Garden After Dark

Going to the Red Bute Garden After Dark with Grandpa is one of the Halloween highlights for my kids.

We arrived a little early so we could get good parking and I was excited to see the fall leaves still on the trees. I tortured my kids and made them pose for pictures.

Once inside the fun began. The kids started out by painting their own faces.

Joe wanted spiders bats and witches on his face.

Emily drew a tiger face on herself,
and Josh just wanted to color on his own face with the crayons.

(I am going to have to keep the markers hidden for a while.) Each station had different things for the kids to do. There were a couple of crafts and a few stories. My favorite station had a Native American who told a story and as he told it he drew a picture in white sand using colored sand. This was all done by him pinching sand in his fingers and dropping it onto the sand. He was so good at it, you would think he was drawing with a pen. The story he told was the story of corn and how we grow in many of the same ways the corn does.




The picture is not not complete here, but I am glad I took a picture when I did. When he was finished he took his stick and wiped the picture away.

The highlight of the night was the Kareoke booth.


Joe and Josh sang the Ensy wensy spider together.




After they were done there were no other volenteers to sing, so the Dj asked the kids to volenteer their parents. Emily Imediatly rose her hand and volenteered Ryan. No one else rose their hand so Ryan was up for a solo. He didn't try to get out of it, but he did make Emily go up with him. Ryan did not want this posted on my blog, but that wouldn't be fair to Emily. Ryan says he didn't like this, but I have my doubts, and when you see the smile on his face you will have your doubts too. Emily loved singing with her dad and I think she will remember it forever.

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At the end of the night we turned in our map with all of our stamps on it and as a prize we were given a cherry tree. I am not sure where we are going to plant it yet, but if you have any suggestions (including your yard) I will be happy to hear them.

Halloween Cookies

It is a tradition at our house to make Sugar cookies every October. I wanted to do it early this year because I find the closer it gets to Halloween the more I don't want any more sugar treats.

I always give the kids a ball of dough for them to roll and shape themselves. The older they get the more dough I give them. Joshua just played with his like playdough and eventually ate it.
Joseph ate some of his dough too but ended up getting a couple of cookies in the oven.
Emily was trying to do it right, and did an excellent job rolling out her dough and making cookies. ( I did notice her eating a little dough, but even I am tempted.)

After the cookies are baked the kids usually frost the ones they made and then eat them. It is always messier to have the kids help, but the fun time together makes the cookies taste even better.

They Clean Up Nice

Artist at work

When Joe was getting ready for bed we discovered this on his belly. Joseph had drawn it himself. I couldn't help laughing a little.

I know this should not be encouraged, but they are only young once. I had to take a picture.

Semi Annual Scripture Study

Every General conference during the Priesthood session the girls (and the boys until they are 12) have Semi annual scripture study. This tradition was started by my Mother-in-law when I married Ryan. What that really means is we get together and do something fun. The activities have changed a little to accommodate kids (sorry Tracy and Alisa), but it is always fun.

Saturday was the big event. The night included Dillard's, Target and dinner at Raphael's

Raphael's was Joseph's choice because it is his new favorite restaurant. Josh really liked the chips and salsa. At one point he took his straw and drank the salsa straight from the bowl.

I love my mother-in-law. She is so fun to hang out with, and has a great sense of humor.
The group was a little smaller this time, but as always, a good time was had by all.

Where did they come from?

As a parent I am always ready to comfort my kids when they have to go through necessary pain, but my kids continue to amaze me. Things that I think will make them cry don't and I find myself asking why.

When Emily was a baby the immunization shots were always harder for me than they were for her. Even now when I get poked with a needle I have to turn away. Not Emily. she calmly watches them do the whole thing and even asks questions.

Saturday morning we took the kids to get their flu shots. Emily was her usual self and did not even act like it hurt. Joseph tried really hard not to cry and be tough like Emily, but it did hurt. He left the office still trying not to cry. Josh did what I thought he should do and cried instantly and was still mad when we left the office. (The green sucker did help a little.)

Today we had dentist appointments. Once again my kids are not normal. Emily loves to go to the dentist. She is always asking me when I am going to take her again. Joseph has somehow picked up on Emily's enthusiasm and loves the dentist too. They are always so happy to be there and the people at the office love having them come because they are so willing to let them work on their teeth. I thought this would all end when they got cavities, but no, they still love going. Last time I took Joseph to the doctor he complained and asked why we couldn't go to the dentist instead. (who are these kids?)

This was Joshua's first dental checkup. I went in with him expecting that I would have to hold him and that they probably would not get him to open his mouth. Again I think Emily and Joe's love for the dentist has rubbed off. He was a little timid at first, but it was more shyness than fear. He sat in the chair and started watching TV. The hygienist started showing him the tools and talking to him about them. She tickled his fingers with the polishing tool and then asked him if she could tickle his teeth. He said yes and then opened his mouth. When the dentist came in he opened his mouth and let him look inside. Not one tear, not any sign of hesitation. I know I should be happy about this but I don't understand it. I think part of it is the prize and the cookie at the end, but that never made me excited to go to the dentist. I am happy to say that no one had cavities, and on the way home the kids asked, "When do we get to go to the dentist again?" (What?)

Harvest Time

We have been enjoying vegetables from our garden since July, but today as I looked out my window I noticed about 6 birds out in my garden having a great feast on the sunflowers. I decided it must be time to harvest them, if we were going to have any seeds for ourselves.



In the spring I let my kids chose one item that they want to grow in our garden. This year Joseph chose Sunflowers. He planted the seeds himself in the spot that I showed him. (He also planted a few randomly around without my knowledge.) All summer we watched them get taller and taller. In August they bloomed and made our backyard beautiful. I have never grown sunflowers before so I was not sure when they would be ready to eat. When I saw the birds today I decided it was time.



I got on the Internet and found directions for roasting the seeds and the boys and I went to work.






And work it was........

It was harder to get the seeds out than I thought it would be and I did not realize that sunflowers have sap on them. I found a faster way by the end, but I only did

3of 6 flowers today because I did not think my thumb could handle anymore.

After you get the seeds out you have to wash them and then boil them in salt water for 1 hour. (I had tried this with my pumpkin seeds last year and it made the salt flavoring just right.)

Then you drain the water off and put the seeds on paper towels to dry off the excess water.

Then you place them on a cookie sheet and roast them for 30 minutes. After they cool they are ready to eat.

They are yummy!

We will probably do the last three flowers tomorrow. I am hoping that It will be faster next time, now that I know the system.

We will definitely be planting Sunflowers again next year.