How could I forget...

...how absolutely fabulous these pumpkin cookies are? Allison, will you please post a comment about how you honestly feel about these cookies? And keep your message PG-rated, por favor...


I finally made my first batch of the season tonight since Laurie H. went out and bought the pumpkin for me, hinting (not so subtly) that her family needed some... I wish I could take credit for this most amazing recipe, but I actually stole it from Michelle Bodine from our old ward in Los Altos. My only modification from her version was to eliminate the frosting and add milk and white chocolate chips. So thanks, Michelle! We named our daughter (Charlotte Michelle) after you to express our gratitude!

Pumpkin Cookies

Cream together:

1 cup sugar
1/2 cup shortening
1/2 cup margarine or butter
1 cup Libby's pumpkin
1 egg

Mix in:

2 1/2 cups flour
1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp cloves
1 tsp vanilla

Optional (not really) – 1 ½ cups milk chocolate chips, ½ cup white chips. You MUST use Guittard brand milk chocolate chips. If you haven't tried them, you are truly missing out.

Bake on greased cookie sheet (or just use parchment paper) for 12-15 minutes at 350 degrees. Makes about 3-4 dozen cookies.

The Magic Food

In our house, I just have to say one word to get the complete, undivided attention of two little munchkins: POPASICLE! Please notice the "A" in popAsicle. That is, of course, Scott's pronunciation. I am a cruel mom and like to play this little game where I give Scott and popasicle and wait for Baby C's hilarious reaction -- like she will absolutely not be able to live one second longer without her own popasicle. It is very cute to see such determination in a 1 year old. Hey, we moms have to find a way to provide our own entertainment at home!

How do you force a 3-year-old to eat?

I can't figure out how Scott has so much energy when the kid does not eat! It is a serious battle every time we attempt to have dinner. Today we tried this game: I had him write on our white board 12 things he could have for dinner. Of course each item had to be numbered, since I was trying to play to his numbers obsession. By the way, the reason it looks like he wrote a "c" after each number was because he was trying to add a close parenthesis.

So once the list was created, I asked him which numbers he wanted for dinner. He responded, "1, 2, 3!" So tonight he enjoyed a gourmet dinner of Dino Buddies (chicken nuggets), noodles and green beans. And HALLELUJAH, he ate every bite! So if any of you out there have any other good ideas to get this little boy to eat, I would love to hear your creative suggestions. The numbers thing worked tonight, but no guarantee it will work tomorrow...

Oh, and while we are battling Scott to get him to eat, here is Charlotte digging in the trash, trying to get every last Kix out of the cereal box. Are these kids related?

Thank Goodness for In-and-Out!

I feel very sorry for all of you living east Nevada and Arizona, as you do not have access to an In-and-Out Burger... So after Charlotte's 1st birthday doctor's checkup where she measured 6th percentile for height and 10th percentile for weight (that means she is teeny), we decided to try to fatten her up a bit. And what better way than In-and-Out! And true to her genetic bloodlines, she loved it! Check out her first experience with eating fries:


And of course Scott had his favorite meal: pink, brown and white milkshake, fries and chupup. Is it bad that as the mom of an EXTREMELY picky eater, that I consider this to be a very nutritious meal? I count it as two vegetables and a dairy...