Happy Halloween

May you receive lots of sweet tricks and treats this Halloween!  

Enjoy the evening and GO ASTROS!!!!!!

Halloween 2016

Halloween 2016 is in the books.  That is very hard to believe. Even harder that Thanksgiving is right around the corner and Christmas is a couple streets over.  Time is a flying.

I had asked the kids if they wanted to carve pumpkins this year.  Christopher was an "I don't know, maybe" and Bella was a very enthusiastic "YES".  Friday after work, I had to swing by Kroger to pick up some prescriptions so when I picked up Bella, I told her we could pick out her pumpkin for carving, but that we wouldn't carve until Saturday.  My girl picked out her pumpkin and proceeded to tell her pumpkin how very lucky she was to be picked by her, that she only chooses the most beautiful pumpkins.  She also told her pumpkin that it was soon to become even more beautiful after we carved a very special picture out of it.  Precious.  Saturday came and my girl chose an owl for carving.  Mommy ended up carving because I just wasn't okay with her using a very sharp carving tool so much to Bella's excitement, her job was to scoop out all the seeds after I was done.  

I was pretty impressed with my work since this was my first "fancy" carving.  I've only previously been limited to the standard jack-o-lantern face carvings. 

We lit our carved pumpkin as well as all our other lanterns on the porch and enjoyed them all.  

It was awesome. Something about this time of year with lit candles and lanterns is just soothing to me.  Unlike most, I love it when the time changes and the days are shorter.  I feel totally justified changing into my pajamas as soon as I get home and lighting a candle.    

Monday I left work an hour early to get home and get to daddy's before all the trick or treaters made it out. His neighborhood is very popular place on Halloween so I wanted to get there before it got crowded.  

Bella went as a cat again this year...

Her cousin Brady went as a catcher.  God bless him, he wore every piece of that equipment through the neighborhood as we went from house to house.  He was a trooper.  He would take off the helmet every now and then but put it right back on when he got ready to walk up to a new house.

There were only two houses that scared Bella enough that she stood her ground at the end of the driveway and waited for Brady to come back. In both cases, the owners were kind enough to see she was scared and brought some candy out to her.  One of them had a mask on and took it off so she could see he was just a nice normal guy.  Good people right there.

Before we headed home, I had my niece take a picture of me with my sweet goblins.

One lucky mommy right there. 

One Wet & Soggy Halloween

To say Halloween was a little disappointing for my resident 6 year old is an understatement.  We had lots of fun with friends and family but the trick or treating this year was a total bust.

We spent a good part of the day making treats to take to our friends house in the evening.  I have always wanted to make pumpkin bread so I finally gave it a shot.  The recipe came from our Popp Family Cookbook so I knew it had to be a good one.  All reviews have been good.  Tony thinks it needs more cinnamon and nutmeg but personally, I think it tastes perfect the way it is.  Next up, we iced the cake balls made the previous weekend.  Let me take this moment to once again voice my disdain for cake balls.  I was reminded why this was only the second time to make them and how it will be an extremely long time before we make them again.  The whole process is a pain to me and not enjoyable at all.  And if I'm being totally honest, I don't even really like cake balls.  They are much too sweet for this girl.  Bella wanted to make them, so I obliged.

Here's my cake ball sprinkles decorator...

This was Thursday evening. We made ghost lollipops for her daycare class.  She's showing off her ghost face. :)

I ended up also making brownies for that evening too. I put candy corns on top for decoration but they all melted in the oven.  I didn't wait long enough before I put them on. Oh well.  I didn't hear any complaints from those who enjoyed them.

Bella opted to be a kitty cat this year.  She was going to wear her costume from last year but we couldn't find it. Love it when this girl makes momma's life easy peasy.  Here we are about to walk out the door...

First stop was Uncle Tony's house.  Can I just say this girl went shy on us when she ran the doorbell and he opened the door.  We kept telling her to say "trick or treat".  She just hung her head down like she didn't know the guy standing the doorway.  What the heck?!?  Christopher was like "trick or treat Uncle Tony" and kindly received a handful of candy even though he wasn't dressed up.  We finally let Bella go inside, mainly because we all got tired of standing there waiting for the famous words to roll off her tongue.  

One of the gals at brother's work made this for him....

He spent a good part of Saturday trying to find someone who sold dry ice.  He finally scored some at the grocery store in Freeport.  He had it going for everyone to see.  He also was kind enough to stick a couple of my beers in it so I had one while we were there.  

Bella finally started warming up to Tony and kept whispering in his ear "trick or treat".  Lil Toot!

We watched a little bit of the Texas-Iowa State game (let's not go any further than that) and then we headed out to Heather and Javie's house. I was met at the door with a cold beer and a smile!  Love my red-headed devil...

My other momma was also there.  Love getting my hugs from her...

And believe it or not, I snagged not one but TWO pictures with my handsome son!! 

Love this kid! 

We had a fun night.  The rain never really let up so Bella got treats from Uncle Tony and Mr. Javie.  Mr. Javie filled her bucket so it looked like she had been to several houses.  He spoils that girl and loves doing it.  His little nephew was chasing her around and he kept saying "I don't like this".  He's also very protective of her.  My poor girl is going to have a heckuva time when dating rolls around.  Between her daddy, brother, uncles and Mr. Javie, no boy will stand a chance.  Momma will just have to stand up for them.  Thankfully, we have several years yet before I have to worry about that.  

