we've got pumpkins on our porch!

In honor of October and Halloween, Zac and I headed to the Vineyard Garden Center after work a couple of days ago and picked out some pumpkins for our little porch (because what would October be without pumpkins?!). I was searching for the perfect pumpkin to carve, and I think I found it! 

Just when we were about to leave, we saw these cute little baby pumpkins, and I had to have them. I find miniature versions of anything (shampoo bottles, candy bars, animals...) unbelievably cute, so Zac let me get two of these little pumpkins. 

On our way home, our pumpkins were rolling around in the back of the car like crazy. It was pretty funny to hear them roll every time we turned onto a new street.

I can't wait to carve these babies! And I think I'll start a new tradition this year and roast some pumpkin seeds to eat. I've never had them before, and I am intrigued! 

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fulkultur.

My old roommate, Erica, showed me this song when we were living with each other two years ago, and it was like the gods of music shined their light on me. No, really, it's awesome.

I don't think I've listened to this for at least a year, and then today I started humming it, and I was all, "How have I not been listening to this everyday?" It makes me want to dance.

In other news, our cute little downstairs neighbor girl who's about 4 years old said hi to me again when I came home from work. She was wearing a cowboy hat and boots, and she followed me up the stairs. She's adorable.

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a day at the cabin.

When we pulled up to the cabin yesterday morning, the first session of General Conference was just ending. We walked in, and I headed straight for the back door to stand in the warm sunlight while my father-in-law got the fire started. 

I made homemade cinnamon caramel that we brought up with the apples we got at the Farmer's Market, and we all dug in while my mother-in-law put the chili on the stove. 

After lunch, the second session of General Conference was starting, so we all gathered around the TV (I got the best spot in the house--right by the old fire place) and listened to the prophet's voice! It was so, so good.

We spent the rest of the afternoon riding the Polaris down to the stream, where we took lots of pretty pictures of the mountains, and roasting marshmallows over the smoky fire with the rest of the family. Zac made me a s'more (probably the last one of the year), and I was in heaven.

A couple of hours before it started to get dark, we packed everything up and started the long drive home. This was my first time up at the cabin in the fall time, and it was stunning. What a way to spend Conference weekend! I'm already looking forward to going back with my sweetie. :)

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we smelt like camp fire.

We just arrived back from visiting the Swensons' cabin for the day, watching General Conference, eating way too much white bean chili and caramel apples, and going for a ride through the mountains.

And we smelt like a camp fire when we came home, so we had an early shower and washed all of our clothes.

More pictures to follow.

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we bought lots of apples.

Whenever General Conference weekend rolls around, I get pretty excited, because that means homemade apple dumplings with my whole family. But since I spend this Conference weekend with the Swensons, we didn't make any. I still wanted to make a treat that included apples, so yesterday afternoon, Zac and I headed over to the Farmer's Market to buy lots of apples.

While walking through the aisles of booths, we saw so much fall produce, including bell peppers, the biggest onions we've ever seen, gourds, and pumpkins! And let me tell you, I wanted to buy about ten pumpkins right then and there, but held myself back, so we could pick out our pumpkins in a pumpkin patch the next week.

We bought a whole back full of Eliot apples, which apparently only grow in a Utah, from a lady from Springville.

Oh, and the best part about that whole trip is that it smelt like a pumpkin with a candle inside--you know, the way it smells on Halloween night. It put a smile right on my face in a second.

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a reading date with my sweetie.

Last night, after eating a couple of french dips Zac had been craving all day, and after our original plans fell through because it was too cold outside (in the 30's!), we walked the few blocks to Barnes and Noble for a little reading date.

I headed straight for the cook book section before realizing what I was doing. Anyone who knows me knows that I love cook books, and have quite the collection of them. I just like to cook and eat good food, guys, okay?

The last hour before the store closed, we sat on wooden chairs in the back and read some books that we picked out. I started to read Stephanie Nielson's Heaven is Here, and got completely lost in it. I don't think I would mind if someone got that book for me for Christmas. :)

When the store closed, we walked our way home, and ate ice cream and watched Hot Rod. Zac let me lay on his lap near the end, where I fell asleep.

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Today we plan to pick apples for General Conference weekend, and go up to the cabin tomorrow with the Swensons. Oh how I love General Conference. It's so good each time, and the traditions we have, they don't get better.

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pictures that are making me happy right now.

1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7

1. Feeling the crisp, Autumn air dance in your hair.
2. Camping and being chilly.
3. Spending an entire day in bed, reading with your love.
4. The cutest little excited face on old-fashioned roller skates.
5. A snow storm in the city.
6. Hot cocoa in mugs.
7. My biggest dream.

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