A Little Stay-cation

*** This post has a lot of photos, so be sure to click on the "read more" button at the bottom to read the entire post. ***
We decided to take a little stay-cation this weekend. You know, a vacation where you stay in your own town. It was so much fun! I got the boys matching Halloween shirts (see picture to the left) and made Halloween gift bags for each of them. I really wanted Payton to feel like we were going on vacation - that it was a special occasion.

Some Halloween Books

During the holidays, I put out a special "holiday-themed" book basket next to Payton's chair.

 We have accumulated quite a few Halloween and fall-themed books over the years. I keep them up in his closet during the rest of the year in a box labeled "Seasonal Books" and then bring them out during the appropriate holiday. This way, they are new and exciting each year.

Here are a few of our favorites in case you want to add to your collection this year:

1. Froggy's Halloween, by Jonathan London

2. Halloween Surprise, by Kids Play (this has a button that you press that makes spooky noises

3. Boo! by Charles Reasoner

4. Fright Night Flight, by Laura Krauss Melmed

5. We're Off To Find The Witches House, by Mr. Krieb

6. Snappy Sounds Boo, by Derrek Matthews

7. Autumn Walk, by Ann Burg (this one is my favorite - it always gets me excited for fall!) 

Happy reading! 

Johnny Appleseed

I had no idea that Johnny Appleseed was such an important figure in our country's history. But after Payton's class had "Johnny Appleseed Day" I now know!

First, they made apple bead necklaces (which is now Parker's favorite contraband to try to steal whenever he sees it):

 Then they made "apple smiles with marshmallow teeth" (of course my son who won't touch fruit or marshmallows was NOT happy about this snack... can you tell he barely even wants to touch it???)

 Then his teacher read the book about Johnny Appleseed and the class took group photos. It was a fun time, and Parker thoroughly enjoyed being "oooo-ed and ahhhh-ed" over by all the girls in the class!

 

Fun Halloween Craft

I realize that many of you aren't in the baby food stage anymore. However, if you decide you want to make this fun Halloween craft with your kids, you can usually get baby food on sale at Publix, and if you get the pureed veggies, you can sneak them into another recipe (like spaghetti sauce, or even brownies) and your kids will never know!
Okay, onto the craft...
I saw this on either another blog or in a magazine, but I can't remember which. Anyhow, basically, you just take baby food jars, empty them, wash them, remove the label and let dry...

 Then, using masking tape, you cut out jack-o-lantern, ghost, or any other Halloween-ish faces (this is by far the most time-consuming part of this craft).

 Then, the fun part! Break out some craft paint:

 And let your little ones go to town painting over the entire jar.

 Okay, I know you didn't need 3 pictures of Payton painting jars, but he was concentrating so hard and had so much fun, I couldn't resist snapping lots of photos!

Then let them dry for several hours:

When they are completely dry, peel off the masking tape (I had to use an Exacto knife to help with some of the more detailed faces). And voila! Halloween votives!

 (Do you like his milk mustache in this photo? So cute!)

I'm pretty sure you need a fancier camera, or at least some photography lessons to know how to take good photos of candles in the dark. None of mine came out good. They really look much better in person.

Now they live happily together on our counter. Although Payton likes to move them around the house and hide them like an Easter egg hunt. Either way, it was a very fun craft!

 

Simple cornbread recipe

Don't you just hate dry cornbread? I do! I usually end up slathering it in butter, which then makes it oh-so-healthy.

Fortunately, I have discovered a remedy. And it's pumpkin!

You simply take your standard Jiffy corn muffin mix and follow the directions, but add 1/2 cup of canned pumpkin puree.

Mix it all together...

 And you will have the most moist, delicious corn muffins you've ever tasted. They taste almost like cupcakes they are so delish!

 Enjoy them on the next chilly fall evening with some homemade chili. YUM!

Cub Scouts

It's offical.

My son is in Cub Scouts.

And he looks like he's 12 years old in this uniform.

I'm not sure I like Cub Scouts anymore. :)

(I bribed him with cookies to take these pictures - hey, a mom's gotta do, what a mom's gotta do.)

Here's a picture of him taken with Brian's camera at the actual meeting:

What a cute boy!!!!
I had to sew on all the patches for his uniform (there were 5). Boy, did I wish I still had my mother's sewing machine! It was HARD and I bled... many times! I'm NOT a seamstress. Maybe I can take his uniform to the seamstress at my dry cleaners and have her sew on the rest of the patches. Just kidding! No, seriously... do you think she'd do that???

Weekending

We had such a nice, relaxing weekend. Brian's parents came into town Friday and spent the night, which was so much fun. We love having them here!

 And the weather was GORGEOUS! It finally cooled off a bit and we had highs in the low 80's. It's amazing how many people come out of the woodwork when the weather cools off. The park by our house was packed all weekend.
We took full advantage of the weather and opened up all the doors and windows in the house to get some fresh air flowing. Then we went to the park for a picnic...

(Why is it nearly impossible to get both children to look at the camera and smile? And why does my son always like to pose with food in his mouth???)

Then Parker tried out the swings. I'm still not sure if he enjoyed it or was terrified by it... 

(Notice the hands and toes clenched tight? Not so sure about this...)

Starting to like it a little bit better...

 Okay, maybe this is fun after all... but I'm still not un-clenching my fists.

 Hope you all got out and enjoyed some great fall weather too!