Costumes of Halloween Past

Here are some pics of Halloween Past

Garrett -pumpkin 2000

Garrett puppy/cow 2001

Garrett Cowboy- Wearing chaps and vest that were Brent's 2002 (or 03)  This was right around the time we got a digital camera and about 4 computers ago-haven't looked through back up disks.  ONE OF MY ALL TIME FAVORITE PICKS OF HIM-EVER

Maddison 2002 (a little over a month old)

Yes-same outfit as G-man Can't say that Owen wore it because sold at garage sale..

In the Spirit

Just because I don't like Halloween doesn't mean we don't have any fun.  Wednesday night before it started raining we carved pumpkins.  Kids did pretty well and were very patient.  Owen wasn't real interested but hung around a bit for a few pics. 

Finished products.  The BIG one is from a couple of weeks ago.  Garrett did the white pumpkin.  Maddie's is the one w/big mouth.  I tried to do the stars.  My mom gave Owen a "Pumpkin Kit" that required no knives.  He wanted the puppy over the pig. 

Confession

I have a confession to make.  I really don't like Halloween.  I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Fall, but not Halloween.  I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, Thanksgiving, but not Halloween.  I don't really know when the dislike started.  I am thinking very early.  Don't get me wrong I like candy, but the whole dressing up thing and going trick or treating just never did really appeal to me.  It could have been the fact that we lived in the country and had to always be drove places.  Get in and out in and out.  I HATED that. 

I can remember ONE (and I think only)  time my parents dropped me and my brother (katie sorry can't remember if you came or not) in Green and left us.  All I remember is that is started snowing and it was COLD.  We called my mom from the Green pay phone that worked maybe one out of 4 calls to come get us.  And we waited and waited and waited some more.  By this time my feet were freezing.  And I'm sure we weren't dressed real appropriately.  I mean who wants to wear hat, coat and gloves on OVER your costume.  Well soon my brother and I were the only ones left in our little group.  We waited some more-I'm close to tears and my brother I'm sure was telling me to chill out.  I really don't know how long we ACTUALLY waited, but finally my mother came.  A cat had climbed up under the hood to stay warm on the engine block and she didn't know it.  Yeah-I will let your imgaination go from there.  Anyway..a belt had to be put back on or fixed in some way.  I HATED it.  And it just sort of progressed from there. 

My problem:  My kids LOVE Halloween.  This year really has been an exception.  Costumes this year: sorry to say I didn't really care, but again this year-been an exception.    I bought a vampire cape for G-Yes I could have made it, but waaaaaaay to stressful for me, so yes I bought one.  Maddie-KSU cheerleading outfit found on clearance at K-State Place last year for 10 bucks.  And my ever so nice sister in law is letting me borrow a Monkey costume for O.   So far no blood, sweat, and tears- I pray this will continue up until Sat. night. 

Thanks for letting me vent. I am sure this won't be too popular, but it just how I feel.

Anniversary

Had a great time w/my man last evening.  My mom and sister took the kids to a pumpkin patch/corn maze yesterday afternoon.  I will have pics on that later.  Then my sister Katie took Owen home w/her and my mom and dad got the older two.  Everyone was quite happy.  Especially Brent and I who got an evening by ourselves to celebrate our anniversary. 

We actually went to the movies and saw Couple's Retreat.  It was pretty good.  A few uncomfortable moments, but overall really funny.  We then ate here for the endless shrimp special.  It was mmmmm good.  One of my favorite places of all times. 

We of course then had to hit Lowe's and Walmart (had to run a few errands).  It was a great anniversary.  Thanks to Katie and mom and dad for again watching the kiddos.  We really really appreciate it. 

Number Eleven

I have a confession to make.  I love my man and 11 years ago I married that man!

Our wedding day October 24, 1998

Our honeymoon cruise!  This was the first time I had ever flown.  I was really pretty nervous.  This was also the first time I had ever seen the ocean.  Wow-I couldn't stop staring at it.  It was awesome and spectacular.  Of course it was even better w/my man right next to me. 

Time has flown by...we've moved 3 times, built a new house, had a boy and a girl and ooops another boy.  We have had several mini vans (my husbands enjoys searching ebay for "GREAT" deals) .  We have done potty training, preschool, First days of Kindergarten.  A school closing, the loss of loved ones and the excitement of being aunts and uncles.  We have done family vacations, business trips, and a second honeymoon.  Baseball, soccer, football,softball.  Church and board meetings.  We have killed 2 deer (one hung in the living room another left in a ditch), and have totalled a van completely seperate from our deer accident. We've had colds and flu and even a wisdom teeth or two. 

So, so, much more has happened in the first 11 years and I pray that every day here after is just as blessed as the day before.  I love, love, love my man! 

How on earth?

In the below post I mentioned that I was doing some cooking today.  Yesterday I had done some as well and thought I should finish.  I wish I could say that I am a lot more of a baker.  I look at recipes and think I can handle this, but after I start I realize that there is sometimes a lot more than just a 5 star rating on all recipes-with a few tweeks here and there.  EVERYONE says its easy, but sometimes I think they are stretching the truth. 

My reason for baking: There are two lovely ladies at our church who both had baby girls in the last 2 weeks.  I thought I would bake them some food.  (Jenny and Kelly I have NO idea if you read this, but if you do please know that I will get you food it just won't be in the freezer today).  Thought I would try this new cinnamon roll recipe I have used it before, but fairly new.  Let me say first that the bread machine does the work w/the dough- the dough tastes great-the roll out is fairly easy-filling is superb (yes I have taste tested EVERY STEP thus far).I roll up and cut -this too is easy w/a bread knife- STOP -this is where I think I scewed up.  I think I put too many across.  I did 4 and thinking I should have only done 3.  But not being an experienced baker and not sure of myself and for that rolls looked sooo small I did 4.  For you bakers out there could this be my problem?  If not, please please tell me. 

Now I would like to think that frosting them w/the yummy frosting would help the looks , but I don't think so....so in going w/my new banner on this blog.

My family is THANKFUL they have an ENTIRE pan of cinnamon rolls to eat. I am THANKFUL they don't care what they look like as long as the TASTE ok. 

Playdough

I thought today I should be a "good" mom and let Owen play with playdough while I was doing some cooking.  Playdough is a fun thing if it stays where it is supposed to stay.  Like on the counter.  And today I can say we successfully accomplished this no small feat.  He was a great little builder and only had minor clean up.  It just might get to play again soon.  (that is a BIG maybe)