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Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Act 3; Scene 19: Halloween Costume Reveal

It's the big day...

And Heather guessed right--we are going as the potato head family!

Mr., Mrs., and Spud.


This is a picture (not great--more to come later) of us at our apartment complex Halloween costume party. Where we won first place, of course :-)

This was our prize


Just what we needed, more junk around the house. ;-)

This morning, Robert got all decked out in his "Mr." costume and went to work. Me and Spud and will join him this afternoon for the company party. More spooky stories and awesome pictures to come!

Are you dressing up today? Do it! 

Happy Halloween!

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Act 3; Scene 18: Jack-o-lanterns

Last night was the classic FHE before Halloween jack-o-lantern making! We are a little lazy (we? perhaps I mean I...) and stuck with carving one little pumpkin. And by we, I actually mean Robert.
I have discovered that Robert is WAY more artistic than I am, hence I mostly left the creation of the face to him--although I did outline the eyes and give the suggestion for the crooked smile. But all of that pumpkin hair? Robert's idea. 

Robert with his masterpiece

Our punk, teenage jack-o-lantern

I think it turned out pretty swell.

And I managed to capture a picture of our own little jack-o-lantern:


Two little teeth down there! And more coming.

And since tomorrow is Halloween, this is the last hint for our Halloween costumes:

Our facial expressions can be our accessories.

Happy guessing! (For those of you who haven't already guessed)

AND...today is the last day to vote for our couples costume from last year so we can get a prize! Please go here and scroll down to our Miracle Max and Valerie picture and vote for us!

Can't wait to show off our costumes tomorrow!!!!

Happy Trick-or-Treating!

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Act 3; Scene 17: A Quarter Century and a Temper Tantrum

Yesterday was the big day. I turned 25!

This is what I came home to:

I am so spoiled by everyone!

The Sweet Tooth Fairy gave me a free treat for the day, so I chose this as my birthday cake:


A giant pumpkin decorated sugar cookie!
 

Delicious!
 

Robert chose a peach cobbler cupcake--also delicious (although not as massive as my awesome cookie) :-)

We also had some free meals at Rubio's thanks to Luke, so we went to visit him and tried a plethora of tacos, along with a mahi mahi burrito (spelling?)

We topped off the evening by watching the very first episode of Downton Abbey--I received the first season as a gift from Robert and can't wait to see them, since I've heard so much.

Altogether a joyful and successful day.

And today, Thomas has suddenly discovered that he can shriek--and boy does he use it. Is this a temper tantrum about hating tummy time? You decide. (I couldn't help but post it because I think it's so funny!)


Happy screeching!

Sunday, October 21, 2012

Act 3; Scene 16: Monkey Bread and Halloween Stories

Tonight I tried another recipe from my Halloween book--monkey bread, or "pluck it" bread as Robert calls it, which really makes more sense.


And what makes this a Halloween treat, you ask?

Well...it was in the Halloween book? It sounded delicious? I drizzled (or attempted to drizzle...) caramel over it?

Take your pick. I say it counts.

And to make it more spooky, I invited Mike and Valerie over to "pluck it" and to be the pre-audience for my spooky Halloween storytelling that I will do tomorrow at Cornbelly's maze.


Tommy was a little frustrated that he couldn't have his own piece of monkey bread


After chatting, munching, and telling/listening to some Halloween stories, this is the final outcome:
 

I say delicious!

If you want to hear said Halloween stories, be at Cornbelly's maze at Thanksgiving Point tomorrow (Monday Oct. 22) at 7pm by the big fire pit.

Happy Spooky Telling!

Halloween Costume Hint:

We will be carrying extra accessories in our "britches"

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Act 3; Scene 15: Ghoulish Pears

Our Halloween treat of the week:

Caramel Pears, coated in white chocolate and decorated to look like ghosts.

Here's how they turned out:

my regular ghost

Robert's oozing ghost
Robert's freaked out ghost

My crazy monster Hitler ghost...
Fun, and quite delicious! 
So fun and delicious, that we had to invite some friends over to enjoy them!

Robert and Lauren went the clean way and cut theirs in pieces with a knife


Dustin and I went the conventional, messy way--the only way :-)


 This poor little ghost is lamenting his fate!


Yum, yum! Happy haunting!

Halloween costume hint of the day:

We are going not as animal or mineral, but as ________. 

And happy guessing!

Act 3: Scene 14: Don't Forget to Vote for our Costume!

The time is now!!!

Time to vote for mine and Robert's Miracle Max and Valerie Halloween costume so we can win a prize!

Go here and scroll down to our picture and vote for us! 

Hint: It says you can vote for three. If you vote for Cruella De Vil and the Dogcatcher, the example, that vote won't count, so we could have a better chance in the game. Just if you're thinking about voting more than once...


Thanks for voting! Tell your friends!

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Act 3; Scene 13: Vacations are Exhausting

We did it! We had our first family vacation with our baby.

And boy, was it exhausting!

