Halloween 2012

Last weekend we started our spooky fun by lining up in the freezing cold to go down the spooky trail.  I read that the last weekend they try to make really scary so I was a bit worried it might be too much for Jack.  We through caution to the wind and went anyway.  We figured it is made of local volunteers, how scary could it be? Turns out not that scary, but it was still fun.  There was a werewolf that managed to make Jackson jump a foot in the air.  At the end of the train they have the goodies face painting, hot chocolate, and candy!  Jackson chose his usual Tiger face.  




I'm in love with this bear winter suite for Grayson.  Jackson actually wore it maybe twice when he was about a month old.  I dug it out of our basement, and now I can't get enough of it.  He didn't mind the spooky train one bit.

We continued our Halloween fun with what I am now calling pancake Sunday. I am continuing to show off my preschool artistic abilities.  Pancake art is so much fun.  Jack helps me, and he shouts out things for me to create.  I keep forgetting the letters are mirrored, and I always mess one up.  

 Later that afternoon we carved our pumpkins.  I've never carved pumpkins so early.  Tradition has always been to do it the night before, but I figured this would work out better for all of us.  We were less rushed, and Zach could be home to carve with us.  It has been cold enough outside our pumpkins wouldn't rot, and this way we got to enjoy them a bit longer.

Speaking of pumpkins check out little man.  He's a cute lil pumpkin for his first Halloween.  He didn't mind his outfit at all.  This was Tuesday night we went trick-or-treating around our downtown.

Dad made it home from St. Louis, and he was able to trick-or-treat with us.  It was a mad house out there.  

 My little Batman had his first school holiday party! They actually, had a Halloween party.  I love that they celebrated Halloween, and they let the kids dress up.  So many schools have gone the way of "harvest parties" I volunteered to work at his party, and I helped with the craft table.  We made some really cute bats.  It was so much fun.  I still can't believe I have a kid old enough to be having parties at school.  

We continued our Halloween pizza tradition with a pumpkin pizza.  At this point I was gearing myself up to take the boys trick-or-treating myself.  We weren't sure if Zach was going to get off of work.

We got dressed up and headed out the door to our first stop the mall.

Dad was able to meet us halfway through.  He's so creative, he's a Marine for Halloween.  He broke the rules and wore his cammies inside.  I think he misses wearing them, they are in uniform all the time for recruiting duty.

Jack demanded that I take his picture while he stood up on this wall.  After the mall we hit up a couple of neighborhoods.  Jack got a great haul, and we all had a good time.  

 Our pumpkins, mine, Zach's and Jackson's.  I had every intention of getting Grayson his own pumpkin, but it just didn't happen. 

Our Christmas Weekend Part II

Christmas morning we all woke up bright and early.  Jack didn't come running out of his room or anything.  I don't think he realized what day it was.  He was excited to see all of the things that Santa had left for him. He got his most requested gift, Mickey's Choo Choo Express.  He got several other things, but I think Santa could have just stopped at the Choo Choo Express because he didn't really care about opening anything else.

That was until he opened Uncle Michael and Aunt T's gift the game Pop The Pig.  This was Jack's number two most asked for gift.  I saw it at Meyer earlier in the month, and it was the last one, but I told Jack we couldn't get it and that he should ask Santa.  Well, I had never heard of the toy, and upon some Google research apparently it is a hot toy, and was also very popular last year.  Then after some more searching I discovered it was sold out everywhere including online unless you wanted to pay three times the price.  Lucky for Jack Aunt T was able to nab the last one at a local toy store.  Between these two gifts he was completely satisfied.  

If it hadn't been the only other thing he asked for I wouldn't have minded if he didn't get Pop The Pig.  The game is a bit disturbing to me.  You shove hamburgers in the pig's mouth while his stomach expands until his belt pops open.  Just a wee bit gross if you ask me. Jack has fun and that's what counts.  

