A Dark and Stormy Night

As beautiful as yesterday was, today was as dismal.  We woke up to the rain and it hasn't let up since.  So glad that we got all our trick or treating in over the weekend and we didn't have to brave the storms this evening.  I'm going to tell our day in pictures today, as I don't think I can remember to cover it all otherwise! Happy Halloween!

(A Note from Kayla:  I had bloody rats!  They were yummy!  Happy Halloween!!)

(Side Note from Mommy:  Mikayla yelled "ow" every time I cut into her rat at dinner tonight, hysterical!)

Pumpkin Jack O'Lantern Pancakes for breakfast

 Kayla's class getting ready for their fashion show

 Mrs. Porto was replaced by Cinderella today  (And a mad shout out to her because she made Grant and my job as a parent so much easier this morning!  Kayla's costume show started at OLS at 9:15, Noah's Parade at Beechview at 9:30.  Mrs. Porto allowed Mikayla to go first this morning so Grant and I were able to be there for that and then race to Noah's school and catch the parade just as it was starting!)

 Cinderella meets Ariel

 And takes a bow

 The kindergartners parade at Beechview

 You can pick out Iron Man if you look really close!

 Stuffed Cockroaches for dinner

 Crusty scabs for dinner

 The start of today's food - Candied Apples!

 Our neighbor Tina, bless her, made Noah and Kayla their own Halloween bags.  

What a wonderful gesture!

 Mikayla digs into her bag

 Clementine pumpkins for tomorrow's MOPS party :)

 Noah sorts the candy

 A package from Uncle Keith - thanks Uncle Keith!

 Green Goblin Juice

 With booger ice cubes :)

 Chunky Pumpkin Barf (Sweet Potatoes, Pumpkin, Bacon, Pecans and maple syrup)

Happy National Candied Apple Day!

And the main course for dinner (my original picture was deleted, so sad, so you'll have to settle for this one) Bloodied Rats!

Corn of a Candied Variety

What a beautiful day it turned out to be in Farmington Hills!  Much to nice to stay inside and get done the things I was 'supposed' to be doing.  I had a fabulous time catching up with Jen this morning on our weekly walk, Kayla and I ran a quick errand to get the rest of the things I need for Friday's MOPS party, then we decided to head outside and play in the leaves!  OK, I raked, we made messes of the piles, then I raked again.  And I think that the Bean may be slightly confused as to what season it is as she spent a good chunk of her time outside racing her stuffed dogs around on the sled through the leaf piles.  Either way, thank you God for the absolutely gorgeous Fall Day.  I know it all likelihood we're not going to have too many more of them so it was nice to take full advantage of this one.

We actually just made it home from Halloween Storytime, so it has been quite the full day around here.  It made me think of the first time Dr. Gatchel and I went or last year with my favorite fire fighter.  Bottom line, they are getting too big too fast.  Someone figure out how to make it stop!  I have a feeling I'll be reminiscing again tomorrow night as we'll be attending Mikayla's first Halloween school party and then hopefully dashing over to Beechview for Noah's costume parade.  (One is at 9:15 the next is at 9:30 - go figure!  And the mere suggestion that Mommy go to one and Daddy the other caused meltdowns of an epic variety.  So we've promised both of them we will do everything to make it both.  Pray for Grant and I in the morning, hehehe)

We started the day off right with a trip to the bakery to pick out some donuts since it is National Buy A Donut day, as I mentioned yesterday.  Two words; Angry Birds.  As if getting donuts wasn't enough of a treat they actually both got donuts with Angry Birds rings in them.  Oh did I score the mom points this morning!  Did you have your purchased donut today?

It's also National Candy Corn Day.  I have mixed feelings on candy corn - what is it exactly?  I mean, does it really ever go bad and if not, what is in it that preserves it?  I suppose it's a Fall staple, so we'll just roll with it.  I made some candy corn bark as an after dinner treat and got creative with oranges, pineapple and whipped cream in a salute to candy corn that you'll have to check it out below.

I mentioned all the school party craziness going on tomorrow and we're hoping to catch "The Great Pumpkin" all together tomorrow night then.  And as promised - one creepy dinner! (I'm so excited!!!) And candied apples in there somewhere!  Until then...

Picking donuts this morning

 Their choices

 Chowing down

 First the Bean picked up all the big sticks in the yard

 Then she played :)

 My fruity play on candy corn

Candy Corn Bark

Sewing Wild Oats

You know it's been one of 'those' days when it ends in an epic meltdown from the Bean about wearing green underwear to bed.  The fact that it didn't match her clothing selection for tomorrow was apparently a little too much for her to take tonight.  So Grant and I in our infinite parent wisdom said "OK", kissed her, turned on the night lights, told her we loved her and that her pj's and underoos were right here for whenever she was ready for them, turned out the lights, and shut the door on her naked tantrum throwing self.  Thirty minutes later, a sniffling but fully clothed (including green underwear!) Mikayla turned up in my kitchen, apologized, wrapped herself around my legs, told me she loved me and dashed back to bed.  Oh yes, totally one of those days....

As I mentioned yesterday I'm pretty indifferent on the whole chocolate thing.  But today's food is a staple in my house, an every day occurrence for me, bland and boring as some may thing it is, one of my favorite foods - oatmeal!  And I managed to serve it every which-a-way to my crew today.  We had a breakfast crisp, honey oatmeal bread (love the way this made my kitchen smell!), tomato oatmeal soup, strawberry yogurt with the leftover pieces of the breakfast crisp mixed in, and oatmeal pudding no-bake cookies for dessert.  I think that after today my family's digestive tracks will be fairly cleaned out...

We also went microwave hunting tonight and not sure if we've settled or not.  I will readily admit my ignorance on this one and was a bit baffled at the thought of purchasing a $200 microwave.  Didn't I get one in college for like $35???  And granted, that was probably not the most stellar appliance and I'd like something a little nice than that, but six times as nice?

I'm also starting to prep for our crazy Halloween dinner.  Remember last year? Think I can top it?  My kiddos are anxiously awaiting Thursday night...

Alright, candy corn tomorrow.  Oh, and just a head's up because everyone out there can celebrate this one - tomorrow is also National Buy A Donut Day.  I'm taking my twosome out early to let them pick out a breakfast treat!  Until then...

Breakfast crisp

 Kayla helped me make cookies when she got home from school

 Oatmeal Pudding No-Bakes

 Honey Oatmeal Bread (I love my bread machine!)

 Tomato Oatmeal Soup (Ok, I know this sounds really weird but it was so good (and I don't like tomato soup)  Noah absolutely adored it (he was scooping it up with his bread)  Sometimes the out there recipes that I pick that I think are going to be a hard sell are what everyone around here ends up enjoying the most)