The requisite Halloween photo shoot.

The problem with, "Say 'cheese,' Jack!!" is that all the pictures turned out like this:


And this:


But we did manage to catch him off-guard once:

"Arrrrrrgh! Have a Happy Halloween, mateys!"

A lesson in real world budgeting: Sometimes some things gotta give.

I've learned a lesson this last month: Take my own advice.

Anyone who comes to me for cooking/eating advice always hears the same thing. Be willing to spend a little more on quality home cooked meals because you'll save money in the long run. And always find ways to eat more fruits and veggies. You will learn to looooove them.

I do not claim to be an expert. Allan has asked me to "never make that again," and Jack snubs his nose at about 33% of what I put in front of him. But I do love to cook. And I know how my body feels when I really put some TLC into what we eat.

So why would I ever, ever stray?

Anyone who talked to me at any time during the months of July through September probably heard about my genius budget. Everything was categorized to the penny. In order to do all the things I want to do within the next five years, including buying a house and paying off our student loans, I was going to be the master of fiscal discipline. And if that meant trimming my monthly grocery budget by a third, so be it.

Ha!

I made it through August and September successfully. I stayed within bounds. Then October hit. Nineteen cents per pound watermelons disappeared. The price of fresh green beans and zucchini doubled overnight. If I had to cook another chicken leg quarter again I was going to throw up. Ground beef--I still abhor it, even after two months of trying to make it palatable. Our diets were seriously lacking in variety. I'd gone from eating about nine servings of fruits and vegetables a day to three--if I was lucky. I was tired, cranky, and one night decided that going to McDonald's sounded infinitely better than the sixty-cent per serving meal I'd cooked up.

I missed eating well. I missed it so much I was depressed. I finally realized that wanting to shift $100 from savings to groceries every month isn't frivolous. It's our health, for crying out loud. And as silly as it sounds, it brings me so much happiness. I like to think of it as putting $100 into a health savings account of sorts.

This last week's trip to the grocery store was a joyous occasion. I loaded up on so much produce that I thought the checkout girl's eyes were going to pop out of her head. Yams, spinach, beets, asparagus, apples, strawberries...I could go on. And on.

Today at lunch when I pulled out an avocado, Jack shouted with the enthusiasm that only a two-year-old can muster, "CAN I HAVE THIS ONE!??!"

My dear, sweet boy. I'm so sorry you've been deprived these past two months. I will never do it again.

Here is some seasonal vegetable love. This is called "vegetable candy" in our house.

Autumn Vegetable Medley

• 1 (9-ounce) fennel bulb with stalks
• 2 cups (1/2-inch) cubed peeled butternut squash
• 1 1/2 cups (1-inch-thick) slices parsnip
• 1 1/2 cups (1-inch-thick) slices carrot
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 1/2 teaspoons chopped fresh rosemary
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• Dash freshly grated nutmeg
• Cooking spray
• 1/3 cup (1 1/2 ounces) freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese (optional)

Preheat oven to 425°.

Trim tough outer leaves from fennel. Cut fennel bulb in half lengthwise; discard core. Cut each half into three wedges. Combine fennel, squash, and next 7 ingredients (through nutmeg) in a large shallow roasting pan coated with cooking spray. Bake at 425° for 35 minutes or until vegetables are tender, stirring occasionally. Sprinkle vegetable mixture with cheese, if desired.

My attempts at reaching across the aisle.

I'm politically conservative. Given my parentage, religion, geographical roots, etc. this should come as no surprise. Quite frankly, as long as the Republican party keeps supporting the social values that I fervently believe in, for the most part I will continue to vote Republican.

I've been angry with my party for a good chunk of the last four years. Bush's gift to me? The appointments of Roberts and Alito to the Supreme Court. That's about it. I'm not really wild about my options this time around either. But the Democrats have done absolutely nothing to make me see it their way. With Congress growing more liberal with each election season, I find myself fearful of what a liberal supermajority will mean. An Obama/Reid/Pelosi combination, in addition to the ideology of future Obama appointments to the Supreme Court, will be more left-leaning than mainstream America wants. That's my opinion, anyway.

As much as I loathe what is coming in January 2009, I am sick of all the vitriol. I am sick of saying things like, "I hate Harry Reid," and actually meaning them. While it gets me fired up, it doesn't feel good. It's not productive. I don't want to hate the other side. But I really think that is what most Americans are feeling right now. Total disdain for those whose opinions are opposite their own.

So many things have entered my mind as I've thought about this today. For instance, the real meaning of tolerance. To quote Gordon B. Hinckley, “Each of us is an individual. Each of us is different. There must be respect for those differences....We must work harder to build mutual respect, an attitude of forbearance, with tolerance one for another regardless of the doctrines and philosophies which we may espouse. Concerning these you and I may disagree. But we can do so with respect and civility." I've also thought about Robert D. Hales's most recent conference talk. In talking about those who are antagonistic to our faith and values, he said, "Whatever their race, creed, religion, or political persuasion, if we follow Christ and show forth His courage, we must love them" (emphasis added).

For me at least, there seems to be a fine line between being passionate about my beliefs and feeling unworthy passions for the other side. So today I decided that I would come up with a list of liberal-minded people that I love. I started thinking about the bigwigs, and sadly, came up with nothing.** Then I started thinking about the people I know. The people I worked with. The people who taught me. The people I'm related to. I do love and respect them all. I'm thankful for what they've added to my life--socially, intellectually, and spiritually.

This is my attempt at abandoning the stick-it-to-'em attitude I've been expressing as of late: I've decided that on November 4th, I will be casting my vote for certain candidates and issues rather than against. Baby steps, right?

**Allan came up with one. Senator Chris Dodd was kind enough to meet and greet Allan and the rest of his high school group during a trip to D.C. Even though it wasn't planned. Why? Because that flake Orrin Hatch didn't show up. Thus proving that the distinguished gentleman from Connecticut cares more about the youth of Utah than Orrin Hatch does.

Giving you pumpkin love.

Things went better on the parenting front on Monday and Tuesday, but today not so much. Just yesterday I was telling a girlfriend how potty training was actually an overall easier experience than I had anticipated. Jack must have overheard me. Because as of late this morning he's waged a full-on rebellion. Against every suggestion/request/rebuke/endearment that comes out of my mouth.

I know I'll eventually emerge out of my puddle of frustrated tears, but today I'm seriously considering that the Lord is waiting to bless me with more babies until after we've conquered this stage. Because if I had it my way, I'd have a one year-old by now--which means I'd probably have to call that number that appears on the "Sometimes Parents Need a Timeout Too" billboards.

To show you that I have intentions to cease all of this whining, I'm extending a little bit of culinary love. The aforementioned pumpkin pancakes:

2 c all-purpose flour (sometimes I get all health-nutty and make it half whole-wheat)
3 T packed brown sugar
1 T baking powder
1/2 t salt
1 3/4 c milk
3 eggs, lightly beaten
3/4 c canned pumpkin
1/4 c cooking oil

1. In a large bowl combine all dry ingredients. In second bowl combine wet ingredients (i.e. all that remains). Add wet to dry and stir until slightly lumpy (does anyone else secretly love these floury lumps as much as I do?).
2. Cook on lightly greased griddle, 1/4 c. at a time. And I think you know how to do the rest from here.

If you have toddlers at home, I give you permission to make yourself a batch, and spread peanut butter on them before drowning them in syrup. It will do your soul great good.