Halloween Night

Halloween was a little different this year.  The kids are growing up and I couldn't convince my 6'4" and 6'2" boys to go house to house.  As a matter of fact, my tall red-head chose to be with his girlfriend at her grandparents instead of me.  Ian stayed at Grandma and Grandpa's house to watch the Chiefs vs. Chargers game (and to eat all the yummy food that she made for us.....as always!)  Gracie was still willing to go, but she didn't want me to walk with her.  My job was to stay in the car and follow her around.  Rick had to work in the E.R. on Halloween so I brought one of my friends along.  She kept me from hitting any smallish trick or treaters in the residential neighborhoods.  She also helped me remind Gracie to say......."Trick or Treat" and then, "Thank you".  

Manners first, right?

Her costume was a pre-teen version of a zebra.  She picked it out all by herself.  She opted out of the blue wig that we bought, yet was all for the furry boots I stumbled upon Halloween morning.  

I was in charge of favors for her classroom.  I also did Halloween favors last year.  Here is the link to them.  Last year, it was eyeballs........this year, monsters.  

I put monster bouncy balls, wax lips, candy, skeleton candy (that you can assemble), monster glasses, and a monster ring pop.  Then I tied it up with a monster plush (photo above) and a handmade tag.  I'm not sure why I go to the trouble of making handmade ANYTHING for elementary kids.  Half of them were on the classroom floor and the other half were ripped to shreds when the kids opened the bags.  

I wanted to tell each child when I passed them out, "DO NOT TEAR UP THE TAGS!  I SPENT SIX HOURS MAKING THEM!  I REPEAT....DO NOT TEAR UP THE TAGS!"  But I didn't, therefore, they tore up the tags.  (sigh) Oh well!  That's why I take my happy pill every morning.

I took pictures of all Gracie's classmates but I don't want to upload all of them.  Mostly because I'm lazy, but also because I'm not sure their mommies and daddies want their pictures on my lil' ole blog.  So, I'm only showing you my very favorite costume.  

Mr. McKay's classroom had a "mystery visitor".  He/she came into the room and passed each child a goody bag.  When he/she left, they had to fill out a Q/A about who the guest was.  If you want to play the game also, look at the picture of our mystery guest and I will have questions at the bottom of this post for you.  If you play, you cannot cheat.  That means....you cannot look at the picture   once you start answering questions.  

Promise? 

 Pinky promise?

I'm adding a few extra shots of the costume so you won't be able to see the "mystery guest" photo.

Work it GUUURRLL!

WHO IS HE/SHE?

What color is the scarf around "mystery guest" neck?_________________

Is the "mystery guest" wearing a brown suede hat or a yellow straw hat?___________________

Was the "mystery guest wearing gloves?__________________

Did the "mystery guest" use her right or left hand to grab the goody bags?_________________

Did the "mystery guest have a feather in his/her hair?______________________

How many pairs of feet are in the picture?_____________________

What color is the bowl that the goody bags are in?________________________

Were the "mystery guest" overalls pin stripe or solid?________________________

BONUS: The "mystery guest" is one of these four people...who do you think it is?_____________

Mad Science

Well, hello Monday!

Seems like you were just here, doesn't it?

Last week, like many of my weeks, was a complete blur!

I've ran to and fro between practices, ball games, and the grocery store countless times.  Then you throw in an inkling to organize every drawer, cabinet and storage room within a 10 acre radius, and here I sit.  Ready to start it all over again.  

Please don't think I'm complaining!  I enjoy a busy life.

I do not believe the quote that says....

“Life is just a quick succession of busy nothings.” ~ Jane Austen.   

I do believe that for myself, idleness leads to boredom.  I'm happiest when I'm involved with my family, my children, my husband and my friends.  

You don't have to agree, that's just my way.  And for me, it seems to work.

In between the aforementioned things I accomplished last week, I decorated for Halloween.

I love to "SPOOK" the house up a bit.  I dangle snakes from the light fixtures and place mice on the bookshelves.  I drape gauzy fabric from the furniture and pose the skeletons on mantel.

