Happy Halloween!

Just in case your Halloween greeting from us got lost in the mail (or I ran out!) here is a little Halloween wish from our house! Have a marvelously scary or fantastic holiday!

Guess who we are?

William was complaining that I hadn't posted my hard work that resulted in the kids Halloween costumes yet. I was saving it to show you on the acutual day but you will probably be busy trick or treating so here you go.

Harry Potter.

I had to post two because in the first picture you can see his awesome Griffindor emblem his mother slaved over or his amazing hand-carved wand Uncle Nate produced while hunting. But that face in the first picture is priceless.

Then we have Queen Elizabeth the first. Beautiful isn't she?

Then our local firefighter with his own truck and faithful companion.

Now bring on the candy!

Da Bears

For the last week, as soon as the Halloween costumes were finished I have been occupied by these little buggers. Yes, they may look cute but don't be deceived. They come along and take over your days, or nights really-long, long nights. Brittany's ballet school that puts on the Nutcracker has a boutique at the performances.

I am on the committee and was assigned to make these angel bears. I don't know if it is because it was a craft I did not chose myself but man am I glad these guys are outta here! I am pretty sure my friends and family are glad too, I have complained A LOT about these bears.

So now I am going to go reward myself with yummy potato soup, diet Dr. Pepper and a book.

Then I am going to go take a nap.

See ya bears!

Birthday Weekend

So I haven't been around blogland much this weekend because I was too busy celebrating. It was my birthday, one which one of my wise friends stated is where we start counting backwards. It was a really great weekend, full of great food, family and flowers. What more could I ask for?

Can you believe this cake my mom made me? It was ice cream on the bottom and cake on top. Even gluten-free so William got to have some. Gotta love those new Betty Crocker cake mixes. Sooooo Yummy!

Check Christmas Cards Off the List

So last weekend for some reason last weekend I decided we really needed to take advantage of the gorgeous Fall colors and have family pictures taken. After a quick phone call to our talented Uncle Brooke and a little craziness finding the right outfits I convinced the family this was exactly what I wanted for my birthday.

For the most part they cooperated but there were more than a couple like this.

My kids get their silliness from their dad.

He even put me in a tree. Have to admit it sort of makes a fun picture though.


We did get some that were just what I wanted though.

I cannot tell you how great it feels to already have the Christmas cards ordered!

The Super Swap

I meant to add these pictures before the previous post went up. I actually joined two Halloween swaps and they were both fabulous. Would you believe this was Cami's first swap?! Look at the great goodies she sent me.
This skeleton doll is so cute in a creepy sort of way. We love her bling earrings. I adore this shadow box, I can' t believe it got here in one piece. I will really treasure it.

Look at this cute spoon she dipped in glitter. I am telling you this was the swap that just didn't end. My kids favorite part was probably the eyeball bouncy balls. Thanks Cami, you really spoiled me!

Fun swaps!

I joined a couple of fun Halloween swaps this year. It is a fun way to increase my Halloween decorations. I received this one last week. Such fun stuff!

I love this idea and plan on using it. Candy bouquet. Don't you just love it? My kids sure did!

Autumn Hike

Last week we took the kids up the canyon to look at the leaves. This time of year makes me so glad that I live near mountains. It is almost like having two autumns. First the leave change in the mountains and then down here in the valley. We found a good spot to explore and went on a little hike.

Is this the cutest little hiker you have ever seen? Complete with walking stick.

William really was one the hike too, somehow he just didn't make it into the pictures.

I think this may have been the best part for the boys though. The Lamborghini we followed home down the canyon. Aren't I a good mom for trying to capture it on film for them?

Welcome Fall!

What We Have Been Up To

It has been a strange week. The big news was that I finished the Halloween costumes! Yipppppeee! I am always so excited to get them going and then so glad when they are done. I was really pleased this year with the end result. Harry Potter, Hermione, Alice in Wonderland, Queen Elizabeth and a pretty witch. Joshua will be a recycled fireman from Matthew's younger days.

This is one of my favorite details. Love how it turned out and Matthew thinks I am cool so that is the most important thing.

Brittany had a volcano assignment. They "erupted" them this week


Matthew had to get in on the act too, they made their volcanoes out of paper mache.

Matthew was sick this week, walking pneumonia if you can believe that. The kid is so tough though it is hard to tell when he is really sick, I had no idea he was that sick when I took him in. Thank heavens for antibiotics. I thought I would post this picture as a tip for other parents headed into the flu season. See that hoop he is holding? It is his scarf he is knitting. The only thing that kept him on the couch for any length of time.

Vanessa's Halloween Party!

Today we start celebrating wonderful Halloween goodies! Miss Vanessa had this party last year and it was so fun. So this year I joined in too.
So welcome to our house at one of our favorite times of year.

