Once I Had A Pumpkin

Thank you to Oopsey Daisy for this sweet little song. I sang it to the kids and had to sing it over and over and over again. It was a hit! It was also fitting as we made our pumpkins into Jack-O-Lanterns today. I'll show photos of the pumpkin carving and decorating later when I get the chance to upload them from my camera but for now here is the song.

Once I Had a Pumpkin

(Tune:  Did You Ever See a Lassie?)

Oh, once I had a pumpkin

A pumpkin, a pumpkin

Oh, once I had a pumpkin

With no face at all.

With no eyes and no nose

And no mouth and no teeth.

Oh, once I had a pumpkin

With no face at all.

So I made a jack-o-lantern

Jack-o-lantern, jack-o-lantern.

So I made a jack-o-lantern

With a big funny face.

With big eyes and big nose

And big mouth and big teeth.

So I made a jack-o-lantern

With a big funny face.

Happy and safe Halloween to all the ghouls and boos!

Halloween Memories

Since I have had children the holidays have become more exciting. I love making things for them so that they can have the best memories when they are older. Their enthusiasm and gratefulness for my efforts makes it all worth it, too.

Last year was the first year I started to get into the spirit of things. I had Halloween Stories for Kids all lined up to order from the library and read with them. This year too we read a lot of Halloween stories (over and over again). Thank goodness the library has due dates so I could get some fresh ones!

The children also started to enjoy dressing up (Halloween or regularly). We have a dress up box with princess and prince/sultan attire that our generous neighbours donated to us. They love it! Although growing so fast are quickly outgrowing it. This Christmas I am hopeful to get a real dress-up box with adult or bigger clothing items for them to get creative with. I also want to make some super capes but we'll see how much time we have to work that on those.

Thanks to the SITS gals and pretty Tiffany for inspiring today's post and for having a fabulous Canon Rebel DSLR camera giveaway!

Menu Plan Monday ~ October 25-31

{Dinner Menu}
Sunday: Roast Chicken (Leftovers)
Monday: Impossibly Easy Zucchini Pie
Tuesday: Parmesan Chicken, Noodles
Wednesday: Pork Chops, Baked Apples
Thursday: Crock Pot Chili
Friday: Pizza
Saturday: Leftover Buffet

Check out other menu plans at Org Junkie.

Halloween Decorations

On Thursday night I got inspired. Since I wasn't that motivated to go to the gym I thought I would check out the Dollar Store for some Halloween decorations. I know it's a week away but all these creative bloggers out there are making me want to decorate the top of my kitchen cupboards too!

So I purchased a skull on a stick, a large black rat (and it squeaks), a black cauldron (for candy but I could use it elsewhere also), and a plaque that says "now open, hazel's shope of horrors".

Now how to arrange them is the question ... anyone creative out there who has done a "top of the cupboards" halloween decor?

Weekly Menu Plan ~ October 17-23, 2010

I have been remiss about doing weekly menu plans. I have written them down and posted them on our fridge but haven't added them to the blog. Thanks to I heart naptime w/ Chocolate Sundaes I have been inspired to post my weekly menu as well as weekly goals.

{Dinner Menu}
Sunday: Out for Dinner
Monday: Turkey Soup (leftover), Dumplings, Italian Cheese Bread

Tuesday: Pork Chops, Baked Apples, Asparagus
Wednesday: Roast Chicken, 
Thursday: Leftovers
Friday: Pizza
Saturday: Parmesan Chicken with Noodles

Check out other menu plans at Org Junkie.

{To Dos}
* Get ring appraisal quotes and book appointment

* Research television packages and update services

* Complete cleaning and organizing lower cabinets in Kitchen

* Sew quilt

To Move Or Stay?

You know that feeling when you look at every house you drive by and wistfully want it to be yours? For a little while I have had the urge to move and now it is really kicking in to over drive. Our home is on a quiet court and we are fortunate to have fabulous neighbours. Our back yard is a respectable size and there are no direct neighbours behind us due to a run-off pond. Plenty of Canada Geese to watch and the kids love that we have trees old enough to give us fall leaves for jumping in. All of these are great points for staying where we are, however, working out of my home and with two growing children I am realising that our family will outgrow our home in the next few years.

My current home versus my dream home:

• Our current home has 3 bedrooms. I would prefer 4 so that we can have a good-sized spare bedroom for our out-of-town relatives.
• Our front porch is virtually useless since it is on the side of the house that does not view the court. It is rectangular and due to the space where the wind blows it really is only good for gathering a lot of dust, leaves and snow.
• We have an open concept but only a family room, kitchen eating area and kitchen. Each of these rooms is nice, however, I wish for a living room and formal dining room in addition to an eat-in kitchen.
• Our room is absolutely freezing in the winter. It is only October and I'm seeing my breath on the cooler nights. I realise this is common for rooms above the garage, however, this seems a little extreme. I don't think I'll survive another winter in this bedroom. And it's not like I can move myself into a spare bedroom because we don't have one!!

