Spooky ghosts

I love Halloween!
I love Halloween decorations.
This is a super easy idea that anyone can do.

I got this idea a couple of years ago from Martha Stewart. I think her ghosts were cut from paper, mine are just cut from muslin with and I used sharpie marker to draw the face. My girls love these ghosts. We even hang them off the back of our van at the trunk or treat party at our church.





Speaking of Halloween.....
We just received an invitation to the most talked about Halloween party in Southern California. My super creative friend Jackie is the only person I know that loves Halloween as much as I do.




She seriously knows how to throw a party like no one else!
You can read a little about last years party here.

Good mail, Quilting & The Police station

The girls and I sent a box of full of goodies to Eric in DC. The mail man left a note saying that he tried to deliver the package(on Sat) but no one was home. We thought the package was left on the porch and stolen. Huge Bummer.

Today Eric walked to the Post office to see if they really did leave it in the porch. The Postal guy said "They may leave packages on doorsteps in Mayberry, but this aint Mayberry it's DC, you need to come pick it up. I was so happy that he got the package and all the letters and pictures from his girls.

Also...someone that lives in DC was kind enough to pick my Husband up for church, invite him to Sunday dinner at her house and send him home with 4 big bags full of all his favorite foods. What a blessing to have friends like this.

Back here on the ranch I received a care package full of goodies from Jenny. I really need to get better at taking photos before the food is all devoured. Thank you Jenny!


We took the bag of candy to my friend Jackie's house that night for the kids to snack on while I selfishly kept them awake late while I was using her huge, wonderful quilting table. I had never used one of these before- what rush! I quilted my whole Halloween quilt that night. Jackie is the only person I know that can actually crank out a beautiful quilt and have it completely done in 2 days. Granted she has machines that cost more then my car, but it's mostly because she is super talented and fast.
Can you even imagine owning one of these?

Also, Today I had to go down to the Police station to pick up a copy of the officers report from Eric's car accident. I hope I never have to do that again. When I said "I'm here to pick up a copy of my husband's police report" Everyone in the room looked at me and I could just hear them thinking " Sounds like you picked a winner".

Halloween night

What a great night. The girls had a blast at the trunk or treat. Haley had asked me to make them candy bags that matched their costumes, that was a great idea.
Mrs. Incredible is their Primary President- she really is an incredible woman!

Eric and I decided to go along with the "Cat" theme of the night so he went as a litter box and I a ball of yarn. One of the ladies in my ward told me that she was so glad that she was not married to Eric. Apparently she did not care for his costume. I love the fact that Eric is willing to dress up and have fun with his girls and I love the fact that he is married to me!

After the trunk or Treat we went over to Olive St.where everyone goes all out decorating and they close down the street. I took the photo below before it got dark because I wanted Ryan and Weston to see the Pirate ship.

On the drive home we were all exhausted. I said "As soon as we get home you girls need to brush your teeth really well and scrub your faces." Lucy said "But Mom, I didn’t eat anything with my face".

Frenzied Friday

We started the day by going to see Haley win the responsible student award from her principal in the school auditorium at 9:15. Haley was so introverted for the 1st two years we lived here; it is great to see her getting more confident.
Then Lucy and I hustled to catch up to Ruby’s field trip walking to the fire Station.


After the Fire station we went to the park since we were in charge of playgroup for our ward. We did Halloween crafts and had popcorn balls. The highlight of playgroup was that Nichole (my friend that abandoned us for her new life in Laguna Beach) and her kids came! We miss them so much. Especially Ruby that still talks about Ellie everyday.



We got home from playgroup and Kira came over with her new puppy Piper. They have one Maltese named Penelope and wanted to get her a sister. Let me tell you about Kira- my kids WORSHIP her. They won’t leave her alone. So Kira and a new puppy in our house were almost too much for them to handle.



Then we got ready for Jackie’s Halloween party. She is probably the only person that I know that likes Halloween more then I. She is amazingly creative and one of those people that make you a more creative person every time you are around her. It was a great party.



My girls wore their cat costumes that I made. They wanted hats that covered their hair like the cats in the parade at Disneyland. I tried. I thought it would be so easy, but there is an evil force out there working against Mother’s sewing costumes. I will post photos of the cats later.

Witchalina is in the house!

I love Halloween. I love candy corn. I love the costumes. I love the colors. It may be because as a kid we had Witchalina visit our house every year a week before Halloween. This tradition was started by Liz Dayton, a lady in our ward when I was growing up. When she moved to Utah my parrents took over organizing it for the families in our ward. Even though my kids are waking up super early to run downstairs to see what she left, I am love watching them enjoy the same tradition that I did as a kid. Witchalina does not just some and leave candy. There is usually a scripture, poem or puzzle of some kind that teaches a principle. Like honesty, not gossiping, repentance, loving one another ect. When I was a kid she would leave our treats on the kitchen table next to a witch. I made a Halloween quilt and added a pocket that says "trick or treat" that is where she leaves our notes and goodies.