Come right in, this is our Halloween tree. We gather sticks every Fall, tie them together and stick them in a vase. This year I spray painted them silver and I hope to use the tree again for Valentine's Day and Easter. We decorate it with little paper ornaments the kids have made, usually while we listen to LDS General Conference.

The frames that decorate are Halloween's past. Every year we take pictures of the kids in my latest creations and then try and find new frames to add to the collection. Makes all that work I put into the costumes last a little longer!

A lot of these pretties are from swaps. Swapping treats has been a fun way to expand my Halloween decorations.

Isn't My Halloween lady from last year exquisite?

Of course, as for most holidays, we had to decorate the chandelier.
Enjoy the party!
And Happy Halloween!

Want to Come See My Angel?

This is Miss Brittany in the angel costume she will be appearing in for her part in Nutcracker. Isn't she cute? Well if you live in the Davis/Weber county area you can see her live and in person. Seriously, I do love Clytie Adams production of the Nutcracker. It will be at the Browning Center at Weber State College November 19, 20 and 21. Tickets are $6 and $9, I promise you will never find a a better way to kick of the Holiday season for that price. They have fabulous costuming, gorgeous ballerinas and a live orchestra. If you are interested and know me in "real" life give me a call, or shoot me an email but don't wait too long, I have to turn my order in by the 24th. Okay, end of my shameless advertisement!

Fun Giveaway!

My little friend Golda is having a darling give-away! Jump over there and see if today is your lucky day!

Glitter Pumpkins

These seem to be the Fall craft of the year. I have seen Martha do them and they did them on our local Good Things Utah. My sister who is normally anti-craft has even made some. So when I saw artificial pumpkins at the dollar store I had to try it too.

I just painted my pumpkins with Elmer's Glue because that is what I had around and then dumped Martha's glitter which I also happened to have all over the pumpkin. The dollar store had some little gourds so I did them too, thinking then I could leave them out for Thanksgiving. I put them on wax paper to dry. Fun project!

The Next Project

Last week I was so excited because I won a give-away Jo was having. Do you know her work? It is amazing! She and her husband make the most amazing pieces, I hesitate to call them dolls because they are so much more. I won the give-away she was having for patterns to make her painted quilts. Actually I thought I won one pattern and was really excited although I had a hard time deciding which one to pick. Then she emailed me back and told me I got to pick five! Holy cow I am excited! As soon as the Halloween costumes are done this is going to be one of my new projects. Thanks Jo!

Pickin' Pumpkins!

Josh had his first field trip this week. An interesting concept for the little guy. I didn't have to go, but I figured how many chances do I have to go on field trips to pumpkin patches? Not too many. Did you see Stephanie on Oprah the other day? It made me want to try and enjoy my kids childhood a little more. So off to the pumpkin patch we went. This is Josh's new face he makes when I try to take his picture. Looks like he is just humoring me doesn't it. He was happy though, he wanted a "bitsy-tiny" pumpkin that was green. This one was just right.
There was also a little maze. A great corn-box. You know, like a sandbox but with corn.
Best of all a train that you could ride as many times as you wanted. Josh went four times.
I love pumpkin patches, really put me in the mood for Fall!

Wheat Bread

You can tell it is Fall, I feel like baking. This is a new bread recipe my friend gave me.

5 1/4 c flour
1 ½ Tbsp salt
1 ½ Tbsp powdered milk
1 ½ Tbsp yeast
½ c sugar

Blend together

Add:

4 1/8 C Hot water

41/2 T oil

Blend then add an additional 4 1/2 C flour (until ball forms). Knead for 7 minutes. Put in oiled bowl. Let rise until double (about an hour). Punch down. Let rise 40 minutes. Punch down. Let rise 20 minutes. Shape into three loaves. Let rise 15-20 minutes. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes. Can use half wheat flour and half white, that is what I did. This one is definitely NOT gluten-free, but super yummy for the rest of us!

Fall Food

We are so excited to have Fall here for real this weekend that Matthew and I made some of our favorite Fall foods last weekend while Miss Brittany was visiting her grandparents.First up were caramel apples. So easy. Basically we just followed the directions on the back of the Kraft caramels (which came with the sticks by the way). Unwrap all 50 caramels in the bag and microwave them with a tablespoon of water. Dip 'em and put them on wax paper to cool. So yummy!

And caramel popcorn. This is my favorite recipe. It makes the gooey kind but if you want the crunchy kind like Cracker Jack you just put it in the oven at about 250 for about 15 minutes.

4 quarts of popped popcorn

2/3 C maple syrup (I just use our pancake syrup)

1/4 tsp baking soda

2 C brown sugar

1/2 C Butter

Combine the syrup, brown sugar and butter. Bring to a rolling boil, then add soda. Pour over popcorn.

This is what Josh worked on while we cooked. He found that fabulous toy weed wacker at the thrift store the other day. He loves it and I love that there is a yard to play in!