Happy Halloween!

The house is all dressed up - awaiting the arrival of goblins and ghouls.

Boo-Scat Halloween Cat

It is Halloween and the kids did not have school today. The official reason for this is so that the teachers can enter their 1st term grades in the school district grade book. But according to my kids, the real reason is so they can run around like wild banshees all day, eating candy, messing up the house and yes, even having a lemonade stand in the front yard. I tried hard to convince the kids that indeed, Halloween is NOT a national holiday, but they are not buying it. They have argued that it would be a great injustice if I made them do homework, work in the yard or practice their instruments. So far I won on the yard and instruments, but caved on the homework front. Two out of three is not bad. Trick or treating is still on the docket, so the night is young. I am including below three darling sites I found today.

www.ziggityzoom.com - great activities for young kids.

www.ohthelovelythings.blogspot.com - the name says it all.

www.themotherhuddle.com - a bunch of ladies' cute ideas, recipes, etc.

Pumpkin-Palooza!

We had a few families over tonight for pumpkin carving - great night. I absolutely love carving pumpkins - gutting them, using the little tiny saw-like knives, creatively channeling some inner demon/fantasy on the bright orange pumpkin flesh. This year my creation was a visual ode to Belinda Carlisle of the Go-Go's, circa 1982. It turned out pretty good. Of course, this party is really just an excuse to eat and drink more fun, fall food/beverage - carmel apples, hot apple cider, toasted pumpkin seeds, hot cocoa and hot scones with homemade honey butter, which just reminds me of a billboard I drove by today that is in front of a gym in downtown Bountiful that said, "Beware, average holiday weight gain is 10 lbs. Get started today". Well, I am going to get started today, but not to get killer abs, buns o' steel or cut biceps. I am getting started with making great memories with my kids, enjoying fun experience and eating a donut whenever I darn-well please. Have a Boo-rific Halloween.

These girls look really intense!

Me and "Belinda" and Rin with what looks like to me is a Bush Baby :)

Don't know if you can tell, but Hank is in the giant pumpkin.

Steve and Hank's masterpiece.

The goofy goober crew.

Darling, Devilish Duo!

Beautiful girls.

No severed fingers or cut tendons - phew!

Indian Summer Day at Pack's Pumpkin Patch

Pumpkins galore at Pack's pumpkin patch in Farmington today. Sunny and Hank ran around looking for the perfect pumpkin - not too hard when there are thousands of these little beauties to choose from. We splurged this year and bought a 100 pounder! I can't wait to carve it tomorrow night. Without a doubt, fields and fields full of bright orange, ripe pumpkins are happy makers. Happy Halloween.

Luscious Carmel Apples

Just a few of the 250 carmel apples I made for the Hannah Holbrook Halloween Carnival. This homemade carmel is simply the tastiest and easiest in the world.

Carmel Apples (Arlene Alvey's recipe):

2 cubes butter

2 lbs. brown sugar

2 cups corn syrup

2 cans sweetened condensed milk

Melt butter on low heat, then add sugar and syrup. Raise heat to medium, stirring constantly until it boils. Add sweetened condensed milk and bring to boil again. Boil to just past soft ball stage, stirring constantly until 230 degrees on candy thermometer. Then enjoy dipping your gorgeous crisp apples and place them on a greased cookie sheet or greased wax paper. Covers about 25 apples.

Cutest Little Pirate Ever!

Glamour pirate costume - " hot off the press", as my Mom likes to say.

When Beata said she wanted to be a glamorous pirate for Halloween, I knew I was up for the challenge - arrrrrgh matey! Although Beata can be a little rough and tumble (read Tom-boy) around the edges, she is definitely a glamour girl deep inside. I love how cute she looks in her costume.

Sunny Bunny - The Reflections Champ

She is soooo cute!

Hooray for Sunny Bunny! Sunny won 1st Place in the Hannah Holbrook Reflections Contest for 3-D Art. Her darling cat/rainbow creation is now at the district level and hopefully will move on to region. She got a very shiny medal an a fancy certificate too. The theme this year is "Diversity Means . . ." When I asked Sunny how her project tied into the theme she said, "Well Mom, everyone loves cats, no matter who they are, where they live or what they look like." DUH! So take it from Sunny, we just need a few more cats in this world - world peace here we come.

Fun Fall Crafting - Autumn Trees and Boo Decor

Love these autumn trees. All of my kids made them, which means that they are pretty easy. Connect a twig into a circle. Make the trunk and branches of the tree by tying brown yarn to the twig, and then weave colored strips of polar fleece through the yarn.

Thanks Angel Club for this oldie, but a goodie. I love breaking this out every year and thinking about my Mom and her lady friends laughing and crafting, while my Dad made bizarre treats for them to snack on.

Hank & JoJo - The Original Little Rascals

Hank went up the street today to find his friend Joseph to see if Joseph could play. About ten minutes later Hank walked back in the house, arms crossed, pouty lip and scowl. I asked Hank what was wrong and he told me that Joseph couldn't play, so I asked why. Then Hank said, "Joseph is up on his driveway running a lemonade stand. When I asked him if he wanted to play, he said, 'Hank, you know some of us have to work for a living!' Why can't I get a job?". Joseph and Hank are five. I just love these boys.

Mmmm Good - Potato Soup in a Bread Bowl

Temperature is a' dropping here and since I just love soup in a bread bowl on a chilly day, I made this creamy potato soup last night for dinner. No other food seems quite so cozy. All of the kids (except Hank) loved it.

Creamy Potato Soup

1 large onion - diced

3 large leeks - sliced thinly up to the green

3 Tbls. butter

6 cups chicken stock (I love the organic from Costco)

1 can Cream of Mushroom Soup (I use Campbells)

1 can of evaporated milk

5 large potatoes - peeled and cut into cubes

Salt and pepper to taste

Grated cheese to sprinkle on top

Sautee onion and leeks in the butter until the onion starts to get clear. Put all of your liquid in a large stock pot, stir well and bring to a boil. After the liquid is boiling, drop in potato cubes and boil until soft (approx. 10-15 minutes). After potatoes are cooked and soft, add the onions and the leeks. Remove the soup from heat and pour into a blender. Blend soup until it has a creamy texture. Return soup to stock pot and add salt and pepper to taste. Serve in a bread bowl and sprinkle with cheese.

Halloween Party Photo Booth

Went to a Halloween party today. A darling lady brought this cutout for fun Halloween photos. A great idea that is oh so cute.

Crepe paper, glue, rocks - cheap, easy and cute!

Make these fun friendship rocks. Cut up small squares of colorful crepe paper. Use Mod Podge to glue paper squares on rock. Of course it is fun to personalize these beauties with a little special design.