Halloween Cuisine

We had some witches fingers, ghosts, mummies, monster lips, and spiders for dinner last night. Thank you Family Fun magazine for your great ideas! And not pictured are witches hands made from chicken breasts that you cut the top part into 5 fingers which kind of crinkle up as it cooks. That idea came from my friend Niesha many years ago.




Monster mouths with apple wedges with almond slivers; string Cheese fingers with green peppers as fingernails; boiled egg ghosts; crackers, peanut butter, pretzels and raisin spiders; hot dogs wrapped in breadstick mummies; mac and cheese with plastic spiders. Delicious!


Scott did the witch fingers and I think he had way too much fun! He even dipped them in green colored water for more effect (his own idea). He also did the monster lips. Janessa did most of the ghosts. Brennen made the spider crackers. There are so many fun ideas for Halloween! I tried to stick mostly to "healthier" stuff since the sugar is sure to come, but we did frost Halloween cookies after dinner. We listened to Halloween music and played a few games. Party on!

It Looks Like I Am Back in Utah

We woke up to snow today. The kids were way excited. In fact Andy was dressed and ready before we had time to tell him to.

My kids don't know enough yet that when it snows here, you turn on the radio to see if there is a school delay--starting school two hours later due to road conditions so the buses can drive safely. Because there isn't lots of snow here usually. When I was growing up we probably had two or three snow delay days year. And I remember school being cancelled for a snow day maybe 5 times while I was in school. Those were fun days.

Anyway, no snow delay today but it continues to fall steadily. Maybe they will get an early release. (But personally, I hope not!)

The school year is already 1/4 of the way over! Wow. My kids get report cards this week. Last Friday I was invited to an end of term assembly at the elementary school and both of my little students received awards. Janessa receive a "Golden Pen Award" where on student from each class is chosen for authoring outstanding and creative stories, and Andy received a special recognition from his teacher for working hard to improve his handwriting. Very cool. I have to say I am a proud parent.

Andy wasn't very impressed with his award later when he learned that there was no tangible value to it. He came home and said "I don't get anything. It is just a piece of paper. Not even a coupon or anything!"

Independence

Last night Cam wanted ice cream. I said no because he didn't eat any dinner, well unless you count the jello. So I warmed up some mashed potatoes and gave them to him and said he can have ice cream after he eats his potatoes.

The other kids were done with their ice cream and I was in Janessa's room reading her a book and Scott was reading to Andy. Cameron came to me and said something about ice cream. I said "Oh. You ate your potatoes and now you are ready for ice cream?" He told me no, he didn't eat potatoes. I got to the kitchen and he proudly showed me his empty ice cream bowl, which was next to the ice cream carton on the table.

Since Mom or Dad didn't get him ice cream, he did it himself. Who wants to eat pototoes when you can have Cookies 'n Cream ice cream?

He's too little to be big.

Mornings

When most people find out my husband works from home they say something like "Oh! I bet you love that!"

Yes, there are great things about having a husband working from home. He helps get the kids to school, can help with homework. He is there when the washing machine floods and is home during nap time if I want to run some errands ALONE.

However, there is at least one drawback. (is that one word or two?) Like what if I just want to stay in my pajamas all morning? And read a book? Or talk on the phone? and let Cam watch TV while I do that? Not every morning but, you know. There are those days. Being a stay-at-home mom does have some priviledges and I think one of them should be to stay in my pajamas until noon without anyone knowing.