Pumpkin Patch

How do you fix a broken jack-o-lantern?

....................

With a Pumpkin Patch

Which is just where we went today.

In search of the perfect pumpkin.

Some were just right...

for taking a break...this is hard work!

Mission accomplished...pumpkins just our size!

Indiana Grandma

If you haven't caught on by now...I have an AMAZING grandma who has done some spooktakular parties! Here is another one of my favorites: Indiana Grandma

This is pretty long...but it is SO FUN and really encourages imagination. She gave us each one of my Grandpa's old hats and black jackets and a whip (I don't know where she got whips but you could use a licorice whip) and led us on a hunt through her house (each room had bats, or skeletons, or snakes to go along with the story) to the Mummy's Tomb:

As archeologists, our aim is clear
We've a job to do, so listen here.
The treasure map shows the lost tomb of the mummies,
They've been wrapped up for centuries --even their tummies.

We'll travel high and we'll travel low,
Our guide will show us where to go.
We may have trouble along the way,
But Indiana Grandma will save the day.

So hold onto your whip in case of snakes
Or maybe we better take our rakes.
Our first stop will be the cave of the bats.
If they don't get us, then it could be rats.
(a room with a table and bats hanging from under the table that the kids crawl through)

The map takes us now to a dreadful place
Be careful, don't slip and fall on your face.
This place is said to be under a curse.
Could this be the Mummy's tomb, or something worse?
(A room with a spooky witch hanging up)

Let's go up the hill now and through a canyon
To a place that is more than you can imagine.
Oh, look! Here's one who was one of our own...
A poor archeologist, he didn't make it, look at his bones.
(A room with a skeleton wearing the hat and coat)

Back down the hill now, will we ever arrive?
The map is so faded, can we survive?
Oh look! Someone's been here long before us.
There's enough hanging here to make a chorus.
(Closet with skeletons hanging)

There's only one more place on this map.
Hold on to your whips, don't be a sap.
Could this be the legendary Temple of Doom?
Or is it what we're seeking...the Mummy's Tomb?
(Going toward the garage)

Open the door now, try not to fear.
Remember Indiana Grandma is still here.
Her love will protect us as we enter this place,
Unless it happens to be full of snakes.
(Enter the garage)

Wow!! Look at this place...what have we here?
The skulls are so thick, try to duck them, my dear.
A man-eating insect covers the ceiling.
Don't let him grab you or you'll end up his feeding.
(Giant plastic spider on the ceiling and plastic skulls hanging down)

Before we go on, let's rest for a bit.
I'm sure some refreshment would make a hit.
Remember Wicked Wanda and Old Spooky Sam?
You only needed to hold out your hand.
But now you face a really hard test,
To find the Mummy will take your total best.
(sit down on blankets in the garage)

This place isn't great, and we'll have to make do.
And so we're in a real bind too.
We'll have to eat what we can find,
So it might be best if you eat it blind.

So pull your hat down over your eyes...
Open your mouth and expect a surprise.
Don't be squeamish, it wouldn't be cool.
If it gets too bad, spit it out in the pool.

First of all, Indiana Grandma found a snake on the trail,
She cut off its rattle and cooked it's tail. (chicken bone candy)

She scooped out the remains from that fellow we saw.
I hear intestines are quite good when eaten raw. (cooked manicotti tube)

She gathered some of the bats that fell from the ground,
Pulled out their eye balls, most of them were round. (milk duds)

As you can see, there's spider webs all over the place,
They really are quite delicious to taste.  (cotton candy)

I know this sounds awful and you might have to gag it,
but we need the protein found in this maggot. (piece of gummy worm)

We know you're all thirsty and our canteens are dry.
This is new, but give it a try.
We understand snake venom is smooth as silk...
Some say it tastes a little like chocolate milk. (chocolate milk)

Remember my adventures in the Temple of Doom?
It was almost like being in this room.
Monkey brains were on the menu there.
They're really not bad if you take off the hair. (Jello square)

Now for dessert, Indiana Grandma has a special treat...
She clipped the toenails from those rat's feet. (piece of potato chip)

By now, your tummies should all be full.
It was delicious and certainly not dull.
Now, on we must go, our goal is in sight.
The Mummy awaits us, we'll reach it tonight.

Let's pick up the trail, what's around this bend?
Oh, I think we may be at our journey's end.
Could this be the treasure we've searched for all day?
It is, we've found it---Hooray! Hooray!

Here is the treasure the Mummy hands guard.
It's almost too big to fit on this card.
Wherever you go and whatever you do,
Remember our Halloween parties and
Know that your Grand-Mummy loves you!
(A bag of candy with a note from my Grandma)

--Lovingly and Laughingly written by Indiana Grandma--

I will always remember our Halloween parties and know that my Grandma loves me! Not just because of the fun parties...but because she give her time, talents, and devotion to her family.