I made my Grandma's traditional breakfast of biscuits and gravy, eggs, bacon, and grits.  I cried the entire time I stirred the gravy since this is our first Christmas without her.  At 10:00 am we all opened a beautiful poem from my Aunt Janet.  You can read it here if you like. 

Jack got a bunch of new clothes, and you know how boring those can be.  So he would just fling them out of the box into the cat bed.  Diego was completely covered by the time he was finished. 

Christmas evening my Mom, Zach's Mom, and I went to an old 1930's movie theatre that the city has  restored.  They play all the old classics.  That night they were playing It's A Wonderful Life.  Now, this normally isn't one of my favorite Christmas movies, but is was really neat to see it on the big screen.  I saw so many more details then when I have just seen it on tv.  It was a very enjoyable evening.  

Our Christmas Weekend Part I

I am just now getting around to the lovely details of our Christmas weekend in our new home.  I wish even more family could have made it, but what we had was great.  My mom and Zach's mom planned to come in for the weekend.  We spent Thursday cleaning, and making sure we had everything we would need for dinner.

Friday we started cooking our delicious Christmas Eve dinner.  This is my first time having a Christmas dinner, and our moms haven't been to one in years.  My mom helped me prep the turkey, and we slid that guy into the oven.  We then got busy cooking up some sides, green bean casserole, mashed potatoes and some sweet potato bake.  We were set to have dinner around 6:30, but then we got the dreaded phone call. Zach's mom's flight had been cancelled, and she is stuck two hours away in Chicago.  Nothing like spending the night in an airport for Christmas Eve.  

She scrambled to get things figured out, and they told her she could ride a bus down to us, and the bus would be leaving at 7 that evening.  It seemed to be the best way to go since the weather and the roads were so bad.  

We decided we wanted to wait until she got there before we ate so that we could eat together as family.  We were thinking this would be 9:30 latest.  So I took time putting on the finishing touches, and getting the table together.  Then Zach and I made a mad dash out to pick up a few bottles of wine.  Due to the weather and more transportation issues the bus was running a bit behind.

Hooray! We finally got the call to come pick her up at the airport.  

So we settled down to our midnight feast.  Filled our bellies, and sipped our wine. (I think I need a half glass wine limit people)  It was all very fantastic.  

We had our Christmas Eve tradition of opening one present.  Jack got some new Mickey Christmas pajamas.  We put out Santa's favorite cookies and milk.  We made sure the reindeer had some celery sticks.  Then off to bed for Jackson so Santa would be able to do his work.  Jack went out like a light being that it was so late.  (edited: Jack went to bed earlier in the evening before we had dinner)

                                                              The snow coming down all day.

Jack's little tree, and my Angel from my Father.

Our dining table

Reviewing the Elf on The Shelf book.  Reminding him Herbie would be going back to the North Pole.

Traditional New Christmas Pajamas!

Zach reading to us  The Night Before Christmas right before bed. 

Welcome 2011

Happy New Year!

Salt Dough Ornaments

Bored one evening at home I was feeling crafty so I decided to google something Jack and I would be able to do.  I came upon Salt Dough Ornaments.  I was a little iffy because I had made ornaments like this when I was younger, and they just never turned out right. I figured it would be fun so I went ahead and gave it a try.  

We literally started them at 7:30 that night.  Here is the recipe.

1 cup salt

1 cup water

2 cups flour

There are several variations on the recipe some saying use boiling water, and some saying use warm water. We just used regular temperature water out of the faucet.  One thing I did do differently was I made up my dough in two 1/4 batches because I was running low on salt, and I wanted to make sure I had enough.  This seemed to work out really well.  

Jack poured the water and salt into a bowl, and gave it a good stir.  Then he poured in the flour and stirred that as much as he could.  Taking the advice from another recipe I sprayed 3 quick sprays of Pam cooking spray into the mixture, and I finished forming the dough into a ball kneading it a few times.  

