Halloween

Halloween was awesome this year!  We went to pumpkin farms, got dressed up, had special Halloween treats, went Trick-or-Treating, and topped off the holiday with an awesome Halloween party.  

A couple of weeks ago we went down to Virginia to watch my sister's kids for a few days.  We went to a fall festival at Merrifield Garden Center in Gainesville.  They had a fantastic set up.  There was a bounce house and inflatable slide in the front.  They had a hay ride around the lot.  There was a hay bale maze in the back and a large sandbox filled with corn to play in.  The kids also got to paint a pumpkin and get face painting if they wanted.  A fabulous set up at a local garden center.

The next day we went to Cox Farm.  A family tradition for my sister.  It's definitely one of the best pumpkin farms out there.  They have tons of giant slides, lots of farm animals, a corn maze, free apples and cider, play grounds and a very entertaining hay ride.

Back home, William had his preschool Halloween party and costume parade.  It was crummy weather so we had the parade in the gym.

Then it was time to get ready for Trick or Treat night.  In our township, they have Trick or Treat night the Thursday before October 31st.  Silly, I know, but that's how it is out here for whatever reasons.  Grandpa came to join in the fun and later Robyn's family came to double dip in the Trick or Treating.

After Trick or Treat night is over, you get the feeling that Halloween is over.  I am totally against this!  This year I had a Halloween party to celebrate the actual holiday.  I invited a few families over and had treats and snacks and did it up proper.  I had the most fun planning this party!  I'm pretty sure it was a success even though we ended with one of William's friends throwing up.  I wish I would have taken more pictures, but I was caught up in the party fun.

Good times this Halloween season.  Now for the frenzy of putting Halloween away to make room for Christmas!

Recipe of the Month

Sticky Bun Breakfast Ring

Okay, confession time.  I have a serious addiction.  I can't get enough of Pinterest!  I had been trying to ween myself off the computer and actually do something productive with my free time.  But now, thanks to my sister, I've discovered the wonderful world of seeing crafts and food that other people (want to) do.  So now I just spend hours looking at pictures of projects instead of actually doing them.  But tonight, no more!  I was browsing the many recipes people have posted and I wanted to actually try something.  Seriously, Pinterest makes me so hungry!  So I heated up the oven and made this Sticky Bun Breakfast Ring or "Ring of Delish." as I call it.  It took less than 30 minutes for this to get in my belly!  I honestly couldn't wait until morning to make this.  Like I said, totally addicted!  Oh, and here's another confession, I'm super lazy in the kitchen.  If there's a shortcut, I'm going to take it.  This is definitely my kind of recipe.  Preheat the oven at 375 and now here's what you'll need:

3 Tbls melted butter
1/4 cup maple syrup (I used my Mapeline syrup) but any will do

Mix these two together and set aside.  Now combine

1/3 cup brown sugar
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 cup chopped nuts (pecans, almonds, or walnuts)

Take a bundt pan and spray it down with cooking spray.  Then pour half of the syrup mixture around the bottom of the pan.  Then sprinkle half of the sugar mix around the pan as well.  Then here comes the shortcut:

2 tubes of refrigerator buttermilk biscuits

Take the biscuit dough rounds and line them up in a tight ring around the bundt with edges overlapping.  Pour the rest of the syrup and sugar on top.  Pop in the oven for 20 minutes or until brown on top and cooked all the way through.  Take it out and let it set for about a minute before inverting it on a large plate or platter.  Slice yourself a piece now because (like me!) you won't be able to wait until breakfast!

Fall Portraits

What an ordeal!!  I forgot what a chore it is to have a baby get portraits done.  Usually Charlotte is such a smiley happy baby, but at Picture People, she just wouldn't smile.  I jumped, I danced, I "Peek A Boo"-ed, I tickled, but nothing seemed to work.  The only time she seemed to enjoy herself was while she was sitting on William and smacking his head like a drum.  She was laughing but he was upset.  I was a sweaty mess when the session was over.  Although William was a pro and got a lot of good poses I'm glad it's over until next year.

Hooray for Halloween!!

Here's something to know about me.  I LOVE Halloween!!  I always have.  Even before it was cool to love it as an adult.  I love the fall decor, the dressing up, the mystery, the free candy(!), what's not to love?!  I get giddy after William's birthday in August because I know Halloween is coming up.  I tried something new this year.  I've been collecting Halloween ornaments for years (they were hard to find at first) and now I can fill a tree.  I was worried it would be too Christmasy, but I think I turned out great.  Here's some pictures of my haunted house.

I tried a Halloween Tree this year.

I need more bookcase shelves!

Side Table with Lighted Branches

I LOVE my Halloween Village

Basket of Quilted Pumpkins and Gourds

Haunted Hallway

Entryway Table

View From the Front Door

Creepy Kitchen Countertop