I hope y'all had a great Halloween!  Now, let's bring on the turkey!!

Have a good one! 

Happy Halloween

I'm wishing I was at home baking sweet treats and putting up more decorations for all the little goblins this evening, but I'm not.  I'm slaving away at work...well NOT at this moment.  Haha!

Isn't my girl the cutest...

I say, "let me take your picture" and she assumes this position and smiles.  My goodness she is beautiful.  

Love this girl so much!

I saw these pictures on FB...

LOVE it!!  Hard to believe that Thanksgiving is really right around the corner.  Time flies entirely too fast!!

This is the picture Nordstrom posted...fitting isn't it? Love me some shoes!

And I saw this one on Pinterest and HAD to have it to.  I'm the weird dorky girl who says, "Isn't it a BOOtiful day?" and "I hope you have a SPOOKtacular Halloween!"  So when I saw this...I was all over it.  I'm totally gonna send it to honey cuz he already thinks I'm a dork.   

Yep, that's totally me!  Hope y'all have a great Halloween!!!

Lovin' October

October is definitely my favorite month. I love everything it brings and more...

I wanted to take the kids to Dewberry Farm this year but it doesn't look like its going to work out. Maybe next year.  Instead, I took the kids to a pumpkin patch close to home.  It wasn't the same but Bella loved it.

I even manage to get the resident 15 year old to sit down and take a picture with his sister.  

Always makes this momma's heart happy.

After the pumpkin patch, we ran a few more errands then headed home so pumpkin carving could begin.  Chris chose his design and got started.  Its serious business when you turn your hat around to work.  

Little sis watching and wanting to know everything....

Giving me her scary Bella face...and she's still a cutie to me :)

Christopher's finished product all lit up. It took him some time to get it all done and wasn't sure he wanted to do it again but...

The next day he carved Bella's pumpkin. 

Afterward he told me he wanted us to do this every year.  ha!

He did a dang good job.  Its takes some time and patience but well worth it when you see the finished product.  Kudos to those folks who carve a dozen or more pumpkins each year.   

Last week at school was drug awareness week so each day, the teachers asked the kids to dress up differently.  The thing that is different about Bella from Chris (other than the obvious) is that she likes to participate in stuff like this. Chris rarely wanted to do fun stuff.  Bella was most apprehensive about inside out day, but she did it....

See, you can't even tell...

Pajama Day (her favorite!)

Cool Shades Day!

I totally missed Monday's wear red day, and I can't for the life of me remember what Wednesday was because I didn't take a picture.  Shame on me!  

This last picture I'm going to leave with you just makes me smile.  So, we were at Hobby Lobby last night getting stuff for a "Day of the Dead" project Christopher is doing in Spanish.  Bella and I are walking down the aisles getting ideas for her bubba when we happen upon these masks.  I put one on so she wanted one too.  After trying on a few, this is what she ended up with...  

This goofy child walked through the store the entire time with this mask on...and you talk about a little character!  She was cracking us up.  She's a mess all the time, but turned into an extra funny mess with this mask.  I had to get it.  They cut the tag off for her and she put it right back on and wore the whole way home.  I wish it had been daylight because when cars would pass us...she would look out the window and talk to them.  Little nut!  I'm in so much trouble...

y'all have a good one!

 

Our Halloween

Our Halloween was pretty low-key this year.  Not that there's a lot of hoopla any other year but we didn't have friends and family...and friends of family...and friends of friends of other friends joining us this year so yes, its was low-key.  Did you follow me?

The kids had an early dinner with their dad this year, I picked them up and off we went to Pop and Nana's to meet up with the Rubio's (my sister and her family) for some trick or treating in the neighborhood.  Pop ordered pizza and I did bake an apple pie.  Don't get excited...it was frozen so all I did was pop it in the oven.  But I tell you what...it was a dang good pie!

Here are our goblins before we headed out to trick and receive treats, Ninjas 1 & 2, Cleopatra and Princess Ariel...

 

 

The boy decided to stay put this year and pass out candy to the goblins who rang the bell.  I told him he had to wear the mask I bought him a month ago that he had to have, but he didn't.  I did get him to snap a picture with me that morning.  Look how tall he's getting!!!

 

 

 

The Princess decided she only wanted to wear her headband and not her crown so I decided to wear it.  I was so excited that I FINALLY got my crown. LOL!!

 

 

 

The Princess also had a meltdown on the way back to the house.  Tired of walking, tired of carrying her bag of candy, feet were hurting...she was just whiny.  But as soon as we got back to the house and she unloaded her candy to see what all she had received, that smile showed back up.

 

 

It was a good night.  We stopped by a friend's house on our way home to see them.  We stayed long enough for them to SPOIL Bella with a ton more candy and then we headed home.  We were all tired and ready for bed.  All in all, it was a good Halloween.  I prefer it to fall on a weekend so the kids and I can do fun things during the day but we still had a good time. 

 

Now...bring on the turkey!!! 

 

 

 

Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween Everybody!!!

I hope you have a spooktacular day filled with tons of tricks, treats, ghosts and goblins!!