Jack then helped me roll the dough to 1/4 inch thickness onto an ungreased cookie sheet.  We did this in small batches too.  We then used our Christmas cookie cutters to cut shapes into the dough, and peeled away the extra dough rolling it out onto a new spot on the sheet.  This worked out nicely because the ornaments were already on the cookie sheet, and we didn't need to mess with trying to peel them off the counter to put them on the sheet, and chance wrecking them.  

You could always flour your counters and roll everything out there.  

Take a toothpick or a straw (we used a straw) to poke a hole someplace in the ornament so you can hang it on the tree.  

Once we were finished we put them in a 250 degree oven for 90 minutes, or until they are hard.  Then we took them out and let them cool for a few minutes on the counter.  Then I flipped them over, and stuck them back in the oven to bake for another 60 minutes.  I would say just make sure they don't turn brown, and make sure they get dry.  


You can always let them air dry, but this might take a few days. 

The next day we used acrylic paint, as was advised to paint them, and added some glitter for a sparkly touch.  Beware you and your kitchen may be permanently covered in glitter!  After they dried I sprayed them with a clear coat to help them last longer, and then we stung our ribbons through them.  

Here they are all naked from the oven

Ahem, excuse our artistic abilities, but I just love them! Zach even got in on the action.  He did the snowman, and the candy cane.

Of course Jack had to do the train

Jack's 4 year old hand.  It looks huge!

I think they make a very nice addition to our tree.

The next day I made another batch of dough so that I could do Jack's hand print.  I didn't do the dough in small batches, and the it turned out a bit funny.  I kept having to add a bit of salt, and a bit of flour.  So you might need to tinker with the dough to get it the right consistency.  I was also using my sea salt instead of fine salt so that might have made a difference too.  You can also add food coloring to your dough if you want.  

Jack really had so much fun, and I thought it was a great project.  It let Jack do his favorite thing. Bake!  It was nice because he got to use the cookie cutters, and we could mold the dough as many times as needed.  We didn't have to be as gentle as we would have needed to be if we were making actual sugar cookies.  

Easter Weekend 2010/Friday Five

Yay, it is happy Friday even though it seems like it was just the weekend.  We haven't had very much going on this week.  Jack started back at preschool, and he is really enjoying it.  He has a new building and a new classroom.  They are very nice inside.  Jack, really enjoys having something to go and do every week.  Tuesday they rode the bus to the library, and he told me they got to learn about a bearded dragon, and they got to pet one with two fingers.  Except Jack called it a bearded yizard because he has trouble with his L's, and it is just too cute.  I need to get a video of him describing his yizard experience.  We have been spending lots of time outside enjoying the warmer weather, and getting some fresh air.  Really it has been hot here the past week in the near 80's.  I have to try to remember to sunscreen Jack before he goes to preschool because he has come home with a little sunburn on his neck and face.  Poor thing just burns so easily, and I am diligent about sunscreening him when we go out and about, but I forget he spends a good portion of his day outside when he's there.  

I will go ahead and update about our Easter weekend even though I won't be able to include pictures until the computer is fixed, and I have them scheduled to come out this Sunday.  We had a really nice Easter weekend.  Zach and I worked around the house Saturday morning, and then we all walked to the exchange so that Zach could get his haircut.  Something that Zach and Jackson always used to do, but I started tagging along, and I really enjoy it.  Jack, loves going to the barbershop, and he really loves Barbara the nice lady that cuts Zach's hair.  They have quite the little relationship going, and he is so happy to see her.  It doesn't hurt that she supplies him with all the candy he would like while he's there.  We let Jack take a nap while we got the eggs ready for dying.  I was very proud of myself for getting them done early in the afternoon this year instead of late in the evening like usual.  We had a great time dying the eggs.  This year Jack was old enough to used the tongs to put his eggs in the dye and take them out.  Even though we had tons of eggs we got done pretty quickly because he couldn't put them in the dye fast enough he was having so much fun.  We all cleaned up and headed out the door to Adam and Whittney's house for her Easter dinner.  As usual she made tons of food, and it was all very good.  We had lamb which neither of us had ever had before, and it was very tasty.  

