Halloween 2011

our halloween this year was unusual.

it was chilly.

the chilliest and windiest halloween we've had since we moved here.

since halloween fell on a monday night, mauryn had her dance class.

she could have missed class but our little dancer did not want to miss class.

i took her to dance.

she was the only one who showed up.

i wasn't really surprised.

she got to wear her costume, have her teachers attention all to herself, and practice her christmas dance.

she was in her element.

usually we walk the neighborhood with our neighbors and some of our friends.

but this year with mauryn's dance class falling in the midst of prime time trick or treating we allowed 

morgan to go trick or treat with a friend in her neighborhood,

and landon to trunk or treating with a neighbor.

i was left with only this little lady to take trick or treating.

i was a little sad that my kids weren't together to trick or treat.

especially these two who are best buds.

this year, its how things worked out.

the kids had a great time which makes this mama's heart happy.

i was able to spend my night with this goofball,

walking the neighborhood on a chilly night, collecting treats,

and coming home to warm up with the fire and hot chocolate.

Happy Halloween!

what was a highlight from your halloween?

Insta Joys

i am so thankful its friday

i am in need of a quiet weekend at home.

it will be a weekend trying to conquer a mile long to do list BUT

our calendar is basically empty. 

yes!

landon loves music

he has the radio on or iTunes and is constantly singing and listening to music

i was not surprised when i found him with headphones on jamming to Bieber

he worked diligently and no complaints about having to do school work

as Mel would say FTW {for the win}

sundays involve prepping for school and coop classes

i was making happy little dice for a math game for my coop class

i found landon asleep on his bean bag the other night

he just looked so sweet {and big} sleeping there

mauryn is going to be a flower girl in a wedding in december

her dress arrived in the mail the other day

she was so excited to try it on

getting her to take it off was a challenge

it is now hidden in my closet where it will remain safe until december

thanks to ebay for the dress NWT for $22

whoop!!

this is the third year we have had season tickets to Boise State Football

usually lance and one of the big kids heads to the game with our tickets

the kids love it and it saves money not having to hire a sitter so many weekends in the fall

last weekend our neighbors had extra tickets so lance, the big kids, and i went to the game

it was a gorgeous fall day, great atmosphere, and fun game

i heart college football

its cold season

this little bug was starting to cough

we pulled out the neb before it turned into anything yucky

party prepping is in full swing

my party idea has shifted a bit since mauryn decided on her theme way back in july

i was on the hunt for some parfait glasses

i had been to a few stores with no luck

but target saves the day!

our church had their annual harvest party

its always a highlight for the kids

 the dressing up, the games, the candy, the face painting

they love it all

{morgan was a green fairy, landon was prince caspian, and mauryn was lucy pevensie}

i was twister

i work the registration table every year

i scored that job when i was about a week away from having mauryn

i love getting to see every family who walks through the door

it is the easiest and best job and the harvest party

more party prepping

my sewing machine and i are having many late night dates

so thankful for netflix streaming and tivo to help me pass the time

how was your week? what's on your agenda for the weekend?

Insta Joys

we've had our first round of fall colds in the house

stuffy noses and coughs

so happy for the weekend to have some down time and hopefully beat these colds

we made a quick impromptu trip to the pumpkin patch

there is a new pumpkin patch that opened about 2 miles from our house

it is just a pumpkin patch... no fanfare

just walk out in the field and pick your pumpkins

perfect!

a little saturday pinterTEST kitchening

monster cookie bars {not great but i think they need to be baked for less time so they'd be chewier}

cookie dough dip {swoon. amazing. could eat it with a spoon.}

sweet and salty snack mix {who knew fritos with chocolate were good}

mauryn slept with braids in on saturday night

she woke up on sunday with a little wave in her hair

she walked up to me, swung her little head, and said "i have hair like taylor swith"

a little someone in my house has a birthday coming up

i've been in denial that she will be 5

i've put off the party planning

then someone kept bugging me about her party so i had to climb out of denial and get on the party planning train

mauryn was invited to a mickey and minnie themed birthday party

the party favors: minnie ears and a t shirt

awesome!

i have my fellow homeschool moms over once a month for food and fellowship

this was our spread this month

i ordered morgan a few new things for fall

it's always a gamble when i order her clothes without her approval

this time all items made her cut

#noeyerolling

#winning

we had our last day of fall break on tuesday :o(

we did a little bit of school but most of the day was relaxed

we decided to celebrate our last day by going to see Lion King 3D

it was hilarious watching mauryn reaching out to touch everything

hello free sonic

fill out an online survey and get a free route 44 drink

you don't have to ask me twice

landon and mauryn needed an activity one afternoon

they decided to paint their pumpkins

painting pumpkins in the sunshine = happy happy kids

phase 2 of orthodontic treatment has started

full set of braces

landon has developed a love for all things star wars in the last year

when i saw there was a stars wars lego advent calendar i knew it would be perfect for him

now the challenge will be to keep him out of the calendar until december

landon's christmas list

posted on the wall in front of my desk

he also has his list on the white board in the school room

 pretty sure i've got an idea of what he would like

at least this week as his list seems pretty fluid at the moment

changing whenever he finds something new or different

how was your week?


