Homage to Halloween

I can’t believe Halloween is over. We had so much Spooktacular fun all month! I thought I would take a second to give Homage to all the fun had Halloween 2012!

The kiddos don’t get to have all the fun. I made these crazy brownies for a Moms’ Movie Night that included wine, pizza, and scary stories. Bonus, it was on an evening with a full moon! The fact that my hubby and older two kiddos were away on a campout made the night even scarier.

The kiddos gave their teachers these jars filled with candy corn for Halloween. Yes, it says Boo! on top of the jars but I ran out of white fabric so I thought yellow would be the closest.

While decorating these I ran out of black glaze. So I figured I would run to the store to get more. Mind you this was the night before Halloween and guess what? They ran out of black glaze, shocker right!?! So we went with the chocolate icing instead and I think those turned out better than the ones with the glaze. Funny how a mishap can actually improve the quality…I wonder what other mishaps have contributed to amazing results…like PB & J, what is the story there?

When it comes to pumpkin carving in our house tradition has been to have all of us together.  We make it a fun family experience. We usually have Halloween music playing in the background and some pumpkin or fall inspired treat. In the past we have made candy apples, pumpkin pie, apple pie, pumpkin pancakes, etc. This year we strayed from tradition. (My hubby and older two kiddos carved their pumpkins at camp).Which I struggle with, I am slowly learning to become more flexible with the less important traditions as the children get older.   However I refuse to budge when it comes to Christmas.

Our 5 and 6-year-old helped their little sister clean and carve her pumpkin, it was really sweet. I suppose I would have missed out on that moment if each had their own pumpkins to carve. There is nothing more precious than watching your children teach each other in a tender and loving way.

Halloween Day! We eagerly anticipated the Halloween parades at our son’s preschool and our daughter’s elementary school. Our son’s was at 11 and it was precious.  I so enjoy seeking the munchkins in their costumes and the big smiles on their faces as they march past their parents and relatives. I also find so much joy in seeing the expressions on the parent’s faces when they see their little ones, there is nothing like it on this earth.

For Halloween evening I made finger food for dinner, lol! Hot dogs in crescent rolls, they are supposed to look like fingers, use your imagination, I had to rush it a little because trick-or-treating started at 6pm.

And I made these super easy and super cute white chocolate ghost suckers; thanks to Family Life with a Mom Who is all Hart. The kiddos loved them! I am seriously making these for the kiddos’ future Halloween parties!

And then it was time! Here in Northwest Ohio it was really cold and misty.  So we bundled up in our winter coats, mittens, and hats. (Yes, I did carry a pumpkin pail but not for candy, inside it I placed an extra bag in case theirs tore or malfunctioned, as well as water, tissues, and the camera.) Under all those coats and hats is a Princess, Queen, and Red power Ranger.

We are so blessed to live near my parents and in-laws. We alternate whom set of parents come to pass out candy each year. This year my dad and sister passed out candy so that we could all go trick-or-treating together.

This house is so cool. They were on the news one year thanks to all their festive outdoor decorations.

Our toddler walked to about two houses then she started tripping over her dress so daddy carried her door-to-door until 7pm, he is amazing!  Our little Power Ranger made it to 7:30pm and the champ of Halloween 2012 is our Queen, she made it till the end, 8pm!

Though it is sad to see Halloween 2012 end a few Twix and Reese’s cups softens, or rather sweeten the sorrow.

How was your Halloween? Did you have any costume malfunctions or food conundrums?

The First Day of Autumn!

 

Knock…knock…knock…what is that knocking on your door? Why it is autumn! And I don’t know about you but I am welcoming autumn with open arms…a cozy sweater…pumpkin pie…and a visit to Gust Brother’s Pumpkin Farm….

 

Well, truth be told, we welcomed the first day of Fall a little early this year. Yesterday my two younger kiddos and I meet up with our playgroup at Gust Brother’s Pumpkin Farm.  Gust Brother’s Pumpkin farm is the essence of autumn, upon arrival they have wagons and wheel barrow to borrow on your adventures through the farm. They have animals on the farm including, goats, sheep, cows, pigs, rabbits, chickens, etc. that the kiddos so enjoy seeing.  There are also tons of, well, pumpkins!

They also sell gourds, apples, eggplant, Indian corn, hay, fruit crisps, etc. basically anything Fall related.  Also, no matter which way you turn the view is a pure vision of autumn, if you get a chance to visit I dare you to take a bad picture, seriously …the scenery is amazing!

 

The kiddos and I got out some of our Fall decorations this morning….and our Fall books….

Thought I would share some fun Fall Riddles and Poems…

 

Riddle: Peter, Peter Pumpkin Eater

 

Peter, Peter pumpkin eater,

Had a wife but couldn’t keep her,

Put her in a pumpkin shell,

And there he kept her, very well.

 

 

Song: I’m a Little Pumpkin….tune of “I’m a Little Teapot”

 

I’m a little pumpkin

Orange and round.

 Here is my stem,

I grew in the ground.

 

When I get all cut up,

Don’t you shout!

Just open me up

And scoop me out!

Poem: A Child’s Calendar November

 by John Updike

 

The stripped and shapely

Maple grieves

The ghosts of her

Departed leaves.

 

The ground is hard,

As hard as stone.

The year is old,

The birds are flown.

 

And yet the world,

In its distress,

Displays a certain

Loveliness—

 

I am so looking forward to all the splendor Fall has to offer including….the leaves changing, leaf rubbings, pumpkin pie, carving pumpkins, pumpkin ice cream, pumpkin lattes (you get the idea), long nature walks in the park, sweaters, picking apples, apple pie, hayrides, Halloween, Thanksgiving, fires in the fireplace,….and so much more!

So what is your favorite season of the year? How do you welcome autumn…do you have a family tradition? Do you and your kiddos have a favorite autumn inspired book, riddle, or poem that you read? Please share…