Conference Owls and I need a good knife.

I'll explain the knife part first. The other day, Chloe and I were aimlessly walking around Sam's Club waiting for them to set out samples when over the loud speaker I heard "come and get a free paring knife on aisle 10". So we went and the immediately realized it was a trap. We had to listen to a knife infommercial for the "unbelievable ever-sharp knife". Well, long story short and shame aside I bought the set. (come on...he threw in all sorts of "freebies") So I got home and decided that sadly, i better take the knife set back. I found a set someone gave us for our wedding and decided they would due. Well, the next day I chopped a chunk out of my nail bed. Sounds wierd but it was like a chunk right in the center. I am okay but man it hurt like the dickens and it is just starting to heal. Ugly as can be. So now I am stuck with a set of subpar knives knowing what I could've had. I thought about going back to Sam's and asking if "Ron=the knife guy" would meet me out back for a private transaction but decided I've used crappy knives for this long what's another 5 years. 

If you hadn't noticed I am totally obsessed with sewing and people that can sew something from nothing. I love Project Runway. Here is what I created out of "nothing". 

I have seen the soft blocks before and I needed a quick baby gift for twin boys and this is what I made out of scraps and scrap batting. SOOOO Easy for anyone, like me, who wants to sew something easy. Just 6 squares. Sew them in cross (4 up and down then 2 to make the cross shape) Then stuff with batting, add the ribbons as you sew it up and tada!

I have also decided I am better than patterns. So here is my first dress minus pattern. I just held the material up to chloe and just sort of went for it. If fits sooo cute. This was also the first time for buttons. I was a little afraid but you can do anything with youtube and the world wide web. I did have a freak out moment when I had to seam rip the inside of the buttton hole and nearly took my hand off and I did rip a large part of the back of the dress. Thank goodness it was a patterned material. Fixed it up.
We went to a real life (or is it live) pumpkin patch.
We had fun playing around on all the free stuff. I lost my lens cap sometime at the beginning of the fun and thankfully someone found it and turned it in.Here we are picking. Chloe tripped several times on the thick vines. Sometimes Brad and I laugh when that happens. Is that wrong?
Me in the pregnancy glory. I also look a little like a doctor in my white get up.
Loved it. We ended up with 3 perfect pumpkins. We are actually going to carve them this year although I'd rather eat dirt than smell the guts of the pumpkin but I'm gonna do it because my friend let me try her delicious pumpkin seeds last year and i do like carving the faces.

Oh yes, Conference Owls. We loved conference. Elder Holland commands attention with his awesome spirit and dynamic testimony of the Book of Mormon. Loved the talk about Aiming High and so so so many others. Can't wait for the Ensign. For the past year or so B-rad and I have read one talk every sunday and we finish them all by the next conference. If you can make it work in your schedule it is very rewarding. We ate delicious treats. Here are some owl cookies we made. I thought you may appreciate the recipe because they are very fall festivey.

Makes 3 dozen (keep that in mind when you are slicing the brick. I sliced mine a little thick)

bake @350 for 12-15 minutes.

1 1/3 c. flour

1 tsp b. powder

1/2 tsp. salt

1 c. brown sugar

2/3 c. soft shortening

1 c. crunchy p.b.

1 egg

1 tsp vanilla

1 c. rolled oats

2 sq. unsweeted choc. melted

mix flour, b.p. and salt. set aside. cream sugar and shortening. stir in p.b., egg and vanilla. stir in flour. mix in oats. divide dough in half. shape one half into an 8 in. long roll. stir in melted choc to other half. Roll choc. dough on waxed paper to an 8 in. square. place 8 in. roll on choc. dough. wrap choc. around it. pinch seams. wrap in waxed paper. chill 1 1/2 hours. cut in 1/4 inch slices. Make face for owl pinching ears, use choc chips, and nut for the beak. So cute.

In other news: Chloe just figured out how to control the mouse so she can play simple computer games. That's quite impressive hand eye coordination. She finally had a super successful swim lesson (4th try). And we are having the baby on November 11th barring some difficulties on my part or on scheduling labor and delivery. Wahoo. 1 month left.