linking up with jeannett over at life rearranged for insta friday

Do Something Good

last week i woke up to a blustery fall day.

it was the perfect day to make a little comfort food.

nothing says comfort food like a creamy pot of homemade mac and cheese.

when i saw my friend sarah had a crock pot recipe for mac and cheese i knew it would be perfect!

i could throw it together in the morning and it would be ready by lunch.

a hot comfort food lunch on a blustery fall day... yes please.

this macaroni and cheese was everything i imagined.

my kids did not agree.

they are not huge macaroni and cheese fans {whose children are they??} so i wasn't all that surprised but this left me with a HUGE crock pot full of macaroni and cheese.

i decided to give the macaroni and cheese away to some neighbors.  

i filled up a pan with macaroni and cheese for our neighbors, mr and mrs. lewis.

they are an older couple and mr. lewis is in poor health and has recently started hospice.

i sent my girlies down to deliver the mac and cheese and some cake balls i had in the freezer.

when the girls walked in, mr. lewis perked right up.

he loved having them there to visit and he loved the cake balls {who doesn't?}

a few days later there was a knock on our door and it was mrs. lewis

she returned my disposable dish cleaned and ready to reuse and a little note.

it was so simple to deliver this meal to mr and mrs lewis

why don't i do it more often?

i sign up to bring meals to people who have just had a baby or have been sick but yet i hadn't considered taking the burden of making dinner from my neighbor?

i didn't have plan.

i didn't make a fancy meal with all the trimmings.

it didn't matter. 

i need to do this more often.

i need to not worry about having the perfect meal ready to be delivered.

it can be as simple as macaroni and cheese.

a friend shared a site with quite a list of freezer meals.  

when i am preparing one meal for the freezer its just as easy to do two.

i am going to keep some extra meals in my freezer that i can have ready to deliver to someone.

a friend having a rough day 

a friend who gets sick or is tending to sick children

a new neighbor

the list could go on and on

a simple meal

a simple act of kindness

simply perfect

do you feel like you need to be prepared for a meal with all the trimmings or do you grab whatever is ready and deliver it?

i am participating with julie over at joy's hope in her do something good challenge. 

Insta Joys

it's the end of another week...yeah!

here's a little peek into our week via iPhone pictures.

 i had book club last friday 

these two decided to take landon's green machine on a test drive to book club

its really meant for one person but he squished to make room for his little sis

 lance's turned 40 last saturday

we had two parties... friday night appetizers while cheering on Boise State {whoop!}

saturday we had friends over for dinner

featuring PW's twice baked potatoes {heavenly}

 lance isn't a huge cake/dessert fan

he does enjoy an ice cream cake

the kids and i threw together a cookies and cream ice cream cake

yum!

 these two are the best of friends... most of the time

i love seeing them play together

landon is very patient with her

even when she doesn't totally understand the game

 i think someone liked her daddy's ice cream cake ;o)

 mauryn is CONSTANTLY singing and dancing

every night she puts on a show

creating her own songs and making up dances

she is filled with passion and joy

 the crock pot serves center stage for meals in our house 2-3 times a week

as we were leaving the house on wednesday, mauryn looked at the crock pot and said "hey there is skip counting on there"

i guess someone is paying attention during school

it's time for phase 2 of braces

morgan had molds made of her teeth and gets her braces next week

 hello lovlies!

hello organized planner and cute ipad stickers!

i may have done a little happy dance when these arrived in the mail

 pinterTest kitchen success

cake batter blondies .... love!

 plane cakes at our little airport

breakfast while watching the airplanes take off and land

pretty nice fall morning

 thanks to kim and jessica i now have a new distraction

i am in love with this game

it's quick

it's easy

it's oh so fun!

{you can always hit me up for a game... idahomom}

 i think i have had a picture of mauryn sleeping the last few weeks

she just look so peaceful

i was folding laundry in my room and she came in and said i am going to my room

i went to check on her and found her asleep on her bed

before dinner

i let her sleep a short while and then woke her up so she would go to bed that night

 fall break means mornings of being lazy and playing games

we had a pretty intense game of skip bo happening this morning

 mauryn needed "a little trim" {she wants to grow her hair like rapunzel}

we went to her favorite place to get "a little trim"

she loves sitting in the barbie jeep and getting sparkles

the girl today even did her hair all fancy

i had one happy girl

 i have been on the hunt for honey crisp apples

they are my favorite in the fall

i stopped in at the farm stand 1/2 mile from my house {why i don't go here more often i will never know}

they had honey crisps

i left a happy girl

landon picked up some pluots and plums

he was a happy boy

it's time to start planning activities for our advent calendar

i had a little date with a printable calendar, my files, and the oriental trading catalog

advent season will be here before i know it

how was your week?

what was one highlight of your week?

mine... breakfast at the airport with the kiddos

linking up with jeanett over at life rearranged for insta friday