My Little Pumpkin

Since attempt #1 didn't work out quite like I had wanted, made Charlotte sit in her pumpkin again. Actually twice, yesterday and today. 

Yesterday was super nice out so I didn't feel guilty about having a naked baby outside. I was going to do her little "shoot" in the back yard, but it was dark and shadowy and overall just not very pretty. But my front yard was nice and bright and full of fall colors. 

And a neighbor who I'm pretty sure thinks I'm looney. He watched me set the whole thing up and I saw him chuckle when I proceeded to get Charli into her pumpkin, then leave her there while going to get two unnamed boys to stop showing him the "monkey bar" tree. I know he didn't really have to clean his car out, he just wanted to watch this whole thing go down. So now that these "boys" are not hanging from a tree, they are running around the yard and hanging out by my pumpkin "set" casting shadows galore. Meanwhile Charli was more entertain by them than the crazy lady snapping her fingers and making funny noises behind the camera. All while trying to not loose her cool and snap in front of the neighbor. So photo above is how a lot turned out. Charlotte not looking. 

Or she was grouchy. 

This was about the best one I got from our 1st shoot at home. Kind of cute, but not quite what I wanted. And by that point I was over it anyways.

Before calling it quits, the boys came over, and JP attempted to get in his pumpkin to. I thought Hunter's was going to collapse when he sat on his...

I called it quits after this one. Cleaned up our pumpkins and threw the towel in for the day. 

Today's shoot with Charlotte went a lot better. First there was no neighbor watching me and even more importantly, there were no boys running a muck around her. (I sent them to play with the kids next door.)

I think I captured what I needed. And in half the time! 

I'm so glad I have a little girl I can make headbands for! :)

Since I didn't get around to carving a pumpkin for Charli (other than leg holes), Hunter and I made her some non-carved pumpkins. (Hunter's is on the left!)

Happy Fall!

Sing & Dance ft. Hunter and Kiki

He sure does love his sister!

Monkey Shiner Babblings

A few months ago, our family went out to dinner with "uncle" Wayne, who now has a beard. I don't recall the last time JP saw him, but at dinner, he had to sit by him. JP didn't say a word the entire time, nor did he even glance at Wayne. As soon as Wayne got up to pay, JP started talking up a storm and stopped talking again as soon as Wayne sat back down....Fast forward a few months to the beginning of October when we were in Whitefish. Wayne came to the memorial service for Perry's dad, and afterwards he sat with us as we all ate lunch, except for JP. He scowled at him quite a bit but never said a word. Eventually my mom took JP over to the kids table where he actually ate his lunch. After the service, we went back to the house, and Wayne followed and parked right next to us.
M - Jim look out your window.
J - Ugh! It's that bearded guy again!
M - That's Wayne.
J - I didn't want him to come!
M - How come?
J - I don't like his teases! And I don't like his beard. You tell him that mommy! I don't like his teases of me!

My heart broke for him! His words were so cute, but I felt so bad! And so proud that he could express his feelings like that! After all he's only 3 1/2!


H - Jim! Hurry! I have to show you something before I pee my pants!!
M - Hunter go pee and then come back and show him.
H - No mom, it's super important!

J - What happens when Spiderman shoots out his "weps"?
M - They're called webs Jim. But they attach to buildings and stuff so he can swing around.
J - Does he save people?
M - Yep he sure does. He can hear people yelling for help. Same with Batman and Superman.
J - So I can yell for help and they'll come save me?
M - Maybe
J - DDDAAAADDD! Mom, I'm yelling for dad so he can come save me too.

You can't see anything in this video, but you can hear Hunter singing "Go Tell It On The Mountain" while having hiccups. We listen to this song just about every time we're in the car...since Bible school in June. I just wish I would have recorded the first verse. Next time...

Ghostly Bananas and Caterpillars

Recently JP had his turn to be the line leader and snack bringer at school. He had been waiting and waiting and waiting for his turn. Because he goes to school twice a week, instead of three times, he gets to lead his classmates around and bring snacks both days. 

