Dinner For Four!

Don't you just love this time of year? When we were out running errands the other day, Kyhle gets a huge smile on his wonderful face and says, "This makes me so happy! I feel like fall is the most romantic time of the year for me!"  Romance, huh? Yay for me! :)

My dad had a church meeting up at the north stake center on Sunday night, so he and mom came over afterward for a late dinner.  Let me start by saying I am not a chef.  I have never had the urge to cook.  Ever.  But I decided that since I am somewhat grown up now, I should probably start, right?  I called mom and asked her how to make her chili that everyone loves, and I decided that Kyhle wasn't allowed to help me with this meal.  I wanted it to be my chili--something to be proud of.  Now let me inform you that this was no fancy meal.  Just a bowl of chili, but this was huge for me.  I went ahead and made it in the crockpot because I thought that would give it a few hours to sit and let all the flavor soak in.  Also, I hadn't used my crockpot since we got married (such a long time ago), so I thought it would be a good time for that.  When we got home from church, I changed my clothes, turned on some Jim Brickman, and put on my adorable Vera apron that my Croc gave me.  (He got me the apron to motivate me to start cooking more.  I think it's working!)

It was such a success!!! I was so proud of myself and it even made me want to start cooking more.  I am excited to cook more, I should say.  I meant to take a photo of my chili, but sadly forgot. I wanted to make it such a fall meal, that we went out with a bang!  Pumpkin pie and apple cider!  Is that perfection, or what!?

I also wanted to make sure our apartment was cleaned and decorated to high standards, as my mother has taught me to do.  My mom is the most festive woman I have ever know.  But she is classy about it, and that's awesome.  No matter what season/holiday it is, her house is fully equipped and ready. I wouldn't feel right if our home didn't have the proper seasonal decorations.  I put out all of our fall stuff a few nights ago.  I love it.  It puts me in such a good mood to see the pretty reds and oranges throughout our apartment.  It also reminds me how close Christmas is, as well.  Yay!  It really made my night when my parents were leaving, mom turned around to me and said, "You're place looks great!  I'm really proud of you!"  Thanks, mom.  I learned it all from you!