Trick or Treat Night!

Last I heard we were just having a small get together for Halloween this year at Rachael's... that is, until I walked into her very overcrowded house full of kids and adults! But everyone knows that at Rachael's house... the more the merrier, right?!?

Kristen: an Olympic Gymnast

Jason made sure we got pictures of the kids, even though it was the end of the night, after walking around for hours, getting candy from many, many, many strangers! Ha-ha! (We both arrived a little after it all got started and didn't get the good pictures!) Jack (not sure what he is, but I think it has to do with Star Wars).

Katya: Also An Olympic Gymnast!
And this is Ben, Brian Urlacher, and Jason, Avid Bears Fan!

Yes! Rachael got the 5 and the 4 put on the back!

And let me tell you... Ben got a LOT more candy because he was on the Bears Football Team, and one lady even gave him two pieces last night! Another hadn't seen the 54 on the back, but said that she hoped he was Urlacher, too! Definitely a winner! Oh, and there was another little kid there that was dressed as a Colts football player and one as a Raider's player, and Ben was pointing them out to me and Jason, but we quickly explained to him that they weren't cool. And that the Bears are the only good guys in football! Just so he knows... you know... for future reference!

Costumes at work!

Employees were encouraged to dress up for today's holiday (there's a contest, too!) so, I decided to wear my Flapper costume from a few years ago, instead of my Sandra D costume I've worn last weekend and last night! It was pretty fun, too!

For some reason someone thought it was a good idea to take a picture of me with this guy, some cop from Reno 911! Just thought I'd share these pictures with y'all!

Batty Cupcakes

Yesterday, at work, someone made these super cute cupcakes and I just had to make them with Ben for his class today! We got a little goofy while scraping the remainder of the cake mix out of the bowl...

But here are the batty cupcakes! Aren't they just so adorable???

They consist of a chocolate cupcake with chocolate icing then a cookie cut in half for the wings, and a Hershey Kiss for the face and that red gel stuff for the eyes!

And it's definitely a winner!

Pumpkin Carving

I went over to Rachael's house last night to eat whatever they had left of dinner, 'cause honestly, I didn't want to go home and make something for just one person! And she told me she made some yummy pasta with mushrooms and stuff, so I figured, I'd eat the rest of it, so she didn't have to put the leftovers in the fridge, just to be forgotten and thrown out later... I'm just a helpful person like that...
But let me tell you this, she made me work hard for what I got! I had to help the kids carve pumpkins. It was pretty fun, though!
Ben was really funny, cause I told him that he'd have to dig out the insides of the pumpkin and then we could carve it! Just the look on his face when he had to actually touch all that gross stuff was priceless! I don't think either Rachael or I got a great picture of his facial expressions, but I don't think I could forget it! It looked kinda like the picture below but with his nose crinkled a bit more and him saying words such as "ew!" and "GROSS!"

Jack, of course, was all into the mess! He had such a good time!

I'm sure Rachael will post pictures of the finished products sometime soon. So, make sure you go over to her blog and take a look!

How to make dirt!

DIRT CAKE WITH "WORMS"

20 oz. pkg. Oreo cookies (crushed) (I used the Oreo's with the chocolate filling so it blends in better and looks more like dirt)

1 sm. carton Cool Whip (I used the larger size carton for more mass!)
1 c. powdered sugar
1 (8 oz.) cream cheese (softened)
1 stick butter
Mix until smooth and creamy.

2 1/2 c. milk
2 (4 oz.) pkgs. chocolate instant pudding

1 plastic clay flower pot and flowers (cover hole in pot with foil)

Mix pudding and milk until thickened and then stir in sugar and cream cheese and Cool Whip.

Starting with cookie crumbs. Alternate with pudding mixture ending with cookie crumbs. Add

"gummy worms" (make sure you don't get the sour gummy worms or it'll just taste terrible!) and flowers. Keep refrigerated until served.

And just so you all know, this is really super yummy and everyone loved it! And you will too, if you like chocolate!

I made Dirt!

This weekend was the start of the Halloween parties... a bunch of my friends went and we had so much fun, playing Wii's American Idol and bowling! Yup! We played that for about 5 hours straight! We also had some really yummy food including these "Mummy" pizza's!