I add something new every year to our crazy collection of eerie frights.  

This year I may have my new all-time favorite.  Dr. Giggles, the mad-scientist.  I love him for 3 reasons.

#1. He makes reference to diarrhea, and that instantly made him apart of our family.

#2. He seems more rattled than me, based on the four or five things he says.

#3. He seems misunderstood........and I always root for the underdog.

Without further ado, friends, I introduce to you, Dr. Giggles.

Dr. Giggles, I introduce you to my cyber family.

I supplied Dr. Giggles with an assortment of chemicals and potions for his experiments and such.  

Everyone knows that you cannot complete a lab experiment without deer antlers and severed fingers.  

I combined potassium chloride and liquid ammonia to make a potent truth serum.  Anyone care to join me for dinner?  Mah wah hah!  

(Disclaimer:  I have no idea what happens when you combine potassium chloride and liquid ammonia.  Do not try at home.  I may.....or may not have added a wee bit of red food coloring to water and slapped a Martha Stewart halloween label on an old margarita mix bottle.)

These beauties on the other hand are authentic, certifiable, and bona-fide.  These are old medicine bottles that Rick and I have collected for eons.  Grandma and Grandpa Howe and my Aunt Pammy have helped us add the assortment over the years.  

Rick's Granny and Grandpa Smith owned a pharmacy 

When Grandpa passed, Granny had an auction and we purchased some of their old supplies.  We were newly married and pinched for extra cash, so we didn't get it all.  We kick ourselves for not buying it all now....but at the time, it just didn't seem practical.  

You may have to squint, but I am amazed at the advise this author gave pregnant women on smoking.  Jeez...times have sure changed.  

I thought I would close with a few mad scientist images I found and a rock candy science experiment I would like to try with the kids.  I'm off to mow the yard.  Hopefully for the last time this year!!!!!

Happy Monday! 

Rock Candy for Kids

Ingredients

• 2 cups granulated sugar

Heavy cord

• 1 cup water

Directions

1. Put one cup of water into a small saucepan, pour 2 cups of granulated sugar into the water, heat the water and sugar on the stove over a medium heat, continue stirring until the sugar melts, keep adding sugar and stirring until it melts, stop adding sugar when you see that it will no longer dissolve in the water (that is until you see sugar lying on the bottom of the saucepan). Remove the pot from the stove, let the liquid cool until it is just warm.
2. Pour the liquid into a clean glass jar.
3. Tie one end of a piece of heavy cord around the middle of a pencil.
4. Place the pencil over the top of the glass jar letting the cord fall into the liquid.
5. Crystals will begin to form in a few hours The next day, remove the cord from the jar, pour the sugar liquid back into the saucepan, reheat and cool it just as you did before. Pour the liquid back into the jar and reinsert the cord with the crystals into it. More crystals will form.
6. If you repeat this procedure every day the crystal candy will grow bigger and bigger.
7. When it has reached a size that pleases you, snip off any excess string and enjoy.

All in a Weeks Time

I'm wondering when it's appropriate to decorate for Halloween.

I've gobbled up this series by Karen Kingsbury. I ventured away from youth and teen novels and picked up a big girl book. Now I cannot put them down.

This is the 2nd series of the same books.

and this...... my friends, is the last books in the same series.

14 novels of the same family. That is mucho grande pages of reading. :(

I'm on the very last book ("Sunset"). I feel like I'm closing the chapter on a longtime friendship. I could tell you how the Baxter's (the subjects of these books), take their coffee. I'm going to miss them.

Our church hosted "Church in the Park" yesterday.

Gracie played in her first "official" soccer game Saturday. She did a nice job. I love that she finds her hair occasionally, then twists it.

I've been missing Mike like crazy and trying not to let it slow me down. (and I've been worrying about my Pammy)

I've been trying to apply Mike's favorite verse to my life.............

"Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus"

1 Thessalonians 5:18