201

I just happened to look down at the post counter tonight.  This is #201.  And it will definitely be a random offering.

First, a preview of what Davyn will not be for Halloween:

The boys have had their costumes for so long now that they've finally given up asking about trick or treating.  When I told them today that Halloween was in only six days, they were stunned.  And thrilled.  Halloween has not ever been my favorite holiday, but I'm loving the glimpses of it through their little eyes. 

Mandi & I did manage to get some Halloween baking done for Visiting Teaching and neighbors.  We've made these broomsticks for the past three years now.  The sweepy part of the broom is a very yummy brown sugar/butter cookie.  And then, of course, there's the chocolate & pretzel combo:

 

We also made these cursed ghost petits fours.  Damn that Martha.  These were far more complicated than they look.  And, yes, we were nearly cursing after an hour (plus!) of ghost glazing.   

 

But, these were my favorite:

 

Pecans on the bottom, topped with homemade caramel (Mandi's..yum!), chow mein noodle legs, melted chocolate & chocolate shavings.   Very delicious little spider turtles. 

My other busy doing of the month was FHE packets for our exchange group.  And I had Jim busy this time around as well.  He is seriously the best when it comes to my random whim-ish projects with no purpose.  This time around he used my scroll saw to make puzzles that went with one of my stories.  The lesson was on accepting others, and starts with a story about a new animal at the zoo who is teased and scorned because he is so different than the other animals.  Well, he cries, and the other animals come to realize one by one that he's not so different than each of them after all.  

I love doing our FHE packets twice a year, because it truly keeps me mindful of teaching my boys gospel principles more frequently.   

Davyn is OBSESSED with puzzles lately, so once these were all cut & painted, he was my tester, making sure each fit together properly.  I bought him a puzzle at Target the other day and he sat doing it over & over for two hours when we got home.  Aidan would have never managed such a feat of stillness at this age (or now!).  But D's concentration skills are crazy for his two years. 

One more D moment I've been meaning to record:

 

We visited my grandparents a few weeks ago.  The other three kids were off running, but Davyn loved on Grandma Jones plenty.  He kept bringing her books and talking to her about animals and shapes.  A sweet bonding to behold.  I clearly remember two of my great grandmas, and cherish those memories.  I'm grateful that my boys have the influence of so many Great's!

 

Comments

[Sheri]

Man- I should have joined your FHE group when you offered!!! you always do such amazing things- I missed out.
Those treats look awesome!

[Marie]

I love the ZELMGID Home Evening. I did it with my kids six or eight weeks ago and they enjoyed it, and I did it with the nursery kids the week before last.

I love the Great-grandma photo with D. Beautiful!

The Halloween treats are so fun! I need to make some.

[Michelle]

I am soooo impressed with the puzzle making!!! That is something I have never done berfore. How cool! Your baked goodies are making me hungry! You seriously are the next Martha!!! I was just thinking it would be fun to get the bloggers together. What do you think?

[Nina]

WOW does G Jones look like G Allen now..... I am amazed looking at the picture with Davyn... I wish I had the talent of you girls for Halloween treats - very impressive...

[Megan]

I'm excited for this post, I've been waiting to see the treats that were made! So cute, looks like hell to do. I still would have loved to be there doing them with you though!
Love the picture with Grandma Jones and D. Very precious.

[Barb]

The Zelmgid! I love that wacky animal - and the lesson he teaches.
Your Halloween baking looks awesome, you have lucky kids.

[Mandy]

Your baking looks so yummy! All I have done so far is make cupcakes. Not creative, but they hit the spot.

[Tiffany]

So many fun, beautiful, and neat things! I love your Halloween goodies--such great ideas! Thanks for sharing your fun photos.

[carlo]

what fun little treats! aren't you glad you had company for the martha pain? :) i have often cursed her but yet, i come back for more...

[Elizabeth]

What great treat ideas. I am making those spiders for sure. And I love that puzzle!

[Lucy]

Now I'm hungry! Those goodies look delish. Sounds like a great group.

I'm not a lover of halloween myself, and NEED to look at it through my childrens' eyes. thanks for the reminder.

[Kelly]

I couldn't even imagine your puzzles when you told me you were painting zebra bodies last week, and so I'm just astounded that you MADE these! They are amazing! And your Halloween treats, too! You need to submit those to Emily's creative holiday blog. How could you eat such cuteness? And, I love the pictures of Davyn and Grandma Jones. So sweet!

[Jill]

Those are some seriously ambitious treats and really impressive FHE packets! A scroll saw!? I was involved in an FHE packet exchange group for awhile and we had to copy, color and laminate everything, but there was no puzzle making going on. You're out of control. I used to have Randy frantically cutting things out for me and often drawing things too.

That picture of Davyn loving your grandma is priceless!

[Jordan]

Those broomsticks look so yummy. Our Lucy is in the puzzle craze stage right now, too. It is a great quiet activity, would that more activities were that great and that quiet (:

[Hilary]

WOW! You are talented! I loved reading this post!

Those broom cookies are making me DROOL.... I don't really get how you attach the pretzel to the cookie w/ the chocolate... and is that butterscotch? YUM.

Those puzzles are incredible. You had to handpaint them... how many are in your group? I agree.. I want to be in your fhe Exchange!!

[Annalisa]

That Martha. It's always more complicated than she lets on. I made a ton of FHE packets about a year ago and have yet to use half of them. Maybe I should get on that :).