I did part of my dad's workout video in his yoga room while Max crawled around my feet. I read awhile. I wrestled with Max whenever he asked for it. I cooked squash and apples for Max's dinner and ate leftover chicken and homemade noodles. We watched Jeopardy with Mom. Dad had a late meeting, so I didn't see him much. It's a good thing, 'cause I stayed in my pajamas all day.

Did I mention I loved it?

pizza in the park with grandma



cousin friends

The last time Julian and Max met, they showed minimal interest in each other. This time, however, Julian reverted to his crawling stage just so he could interact more easily with Max. And when Julian was on his iPad, he patiently endured Max's attempts to take over. When Max is two and a half, I hope he is as good of a friend as his cousin Julian was to him.

out in the country

Before Missie left, we took a drive out to Rockland to see how the leaves were changing. About half of the leaves are still green, so hopefully they'll change (die?!) before I make like a tree and get out of here.... er... leaf.

music man

Max loves being in Franklin. Not only are there more people around all day, but these people play music! He crawls to the feet of whomever is playing a tune and stares, mouth open for a minute before he bursts into a smile and dances.

dark chocolate peppermint brownies

Mom and I stayed in today and went through her serving items (plates, place mates, table cloths). All the pretty plates made me want to make something delicious to put on them. My mom used to make these brownies when we still lived at home, and I don't think I've had them since. They are easily in my top ten favorite desserts - crunchy, subtle brownie bottom, sweet peppermint middle, and smooth, bittersweet dark chocolate top. They are the best version of a mint brownie I've had.

And this, my friends, is why you don't visit your mom when you are STILL trying to lose baby weight.

Dark Chocolate Peppermint Brownies:
 Makes 24 - 30 bars

Layer #1
2 ounces unsweetened chocolate
1/2 c butter
2 eggs
1 cup sugar
1/2 c sifted flour

Melt chocolate and butter. Cream eggs and sugar. Add flour and chocolate mixture. mix well. Bake in 8 x 8 inch pan at 350 for 20 minutes; then turn oven off and bake 5 more minutes.

Layer #2
1 1/2 c powdered sugar
3 Tbl butter
2 Tbl cream
1 tsp peppermint extract

Cream sugar and butter. Blend in cream and peppermint. Spread on cooled first layer. Refrigerate until chilled.

Layer #3
3 ounces unsweetened chocolate
3 Tbl butter

Melt chocolate and butter together and pour over peppermint layer. Chill. Cut into small squares.

my name's missie

Missie was in town for Applefest as well, so we watched General Conference together on Sunday. Max has been teething, and it kicked into high gear during the last session. Missie and I had to rush off to the store to get some meds to help calm him down. Poor guy. Once he settled, we made ourselves my mom's caramel popcorn, did some clay masks, and pretended we were still teenagers with minimal responsibility. That's something I love about Missie - she's been in my life so long, I can easily revert back to my younger years in her presence.

 

(Max meeting my Uncle Bill)

 

 

(Missie making me laugh)

 

weekend

I went to Applefest three times, mostly because I wanted to eat certain foods that I only eat every couple of years - caramel apples, deep-fried onions, funnel cakes, lemonaid. Andy, Naomi, and their boys were in town, too, and they came with me and my mom the first morning. Dr. Virgile and some of his office staff met us for lunch on my dad's office porch next to the park. An older man was selling his wooden toys on the other half of the wrap-around porch, so I bought Max a little bus. He played in the doorway while we ate. The next morning, Christina (my friend from college in Utah who recently moved to Erie) and her husband and son drove down for lunch and a stroll through the tents. And then I went down again that evening with Missie and my mom for one last snack.

 

 

 

 

backyard trees

Applefest and Feast

Max is prepping his pallette for his first taste of caramel apple during the festivities in downtown Franklin tomorrow. I haven't been in over 10 years, and with free flights, I figured it was time I experience anew my hometown's finest festival. I hear it's much bigger and much more crowded. I don't care so much as long as I get a funnel cake. (Pictures of the funnel cake to come.)