I also made "Dirt" for the first time and it was so fun! I'm going to have to make more later this week for the special monthly food day we have at work on Friday! Isn't it so cool looking? I even found some real worms that were colorful! Ha-ha... cracks me up every time! Yet, no one ever believes that they're real! Okay, okay... they're fake! But it looks so cool!

*Ha-ha! I totally forgot to tell you all that the dirt consists of crunched up Oreo cookies with the chocolate filling layered with chocolate pudding with butter and cream cheese (a very fattening filling, but thicker than just the pudding alone). And it was so good!

Special Music update

Well, apparently, I did a great job of singing at the Candle Light Vigil last week, because two days later, I got a request to sing again in December for their Black Tie Affair!
It also helps that I got some pretty great compliments! One lady asked me if I wrote the song... um... no... I wish! And another lady asked me if I was for hire! Of course! Another person told me that I shouldn't be here! Huh? She said that I needed to be on a stage somewhere or on American Idol!
Either way, I had a great time and the song turned out pretty good! Even though the sound system made ones voice sound like they were plugging their nose (I didn't use it, just sang louder!) And the pianist couldn't hear me, either... we just kept on going as usual and it turned out great!

Domestic Violence Awareness Month

October is domestic violence awareness month.
Tonight there is an event for the local safe shelter. This shelter provides services to survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. It first started as a 24-hour crisis line for women immediately in need then became an actual building provided for survivors.
Throughout the year, they host events to raise money and awareness, including tonight's Candle Light Vigil in memory of victims of domestic violence.
A friend of mine is on the board and has hosted many events to raise money. One such event was a dance-a-thon. Money was raised and people had to dance. The person who danced the longest won half the money. One guy literally danced for over four hours. FOUR HOURS! While it seemed a little on the crazy side, there was a lot of money raised! And for a good cause too!
Tonight, my friend has volunteered me to sing. So, I am singing for the event tonight. A song by Sara Bareilles Gravity. If you get a chance, listen to that song. It's an amazing song.

My sister Rachael is one that has encouraged me, through her actions of raising money to make Christmas happen for Russian Orphans.
I encourage you all to do something for someone or for a cause that is dear to your heart.

"And it just jumped off the roof!"

It's already Monday and when I reflect back on my weekend, all I can remember is that I spent a lot of time with Rachael and the kids (minus Kristen who went with Lori to New York). We had a lot of fun, too!

Katya is big on climbing trees and I couldn't help but tell Rachael every time she was in one so she'd have to get down, just because it scared me so bad that she was going to fall and break and arm or something, but then... that's what kids do, right? I was able to snap the picture above before Rachael told her to get down!
The boys were playing inside the house and were just so energetic, that I suggested they use their energy outside and rake the leaves up into a big pile so they could jump in it!
It went for a couple of cute pictures, but they didn't get ALL the leaves!
And at one point, Ben found out what other things could be found in the backyard (when there are pets!) Oh, and has anyone else noticed how good Ben is getting at looking at the camera during pictures???
So, here we are... a picture of the Praying Mantis the kids found in the back yard... it somehow ended up in the front yard with the kids, after being played with for a while... then ended up on the roof, where if found its end. I asked Jack what happened to the Praying Mantis and he said that Katya would want to tell me about it. So, I asked Katya. "Well, it just flew up to the roof, and then it just jumped off the roof! And now it's dead."
As dramatic and so very sad as it is... it was pretty funny! Good luck to the next specimen that finds itself in the backyard!

Naughty Cats

As you all may know, for the last week, I've been living at Rachael's house, watching her four darling children, three dogs, bunny, cat, and fish, etc., etc., etc...

I tried to run home before heading off work, after taking the kids to school, to check on my own cats at home, but some days just didn't have enough hours, so I wasn't able to go there and give them some hugs and kisses...

Sunday, I was finally able to go over to my place to check on the cats and found a not-so-pleasant surprise!

Yes, they had somehow knocked down this super heavy antique mirror. And, I really liked that mirror, too! I guess they taught me a lesson, huh?