Wish me luck in finding a home that meets both our budget and these needs. Also in convincing the husband that we should move.

Halloween

I already wrote about how I am getting started on Halloween, Christmas and my son's January birthday. You know when you feel things are in control but then you have a slight moment of panic? And there is really no reason for this panic because for Halloween we have purchased both of my children's costumes and I have the candy. There is a party to plan for and crafts to be done at that time and it is this aspect that I am dreading a wee bit. I want to choose the perfect crafts and I want to ensure I have enough organized for the party to make it go as smoothly as possible - there are only 2 hours for the party, after all and I will need to pack in as much as possible.

My friend and I (who are co-hosting the party to our daycares) have planned to have the children decorate Halloween placemats. I will bring my laminator so we can laminate them and actually have the children use their placemats regularly! These children are 4 and under so we have to keep things pretty simple and mostly pre-made (as in just add glue stick). I'm considering making some bean bags to have a bean bag toss but we'll see if I have time to make them. For that we could just get a ball to toss in a bucket if needed. Finally, we would like to have faux pumpkins and then have the children velcro on different eyes and noses and mouths in a Mr. Potatoe Head fashion. We'll see if the prices on those come down as they are expensive right now or really itty bitty.

I would also like to make some crafts for the house but that isn't looking promising with the quilt looming over my head. Also, with Wal-Mart and their window stickers and mice and some caution tape the house is looking pretty good for those decorations.

Here are some fun sites to check out if you need to get inspired for holiday crafts: Family Fun, Kaboose and Better Homes and Gardens.

What are your plans for Halloween decorating, parties, costumes, etc.??

Happy Crafting!

Happy Thanksgiving & Farewell to Grandpa Mel

Happy Thanksgiving to all my Canadian friends.

This past week has been emotional for me as my grandfather passed away on Wednesday, October 6th. We celebrated his 90th birthday on September 6th. I am glad that we got to enjoy his presence at his birthday celebration and my children got to see him also. As I told my daughter (4 years old), this weekend was about saying good-bye to his body and celebrating his spirit joining God in heaven. I am grateful that I was able to know such a wonderful grandfather growing up and that my children were able to know him, if even for a short while. God bless you Grandpa Mel. We will miss you.

MASON, Melbourne J. Passed away peacefully at Sunnybrook Hospital (Veterans' Wing), on October 6, 2010, in his 91st year. Beloved husband of Therese for 58 years. Loving father of Paul (Julie) and Rose Mary (Mike). Proud grandfather of Elizabeth (Scott), the late Michael, Peter, Emily and Connor, and great-grandfather of Ava and Travis. Survived by brother Bill (Roma). His compassion and humour will be missed by his extended family and many friends. A special thank you to the staff at Sunnybrook George Hees Wing for their special care.

Life Choices

Today I facilitated a meeting. It felt so incredible to prepare for it and discuss things in a detail-oriented fashion instead of in simplified sentences (also known as toddler language). I was on a bit of a high when I got home. And then I changed diapers and put kids for a nap and quiet time and my chosen reality hit me hard once again.

For a fleeting moment I looked at the grass over the fence and thought I might want to try an office job but then my son cuddled with me on the couch during quiet time and my daughter came home with enthusiasm to see me after school that I settled back into my comfortable side of the fence.

Thanksgiving, Halloween, Christmas and A Birthday to Plan For!

I've got Thanksgiving and Halloween, Christmas and my son's birthday (January) on the brain.

The children's Halloween costumes are decided on and a party is in the works. Travis will be a fireman (he's been obsessed lately) and Ava will be a princess (thanks to her older cousin who graciously donated a Cinderella princess dress and crown). I have some craft supplies and a list of what I need to do and buy for it. Thanks to the library for their past issues of Halloween magazines and their party ideas. Better Homes and Gardens has some particularly creative issues.

 

I'm participating in the 100 Days Until Christmas website and daily email reminders about what to do to take the stress of the holiday at bay and already I have my Christmas binder prepared with a budget and wish lists started for my family. I even have a to buy list with ideas written.

Finally, I have felt by the time January rolls around I'm tired out from the first two Fall events that I haven't really thought or planned for my little man's special day. Since he'll be 3 this January I really need to step it up a notch and get myself organized. I have thought of a theme (he's been fireman obsessed lately) and that's a start. Next I'll decide cake (I'm thinking fire truck or hydrant) and decorations and gift bags. I have a while yet so just the starting of the idea is good for me here in early October!

Are you thinking about the holidays or are you in denial that they'll be here before you blink?