Halloween Recipes

Here ya go Erin!  Although I wouldn't really call them "recipes" -- more like "detailed instructions"

Carly's Pretzels
Place square waffle pretzels on a cookie sheet (however many you want or that will fit).  Place a Hug Hershey Kiss on top.  Place in oven on lowest setting (my oven takes about 3-4 minutes to melt the chocolate).  You don't want it totally melted - but still holding its form.  Push candy corn or M&M's into the center making the Hershey Kiss "spread" out.    This recipe can also be used with Rolos, pecans, M&M's, etc...  Allow to cool completely before stacking.  For me the white part of the Hugs turns a grayish color if you put them in the fridge?? Maybe that's just me though.  :)

Candy Corn Marshmallow Pops
Place lollipop stick on large/jumbo marshmallow.  Dip marshmallow 2/3 of the way into orange melted candy chips.  Cool and/or dry.  Then dip the orange end into yellow melted candy chips.

Pumpkin Rice Krispie Treats
Lindy said these were not as easy as they looked.  Simply made regular Rice Krispie Treats and used a pumpkin shape cookie cutter to cut them out.  Then dipped the stem part in green melted candy chips.

My Sister's Hot Chocolate Recipe
1/2 cup sugar
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa
1/3 cup water
Bring those 3 ingredients to a boil, stirring constantly.
Then add 4 cups Half-n-Half and 1 teaspoon vanilla.  Heat through again until desired hot temp.
Makes ~4 cups (but I'd say more than that because I don't drink a full cup).

Amy's Halloween Trail Mix
Here is the LINK to that recipe!  Thanks Amy!

Everything was delicious!!! 

Monster Mash 2013

I should really know better than to plan something or commit to doing something in October.   I am not lying when I can predict we will be sick e-v-e-r-y October.  Mattox --> Merritt --> Me --> Merritt...

Stomach bug and flu like symptoms... so NOT fun.

At the time only Merritt was sick, and we kept her inside away from everyone = no pics of Mitt.   So I'll let the pics do the talking since I'm barely functioning.  But a huge THANK YOU to my mom for helping with the party and inspiring adults to get dressed up in costume next year (where is my pic of you?) and to MIL "Nana" for keeping my kids while I was incapacitated yesterday.

I also left my camera inside while we took the hayride, so I have no pics of that. :(  But another HUGE thank you to Mr. Will aka Mr. SchoggenScapes for doing the hayride again!  That is always the highlight of the party! everyone loved it!  Thank you!

My handsome Batman who was only cool enough to let me take a few pics of him "no pitchers mom...i'm Batman"

Miss Audrey Hepburn (and my party favor boxes)

My niece Kennedy spent the week with us while she was on Fall Break!  such a sweetie!

Officer Harrison and Inmate Harrison 

My witch cupcakes

Pumpkin rice krispies!  And I did not take a pic of the marshmallow Candy Corn = adorable!

Halloween Trail Mix = yummy!

Soo cute!  Thank you Carly!  Always one of my favorite treats!

Dry Ice = a magnet for little kids.  this needed a "guard" the entire time.

Hot chocolate, apple cider 

I loved these.  These belong to Gigi.  

We had a problem last year with kids coming in to use the bathroom, and playing on the front door so I thought this might deter the darlings from using the front door.... and it worked!  X means NOooo :)

Yes, the best one out of TONS I took for the group pic.  Missing Allie though.

The "real" Peter Pan!  loved the hair

best buds

I ATTEMPTED to show an outdoor movie, but the sound system was a bust and we could not hear it.  :(  We tried Charlie Brown!