SUPER Costumes

I am kind of weird when it comes to costumes...I like to have a family theme each year so that we all go together. I was ready to throw in the towel on this tradition this year because I just wasn't feelin' it..that is until I found this great tutorial and template for capes. And POW!, we became the SUPER Family.

We have Super Dad who wears his tool belt loaded with diapers, wipes, a remote, and tools; Super Mom who wears an apron loaded with diapers, wipes, and a duster; Super Baby who wears a bib with the same logo and a diaper; and Super Man and Bat Man. Kaylee is a 50's Girl...and she looks super! She wasn't too excited about the whole super hero theme.

Here are some of our themes from years past:

2009: Ninjas and a Geisha 

2008: The Chipmunks

2007: Knight Protecting the Princess from the Fierce Dragon

2006: The Four Amigos

2005: Old McDonald Family

2004: Clowns

Have a SUPER Halloween!

If Mama Had Said There'd Be Days Like This

If Mama had said there'd be days like this last week:

• I had just finished deep cleaning my kitchen floors - down on my hands and knees clean - when I notice footprints...not just any footprints. These were footprints of poop tracked ALL OVER my clean floor. As I am cleaning this up I hear a CRASH. The same little person that the footprints belonged to decided to have a pillow fight...throwing a pillow at a lamp and shattering glass ALL OVER the carpet. Uuuuugggg!
• I am down helping Kaylee with her piano practicing when I hear some unusual noises then dead silence...bad sign! I go upstairs to find a dozen eggs broken and dripping all over a shelf in the refrigerator with a little person scrambling them with a whisk.

Mom, thanks for NOT telling me there'd be days like this! I am sure that I gave you some crazy days as well.

Now on to this week...what will it hold. Don't tell me Mama! Silver lining: I now have an extra clean kitchen floor, my carpet is vacuumed extra well, and I was forced to clean out the fridge.

Messenger of Encouragement

Yesterday, as I was grocery shopping with Travis, I turned to pick out some bananas and there, with his wife, was President Eyring (1st counselor in the First Presidency of the LDS Church). He said "hello" to me and I asked if I could shake his hand. In just that simple act I could feel the Holy Ghost testify to me that he is a true and living apostle. He noticed Travis and told me that I am lucky to have such a beautiful, blue eyed, blond baby. I have to agree 100 percent! Later in my shopping expedition, as I was picking out soup, President Eyring needed help finding the cream of celery soup. It just made my day being in his presence. I felt so happy and loved, and being with him at a grocery store for just minutes made me want to be a better person. What an impact the Lord's messengers have!

In General Conference this month President Eyring said, "Your needs are great and varied. Each of you is a unique child of God. God knows you individually. He sends messages of encouragement, correction, and direction fitted to you and to your needs."

Luke 12:6-7: Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God?

But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.

If God knows even the sparrows, then he sure knows us and knows what we need.

President Eyring was my "messenger" of encouragement yesterday....just what I needed!

The Hunger Games

Yes, I have joined bandwagon and read The Hunger Games by Susanne Collins and I am so glad that I did. It is so good, well written, original, thought provoking...one of those books that I just couldn't put down because each chapter brings about something totally unexpected and exciting.

The Hunger Games is hard to explain, and if I attempted to write what it is about I would make it sound really weird. So I will just say that I thought that it was a cross between Orson Scott Card's Ender's Game and the reality show "Survivor". 24 children are not only trying to "Outwit, Outplay, and Outlast" each other; they are also trying to Outlive each other to be the sole survivor of the Hunger Games.

I am excited to read the next book in the series, Catching Fire.

Easy Lasagna and Garlic Bread

I love this recipe...it is so easy to put together, doesn't take a lot of ingredients, and tastes great!

Easy Peasy Lasagna

• 1 cup cottage cheese
• 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1 lb ground beef or turkey
• 30 oz. spaghetti sauce
• 3/4 cup water
• about 8 lasagna noodles uncooked

Brown ground beef or turkey. Add spaghetti sauce and water and remove from heat. In a separate bowl, combine cottage cheese and mozzarella. In a 9x13 pan layer in the following order: sauce, uncooked noodles, cheese mixture and repeat. Cover with foil and bake for 1 hour at 375.

Garlic Bread

• 1 loaf French bread
• 1/2 package of Italian dressing mix
• 1/2 cup butter softened

Cut bread in half lengthwise. Combine dressing mix and butter and spread on both sides. Put the bread back together, wrap in foil, and bake at 325 for about 20 minutes or until hot. (I just threw mine in the last 20 minutes of the lasagna cook time and it turned out great.)

Enjoy!