Halloween Parties!

Neeley's Class

Pumpkins decorated by Neeley's class

My first experience as room mom went really well.  Neeley's party at school was a success!  We had three different stations for the kids to go to.  

My station was making skeletons.  It always amazes me the different levels kids are on and their artistic renditions of things.  It is hard for me to watch sometimes because I am such a perfectionist!!  Next they moved on to making a "witches brew" snack mix and then on to the snack.  The kids were all so cute and Neeley loved having Mom in the classroom.

Thankfully, Lilah (my little witch) and Kate were entertained in the stroller.  

After the party all of the kindergartners had a parade.

Then it was off to Kayla's preschool for her parade.  I have to say, my two little Dorothy's were the cutest around!!

Which one is Chuckie??????

This face reminds me of an old Halloween favorite that used to scare us as kids. CHUCKIE!  The only scary part is that lately her antics remind us of him as well. Ok, so she is not a violent murderer, but she is getting into a lot of trouble lately!

Walking with Pumpkins!

On of my favorite times of year is Fall. I love the leaves, my birthday, pumpkin flavored everything, hot soups, my girls birthdays, and lots of family events! One of my all time favorite events of fall is the Syracuse pumpkin walk. It is a fun tradition and a good way to celebrate the season.



This year Kayla's preschool class carved pumpkins to donate to the walk so it was even more fun to go and hunt for her cute little pumpkin grinning from ear to ear.  

It was a fun date for just us girls while Dad was out of town.

Kate just couldn't believe her eyes!

Recipe for Magic Witches Brew!

I got the idea to make magic witches brew for Neeley's party from my sister JoAnn.  It was really fun and the kids did think it was magic.

Recipe for Magic Witches Brew

Sprite

Dry Ice

Food Coloring

Clear plastic cups

Fill a bowl with Sprite then add the dry ice when the kids are watching because that adds to the fun!  Before hand when no one is watching, add one drop of food coloring (different color in each cup) to each cup and then stack them up (make sure they don't fall over or the coloring will get on the bottom of the cup above it).  As you serve the punch fill the cup while holding a napkin around the bottom of the cup so the kids don't see the drop of coloring in the bottom.  Then sit back and watch the kids faces as each cup you serve up turns a different color.  SOOO FUN!!

Feeling Witchy!

Neeley couldn't wait for her birthday party that she has been planning for months.  This years theme: Spooky Halloween Fun!  I planned all sorts of fun activities but as I was getting ready for the party, it was confirmed that at least one of the activities was lame.  Just as I was getting the grapes ready for the "eyeballs" in our touch and scare boxes, a commercial for Arctic Circle came on where the kids told their mom that grapes for eyeballs is really lame and not scary at all!  (FYI: the six year olds at the party felt otherwise!  Thankfully!!)

After the kids each had a chance to feel the ghost teeth, bones, brains, worms and eyeballs, the surprise guest arrived! 

 I had to reassure all of the kids that she was a nice witch, otherwise there would have been tears, starting with Neeley!!  Everyone was entranced as the witch told all about her new broom and the crispy critters she had made the night before.  Then she gave them the first clue to the crispy critter treasure hunt.  
After the crispy critters were found the witch had one last surprise, the magic witches brew!

Having many Halloween preparations left to make, our witch disappeared into the distance as we continued on with cake, opening presents and a candy hunt.  

It was so fun to see the kids all dressed up in their costumes having fun together.  Another successful party goes down in the books.  Happy 6th birthday Neeley.  We love you!

Thanks to the witch (AKA my mom) for your time and efforts in making the party so fun! The girls never would have known it was you if the wind hadn't blown your hat off. Maybe it is better they saw you or they never would have believed us if we had told them!

Events of the Day!

Lilah got into her diaper during naps and smeared poop all over everything!

Nephew Tanner got baptized.

Nephew Landon was blessed.

Lilah ruined one of Grandma's decorator pumpkins.

Kate's umbilical cord fell off.

Lilah spilled a whole bottle of nail polish on Grandma's carpet.

7:15 p.m. and all the kids are in bed.  Couldn't have come soon enough!

Our Sunbathing Beauty!

Bili lights are not the kind of sunshine we like in our family.  But since Kate is jaundice, she has to stay under them for 3 days.  It is so sad to see her cry at times because she is done being under the lights.  I just want to be able to hold her for long periods of time and then snuggle her in her cute little bed.  Instead she is left naked and helpless for hours on end under the lights.  I hope we are done with this soon.  

When they delivered the bili lights the guy told us she needs 24 hour supervision to be sure that her goggles stay on so she doesn't go blind.  As if being a new mom you aren't up enough in the night.  I will be glad to have this little stress behind us and I can get at least a little more sleep!  Sorry Kate!  This will be over soon!

As I was sitting there last night watching Kate cry under the lights I started to think about what she is going through.  I am sure in her immature understanding she just wants it to stop and doesn't know why she has to go through all of this.  And, I as a parent have to watch her struggle with it knowing that it is ultimately for her health and good.  The thought then came to me that I am sure Heavenly Father goes through this with us sometimes.  He has to sit back and watch us struggle through trials.  We wonder why we can't be rid of them and our immature minds can't understand why.