Countdown to Halloween- Thursday 10/30

MMM, Pumpkin Brains!!!

A family tradition growing up in the Watts home was Halloween dinner. My Granddad lived with us and he didn't want to eat it if it had been in the pumpkin, to weird, so my Mom always had to fix his plate first. My Dad was always such a good sport and although he would roll his eyes and think my Mom was kooky, he always joined in on the fun. It was always a big event and we had so much fun trying to gross each other out. I downsized a little this year due to the fact that there are only three of us and I didn't want left overs for a month. As we began our family meal we all share a "Ghost" instead of a toast, this was started by my Brother when we were little, anyways in all the hustle and bustle last night and with out life long "Ghosters" this was forgotten and I was quite sad. On the other hand dinner was yummy!

Our Main Dish: Pumpkin Brains
(whole wheat spaghetti, spaghetti sauce, ground turkey, fresh veggies cut up)




Chilled Bats Blood (cherry crystal light),
Seaweed (salad), Puss (ranch dressing), witches teeth (corn), Baked Witches Skin (french bread)
and for dessert (not pictured) Swamp Mud (Chocolate fudge brownie ice cream with chocolate syrup).

Hmmm, can you tell which one is just humoring his wife...
Well if you make an ugly face, you know where its going to end up...

Dinner was fun, and I love, love, love traditions and am so thankful that my mom had a tradition for everything! Well, maybe not everything but pretty close. There were other meal items we used to do as well and there are so many more that I know of that you could do. The plus with this meal is it looks normal, so kids aren't freaked but yet you are calling it all sorts of funny things, which they love!!!

I found this recipe last night, to late for me to use, but maybe someone could use it as a snack for today. It was on www.craftpad.com

Monster Munch Recipe

pretzels (bones)
mini marshmallows (monster toes)
Reeses Pieces (frog eyes)
raisins (dead flies)

Countdown to Halloween- Wednesday 10/29

On Wednesday we went to dinner at the clubhouse for pizza and fruit provided by MWU, and then I headed out for visiting teaching with my awesome companion Melinda. While I was gone (with Ava) Brent was going to take Katrena to a local haunted house that was taking donations for a charity. When they got there they found out it had been closed down that morning, more not meeting fire hazard codes or something like that. Anyways this was just a little haunted house put on by some people not a big deal, but I guess it had begun to draw a big enough crowd that it was also drawing attention, so it got shut down. They were both disapointed. I suggested they go home and start carving a pumpkin and that I would join them shortly.

When I got home they had just finished cleaning out all the yummy guts and brains (tonights dinner by the way), and Katrena was drawing the face to be carved by Dad.



Here they are with their finished product.

Ava's first Jack O'lantern.

Mr. Jack O'Lantern (yes, he has nostrils).

We hope everyone is having a fun/spooky countdown to Halloween week.


Tonights Countdown activity will be our traditional Halloween Dinner, its just too hard to do on Halloween night. We (well the majority of us) are looking forward to Pumpkin Brains, Witches Teeth, Seaweed with Puss (aren't you hungry), Baked Witches Skin, with Chilled Bats Blood to drink. And to finish the meal off we are adding something new this year, Swamp Mud.

Countdown to Halloween- Tuesday 10/28

Our Tuesday activity did not turn out quite as planned, I was sick and didn't feel well. So no creative cooking, no craft, and no pumpkin carving. I said to Katrena after we finish eating (grilled cheese and soup) we can watch a fun Halloween movie. Well out comes the drama...she didn't want to eat her soup, so she sat at the table stalling for 2 HOURS!!! Yes, a 7 year old sitting at the table crying or whining for 2 HOURS straight. I thought I was going to scream (ok, so maybe I did at one point, remember I was sick).

I was determined she was not going to ruin my night, so I told her to go get all of her Halloween books, and Katrena, Ava and I sat and read all of the fun Halloween books. So, the evening was not a total flop, just not quite what mom had in mind.

Countowd to Halloween- Monday 10/27

Because this is the week of Halloween, I like to make it a week long celebration of fun!!! (My Husband just thinks I am crazy and wishes I would throw all my crazy traditions and kookiness away{By the way THANKS MOM} I personally like my kookiness and think my kids do and will too...)


So for Monday, I decided to so something simple no overkill on the Halloween. I decided we needed dinner with something pumpkin (sorry you get the left overs shot). I made Pumpkin Waffles (yummy) with homemade apple cider syrup.



Katrena and I made these little bats last week, and I just wanted to share. They are super simple and cute to boot. The super tiny bat Katrena made at school, he's cute too, we're going to put a magnet on its back so it can actually be used and enjoyed.

Clay pot bats

Get a small clay pot and paint black for the body.

The head is made out of a round wooden ball with a flat bottom (this is either a small or medium size) you can just match the size that fits with the clay pot size you desire, and paint black.

The wings and ears are made out of craft foam.

Small squiggly eyes, and puff paint for decorating.

Voila adorable bats to adorn your home at Halloween time!!!



We will be continuing our activity a day countdown to Halloween, I think I am more excited than Trena. And I know I am more excited that Brent and Ava.

Do you have any kooky traditions???

couldn't resist...

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Ava at 12 weeks...

Although Ava is 13 weeks now I wanted to post some photos of her at 12 weeks, and tell a little about what she is up too...

During her 12th week she started to reach up to touch my face while I am feeding her, and also anything else she is curious about.
she also started to pull herself up into sitting postion when she is in your arms and during tummy time holds her head very high, she is one strong turkey or should I say chicken... She has also started to recognize toys and things hanging above her, she watches the mobile on her swing and has started smiling and cooing at the dog on her bouncy seat.

Ava at 12 weeks 10/17/08



Ava 10/19/08 (outfit from Grammy Ann)

Ava 10/21/08 smiling at the puppy on her bouncy seat
(a gift from Uncle Wade, Aunt Traci, Tyler and Megan)

We are excited to see what week 13 will hold...

Trunk or Treating 10/25/08

Last night started our Halloween fun. Our ward as well as Brent's brother Gary's ward were having their Trunk or Treating, after discussing it, we decided to head to Gilbert for Gary's as it would be the last time we would see them for awhile.

Gary and another guy in their ward also put on a little haunted house in the back of the church, which the kids really enjoyed (until the kids got a little rowdy and started to beat on Gary's nice stuff and even pushed things over). Its pretty bad when a 7 and 6 year old are trying to get the kids to stop and get out... Katrena was nervous to go inside, but finally went through with Dad and really enjoyed it, she even went through 3 more times.

We had chili and hot dogs to eat, with apples and cinnamon carmel fruit dip, and loads of cupcakes. They had some games set up in the front and Trunk or Treating. All in all the kids had a really fun time.

So here are the kids in their costumes...

Ava our adorable chicken (my mom found this costume at the DI in UT and sent it to us, just in case. She knows that my MIL loves chickens and so does Brent).



Katrena, Ava and our nephew Caleb as a Vampire.

Our beautiful girls

Our beautiful Angel, Katrena (everyone at all the cars kept telling her how pretty she was, I have to agree. Don't you love the orange sunset)

Here's to the beginning of a FUN Halloween week...