I've been tagged!

This seems a little more difficult than I originally thought when I uploaded. I think I will just stick with the seven random facts and call it good! I hope Nancy doesn't mind. I also feel bad because it has taken some time to actually get to this. I also don't know if I know enough people to tag...but we'll see if I get to it.

So seven odd facts huh!

1. I am a chain gum chewer and addicted to gum. If I don't have my gum around, I get very uptight and I start searching through bags and coat pockets to find it.
2. Even though I'm around people a lot and I teach, I actually would rather just be home and be alone by myself (with Andy and Peyts and my fam)
3. I usually have about 5-10 books that I'm reading at one time. Some I never finish
4. My husband and I do a new Christmas tree every year for Christmas. We have so far 11/12 different trees:
1. Real tree with our first decorations
2. Snowflake tree
3. Twig Tree (got destroyed and would love to remake it!)
4. Tacky Fruit tree with bubble lights -my favorite
5. Angel Tree
6. Smore's Tree
7. Peyton's tree
8. 12 Days of Christmas tree
9. Berta Hummel Tree
10. Candy Cane Tree
11. Symbol tree
12. We are getting a card tree this year!
We hope that by the time we have been married for 30+ years we can open a Christmas Tree Lane, charge entrance, and then donate it to a charity of our choice...or something like that!

5. I'm addicted to buying books and clothes and I love online shopping
6. I love to watch cooking shows and secretly think that I'm "The Next Food Network Star"
7. I have a secret ambition to write and publish books, own my own business, and learn to play the banjo.


I could go on, but we'll save it for another time!

A "Super" Halloween

So I feel kind of bad because for some reason, I didn't take a lot of pictures on Halloween night. We had a great night and were really excited, but my camera was not in action. I did manage to take two pictures of our cute little Superman. It was so funny because when he got this suit, he immediately put it on and began lifting the chairs to his little table with one arm. I think he thought it made him strong and also that he could fly. Thank heavens he didn't need to test it. He just put one hand in the air and then ran like he was flying. He was very excited for Halloween. When kids started coming to the door, he opened it took the bowl and began to dump tons of candy in each pumpkin. It was pretty funny. Because Andy was going to be a little late, I decided I take him out until Andy got home and then we could switch. It was nice this year because there wasn't any silly carnival or trunk or treat and we actually had kids out trick or treating. The town was lit up. We did the route that if you done in Hamer consisted of going up Dena's road and then Andy took him down by Coralee's house and also down the road where Warren Albertson lives. Peyton was so cute this year trick or treating. He went all by himself up to each door and he did it on a run so he could get more candy. I tried to remind him to say "Trick or Treat" and "Thank you". I hope he did.

One of the things that Peyton was really excited about was spraying his hair black and he was very insistent that he have the curl that Superman has. It was a lot of fun getting him ready. His excitement was contagious.

He did get tons of loot that I did not get a picture of. I will say one thing, though, remember when we got Halloween candy we definitely didn't get full size candy bars. We got those tiny little things could be eaten in one bite. Well my little toddler got about seven different ones at different houses. People are definitely improving in what they give out. I did think how sad it was though, that most people don't make anything anymore. I know when we were little we loved going to Dorothy Down's house to get donuts and Coralee Knight made caramel popcorn balls. Levaun Mickelsen gave out that mother goose popcorn. Those were definitely the days. There just isn't time to do that homemade touch anymore. Maybe one day, I'll try to do this!

Pumpkin Carving

So Sunday before Halloween we attempted to carve our pumpkins. We opened up the pumpkins and began with my favorite part and that is digging out the guts. Peyton and Andy don't really care for this part, but I love it.

Peyton attempted to clean the guts out, but gave up about two handfuls into it. He thinks it is gooey and cold and yucky. And as you see he is not too thrilled to be doing this part.





NoOne of my favorite pictures to take is of Peyton pretending to eat the guts. This is actually about as close as he gets to being by the insides of pumpkin.The choice of a design begins. We are pretty picky about the types of designs we pick. I remember when I was a kid, we would just draw the face and have it carved in 15-20 minutes. Peyts wanted a spooky face and so we found a pretty good one. He wanted to do it "all by myself", but Andy manned the knife and we got Peyts pumpkin carved. Of course I'm very partial to witches lately (maybe it is the profession I'm in that makes me partial to them!). This was the design I selected and although it wasn't perfect, I think my witch actually turned out really well. Andy picked a haunted house this year and I thought it actually turned out really well!

This is one of our fun family traditions since Andy and I have been married and that is to put our pumpkin up and actually have a pumpkin head picture! Because Peyts is the only one who carved a face, we all had to use his pumpkin to take this picture. I thought we all looked very spooky!

Peyts was very excited for the finished product and we had to immediately go outside and light them up.

They definitely make for a very fun and spooky night! Who knew that pumpkin carving could be so difficult and so much fun....! Signing off until next year when they get even spookier and crazier. And if anyone has a good witch pattern...let me know, I need a new one!