Teen Book Festival with Scott Westerfeld!

Hannah won two tickets (and Hardback copies of books: Leviathan and Behemoth) to the first ever Teen Book Festival featuring Scott Westerfeld (of Uglies, or Midnighter's fame.) The festival had several activities: free book giveaway and "Teen Zone," Fantasy Author Discussion, Literary Jeopardy, Author Q & A, Book Signings, etc. Hannah did her own "Specials" face painting. As we finished up getting our books signed by Mr. Westerfeld, Shannon Hale and her twins, Dinah and Wren, came by to meet and speak with Scott. We talked to her in the hall and then took these photos. Library Director in his Steamship Punk Costume from teh new series of books by Scott Westerfeld, Leviathan and Behemoth. (Science Fiction Fantasy about WW1).

The Great Pumpkin

Sincere Sacrifice left by the Children: 16+ pounds of candy.

Susie and her Cinderella Doll

Rebekah is confused by a picture she sees of her and a little kitten.

Jonathan loves the rock tumbler. Hannah is checking out a portable CD player.

Ahh. Rebekah found her.

History of the tradition: When Hannah was almost two and a half years old, she developed a large stomach and her arms and legs began to look more and more spindly. One morning, Hannah had had several stooly diapers before leaving her bedroom. We went to breakfast where she ate perhaps two bites and claimed she was too full to eat anymore. I took her upstairs and discovered she had lost a fifth of her body weight in only a matter of days. When my father came, her pediatrician, he put her on a special diet (only fats and protein--no sugar of any kind) and told me he believed she had sugar fermenting in her bowels. This was, of course, a week before Halloween. It was this year that our family began offering up their candy as a sacrifice to the Great Pumpkin in exchange for a toy. Our children are allowed to keep all toys, trinkets, and Halloween things received and a snadwich size baggie to treats that I put up in the cupboard and get out for them one at a time.

Dinner and Trunk or Treat #1

Joe is a "Muggle" with his little witch and Princess. Robot Boy Some of our crew. Our oldest daughter hung out in the "Disco" room and is not pictured. This little kitten was "rescued" by an Aunt who is also a pet groomer and received a phone call to come and get this abandoned kitten tonight. They picked it up on the way and my second daughter fell hopelessly in love with it. Grandma is Cleopatra, I'm going for blond, and Susie is regrettably wearing a princess crown (uncomfortable).

Halloween Parade

My little Witches! Friend, Patrick the Robot and Jonathan Preschooler is grumping because I asked an Unknown Vampire to take our photo.

The Halloween Parade at the school is tradition each year in this area. Sometimes, whole families and parents will dress up in theme with their elementary school children. This morning seemed especially crazy as I was getting Jonathan's face painted and adding dryer ducting (gotta love duct tape) to his costume. I got a LLL breastfeeding help call, Eva had a blow out headed out the door (thus she is not wearing socks or shoes), and Susie could not find her shoes and so she wore sandals, even with the cool weather here. Oh well. Would be nice if my husband didn't work on almost every Halloween Parade day.

Just For Fun!

Soon enough she will need 'em!

Snow Day!

What JOY! The first day of snow fall. (These photos were taken around noon. Most of the snow had melted). Sus got up and put on boots and ran around making tracks in the front yard.

From Pumpkins to Jack-O-Lanterns

The snowflake shirt was in honor of snow today.

Our sole garden pumpkin!

The giant pumpkin!

Little guy likes the ooze!

Princesses punkin is named "Sarah Larah." (Possibly after her imaginary and very naughty friend, Sarah.)

What is it with the squash? Baby wonders.

This monster was three to four inches thick! (We saved some of the seeds which looked like pumpkin seeds on steroids).

Our ham!

Can you guess who carved which one?

All lit up to scare YOU!

Tonight it was time to carve Jack-O-Lanterns! Joe was a good sport and hauled Rebekah's "Monster Pumpkin" inside. Thanks Craig for the big guy! He also had to use a wedge and hammer to get the four inch thick pieces to come out of the eye sockets. (It really smelled fresh and good...not like some of the other pumpkins we opened tonight.) The witch pumpkin was Eva and mine. We grew the silly thing that was long and thin and liked to sit on it's side.

Autumn

Joyful leaves (and snow flakes) fell today!

Miss Camille in the Hospital

First, a card and present.

Baby keeps track of Mama's purse.

Next card and present of candy and Princess ring.

"Neon" the SeaHorse will make it all right (or at least a little better)

My children felt badly when they heard that Miss Cami (cousin, daughter of Lisa and Stu) was in the hospital with a double kidney infection. Instead of doing their homework, they made cards and sent presents that I dropped off with my babe while Cinderella was at preschool today.

Healthy Halloween Treats

"Cinderella" was asked to bring a healthy Halloween snack to preschool where the teacher was going to provide the treats! Here's what she brought: Vegetable Plate and Dip. "Cinderella" wears her hair up with a ribbon. She doesn't need a coat, leotard, undershirt, or jacket (even though it snowed less than 25 minutes after this picture was taken). Cinderella was late to preschool because "time" was not so important to her this morning. Here's how we did it!

Cut top serrated like a pumpkin top. Scoop out seeds and cut off inside of pepper top. Secure olive triangles with broken off toothpicks to outside. Whip together 2/3 cup Mayo (light works too) and 2/3 cup sour cream, and one Ranch Dressing Mix for vegetable dip. Spoon into completed "Jack-o-Latern" pepper. We used a zester to make fun designs on the cucumbers. Cut up additional veggies: celery sticks, pepper sticks, carrots, etc. Layer on plate around dip bowl (orange pepper).