Sunday we woke up pretty late despite needing to get up early to finish cleaning the house, and get ourselves ready for church and the Easter Bunny.  Some Marines had some trouble the night before that took them to the hospital and had Zach gone until 4:30 in the morning taking care of things.  Trying to pry him out of bed that morning was near impossible.  It was a good thing we were going to Adam and Whitt's church instead of our very early service.  Running around ironing shirts and throwing on clothes we managed to make it there on time.  It was a very nice service, and Jack really enjoyed his sunday school.  Adam and Whittney kept Jack there for their after church egg hunt while Zach and I ran home to make sure the Easter Bunny had done his job.  Jack, loved everything in his Easter basket he had it all strewn across the living room.  The lucky little boy had so much stuff that he had to have two baskets this year.  We had a fun time watching him find the hidden eggs.  I must say that Jack's Easter Bunny just loves the holidays and tends to go a little overboard!  Not just with the eggs, but with the candy Adam said he doesn't remember there being so much candy when he was little.  Well, none of the candy went to waste while everyone gorged themselves on it while I got the BBQ ready.  We had a delicious traditional bbq, and Zach really worked some magic on the chicken legs they were so yummy.  

Oh my gosh I almost forgot to include the little story about the earthquake we had.  We experience it while we were at the barbershop that morning.  Adam was getting his haircut, and Whittney and Jack were over near him.  Zach andI were in the waiting area sitting down.  All of the sudden my chair started to shake back and forth really hard.  At first I thought maybe someone was horsing around and running making things shake.  Then someone shouted, "Earthquake!" Despite this not being very safe I shot out of my chair, and ran to grab Jackson.  My heart was going 90 miles an hour.  I scooped him up and got under a doorway.  I think they said it lasted all of 45 seconds to a minute.  It ended up being a 7.2 quake, and that is fairly large.  We had a few mild aftershocks later in the day that we felt too.  We didn't have any damage in our area, and things were fine at the house.  While it was scary it was an exciting thing to experience.  Zach, and I felt one when we first moved here, but we were so new to California that neither of us knew what it was, and it was certainly nothing like this one.


 Due to the continued aftershocks I was more worried about Jackson and I told Zach to keep an eye on him.  Well, two Marines decided to be smart asses and make sure Jack was really really safe.  Using issued gear; elbow pads for knee pads, and a knee pad for a chest plate, and Jack's bike helmet they demonstrated how safe they could really keep Jack.  In his Sunday best at that!  It was very amusing, and Jack kept saying, "Look I'm a turtle."  

Friday Five

1. What is your favorite spring flower?

2. Do you do spring cleaning? If so what does it entail?

3. Do you plant anything or plan to do any gardening?

4. What is your favorite outside activity?

5. Do you have any projects you want to get started that you waited for the warmer weather to do?  

Santa Train 2009

We were able to visit the Santa Train again this year while we were home. This was a perfect combination for Jack Santa Clause and a train. It was freezing outside so we had to bundle up. I don’t think it was near as cold as it was last year. I was a little worried that Jack wouldn’t have the patience to wait his turn to get on the train. We are having some issues with waiting, and not throwing a fit if he can’t do what he wants right away. He stayed in good spirits though, and we were able to board the train. He kept asking me if we were going to ride the train, and if the train was going to chugger. He loves to talk about trains.











Just for fun I was going through my photos, and I spotted this one from the Santa train in 2008. It is nearly identical to the picture I took this year. He's grown so much in a year.

Parade of Lights

For the first time since we have lived here we went to the parade of lights on the bay. We weren’t sure if we were going to get a parking spot, but we got lucky enough to find one. We had our blankets, chairs, and hot chocolate. We were all set. They had a nice fireworks display before the show began. It is a contest that the harbor boats can enter where they decorate their boats with lights, and Christmas decorations. This year the theme was zoo. I got a few pictures, but most came out blurry since I don’t have a tripod.