Halloween fun!

I wanted to post some of this last week, but just never found the time or energy. So I schedualed this post Monday for today... I am a little busy today! We should be home Saturday, just in time to dress Mike up for Trick or Treating... This frame was $1 at Walmart. I added some vinyl polka dots, ribbon, and stickers... now to add a picture!

I did not do too much decorating, but did make a center piece for the table with stuff I had from last year.

Opps- this picture posted upside down- pregnancy brain again! These were my Thank You gifts for my shower. Pumpkin biscotti with a tag that said "Thank you from our little pumpkin!"

The whole family made these pumpkin cookies. I wish I would have grabbed the camera so you could see Mike again obsessing over the pumpkins!

I did make Mike a Halloween pillowcase. He loves it. If I would have know how much he would love pumpkins I would have done a pumpkin pillow case... maybe next year!

Lastly, I added some fabric to an old tin bucket for our Halloween books. This way I can change it out for Thanksgiving and Christmas!

It is almost time!

So tomorrow is the big day! Adelyn's Birthday! We go in at 10:30 for our 12:00 c-section. The past week has been a bit rough... from heartburn, high blood pressure, contractions, nerves, an infection, and Mike with a fever- I am all done! This was nothing like my pregnancy with Mike- He was a walk in the park. My girls from work threw me a little shower. I got the sweetest stuff... here are a few pictures. I did not get a belly picture, I will try to post one from the day of.

Mike has been getting ready, too! He practices with his baby sister doll. He says her name, helps put away her things, and loves reading his big brother books.

Pumpkin Patch

The Pumpkin Patch... otherwise known as Mike's Heaven on Earth. We are officially obsessed with Punk'ns! I know I am way behind on posts... I will once again blame pregnancy. I can for two more days anyways!

Last weekend we drove out to Flower Mound for this wonderful Pumpkin Patch. Everything is free... well, not the pumpkins, but the activities are. It is just a super fun place and so big it takes a full morning to explore it all.

This picture makes us laugh because Mike was so overwhelmed with his love for pumpkins. He found his "best one!"

And then wanted them all in the wagon.

He really enjoyed the hay maze and although I think he is the smartest kid in the world, I was pretty impressed with his ability to find the way out all by himself.

So this was just as we were about to leave. Our meltdown started because I wanted a picture with him, then he saw the kettle corn. We had plans for lunch and no cash, so we were not getting "corn". Mike began to cry, then pulled the fall on the ground move... so being the great parents we are Adam and I walked away. We were about 10 feet away when a family stumbled upon "this poor lost child bawling his eyes out because he was lost"... I was so embarrassed and explained that he was not lost, he just wanted some popcorn! I tell ya, the Fey's will get The Parent's of The Year Award for sure now!

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Such a Proud Mama!

As I was making dinner, Mike got too quiet and I thought he was up to no good. But when I found him he was laying on his tummy reading... and take a look at that fat chapter book- ha!

Pumpkin Pie Biscotti

and YES! it is as yummy as it sounds!

Pumpkin Pie Biscotti

Makes about 96 3-1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1-1/2 cups firmly packed brown sugar

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice

1/2 cup mashed canned pumpkin

2 large eggs, lightly beaten

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

2 tablespoons butter or margarine

1-1/4 cup macadamia nuts, coarsely chopped

(I used almonds)

• Preheat oven to 350 F. Combine flour, brown sugar, baking powder, salt, and pumpkin pie spice in a large bowl; stir well. In another bowl, combine pumpkin, eggs, and vanilla, stirring well with a wire whisk. Slowly add pumpkin mixture to flour mixture, stirring until dry ingredients are moistened. (Mixture will be very crumbly; it will gradually become moist after stirring.)
• Melt butter n a large skillet over medium heat; add macadamia nuts. Cook, stirring constantly, until nuts are browned. Remove from heat and cool completely.
• Knead or gently stir cooled nuts into dough. Place dough on a lightly floured surface and divide into 4 portions. Lightly flour hands and shape each portion into a 1 x 15" long log.
• Place logs 3" apart on lightly greased cookie sheets. Bake for 23 minutes; cool logs 15 minutes.
• (Did you know Biscotti means "twice baked"?) Reduce oven temperature to 300. Cut each log diagonally into 1/2" slices using a serrated knife. Place slices on ungreased cookie sheets. Bake for 15 minutes. Cool completely on wire racks.