Since Halloween is nearing (and costumes are still in progress...) I sent him to school with some Halloween themed treats.  On Tuesday he brought Ghostly Bananas. They were so easy to make that JP helped with them. 

Slice a banana in half, add some mini chocolate chips for the eyes, and a large chocolate chip for the mouth. I'm just glad there is only 11 in his class otherwise I would have had to find a bigger container! We had no problem with them browning either since they were cover as soon as they were finished. They were a huge hit with all the kiddos. And the teacher too, since they were a healthy snack!

On Thursday he brought these little cuties. Caterpillars made from grapes. These were a huge hit too! Again, easiest enough to make that JP was able to help. (The top one is his.) I used some sucker sticker that I had in my cake stash and threaded the grapes on. Then I whipped up a little bit of frosting from scratch and piped on two dots for the mini chocolate chips to stick to. And wah-la! If I were to make them again, I would use wooden sticks as the sucker stick became a little flimsy, but despite that, they were probably safer than wooden spears...!

Steak and Potato Soup

It's time for Soupy Sundays! My mom gave us a bunch of potatoes the other week and they needed to be eaten, and fast! I made a batch and froze the half we didn't eat for a few weeks down the road when I'm not feeling up to making soup. I love freezer meals...if only I had space for more!

Steak and Potato Soup

2 lb. boneless beef sirloin steak (1 inch thick)
1 tbs oil
1 1/2 cups coarsely chopped onions (3 medium)
3 garlic cloves, minced
2 lb. small potatoes, cut into 3/4-inch pieces (about 6 cups)
3 cups fresh baby carrots, halved lengthwise
1 (1-lb.) pkg. green beans
2 tbs chopped fresh basil or 2 tsp dried basil leaves
1/2 tsp pepper
6 (14-oz.) cans beef broth
3 tbs bbq sauce

Directions

1. Cut beef steak into 1/4-inch-thick strips; cut each strip into 1-inch pieces.
2. Heat oil in a large stockpot over medium-high heat until hot. Add beef; cook 4 to 5 minutes or until browned, stirring occasionally. Add onions and garlic; cook and stir 2 minutes.
3. Add all remaining ingredients; mix well. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer 12 to 15 minutes or until vegetables are crisp-tender, stirring occasionally.

Mmm Mmm Good!

Carving Pumpkins

One of my favorite things to do in the fall is carve pumpkins. We ran out of time last year, so I made it a point to do it this year. Plus, we just went pumpkin shopping this past weekend.

 As soon as Perry cut the lids off, I set to work on helping the boys clean out their pumpkins.

 JP was not having it. Though he did help a little. 

 Leave it to JP to have a green pumpkin....must be his favorite color?

 Hunter enjoyed it so much, he even helped JP clean out his pumpkin.

 My hands were too gooey to take picture while we were carving them, but Perry carved out Hunter's and I did my best to get JP a scary pumpkin. He loved it!

All my kids with their pumpkins. I'm not done with Charlotte's. I think I'm going to cut her some leg hole and redo these pictures. Then I'll fill the holes and carve something for her on the other side. This little graphic shows how hard it is to take a decent picture...there's always that one kid...

Pumpkin Babies

After our visit to Greenbluffs to pick out pumpkins, Kile and I had a little fun with our little pumpkins. Not sure the feelings were mutual though... 

 The pumpkin Casey is in, Kile actually grew in her garden. He had some issues sitting in it though, partially because he's too little to sit on his own and partially because he just got back from the doctor and wasn't too impressed by sitting in a pumpkin.

 Charlotte was a little indifferent, but pouted a little when they traded pumpkins.

Once Kile started jumping up and down making obnoxious noises, Casey called down a bit so I was able to get a couple of him not freaking out. 

If only she could keep her fingers out of her mouth...