We started out last Thursday and headed down to Cedar City right after I got back from teaching class at BYU (and after Tommy had a magnificent blow out just as we were leaving...). We only had to stop once, so the drive took about 4 hours, maybe a little longer.

As soon as we got to our hotel, I sent Robert to pick up some Subway for us while I got ready for the play and fed the baby. We crammed Subway down our throats, then dropped the babe off at our friends' hotel room (they also have a wee babe--William) and headed off to Les Miserables. 

As we rushed in the almost-rain into the play, a little travel weary, Robert purposefully grabbed my hand. We both looked at each other and realized, hey, we're on a date. A real date. It was fun to hold hands in the theater and enjoy each others' company. Especially when Robert enjoyed it so much, and even got a little choked up at the end :-).

Tommy slept the whole time for the sitters, except for the five minutes before we got back. Perfect. And then when we put him to bed, he discovered a new trick in his pack-n-play. If he moves around, the bassinet part of it rocks a bit with him. So of course he decided to thrash all night long--even in his sleep. I was sleeping--well, attempting to sleep--right next to his thrashing bed. Oy. Tommy slept from 11:30pm to 6am, and I'm pretty sure he thrashed the WHOLE time. That will tell you how much sleep I got after the play (already late night) to prepare me for the next day's adventure. 

Thomas loving his moving pack-n-play


If I thought working around one baby's schedule was hard, trying to work around two babies' schedules while on vacation is definitely hard. It was a day of calling back and forth, asking "Ok, I'm feeding him now, do you want to go to that shop in like 30 minutes?" and "Not quite ready yet" and "Freaking out baby" etc. Add the fact that Tommy doesn't particularly enjoy sitting in his car seat, whether in the car or the stroller, made the day very interesting. We did manage to get to continental breakfast at the hotel (who knew that would be considered an outing?!), a forum about the production side of the festival, some cute shops around town, and a pizzeria for dinner. Then it was our turn to watch William for the evening so his parents could enjoy Hamlet.

Dun dun dun....

William and Tommy were both champs at the start. Both went down for their evening naps well. William woke up--we fed and changed him, then Tommy woke up and we fed and changed him. Then Tommy went down for the night (no worries--this time we put the pack-n-play in the bathroom and shut the door so I didn't have to hear all of that thrashing). Then we tried to get William to go down for the night. And tried. And tried. We even had his blankie to prop him and his favorite stuffed animal, and his binky. Nothing. He started getting very fussy. By this time it was 10pm, and I could hardly see straight. Running on so little sleep, I couldn't even function or speak. So I lay down for a bit while Robert (graciously) rocked William. After 30 minutes of this, Robert thought he should try burping him again, but that must have frightened Willliam, because he started screaming. I got up and took a try. After about 20 minutes of holding and rocking him, he fell asleep in my arms. About two minutes before his Mom and Dad got there. Yeah, he knew how to do it. Exhausted, Robert and I fell into bed.

The next morning we made it to continental breakfast again (hurray!) and then we realized we had to check out of the hotel. Wait....we were still watching William so his parents could see Les Mis  matinee on Saturday...we didn't even think of not being able to stay in the hotel! What would we do? We decided that the stroller tactic would be the best way to go, and hoped that it wouldn't be raining that afternoon.

After checking out we headed up the canyon to find Cedar Breaks. It was a gorgeous, misty morning, and as we rode higher and higher, the show became thicker and thicker until it looked like Christmas. It was absolutely gorgeous, but a little frightening to drive on, so we headed back down a little sooner than anticipated. Here are some favorite pics from the drive:





Ggggorgeous! 

After checking out the pumpkin festival in Cedar City and grabbing lunch at The Pastry Pub (cute!) we headed out for our second round with two babies--this time stranded and hotel-less. Fortunately the day was beautiful, so we pushed the strollers all around campus and then some. We thought it was pretty comical--walking around, a stroller a piece, and a baby a piece at some points.

By the Adam's Theater (rep of the Globe) with both babies

After an hour or so of this, we lost interest in walking around campus. It's pretty small, and we had done the whole thing twice, with tangents and everything. So we headed to the theater to check out the lobby. And guess what? They play through the speakers into the lobby what is happening onstage! So we parked the strollers in the lobby, and fed the babies while listening to the second half of Les Mis. That was a sight--us and the ushers, hanging out in the theater's lobby, while we fed and changed the babies (never did I think I would use the hooter hider in a lobby--but, there you have it). 

And with that, we took out tired and worn out bodies, but them in the car, and drove home to Orem, arriving just after 9pm. Oh, and then ran to the store to buy diapers and wipes.

Whew! So fun, but it might take a while for us to recover!

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Act 3; Scene 12: A Deadly Halloween Meal

Last week we had a very deadly Halloween meal.

Namely, chili in a cornbread coffin:



I used black paste food coloring to die the cornbread which I baked in a 9x5 bread pan. Then carefully sliced off the top, and scooped out the middle to make a coffin. Then I filled that hole with chili and topped it with cheese. A little disturbing to eat black/purple cornbread, but it sure tasted yummy!
 