**As you can see from the picture- I dipped mine in chocolate and then rolled them crushed almonds! These also freeze very well... so we did save some for when Lala comes to take care of us when Adelyn gets here... wow, in two weeks and two days!

Note: Christmas with Southern Living 1996

Mikey's Fall Make Over

Before... After... Gawd this kid makes me happy!

PS... This is his very favorite post. He loves looking at himself with his "hat" on.

Placemat Puzzles

I have these for almost every holiday from my pre-k and kindergarten days! You can find the foam place mats at the dollar stores and Big Lots. (every teacher's favorite store)

Flip it over and draw puzzle shapes. Make sure you draw shapes that fit into each other so the stick together. Cut out your shapes and store it in a baggie. How simple is that?

Halloween Handprint Cards

Look what Mike and mommy made! They are far from perfect, but I think that's their charm!

I am so addicted to my Stampin' Up scallop punch... oh, and I just saw that there is a new jumbo scallop punch from Making Memories- how fun will that be!

Thanks!

Wow! Whitney and Alish from Sister's Stuff gave me an award!

What an honor coming from such fun and creative ladies... Thanks, girls! Rules: 1.) Thank the person who nominated you for this award.

2.) Copy the logo and place it on your blog.

3.) Link to the person who nominated you for this award.

4.) Name 7 things about yourself that people may not know.

5.) Nominate Kreativ Bloggers.

6.) Post links to the blogs you nominate.

7.) Leave a comment on each of the blogs letting them know they’ve been nominated.

Seven things about Me that YOU may not know… 1. I married my husband twice! Once in a small ceremony a week before he was deployed to Afghanistan and again in a beautiful wedding when he came home.

2. I can't live without my DVR, peanut butter, and my Temperpedic mattress.

3. The only cars I have ever owned have been Saturns (3).

4. I started scrap booking in High School... ummm...15 years ago

and still have my New Kids on the Block scrapbook to prove it.

5. I do have a sixth sense and often dream things about people close to me before they happen.

6. I was a struggling reader growing up and

now am most passionate about teaching kids to read.

7. When I was little my mom took me to the doctor because I had an imaginary friend and the doctor told her I would be a very creative adult!

HERE are theAMAZING KREATIV BLOGGERS that I am awarding! Take a look!

B. Jane

Tracy's Fun Stuff!

The Craft Patch

Creatively Crafty Baby

Easy Infant Costume

I have lots of friends who have infants this year for Halloween, so I thought I would post this costume I made in 30 minutes for Mike two years ago... also it was less than $5. The white pants were hand-me-downs from my sister. I was lazy and used a sharpie to color on the stripes. The long sleeved red onesie came from a resale shop for $3. I used clip art from the computer and felt to trace the skull and then just glued it on with good ole' Elmer's. I cut an old bandanna in half one for his sash and one for the head scarf. The ear ring is an old hoop that I poked through the bandanna. Super cute and super easy!

What a Hoot!

How perfect is this applique for my soon to be here fall baby! I love all things fall, vintage owls, and appliques. I found this pattern at Lil Blue Boo and then added my own touch!

Run... Don't Walk...

...to Target's dollar section! Don't you love digging through those baskets! All of this fall scrapbook stuff for $12! Woo Hoo! Ribbon, rub ons, and even mini- scrapbooks. The spider and candy corn brads are my favorites! Stayed tuned to see what I do with all this...

Welcome Fall!

Nothing says fall like an Apple cake.

My mom has been making this cake for over 20 years

and let me tell you it is wonderful and so easy!

(Adam ate two pieces before I could even take this picture) Apple Cake

Mix:

• 3 cups of flour
• 2 cups of sugar
• 2 1/2 teaspoons of cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon of baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt

Add:

• 3 peeled and chopped fresh apples
• 1 cup of canola oil
• 3 eggs
• 1 to 1 1/2 cups chopped pecans (optional)

Preheat oven to 325*. Mix all ingredients into one bowl. Grease and flour bunt cake pan. Bake for 50 to 60 minutes. Let pan cool, then turn pan over onto cake plate. How easy is that!