Halloween Treats

After making David's birthday treats, seen here, I have decided that I am in love with how easy it is to use cookies and chocolate to make adorable chocolate covered cookies. For Halloween, I decided to make some treats for David's class. I think they turned out spooktacular!!

Now, some helpful hints for you. Melt your chocolate in the microwave foe 30 seconds at a time on 50% power. If you over heat your chocolate, it will smell and taste funny.

Don't use gel frosting like I did this time. Transport is much harder as the gel will stick to anything, including the wax paper that you try to cover them in.

I had intended to put sticks in these, but to do so, I think you need double stuffed. When I used a pop sickle stick in these, it broke the cookies.

Eyeball Cookies

To make the eyeballs, I dipped a golden Oreo in white dipping chocolate. 1 bag will easily make 20-25 cookies. I added a gummy saver before the chocolate set to make the iris, and a mini chocolate chip to make the pupil. 

Frankenstein Cookies

To make these, I used the Halloween spooky green melting chocolate by Wilton. You will need 1 bag for each 15 cookies you want to make. I again used golden Oreo's. Before the chocolate sets, use black sprinkles (or decorating sugar) to make some hair. Chocolate chips make great screws, and mini chocolate chips make great eyes. I use black gel icing to make the mouth, but is if I make them again, I will use chocolate in an icing bag.

Pumpkin Cookies



Again using golden oreo's, dip them in orange dipping chocolate. Like the green, you will need 1 bag per 15 cookies. I used black gel icing, but next time would use chocolate in a frosting bag. I had Sugar Daddy's to make stems, but they didn't stay in very well, and in the packing process, I took them out.

I learned that gel icing makes it impossible to put these in the cute treat bags. It sticks and leaves your face on the bag, not the cookie. So, the kids will have to make due with them being brought in on a platter. Hopefully they don't mind.

ZooBoo

Every year the Indianapolis Zoo does ZooBoo for Halloween. They decorate, have lots of activities for the kids to do, and even have trick-or-treat stations set up for kids to get some candy. It's a lot of fun! Everyone is in costume and it's the last time all of the animals are out for the year. (Something about African Plains animals not liking snow.)

This weekend, we took David. He was scared at first (he was not a fan of his costume), but once he got used it it, he had a lot of fun. We can always judge how much fun he is having by how few pictures we get, since we spend more time chasing and laughing with him.

Not so sure about this...





It's Tigger!!



Meerkat Love

Petting the ghost

Leaping Lizards!

Trick-or-Treat

Watching the bats

A real bear

Momma!!

It's a lot of walking for a little bear

Wordless Wednesday

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Ten on Tuesday

What is the worst compliment you have ever received?
Someone told me that I shouldn't be upset about my miscarriages, because "at least you have one amazing little boy." Whereas I see what she was trying to say (I do have a perfect little guy who I love more than anything), it doesn't mean that I can't be upset about loosing two other babies.

Did you/would you tell everyone the name of your baby before they were born, keep it a secret, or not choose until after they were born?
We didn't know the gender until he was born, so the name was a secret too. We didn't tell anyone the names that we had decided on. We are still keeping the girl name a secret just in case. I work in a Junior High, so finding a name that doesn't remind me of a kid is hard enough. I don't need others comments about name choice.

What is your favorite candle smell?
I love Clean Linen. So fresh!

What is the best birthday/Christmas gift you received when you were pregnant or the best birthday/Christmas gift you gave a pregnant person that was really appreciated?
Whoever bought the blanket that David now calls "bink" was a life saver. He loves that thing! For me, I had a couple of people get me pedicures while I was pregnant. I love that chair. I would marry it if I could (not really, but I do love that chair!).

Who was your favorite teacher?
I've had so many teachers over the years. Dave Courtright, my Sunday School teacher for years. Mr. Walker, my Anatomy and Physiology teacher. Mrs. Dodges, my English teacher. All of my band teachers. I could go on...

What is the best game/activity you have ever played at a baby shower?
At my shower, they had everyone put a piece of paper on their heads and draw a baby. It was funny to see what everyone ended up with.

What was your major in college and did you end up using it in your career?
I started as a Pharmacy major. After Organic Chemistry kicked my butt, I switched to Psychology with a minor in English. I went on to Grad School, and majored in School Counseling. I am now a Junior High Counselor.

What is a beauty product you swear by?
I'm a fan of my Bare Minerals foundation. It's an everyday necessity.

What is the kindest thing a stranger has ever done for you?
One helped me get my groceries out when David was throwing a tantrum. That man was heaven sent. I also had someone pay for my Starbucks one morning, so I paid for the person behind me. I hope that it kept going for a while.

If you could recommend one new baby necessity, what would it be?
I loved the swaddlers! We would not have made it through our ear infections without them.

Pumpkin Patch 2011

Last weekend, we went on our trip to Tuttles to get our pumpkins. We went with my parents, sisters, and the boys. Fun was had by all! It's was much colder than we anticipated. Maybe not so much cold, as windy. They boys still had fun picking out pumpkins, riding the pony, and going on a hay ride. Nate even picked up a pumpkin so he can make his homemade pumpkin pie from scratch. It is so good! I'll post a recipe and picture when he makes it. For now, enjoy the pumpkin patch from the warmth of your own home. :)

Where to start....



A white one just like at school!

I'm taking this one home!

Justin picked this one

Last, but not least...Jackson!

Dad pulling the "manly" wagon

Such a good big cousin

Back to warm up

Pony rides!

Hay ride

Wordless Wednesday

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Ten on Tuesday - Vacation Style, Take Two

You’re packing for a week long vacation, do you pack ahead of time or wait until the last possible minute to pack?
I pack as much as possible ahead of time. I would rather have a half packed suitcase sitting in my bedroom for a week and know that I have everything, then get there and be missing underwear.

Are you a light or heavy packer?
I try to be light, but I always pack too much. I am, however, prepared for just about every "what if"

What are your favorite road trip snacks?
Trail mix, candy, chocolate

Do you take any reading material along?
Sometimes, but reading too long in the car makes my motion sickness even worse.

Do you prefer to drive or fly to your vacation destination?
Depends on how far. More than 15 hours in the car, and I would rather fly.

What is your favorite time of the year to take your vacation?
Spring

Where is your favorite place to vacation?
I loved Canada, but we haven't been back. I like our mini staycations to Brown County - more frequent and family friendly.

You are vacationing in the mountains, what is your favorite thing to do while there?
Just looking at all of the trees and non-flatness of the land (Indiana is very flat).

You are at the beach for your vacation. Do you like to take it easy on the beach or play all day in the water?
Both. It gets hot taking it easy, so I would need some water time. Plus, what toddler is going to let mommy relax on the beach? Not mine!

While your on vacation do you prefer to eat out every night or cook some of your own.
Cook on my own. Vacation can be expensive, so I try to save money where I can. A couple of meals out, a few meals in. Works great (as long as there is a kitchen in the room!).

Conner Prairie

A few weekends ago, I went with my sisters and mom to Conner Prairie, a local interactive history park. It was a free day sponsored by the Smithsonian. It was the perfect fall day to go. The boys had so much fun! David didn't really understand what everything was, but it was still coll to see everything that I rememeber seeing when I was a kid.

Please note the arms in the following 3 pictures

Cool!

Checking out the roster (who was hinding from him)

Learning to weave

Puzzle time

Candle diping

School teacher Nene

Using stilts

Watching the blacksmith

Pumping water

Let's go!!

Shooting a riffle

It was a great day! They should have free days more often.