Funny Mummy

I love Halloween. I love the decorations. I love the fun traditions. I love the candy. I love the weather. I love dressing up. I love the FUN!

The kids and I made some funny mummy faces to decorate our home. Here is what you need:

• paper plates
• white paper torn into strips
• circles for eyeballs
• glue stick
• black sharpie 

Glue the eyes on the plate and then glue the paper strips on as well (not covering the eyes) to make a mummy face. Then draw a silly expression on your Funny Mummy.

Super easy, inexpensive, and cute...my kind of craft!

Wicked Wanda

Last week I introduced my Grandma's fun tradition of grossing out her grandkids with "Spooky Sam". Here is another version:

Wicked Wanda

Do you remember old Spooky Sam? He didn't want to come again, so away he ran.

So tonight we have a brand new guest,

Her name's Wicked Wanda--as witches go, she's one of the best.

She'll make for us a yucky brew

I don't dare taste it, how about you?

The first ingredient Grandma will hate,

Cause it's the slithery skin of a scary old snake! (cooked lasagna noodle cut in half)

Next came the wings of a vampire bat

That sounds pretty bad, what do you think of that? (piece of fruit leather)

Next, we have the skull of a troll,

She plucked off his hair and kept it in a bowl. (a whole coconut)

She saved the hair for a good reason too.

She throws it in next to turn her brew blue. (corn silk from corn on the cob)

Next comes some lizard lips to add a real zing,

This witch is really a real ding-a-ling. (mandarin oranges)

Then she skinned a fat old toad

and left him naked on the side of the road (avocado peal)

A rat's tail will add that special taste

If she'd use the whole rat, it wouldn't go to waste. (end of a fresh beat)

Next she snatched an alligator eye

It goes in the brew, and that's no lie. (avocado pit)

She got the hide from a porcupine,

Thanks to the help of Frankenstein. (peel from fresh pineapple)

Black widow spider legs are necessary too.

Without them, we just wouldn't have the right brew. (tops of green onions)

When mummies got wrapped up, you know,

They lose their belly buttons, isn't that so? (olive)

(the following things are in boxes with a hole in the side to put hand in and feel)

The stuff in this box came from Jurassic Park.

It's the real dinosaur poop, does that give you a start? (peeled kiwi)

The werewolf is also here tonight,

Here's his eyelids, to give you a fright. (kiwi peel)

Next, she snatched the wart from a friend.

It was covered in buggers from end to end. (ends of green onions in egg whites)

On the way home one night she found a road kill.

The guts were still fresh, does it give you a chill? (insides of cantaloupe or pumpkin)

When you feel the next one don't let your lips quiver--

Remember old Spooky Sam, she cut out his liver. (Jello in a surgical glove)

And that completes our witch's brew...

Who'll be the first to drink it? Wicked Wanda dares you!!!

Cramped to Cribbed

"Uh guys...I'm a little cramped in this bassinet! Give a guy some room PLEASE!"

"Aaaahhhh, now that's what I am talking about, with room to grow."

Travis has moved out of our room and into his room that he shares with Nathan...what a big kid! It is nice to reclaim our bedroom again...although it is often invaded, overtaken, and plundered...it is nice to have a space of my own...some of the time at least.

Decaying Derby

Kaylee is a hoarder and here is proof:
Remember this veggie derby car?

Well, Kaylee didn't want to throw it away so she put it on the top of her bookcase to save. And here it is now:

It is now a moldy, shriveled, decaying, putrid thing. But I am bound and determined to see how long she will keep it. I put a rag under it to catch all of the decomposing drippage. I really hope that this will prove a point that YOU CAN'T SAVE EVERYTHING!!! I just hope she gets the point soon...this is really grossing me out!

S.M.I.L.E

2 Nephi 9:39 -  O, my beloved brethren, remember the awfulness in transgressing against that Holy God, and also the awfulness of yielding to the enticings of that cunning one. Remember, to be carnally-minded is death, and to be spiritually-minded is life eternal.

Did you catch that?? To be Spiritually Minded Is Life Eternal...it will make us happy...so SMILE :)

Kaylee Clean Your Room

My post about Nathan Clean Your Room reminded me of a book that has been forgotten in Kaylee's mess of a bookshelf, a story that Kaylee really needs to read again! It is called Kaylee Clean Your Room by Diane McAffee. It is the story of a girl, Kaylee, who doesn't like to clean her room. One day her parents decide to just close her door and let the mess just accumulate. Soon a family of grasshoppers and guinea pigs move into the messy room. Then a family of beavers is needed to build a dam in the doorway to keep things from falling out. Eventually a dragon moves in because dragons love yucky, stinky, dirty places. Kaylee comes to realize that keeping her room clean is much better than the alternative.

I need to have Kaylee read this book again....especially with her veggie derby car that is rotting on her shelf. I am sure that she will have some uninvited guests coming to visit her room as well if she doesn't clean up soon. I am conducting a little experiment...to be like the parents in this book. I am going to wait and see how long it takes Kaylee to get rid of her car without forcing her to...along with tons of other things that she is hording. I will keep you updated, I am sure that the car will get pretty gross...perhaps even end up as a nasty puddle on her shelf. I better put a towel under it so that it doesn't ruin anything!

Goblin Soup Goop with Witch Fingers

As promised...no more desserts for a while. Instead I have a fun dinner that would be great before trick-or-treating.

Goblin Soup (Veggie Beef Soup)

• 1 lb ground beef or turkey
• 1 small onion chopped
• 6 cups hot water
• 3 beef bullion cubes
• 4 carrots pealed and diced
• 4 potatoes pealed and diced
• 1 small yellow squash diced
• 1 16 oz can diced tomatoes
• 1 can black beans drained
• 1 packet of taco seasoning (optional)
• salt and pepper

Brown ground beef or turkey in a large soup pot. Add onions until soft. Add the remaining ingredients...add any veggie that sounds good to you or taco seasoning for an extra kick. Bring to a boil and simmer 20-30 minutes.

Witch Fingers

• 12 frozen rolls
• Almonds
• 1 egg
• Parmesan cheese
• 1 Tbsp baking soda

Let rolls come to room temperature or follow the speed thaw directions on package using the microwave. Roll each piece until the dough forms a long finger shape that is about 3-4 inches long. Pinch the dough in two places to form knuckles.

Transfer about 6 fingers at a time to 3 quarts of simmering water with the baking soda in it. Leave them in for 1 minute. This is to keep the dough from rising too much. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the fingers to a greased baking sheet. 

Beat the egg with 1 Tbsp water. Brush the fingers with the egg wash. Using the tip of a sharp knife, lightly score each knuckle two our three times. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese and push the almond into the top to make the nail. Bake at 400 degrees until golden brown..about 12 to 15 minutes. 

Enjoy!