Getting Ready

 As of yesterday morning we had not yet had a chance to carve our pumpkins and get ready for Halloween!

We dedicated the afternoon to pumpkins.

 Ty did all of the carving. I did the gutting and the pumpkin seed roasting.

 I bought pumpkin scented tealights to go inside of the jack-o-lanterns. I thought it was quite fitting!

 Then we made Halloween Monster Cookies. They were the best ever.

We ended the night with a Halloween music themed dance party featuring Ghostbusters and the Monster Mash.

Everyone is excited for tonight!

Wednesday Things

1. We went to Costco this morning and I came home with the Pioneer Woman's new holiday cookbook!!!

I can't wait to make all the things :)

2. Also at Costco....Ty and I were able to pick out everything we would need for the kid's Christmas.

Now if we can just get to Costco without the kids at some point. That would be very convenient.

3. This morning I learned how to toast and pop quinoa on the stove. It was an important part of THIS recipe.  (Chocolate covered superfood!)

4. We are spending this afternoon carving pumpkins for tomorrow night. Ty does the carving and I roast the seeds. It makes for a happy balance.

5. Speaking of tomorrow!!! I can't believe it is Halloween already. This year I am doing something a little different for our Halloween dinner. I usually do Jack-O-Lantern pizzas, but this year I saw THESE....

Mummy Dogs!!!

Happy Wednesday!

Have an awesome Halloween :)

Trunk-or-Treat

 Last night was our ward's annual Halloween Trunk-or-Treat activity.

 It was all about the kids!

 Zack spent the evening finding all of the other little boys dressed as super heroes and saving the world.

 We came home with 4 bags of candy and ended the night watching Hocus Pocus!

Fall

 We spent our Saturday celebrating all things fall.

We picked out our pumpkins. We visited Oak Glen where we drank cider and ate barbeque.

The kids picked out candy sticks and tasted caramel corn.

 We played in fallen leaves and just enjoyed our time together.

It was quite perfect.

Friday!!

1. I have been watching Mormon Messages all morning with Zack and Zoey. We especially loved THIS one!

2. To celebrate the upcoming Halloween holiday we will be watching this classic for movie night this evening.

3. Monster Cookie Granola!

4. Tomorrow we will be visiting the local pumpkin patch and letting the kids pick out their pumpkins. I am just excited about roasting the seeds! We also have trunk-or-treat at the church this weekend. I hope we bought enough candy. 

5. I might need to make these Bad Day Bars.....even if the day turns out to be pretty awesome.

Happy Friday!

Forest Falls

My parents have a house in Forest Falls. We were able to visit a few weeks ago and the kids had a wonderful time exploring.

 Sometimes warm Octobers are a good thing.

They come in handy when everyone wants to roll up their jeans and wade through the water!

It was a great day!

Countdown to Candy....

 I put our countdown blocks away after last Christmas. Zoey had started using them as building blocks and they were getting pretty roughed up!

Mia has been asking me constantly for the number of days left to Halloween. I decided the blocks were coming back out!

 I went out to get all of the candy this morning. Candy for classrooms, candy for Trunk-or-Treat, and of course for Halloween night!

 The tiny pumpkins came out.

I somehow got talked into this.....

 It was $1 and Zoey just kept pointing at it and yelling, "Pink! Pink!"

I then bought large quantities of chocolate chips.

 No one needed to talk me into that!

 I just couldn't resist.

Monday

1.  I came across this fall cleaning checklist last week. It inspired me to start cleaning!

Too bad my motivation faded with the arrival of the weekend! I am hoping to get back into it today!

 

2. I think it is important for everyone to know....

Yes you are!

3. I want to make some of these amazing looking nut butters!

 

Chocolate Fudge Peanut Butter from keepin it kind

Cookie Dough Nut Butter from Oh She Glows

4. and then there is this Milk Chocolate Peanut Butter Hot Chocolate from the messy baker

5. Only 5 more days until the weekend!

Yay!

This and That

1. Zackary had a little minor surgery this morning. Ty was there to do the anesthesia! Everything went well and Zack is home! The surgery was to remove old tubes and scar tissue inside of his ears.

2. My mom and brother came over to deliver toys to Zackary and say hello. Together we ate everything in my kitchen. It's always nice to have someone share the guilt with you.

3. On that note:

THESE peanut butter chocolate oat squares from Wallflour girl are the best!!!

4. I am really enjoying NOT driving the carpool this week.

5.  I love THESE thoughts from Sheri Dew!

6. I am looking forward to finishing homework tonight and getting ready for the weekend!

Cowgirl

 We spent some time at Bass Pro Shops this weekend.

Zoey found the horses and a little pink cowgirl hat.

She looked especially rough and ready because of her skinned chin.

I think she may need the hat and horse for Christmas.

Tuesday Things

1. The four day weekend was so very refreshing! Sunday is so much more enjoyable knowing that Monday is a holiday! We stayed up late with the kids watching Home Alone and eating popcorn. It was hard to face reality and the lack of food in the house this morning. The kids lunches are going to be extremely boring today, but I did make it to the grocery store after dropping everyone off so tomorrow will be better!

2. We are enjoying a bit of perfect southern California weather. Occasionally when it starts to snow everywhere else in the world we get a few weeks of 75 degrees and it is so delightful.

3. I decorated my dining room table for fall. That is ALL I have decorated. I need a decorator.....and lots of time :)

4. Maybe the kids and I will gather acorns and use them as decor!

Isn't THIS an adorable idea!

5. We made THIS junior mint hot chocolate from Picky Palate over the weekend.

It was some of the best hot chocolate I have had and I have been dreaming about it ever since!

6. I love this thought from Fred Rogers

Mr. Rogers has always been a hero of mine!

7. Something I need to make

Fudgy Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Brownies from Ambitious Kitchen

Peanut butter and chocolate forever!

Pink

The girls got all dressed up to go to a party last night.

They know how important it is to always look their best ;)

Zoey was tickled to be in her pink tights and tutu.

 She put on her pink crocs before we left.

They are her very favorite shoes. We think because they are easy for her to put on.

She had a great night.

Tuesday Things

1. It is officially hot chocolate season again and I am very happy :)

Zoey and I had a little Starbucks hot chocolate date after dropping everyone else off at school.

2. Zoey has cute hair today.

3. I have had lots of fun making my own nut butters at home. I have made nutella and almond butter, but THIS chocolate peanut butter from Averie Cooks is my very favorite.

It is also very dangerous to have around.

4. I made a big batch of snickerdoodle cookies for Max to take to scouts tonight. He has been asking all week to bring cookies tonight. I am just glad he likes scouting so much!

5. We have a lot going on this week. The kids keep asking when we are going to decorate for Halloween. I hope I can make that happen before Halloween actually gets here!

Happy Tuesday!

Conference Weekend

Conference weekend was wonderful!

The messages in each session were beautiful and inspiring. I felt so much peace all weekend while we were uplifted and encouraged.

I feel so blessed to have these conferences twice each year. 

The kids tried to listen. Max had some success. I can only hope the other kids felt a bit of the spirit while they played!

Between conferences on Saturday I made caramel and we dipped apple slices while watching the Charlie Brown Halloween and Thanksgiving specials.

Ty hosted priesthood session for some of his friends at our house, while the kids and I went out for hot chocolate.

Just after the first session ended on Sunday we drove to Forest Falls for lunch at my parent's house. The kids had so much fun playing at the waterfall! My mom and I tried to catch a bit of the afternoon session while the kids were off having adventures.

(I love these little memes that show up so quickly after conference!)

 

It is so hard to say goodbye to these weekends!