November in Summary

I had a rough and sick November - bleeding stomach ulcers.  So, there aren't a lot of pictures.  We had a great time playing in the leaves we raked up.

I adored looking at the leaves before they fell.

After our trip down to CA, we put the kids cups down low and it has been amazing that the kids are independent enough to get their own drinks now.

I got a new picture for the basement from one of our favorite books - Extra Yarn. It would appear my book addiction and art addiction have collided

Thanksgiving was with my side of the family this year.  It was lovely.  The kids played.  We did 5 kernels of corn again and it was a fast and perfect way to be grateful.  The food was delicious.  The company was lovely.  The dishes were many.  It was wonderful.

Halloween 2013

This is one of those delayed posts, so beware.  This year Halloween began with the Halloween piano recital.  Laura played Black Magic and Sara played Tyrannosaurus Rex.  Laura dressed as Laura Ingalls and Sara dressed in her dance recital costume and was Cinderella.

Eliza had a dance party and dressed in her dance recital dress of Snow White.

We all loved having a ward trunk or treat this year and being able to forgo the long and cold trick-or-treating on Halloween night for our family witches brew.

Halloween day the girls all got dressed up for school; Eliza in her other Snow White dress, Sara as a Rock and Roll Fairy, and Laura as Laura Ingalls.  We loved going to school and watching the parade.  So fun!

Witches Brew 2013

I felt well enough to host a Witches Brew again this year. It's such a fun party that I had to do it again. I took things a day at a time and scheduled myself small so I could get it all done. I also accepted help this year - yes, VT-ing was done while frosting cookies. The party was definitely worth the effort!

I had amazing friends and family all come out. I feel so blessed to be surrounded by such brilliant, supportive, fun, and truly remarkable women! It was the year of the tiny hats and was much more about fun than prizes. But I did like my steampunk Jack outfit this year. The ladies who came were: my adorable Mom, Summer, Heather, Melissa Nicole, Alex, my Mother in Law, Andrea and her mom Gayla, Jen, Karyn, Krista, Steph, Danyelle, Deb, and me.

The menu was nearly the same as last time except that I purchased the Kale salad from Costco, had cookies (homemade oreos and shortbread) for dessert, and I made a new drink with tiny ice cubes of cranberry juice in Sprite. I loved how the drink turned out looking even more like blood in the goblets. Oh, and I gave everyone straws this year so they didn't have to touch the blood.

The decor was super fun and Eliza adored helping me decorate. The eyeball Salt and Pepper Shakers along with Jack were my favorite additions.

Oh I love this party! Definitely doing it again next year no matter the state of my health.  And, of course we had to do a family brew with the family and leftovers.