Boo and Thank You

As goofy as we are, my little family had a blast this Halloween. This is us at the freezing trunk or treat. What a haul! Bananas was an Egyptian Queen complete with eye makeup which thrilled her to death. The Boy couldn't help but be Captain Jack Sparrow beard and all. Rapunzel, well, was Rapunzel this year. She grew her hair out past her bottom and boy, do I understand Tangled a lot better now. Jelly Beans, was a Sleeping Beauty and would curtsy every so gracefully with a, "Your Majesty" or "My, Lady." Quite hilarious.

But as much fun as Halloween was, I have been working on Fall/Thanksgiving decor for the last month and a half. Blame Super Saturday...it got me in the mood for a serious craft fest of goodness.

I throughally enjoyed ripping up a book making the paper pumpkin. It took about as many hours as sticking its counter part, the gold tack pumpkin. I had a bit of scrap paper left over from my 'Give Thanks' blocks and couldn't help myself and make my best knock off of a leaf garland. But those yarn wrapped candy cones where the easiest thing on the planet.  Yarn wrapping and I are going to be really good friends I think.  I saw these little ditties of framed leaves and figured out my own version as well because I was not patient enough to wait till morning to hunt down some gorgeous fall leaves.

A million candy corns later...

And a burlap table runner complete with lace trimmings.  Mine is a bit rumpled from use and since we are all on a first name basis I figured the pressing could wait. ;) Of course my pinsperation was gorgeous!  I couldn't justify purchasing new lace at over seven dollars a yard so I made do with what I had.

I am grateful for this cozy time of year when things become focused on gratitude, generosity, and blessings.  Since today is the 13th day I figured I could at least list thirteen things that I am more than blessed to have.

1. A hard working man who loves me and my children and the Lord more than anything else in the world,  even more than football.  That is saying something.
2. Four beautiful, sometime precocious and wild, but darling children.
3. A home filled with love and laughter.
4.  The full Gospel of Jesus Christ.
5. Being able to stay home with my kiddos each and every day.
6. Having the privilege and responsibility of teaching my children.
7. Living in the United States.
8. Seeing the first real snowfall and the wonder of it all through my children's eyes.
9. New winter tires.
10. Hands.
11. Inspiration from the Holy Ghost when I truly need it.
12. Walking.
13. Trees that looked like they were blooming a sunset.

Halloween Par-tay!

This has to be one of the best Halloweens that my family has ever had.

No school stress or homework to bog us down, living with my favorite sister (I can say that, I only have one.. ;), and finally breaking out of my shell we decorated a our trunk and passed out candy after a most delightful and fun filled dinner party with the ward. By the way, I absolutely love, love, love my new ward! We were made for each other.

Always a challenge and delight to make the kids costumes. We are all about thrifty and unique usually one use costumes, because lets face it...my kids picking the same costume twice just isn't happening.

Besides making the costumes is half the fun! A Glittering Glenda's crown (and consequently the whole house for weeks), Davy's leather outfit from paper bags and some paint, and tutus for the little fairies, wings and wands compliments from the Dollar Store!

Bewitchingly Bootiful

What is there to do, you ask, on a wet fall afternoon with children bouncing off the walls? Make Halloween decorations, of course!

The kids and I decided it was about time to festoon our house in honors of autumn and Halloween. Now we aren't really into the gory or demonic creatures but I did have to put in this cute witch from Family Fun.

She kind of reminded me of Nanny McPhee.

So with scissors, templates, and paper in hand we all got busy cutting, gluing and eating a bit of candy corn.

("Mom you must tell them that I am 'snippety-snipping', here.")

(Oh those cheeks! They are mommy cryptonite.)

(You wouldn't be able to shake this kind of concentration with an earthquake.)

I love how each jack 'o lantern shows off their personalities.

(left to right, Bananas, Darling Boy, Rapunzel, Jellybeans.)

The jack 'o lantern trend at our house would be freckles, compliments of Bananas.

Then we made candy corn and bats flying in a midnight sky.

I particularly like the bats. If you look carefully the paper has silver flecks in it.

Ribbon please!

Ta-da!

Well... not really.

It took me a while to hang it so that I didn't feel like the house was tilting and then without making a bazillion holes in the wall. (Landlords kind of frown on that kind of thing, I guess.) But over all our house now feels festive and ready for some spooktacular fun.