Robert said that it looked like the body had exploded in the coffin and had started being eaten by maggots.

Yeah, try eating it after that description.

All together delightfully spooky and delicious!

HALLOWEEN COSTUME HINT:
The third and smallest member of our trio does not actually appear in the movie(s). Although it may be implied that it will be forthcoming....

Happy Haunting!

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Act 3; Scene 11: Help Me Win a Halloween Costume Contest!

Hey, all of you blog readers!

Remember last year, how Robert and I dressed up as Miracle Max and Valerie from The Princess Bride like this?: 

Goodbye, boys! Have fun storming the castle!
Well, I am entering our costume into a Halloween couples costume contest! But I need YOU to help us win!

Here's what you do:

From October 16-October 30 you can go to this webpage from thedatingdivas.com and vote for us!!!

And tell everyone you know to vote for us! You can even post it on your facebook, if you're that nice :-)

Remember, voting is October 16-October 30th.

Here are some more photos of our awesome costumes for your enjoyment and consideration:








Thanks for voting!


Friday, October 5, 2012

Act 3; Scene 10: You've been SPOOKED!

When I was little, I absolutely LOVED it when our family would get "spooked" or "bewitched." Meaning that someone secretly left a Halloween treat at our door. Then we would get to secretly leave a spooktacular treat for two other neighbors. Once you'd been spooked, you put the sign in your window, and soon the whole neighborhood was covered in "spooked" signs. This was one of my favorite Halloween traditions growing up.

Needless to say, the fall after we got married I was very excited to start this tradition on our little newly married neighborhood. I made witch hat cookies and delivered them secretly with the spooked note attached. And then we waited...

and nothing happened. 

No treats delivered, no signs in any windows. Not even in the windows of the people that I delivered to
?

Not to be defeated, I tried again the next year--this time in a new neighborhood--the same one we're in now. And...

nothing happened.

No treats delivered, no signs in any windows. Not even in the windows of the people I had delivered to.
?

REALLY?!?! I mean, what is happening in the world? Do we have to have an app for delivering festive treats as well as putting away shopping carts?

But I promise, someday this WILL work. So I tried again this year.

Tonight.

I have more confidence, because this fall I have already been in the neighborhood for over a year, and I think I know which neighbors are likely to spread the spooking, and those are the neighbors that I chose to deliver to. I even did three families instead of two, in hopes that it will spread.

Don't let me down, neighbors!

This is what I made today and spooked with tonight:




I mean, how could you not pass on the spooking when you get something as darling and delicious as rice krispy treat pumpkins? This is one of those times that the Pinterest idea actually worked out :-).

Here's hoping!

Happy Spooking!

TODAY'S HALLOWEEN COSTUME HINT:

I went to Zurchers looking for very large glasses for Robert and myself.




Wednesday, October 3, 2012

Act 3; Scene 9: The First Halloween Meal of the Season

Last night, as I begged and pleaded for Robert to hang up my pumpkin and eyeball lights in the window, and rejoiced over pumpkin doughnut coupons from Krispy Kreme, pumpkin pie milkshake coupons from Arctic Circle, and Halloween craft coupons from Michael's, Robert told me that I was crazy.

So I decided to enjoy the first Halloween meal of the season all by my crazy self.

Lunch!

And here it is:




Halloween tortilla chips with (mostly) homemade chunky salsa, along with some harvest cookies, which turned out to be AMAZING. I was intrigued when I saw the ingredients for these autumn cookies, and wanted to try them. They are delicious, and sweeter than I would have thought. And even a little bit healthy. 

If you want to try them out, here is the recipe:

2/3 cup butter
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
3/4 cup self rising flour (or add 1 tsp baking powder and half teaspoon salt to complete the 3/4 cup of flour)
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/8 tsp ground cloves
1-1/2 cups quick cooking oats
1 cup shredded carrots
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1 cup chopped pecans (this is A LOT. You could probably back off here)
1/2 cup raisins (and you could probably add some more here)

I didn't have ground cloves, so I just shook in some pumpkin pie spice. Just cream the butter and sugar, then beat in the egg and vanilla. Then beat in the flour mixture. After that, mix in the remaining ingredients and cook on 375 for about 12-14 minutes or until browned. Surprisingly delicious!

AND promised hint for our Halloween costumes:

We will all be wearing mostly browns.

Happy baking! And happy guessing!



Monday, October 1, 2012

Act 3; Scene 8: And So It Begins Again

The best month of the year!

October is my favorite, favorite. For some wonderful reasons:

colorful leaves
chill breezes and scarves and sweaters
pumpkins
my birthday 
halloween
halloween
halloween


I am so excited. 

And once again, we are hosting a blog guessing game for the family Halloween costumes. Each time I post in October, I will give a little hint as to what the three of us (!) will be sporting on October 31st. Leave a comment with your guess!

Today's hint:
This threesome is from a movie.

Let the guessing begin!

Oh, and for your enjoyment, little Thomas Tank is 3 months old today


 
And getting ready for the Halloween season already. 
Thanks, Grandma Center!

Happy Octobering!