trick-or-treat

it's impossible  hard to get a good picture of all three kids at the same time.  will's eyes?  yet, anna michael cracks me up here!

little dorothy found her cowardly lion

happy halloween

hope everyone has a safe and happy halloween!

cole enjoyed the treats! 

will

at 5:00 this morning we heard a set of footsteps coming down the hall.  a little voice says, "daddy, am i 4?"  jordan told him he was four but it was too early to get up.  as his little feet made it down the hall to his room i glanced at the clock, 5:00 am.  he was almost exactly 4 years old and that moment.  will was born at 4:50 am four years ago today. 

he was the biggest baby in the hospital that day weighing 9 pounds and 3 ounces.  he wore a pumpkin hat in the nursery and he was precious.  he still is.  yesterday when i let him know another friend was coming to his party he smiled so big and gave me the biggest hug and kiss.  he's so excited and it's so cute!

will decided on a cowboy themed party this year.  tomorrow we are having his party at the local indoor bounce house place.....(clearly i don't know exactly what those are called)  here are a few things we are bringing:

the cowboy hats and badges are from oriental trading.  they will be at the guests seats so they can wear them during cake.  they will also serve as our party favors.

i said, if you're 4 look at the camera!  this is who smiled at me.

happy birthday to my little pumpkin. 

halloween bark

recipes are all over the internet for this yummy treat!  i think anyone will do!  the boys and i made this last night.  today after school we plan to deliver to daddy and his coworkers.

here's how we made our halloween bark:

you can use white or milk chocolate- i liked the way the candy corn popped out against the white.

remember to find two of the most handsome kids you can find.  again, these two are mine- you'll have to use your own :)

my helpers unwrapped the chocolate

jack broke the oreo cookies into our parchment lined pan.

will did the "pren-sle sticks" as he calls them!

jack- sprinkles, will- candy corn....

i melted the chocolate in the microwave according to the directions.  then we topped it with a few more candy corn and sprinkles.

we let it set over night.  (you probably could do it in less time)  then you just break it into chunks.

we filled ours into small mason jars- because they are cute!

tied on a bow and a bat ring.....ready!  these are perfect for teachers, neighbors and coworkers!

happy halloween!!

BOO TO YOU

so, it's really looking like halloween around this house.  here's a little window into our fall home:

i bought this sign jack's first halloween from michaels.  it's lost it's color but i still love it!

holiday candy tastes better thank normal....don't you think?

grandma was in town this weekend.  she made these jars with them.  they look so cute at night- tea lights help them glow.

gold fish for will's preschool friends.

i LOVE preschoolers handwriting.  this guy will be 4 on friday.  i can't believe it! 

i've seen the cutest printables with this saying all over.  i decided to make my own so that jack could add his name.  these mini antibacterial hand gels were only 37 cents each on clearance at bath and body works!!  that's cheaper than candy!! 

 

BOO to you!!

fall fun

yesterday the kids and i headed to their cousins to have some fun.  we went to an apple orchard, a great fall activity.  if you have one in your area..... i suggest you check it out! 

these boys made it an adventure.  it were as if they were treasure hunting.

these three are quite the team.  they jumped in every puddle along the way.....awesome.

they kept finding secret passage ways through the trees. 
(this was when my sister-in-law and i were climbing through branches.)

i promise he had fun.  finn and anna michael were worn out!

happy fall!

dishtowel pillows

i am starting with a HUGE warning:  i have NO business giving any type of sewing tutorial.  seriously, it's only been a few months that i've known how to turn a sewing machine on.  so this is not a lesson- simply an idea that is easy. 

a few months ago i bought bedding from target.  we have a tiny little porch off of our bedroom that fits two chairs and a small table.  i wanted that space to compliment our bedroom.  the problem was all of the throw pillows that matched were either not for sale anymore or 25.00 each.  so, the other day while i was doing my daily weekly shopping trip i found dishtowels that were a coordinating print to my bedspread!  i was so excited.  i went home and made pillows for the chairs on our porch with the dishtowels.

started with a dishtowel...

folded it in half, and already one of my sides is done- only 3 sides to sew.

i sewed along the line that those nice people at dwell and already made :)

i left an opening to stuff the pillow.

next i clipped the corners, making sure not to cut the stitches i made.

the i stuffed the pillow.  clearly looking at this picture reminds me that i should spend less time sewing pillows
 and a bit more time on my nails!  i'm sorry you all have to see that :)

finally, i sewed the pillow shut.

pretty cute for a dishtowel! 

and now i have tied the rooms together for ten dollars! 

while i was making pillows i decided to make this one for jack.  he swares he has a loose tooth!  the top of the felt tooth is open so he can slide his tooth into it for the tooth fairy........if that poor kid can ever loosen one of them!