over october

busy is an understatement.  more like overwhelmed.  october is ALWAYS my busiest month of the year.  and usually our sickest month.  to sum up the last 3 weeks as quickly as possible:

soccer, ballet, MS State Fair for Nana's birthday, Yankee Candle Fundraising at MC's school (for 850 students), Halloween/Fall Festival school related activities, field trips to the Pumpkin Patch, field trips to the local fire stations (both stations to be exact),  I started Advocare's 24 day Challenge.... jury is still out on my overall opinion on that,  Merritt got her 1 year shots that were delayed to her 15 month checkup = f.u.s.s.y for 2 weeks, stomach bug for Mattox = cleaning up vomit and doing laundry all night long, 50's Day coke floats delivered to school, Fundraiser parties, unloading 6 pallets of Fundraiser boxes and dividing them by teacher, dealing with the non-stop questions and complaints of people associated with Fundraiser (some people don't know the definition of the word deadline), planning/painting the plan for Mattox's preschool Trunk-or-Treat, working on Halloween costumes, birthday parties, working on/planning/carrying out my own Halloween Party, doing a little early Christmas shopping in the few and far between moments that I find myself without the older 2 kids, taking Christmas Card pictures, dermatologist appointments because my scar is not healing and/or healing properly, trip to the dentist and MC walking out missing 2 first teeth, Tooth Fairy going into shock and overload at a moment's notice had to pull out the magic and bring on the Glitter and Gold, carpooling to extracurricular activities, trying to squeeze in a little fall TV shows and football, and Matt working out of town for a few days leaves me as a single mom, not to mention the regular household chores that are not getting done except washing dishes perhaps........... i.am.over.october...   

In the middle of all that I find myself trying to hold on and treasure the sweet and precious moments.  I hope these images are burned in my brain.  well my brain is on overload, so I put them here for now.

First trophy -- and well earned!

Having fun with Daddy at the Fair

Because our school is awesome!  

Permanent teeth not pushing the baby teeth out = we love our pediatric dentist, Dr. Susan!

Someone make this girl stop growing please.  I cried shortly after this pic was taken.

Because Tallulah the Tooth Fairy rocks!  MC dug the glitter I sprinkled on the wet stamp ink... and gold dollar coins.  Truvy the Tooth Fairy is on stand-by for Mattox.   

Mighty Mattox Miley

I forgot to update you on the progress of our soccer status.  

Week 2 - went pretty much the same as week 1 minus the tantrum. Still whiny and refused to do anything.  But no screaming or yelling - maybe I should have considered that progress?

Week 3 - I, therefore, refused to take him back.  Lucky for him, Poppy was in town that week.  Poppy and Daddy took him and apparently it went better from what I heard.  

Week 4 - Matt took him again and he did GREAT!  Each week he seems to get a little closer to the group and the coach.  And I mean that physically closer not mentally!  

Week 5 - I took him since Daddy was asleep (which he was not happy about).  But after convincing him that I would help him if Mati Claire helped me with Merritt.  aka MC will get Smarties for watching Merritt in the stroller and keeping her occupied and he will get Smarties if he participates and behaves.   

But he did GREAT!  He prefers Daddy to take him over me - which is totally fine - except Daddy works nights and is usually not awake by the time soccer starts or if he is, he is getting ready to go to work.  Guess we'll have to work on that.  But he did it all for the Smarties.   But why am I giving him candy for something that he really wants to do???  Beyond me.  

Note to self:  It takes him approximately 1 month to get acquainted with any social / team event.  

He also participates in the SoccerShots program at his school - which I have been told he loves.  Its similar to the TOTS program (more basketball related) that MC did when she was 4, but its soccer instruction without being on a field.  It promotes coordination and just learning the basics.  I probably wouldn't normally let him do that on top of Mighty Mites but its during school-time-recess (once a week), so I'm not forced to find more time for extracurricular activities.  yay!!

So cute in his first uniform!  Go #16!  Week 2.  He was so unpleasant during the first week I never pulled the camera out to get a pic.  

Week 2:  This was as close as he would get to the group/team. ha! (before his uniform socks came in)

Doing the warm up, but was done after that!

Week 3 or 4 - actually in the circle next to his coach!  wow!  Go Mattox!

Sitting on the ball towards the right with his hands on his knees.  Obviously Daddy needs to take him more often!

Just for fun!  To show you what a closet redneck he is!  He had a Fire Station field trip that day, and came home to act out the part!  Check out the cowboy boots.  I'm cooking dinner and then I see the water spraying the kitchen window bc the "house was on fire"